Life as an expatriate can be challenging

外派中国员工在异国的苦与乐

导读：随着中国经济迅猛发展，海内外合作机会不断增加，随之而来的是越来越多的中国员工被派到海外工作。很多年轻人很看重这种机会，觉得能够增加阅历，得到锻炼，但现实往往是残酷的(cruel)，异国他乡的工作和生活充满着艰辛困苦。

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外派员工Internet

外派中国员工在异国他乡的生活充满苦与乐。

Xue Rui, 24, an engineer for Jiangxi Jinko Solar Co Ltd, remembered that he cried when he sipped homemade soup.

江西晶科能源有限公司24岁的工程师薛锐（音译）仍记得当他喝上一小口自己亲手做的汤时，不禁哭了出来。

“I’d been living in a hotel in Milan, Italy, for a week. I was sick of cold, tasteless omelet and bacon,” he explained, “So I was overjoyed when I cooked a warm meal in my rented place.”

“我在意大利米兰的一家酒店里住了一个星期。我实在是厌倦了那些冰冷无味的煎蛋卷和培根，”他说道，“所以当回到租来的住所后自己亲自做了一顿暖暖的饭菜后，我真的高兴极了。”

Xue’s company supplies modules, cells and wafers for solar energy. It has business with distributors and the solar power station in Milan, Italy.

薛锐所在的公司主要对外供应太阳能模块，电池和晶片，与意大利米兰的几家经销商和太阳能发电站有业务往来。

In February the company sent him to Italy for a year to help partners install equipment and to solve technical problems. It’s his first time living abroad.

二月份时，公司派他去意大利常驻一年时间，以帮助合作商安装设备和解决技术问题。这是他首次生活在异国他乡。

Xue represents the growing number of young Chinese who benefit and suffer from working overseas. They are a group of expatriates who share similar living conditions.

薛锐代表了越来越多赴海外工作的中国年轻人，他们从中受益颇丰但也历尽艰辛。他们是一群生活条件相似的，长期居住海外的外派人员。

As the Chinese economy booms and competition in the domestic market gets fiercer, more companies look overseas.

随着中国经济的迅速发展和本土市场竞争的日益激烈，更多的公司放眼海外。

According to an industry report in July by ChinaHR.com, a leading employment website, opportunities to work overseas have increased.

由招聘类网站翘楚——中华英才网7月份发布的行业报道显示，海外工作机会呈增加势头。

Employees can boost their career prospects and experience different surroundings.

员工们可以提升自己的职业前景并体验到全新环境。

Xu Yiqiang, a brand manager of Shinco Electric Appliance Co Ltd in Jiangsu, said that the HRs often prefer to delegate staff under 30 to foreign projects.

江苏新科电子有限公司品牌推广经理徐毅强（音译）表示，人事部门常常更喜欢委派30岁以下的员工参与海外项目。

“We target those who have a passion to work hard, can gain new knowledge and quickly integrate into local culture,” Xu said. “In the meantime, they don’t have problems at home.”

“我们委派的对象是那些富有工作热情，学习新生事物能力强并能迅速融入到当地文化中去的员工。”徐毅强说，“同时，家里还得没什么问题。”

In April, Shinco advertised for two or three staff to work in Nigeria. They received more than 100 applications. According to Xu, salary is an important factor. “We offer an engineer 20,000 yuan per month in China, but 20,000 US dollars overseas - Young staff can make a fortune in two or three years,” Xu said.

四月，新科发布招聘广告，拟招两到三名前往尼日利亚工作的员工。他们共收到一百多份求职申请。徐毅强表示工资是一个重要因素。徐说：“我们为在国内工作的工程师开出的月薪是两万元人民币，而海外工程师的月薪则是两万美元。两三年的时间，年轻员工就可以赚得一笔不小的数目。”

For some, it may mean a path to quicker promotion or a pay rise. Yet the reality is far from rosy. Expat life often turns into a test of survival skills.

对于一些人而言，这可能是早日升值加薪的绝佳机会。然而现实远没有那么乐观。海外生活常常会变成一次生存技巧大考验。

Unlike government agencies, companies’ overseas branches provide no arranged accommodation or catering. They also lack the ability to offer training, which helps employees to break down language and cultural barriers before they send them abroad.

不同于政府机构，许多公司的海外分公司不提供住宿和餐饮安排。同时，他们也没有能力在委派驻外员工前，组织员工培训来帮助他们克服语言和文化障碍。

Many employees have to fend for themselves. For instance, Xue said he never expected to face so many thorny issues involving his visa, tax, medical treatment and cultural taboos.

许多员工必须独立照顾自己。例如，薛锐说他从没预料到会遇到这么多棘手的事情，包括签证，税金，医疗和文化禁忌。

The difficulty for Xue was to rent an apartment, as local Italians were reluctant to lease their housing to foreigners.

对薛锐来说，租到一处公寓也绝非易事，因为当地的意大利人不愿意将房子租给外国人。

“They’re worried we would use it to commit a crime, and could not keep it tidy,” Xue said.

薛锐说：“他们担心我们会用房屋来从事犯罪活动，而且不能保持屋内的干净整齐。”

Finally Xue found a cramped one-bedroom apartment downtown for 700 euros (6,027 yuan) per month. “It is extremely expensive, but at least I have a cozy bed,” he said.

薛锐最终在市中心找到一个狭小的一居室，月租700欧元（合6027元人民币）。他说：“这房子真是太贵了，但至少我有一张舒适的床了。”

The attraction of clean air wears off, and the higher salary is largely offset by the high living standards in foreign countries. Chinese salaries may only equal blue collar pay abroad.

洁净空气的吸引力渐渐退去，高薪也大大地被国外的高生活标准抵消了。中国的工资可能只等同于国外蓝领的收入水平。

Then loneliness strikes. For Zhang Haizhou, chief London correspondent of China Daily, one of the biggest challenges was to mix socially. “Some journalists look at us with fixed ideas and regard me as an outsider, ” said the 28-year-old who has worked in the UK for a year.

随后孤独感袭来。对于《中国日报》驻伦敦首席记者张海洲（音译）来说，最大挑战之一便是社交。这位已经在英国工作了一年时间的28岁记者说：“一些记者以固有观念来看待我们，视我们为局外人。”

Xie Lin, 29, a product manager in Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, has worked in Germany for nine months. He agreed: “Foreigners separate work and life. They treat you well in the office, but never invite you to a family party.”

华为科技有限公司产品经理，29岁的谢林（音译）已经在德国工作了九个月时间。他对此表示赞同：“外国人将工作和生活分得很清楚。在办公室里他们待你很好，但却从不会邀请你参加家庭聚会。”

Zhang Haizhou engages with people well. “You go to bars, watch sports or go to the theater with people,” he said. “At first, you struggle for conversation, but soon you become friends.”

张海洲和周围人相处得很好。“你和大家一起去酒吧，观看体育比赛或是去剧院，”他说。“一开始，你会纠结于聊什么，但很快你们就会成为朋友。”