Walk Down Memory Lane: Thailand 1993
First Business Trip:
Heading to Thailand
Call time at the office was set for 10:00 AM so we could make it to NAIA around noon. Because we were catching a direct flight via Thai Airways, there was no room for tardiness; our group had to be perfectly on time.
Arrival in Thailand:
First Impressions and Workflows
Historically known as Siam, Thailand is famously nicknamed the "Land of Smiles" due to the genuine warmth and hospitality of its people. We were treated to this traditional welcome right at the Bangkok International Airport, where Miss Jai presented our team with fresh flower garlands.
The climate there is hot and humid, virtually identical to the Philippines, but we did have to turn our watches back by one hour to match the local time.
On the morning of June 24th, we dove straight into business. We met with the Japanese and Thai management to outline our daily goals and responsibilities.
Navigating a high-stakes meeting for a major project left me feeling both anxious and incredibly eager to learn. By the end of the session, our managers distributed our schedules and deployed us to our designated production lines for initial floor observation.
Our Work-Life Balance in Thailand:
Factory Life and Weekend Escapes
For the entire month, our team split our time between two different hotel residences. From Monday to Friday, we stayed close to the factory at a hotel in Chachoengsao Province. Then, on weekends, we moved to hotels in Bangkok City to explore.
Because our Philippine company funded our travel expenses through our training allowance, we had to meticulously track and submit all our daily receipts and keep them in a folder or brown envelope.
At the Chachoengsao factory, I noticed the workforce was heavily dominated by women, with only a few men on the production floor.
During my time at the workstations, I formed wonderful friendships with several Thai colleagues, who were incredibly kind and welcoming.
Commuting was also completely stress-free, as the company provided a dedicated microbus to transport us to and from work every day. It was a massive relief because the traffic in Thailand is just as heavy as it is back home in the Philippines!
Looking back, we were incredibly fortunate. Only two groups from our company were chosen to learn this new automotive wiring harness product ahead of its launch back home. We were deeply grateful for our supervisors' trust and confidence in selecting us for such a milestone project.
An Unforgettable Experience:
My Yacht Day Adventure
It wasn't just the factory floor that made my time in Thailand memorable. The country is world-famous for its breathtaking beaches, and our group was lucky enough to spend a day sailing on a yacht.
Because I suffer from terrible seasickness, I was incredibly nervous before we left the dock. Luckily, I had motion sickness medication on hand, and I took it right before we set sail. The catch? The side effect made me completely groggy.
Instead of taking in the stunning ocean views, I dozed off for most of the trip! The funniest part was that even though I was totally lightheaded and half-asleep, I still managed to summon enough energy to strike a pose whenever my groupmates aimed a camera at me.
See the evidence below. 😀
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| Solo photo |
How about you? Do you have a funny or unforgettable travel experience that you can share? I'd love to hear your stories, so please drop your comments below.👇
Thank you so much for reading.💗
The next Walk Down Memory Lane blog about overseas training is titled "India 1999."
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