Traveling for Work – My experiences: EP1

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Not a reading person? No problem!
Just click play and i’ll read it to you..

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Just before I started my engineering journey, I watched Dave’s video on “5 tips for graduate engineers”. My first (current) job ticked all the boxes. One of his tips was to find a traveling job. Little did I know that this one tip alone would bring about so much change in my life!

I have had the privilege to work on a ton of different projects in multiple states and countries. Working on projects generally means traveling and living in a new place every few months, a new team to work with, and a new customer/Jobsite with their rules to follow. Everything from finding the light switch in the morning to the food we eat and everything in-between is continuously changing.

While many things came to mind when I started working on this post, I decided to focus on just one aspect: the human connection. There is a Buddhist concept that states that everyone has Buddha-nature inside of them. In simple words, everyone has the same goodness in them to bring about peace and happiness in not only themselves but everyone around them. While this concept is simple to understand, it is hard to apply in life. It is especially true when you work in close quarters with different people. Everything about them from their mind-set, language, enthusiasm levels, and even their fundamental driving force is different.

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A team at a Jobsite is like a family. We spend most of the day (and night) together and look after each other at times of need. Even though we are all bound by the same goal(Project), everyone goes about performing their tasks in their unique way. It is only natural for misunderstanding and friction to build up. When I just started working, I had heated discussions often as things did not go my way.

But, the more time I spent with them, the more I understood why they were doing the things they were doing. You tend to have genuine conversations when you are not judging a person and trying your best to look at things from their perspective. It has helped me form strong bonds with everyone and also helps me perform my activities more effectively by removing any friction. It makes life more pleasurable and lets you experience the world to the fullest. I have not mastered this art. But I am making mindful decisions to respect everyone’s opinions and actions.

This kind of job is not for everyone! It is a ton of fun and filled with amazing experiences. But, there are countless times where things will not go your way. They seldom do. For the few who are ready to brave the storm and would like to experience life differently, this is a pretty darn good option!

The past five years have been just great! I have barely touched the surface of my experiences in this post. Stay tuned to this blog if you would like to know more!

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