{"id":8491,"date":"2024-09-18T04:28:22","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T04:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.normagroup.com\/?p=8491"},"modified":"2025-02-13T07:59:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T07:59:36","slug":"an-excellent-opportunity-to-expand-your-intercultural-competence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.normagroup.com\/en\/an-excellent-opportunity-to-expand-your-intercultural-competence\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cAn excellent opportunity to expand your intercultural competence\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8491\" class=\"elementor elementor-8491 elementor-8472\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-afcac8f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"afcac8f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-95a24d2\" data-id=\"95a24d2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46ff2bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"46ff2bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Living abroad for a while, getting to know a new culture and gaining some valuable international work experience? You can do it all at NORMA Group as part of a Bubble Assignment. The goal of these assignments is to strengthen cooperation among the sites and to help us all learn from each other. Overcoming national and cultural boundaries is a natural side-effect.<\/em><\/p><p>David Schneider, who wrote his master\u2019s thesis at NORMA Group in 2018, told us about his <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.normagroup.com\/en\/simulations-problem-solvers-for-engineers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tasks as a Simulation Engineer at the company<\/a> two and a half years ago. He has now been in China for almost three months as part of a bubble assignment. In this interview, he talks about his experience on site and explains how his view of NORMA Group has altered as a result of his stay abroad.<\/p><h2><strong>David, how did your Bubble Assignment come about?<\/strong><\/h2><p>In my area of responsibility, I have a colleague in Serbia, another in China and one in Germany. We operate globally \u2013 employees from every department and every location can come to us with their questions.<\/p><p>Given my global role, intercultural competence is particularly important. The Bubble Assignment was the perfect opportunity for me to become acquainted with other locations and expand my intercultural skills. I worked at the Qingdao site from the beginning of April to mid-May and in Wuxi until the end of June. I also visited the plant in Changzhou twice during my stay in China.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8d45164 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8d45164\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-538b026\" data-id=\"538b026\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cd35aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7cd35aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.normagroup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/norma-group-blog-david-schneider-simulation-engineer-china-city.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Image of David Schneider in a city in China\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a4e6158 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a4e6158\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8701305\" data-id=\"8701305\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbffb63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cbffb63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My goal was to increase the level of cooperation with the locations by establishing contacts and gaining a better understanding of what support is needed locally.<\/p><h2><strong>What were your tasks at the various sites?<\/strong><\/h2><p>As a Simulation Engineer, I work closely with a number of different departments. I wanted to try to better understand the work processes of the product engineers as a way of improving long-term collaboration. At the same time, I continued to support the Simulation department, which was an exciting and challenging combination.<\/p><p>Together with my colleagues, I conducted four on-site trainings on topics such as simulations at NORMA Group, suction jet pumps and pressure losses in pipes and connectors. On site, I was able to respond specifically to the questions that were being asked by the ten to fifteen participants and make the sessions interactive.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29d2113 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"29d2113\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-068d272\" data-id=\"068d272\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a16fc81 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"a16fc81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cMy local colleagues actively supported me in every way, both during the working day and in my free time.\u201d \t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fadd220 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fadd220\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-163118e\" data-id=\"163118e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f3c37a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f3c37a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When I was planning a trip, for example, they helped me with the booking, because the local apps are almost exclusively in Chinese.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a1c6a29 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a1c6a29\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2dc76a1\" data-id=\"2dc76a1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d25c76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0d25c76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.normagroup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/norma-group-blog-david-schneider-simulation-engineer-china-beach.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Image of David Schneider at a booth in China with skyline in the background\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a810da7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a810da7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a23a85\" data-id=\"8a23a85\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa9257c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa9257c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>How does your work routine in Germany differ from what you experienced in China?<\/strong><\/h2><p>In China, there are fixed working hours, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.. I had to make major adjustments to my usual working day, because I generally start my working day at 7:30 a.m. at the latest.<\/p><p>Working from home is also rare in China, something that contributes to a livelier atmosphere in the office. Being in the office also facilitated the exchange of ideas and information at the workplace and ensured shorter communication paths.<\/p><h2><strong>What insights have you gained for your daily work in Germany?<\/strong><\/h2><p>My time in China has given me a deeper understanding of intercultural communication and cooperation. I have learned how important it is to be flexible and adaptable in order to work effectively in an international environment.<\/p><p>I have also gained valuable insights into the different approaches to work and the various cultures, which I can now integrate into my everyday work in order to improve the support required for the departments.<\/p><h2><strong>And what have you been doing in your free time?<\/strong><\/h2><p>Quite a bit, actually. In Qingdao, I sometimes took a taxi at 5:30 a.m. so that I could play with a beach volleyball group from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and then heading off to work. There wasn\u2019t much time left in the evenings during the week, because I usually went to bed early.<\/p><p>I traveled a lot at weekends and on public holidays. I was in Beijing, on the Great Wall of China, hiking in the mountains with work colleagues and also visited Shanghai and Chongqing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-94bbff0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"94bbff0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23716cb\" data-id=\"23716cb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c8be53 elementor--h-position-center elementor--v-position-middle elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-inside elementor-widget elementor-widget-slides\" data-id=\"1c8be53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;transition_speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"slides.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-slides-wrapper elementor-main-swiper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Slider\" dir=\"ltr\" data-animation=\"fadeInUp\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper elementor-slides\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-repeater-item-96ee245 swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\"><div class=\"swiper-slide-bg\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide-inner\" ><div class=\"swiper-slide-contents\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"elementor-repeater-item-f45fb3b swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\"><div class=\"swiper-slide-bg\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide-inner\" ><div class=\"swiper-slide-contents\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-836f95a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"836f95a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-114e7d8\" data-id=\"114e7d8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d365b7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d365b7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In Wuxi, I often went to indoor volleyball training after work and trained with various groups, including a hobby mixed group and a club with many Japanese players.<\/p><p>I also had the opportunity to play table tennis in both cities. I played table tennis actively in my youth, but as a young player I could never have imagined having the opportunity to play in China.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4e9811a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4e9811a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-929bf92\" data-id=\"929bf92\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c283dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8c283dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.normagroup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/norma-group-blog-david-schneider-simulation-engineer-table-tennis.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Image of David Schneider playing table tennis in China\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5936a64 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5936a64\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e1dc199\" data-id=\"e1dc199\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bcc50e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8bcc50e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I\u2019ve been involved in everything from casual lunchtime rounds to training sessions with players who have played in youth teams that are currently ranked fourth in the world. Table tennis is a real national sport in China and some people were surprised that I, as a European, was able to keep up well. The local people were very interested and open.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>Has the Bubble Assignment changed your perspective of NORMA Group?<\/strong><\/h2><p>Definitely! I have first-hand experience when it comes to the challenges and opportunities of global collaboration and have seen how committed our teams throughout the world are to their work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8d870ed elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8d870ed\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1f27ef\" data-id=\"f1f27ef\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c257e4 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"7c257e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t \u201cThis experience has shown me that NORMA Group is a dynamic and versatile company that is able to adapt to different markets and cultures.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ceda2e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ceda2e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-06003fb\" data-id=\"06003fb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1252f5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1252f5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I am very grateful to the colleagues involved \u2013 both the team here in Maintal for their support and the team in China for the warm welcome and the great time there.<\/p><h2><strong>What advice would you give to anyone who might be planning a Bubble Assignment?<\/strong><\/h2><p>My most important advice is to have an open mind and to be curious. Take the opportunity to learn about new cultures and approaches to work and be prepared to adapt and step out of your comfort zone.<\/p><p>Preparation is also crucial: Find out about the cultural background and requirements of the host country before you start your assignment. Network with local colleagues at an early stage to ensure a smooth transition.<\/p><p>And lastly: Be flexible \u2013 not everything will go as planned, but that\u2019s part of the experience!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>David Schneider wrote his master\u2019s thesis at NORMA Group in 2018. He has now been in China for almost three months as part of a bubble assignment. In this interview, he talks about his experience on site and explains how his view of NORMA Group has altered as a result of his stay abroad.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[125,245,214,243],"class_list":["post-8491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bubble-assignment-en","tag-career","tag-jobportrait-en","tag-karriere-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u201cAn excellent opportunity to expand your intercultural competence\u201d - NORMA Group Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"David Schneider in an interview: About his Bubble Assignment and the intercultural experience at NORMA Group in China! 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