This summer, I returned to Taiwan for the Berkeley Global Internship Program and spent about two months living, studying, and working in Taipei. Even though I grew up in Taiwan, this trip felt different because it was my first time experiencing it as a Berkeley student and as an engineering intern.
Arriving in Taipei
I flew from Ontario, California to Taipei at the end of May. I lived near Taipei Main Station, which made it easy to get around by MRT, bus, and train. Since I already speak Mandarin and knew the city, settling in was not too difficult, but living there independently for the summer still felt new. I had to manage work, classes, transportation, food, and everything else on my own.
One thing I appreciated throughout the trip was how convenient Taipei is. I could take public transportation almost anywhere, find food late at night, and walk to many places from where I lived. I had used Taiwan’s transportation system before, but relying on it every day made me appreciate it much more.
My Internship at SCM Solutions
During the week, I worked at SCM Solutions as an Engineering Project Management Intern. The company helps clients develop products and find manufacturers that can make them. My job involved researching suppliers, contacting factories, organizing supplier information, and helping determine whether a company had the right materials and manufacturing processes for a project.
I worked on several different projects during the summer. Some involved a carbon-fiber drone frame, electronic displays, conductive silicone, firefighting tools, Nomex webbing, and stainless-steel parts. I had to learn about processes such as CNC machining, extrusion, forging, injection molding, sewing, coating, and assembly. I also helped ask suppliers about their equipment, materials, certifications, minimum order quantities, samples, and lead times.
At first, I thought sourcing mostly meant finding a company that could make a part. I quickly learned that it is much more detailed than that. A supplier might say it works with aluminum, but I still needed to find out which aluminum alloys it uses, whether it can handle the required production volume, what finishing processes it offers, and which steps it sends to another company. I became much better at writing clear emails and asking specific questions.
I also used Odoo to organize supplier records and track nondisclosure agreements. I helped improve the supplier research process by checking whether the company already had a suitable supplier before adding a new one. This made me realize how important organization and communication are in engineering projects. Even a good design can be delayed if information is missing or if the supplier and client do not understand each other.
Visiting Factories
My favorite part of the internship was visiting factories. I got to see CNC machining, plastics manufacturing, injection molding, and other production processes in person. Before this summer, I had mostly learned about manufacturing through classes, videos, and drawings. Seeing the machines, molds, tools, unfinished parts, and inspection equipment made everything much easier to understand.
The factory visits also showed me that a part that looks simple on a drawing may not be simple to manufacture. The shape of a part affects how it can be held, machined, inspected, and finished. I started thinking more about whether a design would be practical to produce, not just whether it would work in theory.
During one visit, I had the chance to talk with a factory manager and became friendly with him. That was meaningful to me because it showed me that manufacturing is also about relationships. It is important to understand what a factory is comfortable making and to listen when the people there point out a possible problem.
Classes and Life Outside Work
Along with the internship, I took two Berkeley courses for a total of six units. EA LANG 188 focused on Taiwanese history and culture, while my online global internship course asked me to reflect on work, culture, inequality, transportation, and what it means to be a global citizen. Taking these classes while living in Taiwan made the assignments feel connected to what I was seeing every day.
Outside work and class, I spent time exploring Taipei, eating local food, using the MRT and buses, and reconnecting with Taiwan. Because I am Taiwanese, the trip was not the same as visiting a completely unfamiliar country. Instead, it gave me a chance to look at a familiar place more carefully. I noticed differences between working life in Taiwan and the United States, especially the longer work hours and the way people balance work with their personal lives.
I also realized that knowing the language gave me a big advantage. I could communicate directly with suppliers and understand cultural details that might be difficult for someone visiting Taiwan for the first time. At the same time, I still had to learn how to communicate professionally and not assume that I understood everything just because I was familiar with the culture.
What I Took Away from the Summer
By the end of the program, I felt much more confident communicating with suppliers, asking technical questions, and working through problems without always waiting for someone to tell me the next step. I learned that real engineering work is not always a straight path. Sometimes a supplier does not respond, a specification is incomplete, or a process does not work the way you expected. You have to follow up, stay organized, and keep looking for another solution.
This experience also helped me connect my studies at Berkeley with real products. Materials, manufacturing, cost, quality, and supply chains all affect one another. I now have a much better picture of how an idea moves from a drawing to a factory and eventually becomes a finished product.
Overall, the summer gave me professional experience, new connections, and a different way of seeing Taiwan. I returned to Berkeley with a better understanding of manufacturing and project management, but I also came back more independent and more confident about working with people from different backgrounds. I am grateful that the GLOBE Discovery Scholarship helped make this experience possible.