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Brian Simmons |
Life in Taipei: Starting a New Site
Brian Simmons
May 2005
Imagine having 36 hours to decide if you wanted to move to the
other side of the globe, start a new MITRE site, and begin work
on a new contract with a new customer. That is what Brian Simmons
did in the fall of 2003 when he took the assignment as site leader
for MITRE's new site in Taipei, Taiwan.
MITRE's Center for Advanced Aviation Systems and Development (CAASD)
has long supported the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in
developing solutions that will enable the national airspace system
to respond to increasing demands. With the FAA's encouragement,
CAASD also assists numerous civil aviation authorities around the
world in their efforts to modernize and increase aviation safety
and efficiency.
The timing for establishing the new site was critical. On September
30, 2003, MITRE signed a contract with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) to support the implementation
of a communication, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management
(CNS/ATM) modernization plan. The team of 18 staff was expected
to be on-site and operational the next day.
Simmons, previously a project team manager at MITRE McLean working
on the FAA's National Airspace Design Program, rose to the challenge
of quickly getting the new site up and running. "Setting up the
site involved establishing a physical office, pulling together a
team, and formulating a program plan. The office was converted warehouse
space and our sponsors provided basic services and furnishings.
We had to purchase computers (including printers, and fax, copier,
and document shredder machines, etc.) for 18 staff, design and implement
a network, and install software," he says "Our team was made up
of five MITRE staff, one from Airways New Zealand, four from the
National Cheng Kung University, and eight from the Industrial Technology
Research Institute (Taiwan). Each of us had very different backgrounds,
training, and language skills, so my priority was to quickly assess
capabilities and build working teams. Luckily, CAASD sent some of
its best staff to support establishing the site in the first few
weeks. This included representatives from CAASD's Business Resource
Center and Information Technology Resource Center."
The MITRE Taipei offices are located at Sung Shan domestic airport
across the street from the CAA headquarters. Cultural differences
in the working environment were readily apparent. As Simmons explains,
"Lunch was usually a native Taiwanese boxed lunch delivered daily
for about $1.50 U.S. Plus, the staff had regular karaoke parties—and
the managers were expected to sing."
Simmons and his family had to make numerous adjustments in their
personal life as well. "I moved with my wife and infant daughter.
They adjusted well despite the challenges in getting Western baby
food and other baby products," he says. "They eventually made many
excellent friends in the local and expatriate communities. After
a few months my wife led the Taipei International Parent's group,
which sponsored playgroups and social events twice a week. She learned
to play Mah Jong and made friends from around world."
The language barrier proved surmountable as well. Simmons and his
wife studied Chinese but, as he says, "We were able to do pretty
well with English and only had to learn enough Chinese to speak
to cab drivers and shopkeepers." Shopping became a daily trip to
the local markets for fresh food. And since they did not have a
car, they took public transportation and walked everywhere.
In December 2004, Simmons took on a new assignment at CAASD and
moved his family back to McLean. All in all, Simmons' 14 months
in Taiwan were filled with many interesting experiences. "We had
a few strong earthquakes, two major typhoons, and the locals often
requested to have their pictures taken with our blonde, blue-eyed
baby girl, who was subsequently asked to start modeling for local
baby products," says Simmons. "We also had the opportunity to do
a bit of traveling, including two trips to Phuket, Thailand, where
we stayed at beach resorts which, unfortunately, have since been
destroyed by the tsunami.
"On the down side, at business dinners I often had to eat sea cucumber
(otherwise known as sea slug), jelly fish, bird nest soup, duck
feet, dried squid, raw liver, beef tendon, and braised pork fat.
I really missed Mexican food!"
—by Kay M. Upham
MITRE's Taiwan Site
Established in the fall of 2003, MITRE's Taipei, Taiwan, site is
home to five MITRE staff. They are supporting the Republic of China
(Taiwan) Civil Aeronautics Administration as it implements a CNS/ATM
modernization plan as defined by the International Civil Aviation
Organization.
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