We Work in WeWork
By: Xavier Lee, SEAS ’22
Xavier (third from right) with members of the Cadence team enjoying lunch in a yurt
Cadence Translate – Beijing, China
On my first day of work, I’m taking the elevator up to the seventh floor of the office building where my company, Cadence Translate, resides. The doors open up to a WeWork whose tiled walls and quaint lighting bestowed a western-hipster vibe I candidly didn’t expect to see in Beijing. We were then taken to Cadence’s office in the WeWork where we met our coworkers for the Summer.
“Venezuela … Russia … New Zealand,” my coworkers said as they introduced themselves. I was pleasantly surprised as the list of countries grew – “China … Malaysia … Indonesia.” The thought that I had found such a rich cultural intersection in such a homogeneous society both confused and excited me. I wondered how it was possible to build a community with such a broad international reach in a country that tends to limit access and resources to foreigners. In the following weeks, I slowly learned the answer: not easily. At lunch, I would hear more about my coworkers and their stories from home as well as how they all ended up at Cadence. The common trend was that there was no trend. Some of them studied in Europe, others in Asia. Some of them had lived in China their whole life others had just moved in. A perfect storm of indirect, but mutually-connected trajectories brought these people together, and I felt humbled to work with a team so diverse in culture and experience.
I am excited to go to work because I know I will learn something new – perhaps a new app that simplifies life in China or an unusual fact I never knew about a country. App recommendation: Mobike serves as Beijing’s largest bike-share service. New Zealand fact: it ranks 3rd in the world for most Olympic medals per capita. Outside of my direct office, the WeWork boasts a plethora of other companies, mostly start-ups and small businesses. In the common area, I often run into other fellow expats and spend a coffee break talking to them, learning about what their company does or perhaps talking about their trip to Rome last summer.
In retrospect, I came to China expecting to be immersed in Chinese culture but found myself in a melting pot of different countries and languages. I find myself in a rare position to truly learn about the world outside of my bubble at home. I only hope that this opportunity doesn’t escape me.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce. Placements and funding awards are available.