Part―Time Jobs for Students Studying Abroad: Dreams Far Away from Homes

时间:2022-06-20 03:58:12

Doing part-time jobs has become a trend for international students as more students choose to study abroad. “To Read Sagacious Books” is no longer the only mission of students. In foreign countries, from luxury shop at high street to fried chicken cook-shops, Chinese students are busy everywhere. Many students wouldn’t tell their parents they work part-time because their parents may worry about them. The students believe what they gain from this kind of experience is more worthy than making the parents worried. The students interviewed by the reporter all claimed they not only made money in the study-work program, but also had a valuable experience that cannot be acquired in school.

随着远赴他乡留学的人数日益增多,留学生“打工热”已然成为近年的一大趋势,“一心只读圣贤书”不再是唯一任务。在外国,从奢侈品专卖店到炸鸡薯条小店,随处可见中国留学生忙碌的身影。然而很多留学生会害怕家长担心,并没有把自己打工的消息告诉家里人,因为他们觉得自己的收获比一些莫须有的担忧更值得拥有。记者所走访的曾在当地餐馆做过兼职的中国留学生都一致认为,半工半读下来,赚到的不仅是外快,更是一份在学校无法得到的宝贵经历。

Ding Yue, majoring in Business Analysis and Management in Loughborough University

“In order to check my work, the boss touches the floor with bare hands.”

丁,拉夫堡大学 商业分析与管理专业

“为检查我的工作,老板竟然亲自用手擦地”

24-year-old Ding Yue went to the UK when she was an undergraduate student. Compared with other graduate students, she has two more years of living experience abroad and several more working experiences.

Ding Yue has relatively open extracurricular time, and she started to work part-time since her second year in the UK, holding the attitude of experiencing more and learning more. The most unforgettable working experience for her happened in a fast food restaurant when she was in the last year of her undergraduate. She was the cashier and responsible for preparing food. Ding Yue said the working experience at a local restaurant helped her improve her listening and speaking of English very quickly. Although it was a little bit tiring, but it was still a pleasant thing to find she could communicate with people of different races gradually.

今年满24岁的丁早在大学本科时就来到英国读书,比起其他来英读研的留学生,她比大家多了两年留洋经验,也多了几段海外勤工俭学的经历。

由于课余时间相对比较丰富,精力充沛的丁抱着不虚度光阴和丰富阅历的目标,从到英国第二年就开始在外面找兼职。她最难忘的是本科时在英国当地的一家快餐店打工的日子。那时候的丁是本科最后一年,课业比较轻松,她找到了位于学校当地的一家炸鸡快餐店做兼职,工作是负责配餐和收银。丁说,在英国本地店打工让她的口语和听力水平急速提高。虽然每天上班苦了点,但看到自己慢慢地可以跟不同种族文化的人交流,也算是“累并快乐着”。

The owner of the diner was a white man at his 50s. Ding Yue thought he was a mild boss because he always joked around with his staff, until one day after a thorough cleanup, the boss touched the floor many times in order to check whether there was dust left. Ding Yue realized how foreign people treat their work and life differently. Ding Yue said, “I was completely freaked out. That was really uncalled for.” Fortunately, she worked very carefully that day and the boss didn’t find anything unsatisfactory. Another student worked there got scolded for some small mistakes and he was just like a buddy to the boss in daily life.

When she talked about life in the UK, what made Ding Yue proud was that she got a lot of tips from the customers. What made her moved was the boss offered to give her a break when the final exam came. Thanks to the considerate boss, no students working there had failed a course.

快餐店的老板是当地一位50多岁的白人大叔,平日和员工相处得很好,也会开开小玩笑,丁觉得这是个温和的老板。直到有一天快餐店大扫除后,老板检查工作时,丁才真正领会到外国人对于工作和生活分别对待的态度。这位平易近人的老板为了检查负责擦地板的丁工作是否到位,竟然蹲下来用刚洗干净的手在地上左摸摸、右摸摸,看是否有过多灰尘。丁形容当时的自己“被吓傻了,完全没想到老板会这样做”。所幸的是她那天的清洁做得非常用心,逃过一劫。而另一个平常看起来和老板像哥们儿的小员工则因为一些小疏忽而被训斥。

谈到自己的海外打工经历,丁觉得自己最得意的是在中餐馆打工,收到了许多国际友人的小费。而中餐馆的老板因为害怕耽误她的学业,在学期末的时候主动提出让她安心学习的建议也让她感动不已。因为这样,周围的“工友”也都没有“因工误学”。

Chen Huan, majoring in Finance in the University

of Leister

“Taking mom and girlfriend to travel around Europe with the money made by himself”

陈欢,莱斯特大学 金融专业

“用自己赚的钱带老妈和女友游欧洲”

Chen Huan studied in the University of Leister from 2012 to 2013. His working experience was a legend to his friends: After paying the tuition fees and the accommodation fees of the first term, Chen Huan still had £300 left. After he finished his program, there were £4000 in his saving account. The money he made not only paid his own bills, but was also enough to take his mom and girlfriend to travel around Europe respectively. All these seemed impossible in other students’ eyes, but Chen Huan made it.

The courses in finance were relatively less stressful compared with his undergraduate program in China, and the extra free time gave Chen Huan the idea to do part-time jobs. He worked as a waiter in the biggest Chinese restaurant in Leister and was responsible for reception, selling drinks, cleaning, and night shift. In order to balance academic life and working, Chen Huan only worked from Thursday to Sunday. The busy hours were from 5p.m. to 11p.m. He would also avoid night shift if he had class next morning. In busy seasons, Chen Huan could only catch some sleep when he finished working in the afternoon and the whole night. His time-control ability allowed him to be a good student as well as a good employee. Chen Huan was a Merit Graduatein the program.

于2012―2013年在英国莱斯特大学就读研究生的陈欢,他的打工经历在身边朋友看来简直就是一个“传奇”:在交完学费和第一学期的住宿费后,陈欢身上还有3000多磅,而在课业全部结束后,他存下了4000磅的工资。陈欢这一年的工资不但满足了他自己所有房租和生活费的需求,而且在2013年暑假,他还分别带着自己的妈妈和女朋友在欧洲玩了一圈。这一切在其他留学生眼里简直就是不可能的任务,但陈欢却做到了。

金融学院的课程,比起陈欢在国内读本科时候的强度降低了很多,突然多出来的空闲时间让陈欢产生了出去打工的想法。他找到了莱斯特最大的中餐馆去做服务生,主要负责KTV的接待工作,也会销售酒水、打扫卫生和值夜班。为了避免工作和学业冲突,陈欢将自己的班主要排在周四到周日,主要工作时间是下午五点到晚上十一点,而值夜班也会岔开第二天有早课的日子。最忙的时候,陈欢在结束五点到十一点的工作后,又紧接着干完了整个夜场,再回家补上一觉。凭着对时间的妥善管理分配,陈欢在赚到不少钱之外,学习也丝毫没有耽搁,毕业成绩拿到了“优秀”。

Apart from economic benefits, Chen Huan thought the luckiest thing was to make many good friends. His coordinating ability and responding ability were also improved. Every time he dealt with a “drunken scene”, his social skills made a qualitative leap. As a graduate student who is slightly older than others, he became the “big brother” of many other fellow students. They would share little secrets with him and gave him the name of “Duck Soup for the Soul”. Chen Huan now has the shining reputations of being successful in both studying and working, excellent cooking skills, a filial son and considerate boyfriend. He is definitely the “Good Man” in his social group. The surprise brought by working part-time cannot completely comprehended by other people.

除了帮家里减轻了经济负担外,陈欢认为这一年打工下来最幸运的就是结交了许多好朋友,协调能力和应变能力都有所提高,每次处理“醉酒现场”更让他觉得自己的交际能力得到了“质的飞跃”。身为稍微年长的研究生,有许多本科的弟弟妹妹跟陈欢熟络之后就会把他视为知心哥哥,向他倾吐内心的烦恼,更给他赠名“心灵老鸭汤”。学业事业双丰收、精湛的厨艺、孝顺儿子和贴心男友,陈欢在朋友圈内俨然是“新好男人”的代名词,这些由打零工为他带来的一系列惊喜,是别人无法体会的。

Qiu Xibei, majoring in TESOL, University of Exeter

“Working part-time makes me

a man-like girl.”

仇西贝,埃克塞特大学

对外英语教学专业

“打工激发了我的女汉子特质”

After submitting the graduation dissertation, Qiu Xibei moved from Exeter, a city in the south of England, to Newcastle, a city in the north, to live with her former roommate at college, and they decided to work together to make some money. She came to a buffet restaurant owned by an ethnic Chinese. She was responsible for guiding people, folding napkins, and collecting plates.

People in Newcastle have a heavy accent, and it became the first challenge confronted by Qiu Xibei. Fortunately, her English major experience made her adapt quickly to this accent, and she gradually acquired this new skill of understanding Newcastle English.

Most Chinese students studying abroad haven’t done much housework back home. They are lazy and afraid of troubles. Qiu Xibei is not an exception. Qiu Xibei told the reporter that she nearly did nothing physical at home. However, working at the restaurant made her more like a man-like girl. She washed dishes, held many plates at one time, and did not feel exhausted after a day’s work. These changes surprised her. She joked that “maybe I can carry a big bag of rice easily when I go back home.”

在交完硕士毕业论文后,温婉的江南妹子仇西贝从英国南部城市艾特塞克搬去了北端的纽卡斯尔,在那里和大学室友一起居住,两人也商量好一起打工赚生活费。她来到一个华裔老板开的自助餐厅做楼面工作,主要负责引导客人、折叠餐具、收盘子等。

纽卡斯尔是一个口音很重的城市,纽卡斯尔腔也是英语学习者的一大挑战,所以听懂当地人说的话成了仇西贝的第一个挑战。幸好身为英语专业的学生,扎实的专业底子让她很快适应了这独特的语音语调,慢慢地掌握了纽卡斯尔腔这项“新技能”。

大部分留学生在国内家里都不怎么干家务活,怕麻烦也懒得动,仇西贝也不例外。她告诉记者,之前在家里几乎没有做过什么体力活,但在自助餐厅打工的日子竟然发现自己越来越像“女汉子”了:洗碗刷锅样样在行,端盘拿杯的数量也日益增多,干一天活竟然慢慢不觉得累了……这样的变化让仇西贝自己都觉得很吃惊,她笑着告诉记者“说不准回家扛一袋大米上楼都不带喘呢!”

Although she only worked there for a short period of time, her many abilities were affirmed. The restaurant did not permit waitresses to take tips. One handicapped old lady avoided the supervisor and walked through the whole restaurant to give her tips. The time when she left the restaurant was before Christmas and it was the busiest time. Many co-workers snatched a bit of leisure to prepare farewell gifts and cards for her, even including her manager. Xibei said only foreign and old staffs can enjoy this treatment, so she was flattered and very touched.

Xiebei would like to observe various people at work, and she has learned many useful table manners that she did not know before. These unexpected gaining made her love her job more and would like to learn more from it.

虽然在餐馆干的时间不久,但仇西贝的工作得到了各方面的肯定。餐馆不允许服务员收小费,有一次一个残疾人老奶奶为避开领班的视线,竟开着残疾车绕了大半个餐厅找到仇西贝,把小费塞到她手里。她离职的时候正逢最忙的圣诞前夕,但外国同事们知道她要走的消息都忙里偷闲给她准备礼物,写祝福卡片,甚至连经理都参与了进来。西贝说这种待遇一般只有外国老员工才会享受到,自己在受宠若惊的同时也非常感动。

打工闲暇细心的西贝喜欢观察各种客人,在平日的观察中她甚至学到了不少中国人不太注意的自助餐礼仪。这些意外的收获让她对自己的工作更加喜爱,也更乐意从中学习更多。

Wang Fei, majoring in Occupation Career Education, Hokkaido University

“Being in charge of a kitchen of McDonald’s all by himself is a fulfilling task”

王飞,北海道大学

职业生涯教育专业

“一人负责麦当劳后厨是件

很有成就感的事”

The policy of student employment in Japan regulates that one can only work no more than 28 hours a week, with travel allowance and the wage is guaranteed. Wang Fei hoped to practice his language, know more about the local culture, and make some money, so he decided to work in a busy McDonald’s.

Staying in Japan alone to pursue his dream, without families and friends around, Wang Fei thinks working dispelled his sense of strangeness and fear. He blended in very fast. Different from working in a Chinese restaurant, working in a McDonald requires fluent language and communication skills. At the beginning, he only did some work that requires less linguistic communication. As he got more successful with work and language, he started to do more challenging work.

Wang Fei has got used to being excellent because he has been a merit student since he was a child. Being a student in the famous Hokkaido University made him even more proud. However, the practical work was not as easy as he had imagined. Wang Fei said he could not handle criticism very well since had been used to being apprised. He was incompetent at work and usually got criticized by the supervisor. Just like a proud cock that lowers its head, Wang Fei started to accept criticism and had a better understanding of himself.

因为对日本留学生打工政策早有了解,一周不能超过28小时、有交通补助、不会克扣工资,再加上希望练习语言和深入了解外国文化和社会,赚点钱补贴家用,王飞决定去当地人较多的麦当劳打工。

为了心中的梦想只身一人来到日本,周围也没有亲戚朋友,王飞认为打工很大程度上消除了自己对外国的陌生和恐惧感,让自己很快融入新环境中。与在中餐馆兼职不同的是,在麦当劳需要语言流利,交流顺畅,所以他刚开始只是做些清洗等对语言要求不高的活。但随着和店里当地人的共事越来越顺利,语言能力也明显提高,他很快就开始做些别的工作。

王飞从小成绩优异,能力出众,在国内一直都是学校的佼佼者,再加上申请上的北海道大学在日本也是老牌名校,身上具有优等生天生的优越感是理所当然。而真正动手干活后却发现和在学校的表现相隔甚远。王飞说,以前在国内因为自身条件不错,容易高估自己并且产生自满情绪,所以接受批评的能力也较弱。但打工后他慢慢发现自己的动手能力很差,所以经常被同事或领导批评。就像一只骄傲的公鸡慢慢垂下高昂的头,王飞开始虚心接受批评,对自己的认识也进一步加深。

When the reporter asked what his proudest thing is during work, Wang Fei thought about it for a while and said, “It seems that I don’t have anything that I’m especially proud of. When I just arrived in Japan, I could barely talk in Japanese. After a month, however, I was qualified for any position in McDonald’s. Sometimes I can take charge of the kitchen all by myself. I made hamburgers, fried chickens, and chips. It’s kind of fulfilling.”

The original intention of students who study abroad was to realize their academic goals, which can make them more competitive when they find a job in China. However, when those “super students” leave their parents and their warm homes, they have to be adaptable and learn to be independent in a very short time. Those changes make them happy and also make them understand that the meaning of being far away from home is not only learning, but also growing. This is another comprehension of dreams.

当问及打工期间最令自己骄傲的事时,王飞思考良久说道:“好像没什么值得骄傲的事情吧,如果一定要说的话就是刚到国外时,语言不通什么都不知道,但是经过了一个月我竟然能胜任麦当劳的任何职位了。有时候自己还可以一个人负责后厨,做汉堡、炸鸡、炸薯条什么的,还挺有成就感。”

留学生出国学习的初衷可能都是实现自己的学术愿望,在回国就业时相较而言会更有优势。但在国外求学期间,这些国内优秀的“学霸”们在脱离了父母的怀抱和家庭的温床后,不得不在现实中飞速独立。这些改变在令他们倍感喜悦的同时,也让他们明白,远离家乡的意义并不仅仅是学习,而是成长。这是对梦想的另一种诠释。

Appendix: Policies on student employment in some popular countries

附:热门留学国家打工条例

US: 20 hours per week is permitted, but only on campus. Work permit is not needed.

UK: 20 hours per week is permitted. Any person under the age of 18 is not allowed to work.

Ireland: 20 hours per week is permitted, with the minimum wage standard of 7 Euros.

France: 20 hours per week is permitted. Working is prohibited in the first year of language course.

Belgium: 20 hours per week is permitted.

Denmark: 15 hours per week is permitted.

Netherlands: 10 hours per week is permitted.

Canada: 20 hours per week is permitted for public school students. Students of language schools and private schools are prohibited to work.

Australia: 20 hours per week is permitted (no limitation in holidays). Tax number has to be applied for in advance. Working exceeding the regulated hours will lead to withdrawal of visa.

New Zealand: 20 hours per week is permitted, and 40 hours in summer vacation.

Japan: 28 hours per week is permitted. Students are prohibited to work in the business related to sex industry, which, once found, may lead to repatriation.

Singapore: 16 hours per week is permitted for students in public schools. Schools need to issue “Working Permits” in advance.

美国:每周允许打工20小时,且限制为校内打工。无须打工卡。

英国:每周允许打工20小时,未满18岁者禁止打工。

爱尔兰:每周允许打工20小时,最低工资标准7欧元。

法国:每周允许打工20小时,但第一年语言学习时严禁打工。

比利时:每周允许打工20小时。

丹麦:每周允许打工15小时

荷兰:每周允许打工10小时

加拿大:公立学校就读生在校外允许打工20小时,语言学校学生和私立大学学生严禁打工。

澳洲:每周允许打工20小时(假期不限)。但必须事前申请税号。若被发现超时打工,将有可能被吊销签证。

新西兰:每周允许打工20小时,暑期可为40小时

日本:每周允许打工28小时。学生禁止从事风俗营业相关的工种,一经发现将有可能遣送回国。

新加坡:公立院校每周允许打工16小时。事前需由学校出具相应的“打工卡”。

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