Wendy's Inspiring Story

 

The future looks bright in Wendy Zhang’s migrating life.

 

When Wendy started studying her Master in Business at Newcastle in 2001, she did not expect that she would stay in Newcastle and begin her new life within a foreign land.

 

Over the past decade, Wendy has made sure to take each steps carefully in order to reach certain goals;from serving as an Assistant to a Catering Manager at Compass Group, to her most productive period ever as a General Event Manager at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

 

This foreign land brings her hope. Wendy has adapted to local life and has gradually developed a sense of belonging here in Newcastle.

 

A Decision to Stay

Like other international students who are willing to attain an overseas working experience, Wendy decided to stay in Newcastle after she graduated from Business School in 2003. Fortunately, she applied for an assistant of catering manager at Compass Group with the help of agency recruitment. She said that her relevant major in Administrative Management and the internship experience she took during her Masters study has increased the chance of her getting the job opportunity. Wendy saw this position as a rare opportunity that equipped her with practical skills and helped her familiarise herself with the local working environment.

 

“At that time, in order to talk with local people smoothly and freely, I used to read the newspapers and magazines at the newsstand every day, to keep up with the emerging issues and topics. I think that I can also learn English from those types of reading”, Wendy recalled with a smile. In terms of getting into local life, she still regards language as the main barrier, which should be overcome as soon as possible. “I push myself to communicate with foreigners and take chances to speak English instead of taking part in some of the Chinese communities. If I still always hang out with a batch of Chinese people and speak Chinese, there is no point of studying abroad”, she said firmly.

 

Opportunity always favours those who are well-prepared. It was from 2003 that UK government launched a new Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). If a migrant lives for four years continuously with employment, he/she may be able to apply for permanent residence. As a result, after 4-year employment at Compass Group, Wendy successfully got the right to permanent residence.

 

Golden Period in Her Career

Without any visa problems, Wendy is ambitious in making good use of rare opportunities. In 2007, she was taken on by managerial members of BALTIC Center of Contemporary Art, an international centre for leading the distinctive presentation, development and communication of contemporary visual art in North East England. She got promoted as an Events and Café Bar General Manager, which mainly deals with strategic development and organization of high profile events, as well as the operational management of the café bar. Among her achievements, Wendy is most proud of hosting the ‘Emirates launch party’ in Newcastle for 300 key business leaders, offering service to the publicity of ‘London Olympics’ in North East district, and hosting the ‘Prince Charles and Camilla VIP buffet’ with 200 National Trust Members at Seaton Delaval Hall.

 

“I’m so impressed that they are very amiable, and with such elegant spirit of the Royal Family!” Wendy described her first face-to-face meeting with the widely respected and beloved Prince Charles and his wife Camilla.

 

It is precious working experience like this that makes Wendy admire this foreign environment. “I enjoy my life here, and I find myself deeply attached to Newcastle. I prefer a simple lifestyle and simple interpersonal relationship. You know, making friends here is simple without involving other complicated factors.” When asked the reason she stays here, Wendy emphasises on the factor of people.

 

Bright Future for Staring Own Business

My life, Wendy says, is “an infinite sea of possibilities.” She likes taking challenges that may push her limits, and always improving everything that relates to what she aspires to; o starting her own business is no expectation. Being not satisfied with working for others, Wendy would like to have her own business, so she can develop her potential. Working with some of her trusted friends, they took the leasehold on a small shop area to open a restaurant called Mr. Bing, which specialises in cooking Jianbing (Chinese Pancake). Mr. Bing, which means the cook who makes pancake, is based on Chinese character pronunciation. Distinguishing from common dishes in other Chinese restaurants, Mr. Bing has gained popularity amongst both Chinese and other customers in Newcastle, for instance, the most famous dishes among foreign customers are Roasted Duck Bing, Huimian(braised noodle), and Szechuan Chicken in Hot Sauce. “I don’t want to cater for foreign taste, Chinese taste is our feature. We want it be popular because of our own uniqueness” said Wendy with confidence.

 

When asked the future plan, she makes a prediction for her business development. “I’m not satisfied with such a small restaurant. I want to develop the catering management of a group system, an enterprise perhaps. If possible, there will be branches around England, not only focusing on Newcastle” Wendy anticipated.

 

Advice to female migrants

“Be strong and do not pin your destiny to other person. Try to think yourself as strong as a man, we can find a niche in our own field of development.” Wendy considers that sometimes women are stronger than men due to female way of thinking, they are able to be more flexible. Meanwhile, she puts emphasis on the importance of knowledge. “Everyone is supposed to empower herself/himself with their won knowledge, especially women.”

 

At the end of the talk, Wendy hopes that her story could inspire other migrants to build their new lives in foreign countries. She left arm extended out in a valedictory handshake. It seems that she is eager to start something new with confidence.