I just wanted to write so I could get an entry with a Christmas date stamp.. yes, I’m at work.. Taiwan doesnt really celebrate Christmas.. its mainly commerical or just for “the kids”..

You know whats sad? I’ve been here for 3 months, pretty much and I’ve probably learned as much SAP as a beginner would have learned in the first 4 hours of a REAL SAP class. I was a little pissed this morning.. I’ve been trying to get some unit testing done. Although I don’t know much about SAP, I can at least get around (plus I have a cheat sheet on which transactions to use). Anyhow, I figure that was also the best way to start learning, get some hands-on. But also this week, the consultants are doing integration testing.. integration of the various modules and if/how they will work together (since each consultant sets up their own module). First of all, the demo schedule is all in Chinese, so I couldnt figure out which days to go. After asking a co-worker (mistake), I figured I needed to go the last two days of the demo (12/29 and 12/30). But apparently I was wrong.. so the PM asks me to go now.. so I go. Here’s my problem.. I’m not familiar with SAP transactions or screens. I barely understand the processes and procedures that have been set up. So when I show up to the demo, they’re using Chinese in SAP. All the screens are in Chinese. I don’t recognize anything. And to top it off, I don’t know Chinese technical terms. Like, in normal conversation with your parents, you don’t talk about ‘transaction posting’ or ‘document flow’. So when they’re talking, combined with the SAP Chinese screens, it just makes for a very confusing demonstration. After about 45 minutes of mental abuse, I left. Shortly thereafter, the PM came to my desk (I have the worst desk in the office, by the way), and the follow dialogue transpires:

PM: “I think you should be in the integration demo..”
Me: “Nah, I don’t think so..”
PM: “Why ? They’re going over your module..”
Me: “Why ? because I don’t understand any of that.. I don’t know SAP, I don’t recognize Chinese screens, I don’t know what they’re doing..”
PM: “Well.. that’s your problem then..” (he didn’t say it like “oh, thats YOUR f*ckin’ problem.. I would’ve killed him with the eraser end of a pencil if he did.. he said it as if it was something he just discovered.. that I have a problem of not understanding Chinese much less SAP.. like “oh, I know what your problem is!”)
Me: “Well yeah, that IS my problem.. so what do you suggest I do about it ?”
PM (caught off guard): “Well.. you.. can.. ask the consultant and she can help you..”
Me (looking at the consultants empty desk): “When ? when does she have time to sit down and show me SAP ?”
PM: “Well, we’ll talk about this later..” (to his credit, I must say that was a wise move.. because I could feel my face getting hot and my head started to pulse like it was going to explode.. either that or I was going to keel over from super high blood pressure)

“We’re going to send you to SAP classes, don’t worry”.. one of the many broken promises before I signed up for Hellhole 2003, Hellhole 2004, and Hellhole 2005.

Being Christmas, I didnt really want to deal with this issue today.. luckily, a REAL co-worker from the Shanghai office contacted me via Yahoo IM.. she needed help on some work order material issue and costing problem in JDE.. just the thing I needed.. something productive to do!

I dunno whats sadder.. working on Christmas? or being excited about fixing a material issue costing problem in JDE?

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Dammit.. first confirmed case of SARS in Taipei.. son of a bitch.. everywhere you go now, businesses have people posted outside with thermometers that check your temperature.. luckily, none of us have a fever.. I dont know what they would do if they found someone that has a fever.. deny entry to the business ? call the Taiwan CDC ? hmm.. don’t want to find out..

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Ok, so I’m here in Taiwan, working on an SAP implementation for a publicly traded company in Taiwan. I’ve signed a two (2) year agreement to stay on this project and to live in Taiwan during my two (2) year tour-of-duty.

Problem: I have 9 years of JD Edwards experience. Prior to coming to Taiwan, I had about 8 hours (collectively) of hands-on SAP experience and no training whatsoever.

Seeing as how the first 6 months of my “tour” is to implement SAP, training has been sparse since we are on a very tight schedule. I’ve been relegated to duties such as documentation and interviewing users. I see the value in being here during the implementation phase even though I have little to contribute. I’ve been able to learn the business processes here, which I’m sure will be invaluable at a later date. But to break the monotony of documentation, I’ve taken it upon myself to begin my SAP learning process. I’ve received a lot of help for a co-worker that I used to help. He is the primary JD Edwards support guy for my “real” company’s Taiwan office. He was always a fan of SAP, even back in the day when I’d try to hype JDE and their One World offering (this was waaay before Peoplesoft entered the picture, obviously). Because of this, he maintained his “consulting” contacts and has been able to get ahold of many training documents and “juicy” reference material (hey, I’ve been in Taiwan for almost 3 months with very limited Chinese speaking skills, reference material is “juicy” at this point). Surprisingly, I’ve also found some useful information on the internet. When I used to search for JDE information, I could never find any. I figure its because SAP is much more popular.. although that still doesnt explain why SAP “people” would tend to share more than JDE people.. I guess JDE people are bastards (I can say this now because I’ve effectively tossed 9 years of JDE experience out the window).

Anyway, on to my plea.. so, I figured, since I have this outlet, so to speak.. I’ve decided to beg for additional SAP training and reference materials.. anything, really.. remember, I’m starting from the ground up and my mind has been cleared of all that JDE clutter, so I’m ready to learn.. so.. anyone ? please ?

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