This article draws from a mixed-method study of 111 Indonesian doctoral students' experiences in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative data from follow-up interviews conducted throughout 2020 offer insights into doctoral students' enforced online supervision experiences. Beyond the inevitable challenges, in-depth interviews reveal that most participants' narratives involve cross-cultural issues. We highlight one participant's cross-cultural experience of online supervision, which she called 'a blessing in disguise'. This student's narrative epitomises the transformative potential of repositioning oneself in relation to others and strategies involving additional support to operate online. By employing positioning theory, this study provides insights into effective practices for online supervision during a time of crisis.