End of Program Reflection: Summer Work and Travel Winter/Spring 2020
While all Summer Work and Travel participants enter the USA on the same program, every participant has their own unique experience. To understand these perspectives and the positive impact of the program, we asked our winter and spring season participants to participate in an End of Program Contest. The contest was an opportunity for the participants to reflect on what they learned and gained from the program and share photos that capture the magic of their experience in the USA. Exchange Visitor programs are important - both to Americans and Exchange Visitors. Read their experiences below for a greater understanding of who our Exchange Visitors are and why Exchange Programs are so impactful.
CONTEST WINNER
CELESTE MONTERO DEL VALLE
The Work and Travel Program was more than just a cultural exchange trip; it was a unique and unforgettable experience that will remain in my heart for the rest of my life.
I traveled to Orlando, Florida and worked for Loews Hotels. There I have become very familiar with American culture and its people. I have made many friends, both American and from many other countries and I have had the opportunity to visit places that I would never have known in a simple vacation. Every person I met and every place I went has left an indelible mark on my heart.
I worked a lot as a lifeguard; a job that was an unexpected and sometimes exhausting challenge but thanks to it I gained work experience and economic independence which is very important for life. I also got to know how it is to work in another country. I became more responsible and punctual to carry out my daily tasks. In addition, thanks to this work I have earned all the money necessary to live this experience to the fullest.
About the cultural activities, I really enjoyed visiting Saint Augustine, it was a beautiful place with a Christmas atmosphere. I am also privileged to have been able to have free tickets to Universal Studios and to have visited Walt Disney World so many times, which is the best place in the world in my opinion! I lived many happy moments. I visited incredible places with the company of incredible people. We traveled long hours by car to go to the beach, visited theme parks, went shopping, sailed in lakes, and above all, we laughed to death and had so much fun!
What I value most about this experience is the freedom and independence it has given me, since in my country I live with my parents. In the US I had to live with strangers who later became siblings, to do my own shopping, cook myself, travel alone and handle difficult situations in an adult way when things got complicated. These are things that I will value forever because they helped me grow as a human being and to see and live life in a different way.
I think cultural exchange is important since it teaches you many essential things for life. You meet people from all over the world, visit magnificent and breathtaking places, know different cultures and make wonderful friendships. Thanks to this trip I have managed to depend less on others, be more persevering, not be afraid of the unknown and socialize more! And last but not least, I have greatly improved my level of English since I had to speak that language constantly.
I do not regret anything; I will always think that it has been the most difficult decision to make but at the same time the best one I have ever made! Although not everything is perfect, the overall experience leaves you with a beautiful memory and a huge learning experience. Each participant has their own experience, in different environments and with different people, but I am sure that each of them becomes unforgettable and something that we later want to repeat over and over again!
It can be scary and uncertain at first, but when you get there you realize that everyone you share with is in the same situation and everybody vibrates the same way. It is an incredible thing that changes your life forever. I wish with all my heart to be able to live another work and travel experience, which will surely be very different from the first but just as special, collecting unforgettable memories and making long-lasting friendships. Thanks to WWCE and my agency WATAR located in Argentina, all this was possible.
“Make as many friends as you can, travel as much as you can and enjoy every single day living the American dream”.