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”.
“Our destination is never a place, but a different way of seeing things ”(Henry Miller)
Throughout the program, I was able to open up my personality completely, meeting people, extraordinary places, the best jobs and environments for a young university student who goes to another country with the purpose of gaining new experiences, living in the moment and enjoying life's moments. That was me, a young man living one moment at a time and enjoying a lot with the new people I met throughout the program.
My experience started very quickly and full of expectations; however, the health emergency made me leave my comfort zone and make me a more responsible, independent and dedicated person during the program in the US.
Life sometimes does not present itself to us in the best way, however we are the ones capable of transforming the threat into an opportunity to grow and adapt to all the situations that may arise one day.
Finally, thanks to the experience of the entire program, I was able to explore all my potential at work and as a intern I was filled with feelings, emotions, friendships, moments and significant connections that led me to know myself more as a person and marked my life in impressive ways. As a traveler, student and citizen of the world, I received one of the best experiences I have ever had. When I returned to my country, I found an incredibly more responsible and independent person for my day to day.
Thanks for everything.
Mateo Cruz / Ecuador / Publix
My time in the USA was one of my best experiences ever. I still can not believe I could live with the people that became my family, in Orlando, for three months. I could go to the theme parks, the beach, get to know the city, lakes, and so many other amazing places. Experienced all of this with the beautiful people I met, was incredible. During my stay, I learnt to appreciate every minute of the day, even when I was tired or working. There is always someone you could learn something from, since especially in Orlando you could meet people from so many different places, not only from the US. I think that if you have the opportunity to do a cultural exchange program, you should take it, without hesitation. It will open your mind.
Abril Guerrero / Argentina / Loews Hotels
My time in the United States was wonderful. I meet a lot of new friends from all around the world, my experience in work was really good too, so it was a beautiful experience, besides I worked for one of the Universal Hotels so I had free entry to the three parks (Volcano bay, Universal, Island of Adventure) and that was amazing because every day when my time at work ended, I went to the parks. The pay was really good so I had a chance to visit some new places like Key West and Chicago. But the best thing about this trip was that I meet a really lovely person. it was on the night of new year and from that moment to the end of the trip, we became really close and until today we keep in touch. It is a pity that she lives very far from me here in Argentina (400 miles) but we want to meet again soon. Thanks to this program we had the chance to know each other so I'm very thankful for that. When you leave your country in one of these experiences, you never know what's going to happen, so you need to be open to new wonderful experiences. You can travel, you can make new friends and also, you can find love.
Matias Ivan Pappalardo / Argentina / Loews Hotels
Work and Travel program was one of the best experience of my life. I could know American culture they are so friendly and I know that if I visit the touristic places I can feel me safe. I worked with people from all over the world and I could know about their cultures. I can develop me in a city and living myself without fear. I am so happy with this experience and I would repeat it one more time!
Giselle Cardenas / Peru / Hospitality Services Group
In my cultural exchange trip, not only did I get to know the culture of another country, but I could also see another side in my personal growth, since I was responsible for my personal and group duties. It helped me develop professionally and also in my maturity. I got to know a place that I always wanted to visit, New York, and do activities that I had always seen on the internet, like on television and had wanted to try, as simple as eating a hot dog in central park or walking at night the time square. Also being able to get to know new customs and see cities so well designed that they will help me in my professional career that is architecture, since visiting places like high line or being in design cities like Greensboro, helped me to have different perspectives and expand my creativity for future designs. I also got to meet people of different ages, from different countries, who spoke English, Spanish, French and other languages more, with whom I managed to establish friendships and build memories that I will never forget. Trying different flavors than I am used to, it was sensational, since I not only tried but also learn new dishes with different gastronomic touches, which were delicious. And just like the fact of just being able to see and analyze how a city works and learn from it, it helped me to be a person more capable of being anywhere else and not feeling that I could get lost or something could happen to me. I learned to be careful and responsible in my daily activities. I would recommend doing the program because not only did I manage to fulfill a part of a dream that I have had since I was a child, but I also managed to mature and learned to value everything I have and take care of it even more.
Marycielo Olivera Buendia / Peru / Hospitality Services Group
This is the trip of our lives and the one that we never imagined it will turned like that.
I started my program in Santa Clarita, California. I love it! The job was really cool, I got to eat a lot at Six Flags Magic Mountain and I was able to ride all the rollercoasters I wanted. I visited Hollywood, Santa Monica, The walk of fame and the lovely Malibu. Everything was going really nice. But suddendly all the plans changed, everything was uncertain, the pandemic affect every single traveler in the program, luckly with WWCE help, me and my friends were able to go to Key West and work at Publix. There aren't words to described how beautiful and cool is the small island, you can easily go anywhere in there with your bike, everything is so closed that you can go all the way around Key West in just 40 minutes, it was secure and people there was so homely. I met amazing people there from other cities that were transferred to Key West as well during the pandemic, we support each other because the things weren't easy, we had a lot of up and downs but the friendship always went us through everything. Sadly, everything was closed, so we focused in take care of ourselves, work and enjoy the trip as much as we could like celebrating our friends’ birthdays and different United States special dates like Easter, it was lovely, we cooked and celebrate it by doing an egg hunt in the yard in front of us.
It was the end of the program, it was time to go home but we were affected again because of the pandemic, some of our friends could go back in humanitarian flights but some of us stayed for two more month in Key West, away from our family afraid of being infected if we traveled. Some of us got a job thanks to WWCE again and some of us got a second job, I loved it as well, in my third job I was able to practice English more than ever since all of my coworkers were Americans and didn’t know Spanish (plot twist! I taught them a little bit of our language). That was by July and Key West opened its door for tourist and all the businesses started to open, I was able to live in the downtown and it was amazing because I had all the attractions near me, the best month since I got to know Key West like a tourist would. I went to a Sunset cruise where I danced Salsa and everybody filmed me because I was representing Latin people in an incredible way, eat at lot and watch the beautiful Sunset from the sea (you can’t imagine how beautiful is the sunset there, pink, purple, orange and yellow colors all over the sky, a dream). I also went to the ultimate adventure cruise where I did jet ski, parasailing, snorkel and banana boat, next to amazing friends from the program and from work. Since I’m a food lover I visited every single famous restaurant in the island. I can tell you I enjoy every single part of it, the food, the landscape, the experience, the friendship, the work, the living with my roommates, EVERYTHING. And now that I’m back with my family I have tons of stories to tell them and good memories for life!
Maria Belen Martinez Ruiz / Ecuador / Publix
If you ask me what a Work & Trouble is, I would say that it is the most intense moment of your year. 🌸 They are months, days and hours where the amount of emotions, people and moments you go through do not fit your smile, in the memory of your phone or in the time you have daily to tell your parents and friends the incredible moments you are living. You will not be able to explain it, because the best explanation is "do yourself a favor and go on a W&T for your own" 🤚🏻😌.
A W&T is discovering yourself in areas that you have never faced before, solving problems that you never would have before, or that would never have been your responsibility. It is learning to live together, to work, to value your place, family, friends and take advantage of EVERY MINUTE even if you are tired. And I swear you are going to be most of the time, and you are going to say "mm maybe tomorrow, I need a nap", and you surely do, but after two seconds you retract and take the energy that you did not know you had stored, just to live everything of it. It is intense. Is incredible. I don't explain how many times I felt guilty for a day wanting to stay home instead of going on the Rock It, going to the shopping outlets or being with my friends in the jacuzzi. Even buying food in Walmart was a whole experience, biking with our shopping bags. Orlando gave me tons and tons of experiences, smiles, climates and roller-coaster rides, but the best was the people I met because without them It would had been worthless.
Since day one, the challenge of introducing myself in American Culture, as just other worker and adult was super easy. Being treated in the same way, plus tons of patience for being the new J1 Being the ones that came up to bring joyful to work, dance and party’s at night, and organizing beach days with your coworkers since week one. Cooking them your best Argentinian dishes, showing some of our traditions and learning back from them. Going to the parks after the AM shifts or to music concerts and sing like crazy ones. Traveling to different cities with our own paycheck and being independent is one of the things I miss more. Is the way to train you for adult life, in a fast and intense period of time.
I have been lucky to travel to Chicago, New York, Key West, Miami and Puerto Rico for all the lovely and funny moments I can tell, and also the not good ones, such as getting stitches ice skating in Rockefeller Center in NYC, or losing my phone on one beach in Puerto Rico, and getting it back by a nice women who recognized me in the screen. Even though, they wouldn’t be as funny if all the people I shared with wasn’t there. I miss the snowball wars in Chicago and finding the best city views while eating tons of chocolate and listening our favourite Ed Sheeran music loudly in the streets. Watching the Superbowl in an American Bar, which most interesting of all was watching American’s reactions and passion. Spending the mornings in Volcano Bay before our PM shift and the having dinner with my coworkers after that shift. Watching a movie in a cinema with the comfiest seats I ever tried or canoeing in the springs with the alligators. Well, that was scary of course. So many moments I’m so thankful about, and I’m still waiting for our American friends to visit us after quarantine. I really think after a W&T a piece of your heart remains in that place and with that people that become your family for three months. It changes you on the good side and do be surprised if you return home as a different person. It really helps to discover who you are and who you want to be. Is for sure the best therapy.
The best tip would be not miss any moment with your new friends, because later will regret not being there and even not having a picture of the moment to turn to in your times of strangeness. 😉📲 I swear that even the bad times you will them love later. ❤️ And save every moment in your memory, because a W&T is something insurmountable. I still feel that mine would have been yesterday. And I don't think I'll ever get over it, so sorry. 😇🌈😎
Sofia San Roman / Argentina / Loews Hotels
My summer work and travel program was the best experience of my life. I got to know a totally different culture from the culture of my country, I met very beautiful cities, I improved my English and I had many beautiful experiences which helped me a lot to improve as a person. But the most important thing about this program are the people I met. In 3 months these people transformed into my family. This program is a very beautiful experience that I would repeat many times!
Alvaro Diaz / Argentina / Loews Hotels
This year the experience has been gratifying, it was not as expected but it has allowed me to meet even more people, enjoy the friends I have met here and realize that wherever you go, your essence is the most important thing. Life is totally uncertain but what is really true is what good people are going to stay by your side and guide you, i have missed my family very much, and learned to appreciate the little details that I did not see before day by day.
Diana Barzola / Ecuador / Winn-Dixie
I feel very exited because during this period of time I have learnt a lot. My english is so much better right now. I learnt a lot of things while I was working. I think Im faster doing things than I was before because I was working in a beachwear store and I had to be fast in my tasks. Also I’m so impressive because I have made some friends of many parts of the world, like some Moroccans, Jordanians, Americans, Jamaicans, Thais, etc., and its so crazy that we all can communicate just with English. My thoughts had changed, now I think we all have a lot of opportunities out of our countries and maybe some people its afraid to try new experiences but there is nothing to be afraid about. I had this work and travel experience during the COVID19 pandemic and I have to say it, things get really hard at the begging, thankfully everything get better and I could finish my program without problems. I would like to repeat this experience as many time as I can, knowing a new culture and let people know mine its amazing, there are many things I could share about me and my country that my heart gets big because of the emotions.
Ariel Guerrero / Ecuador / Eagles Beachwear
My Work & Travel experience was very interesting since it happened in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to this inconvenience, I had to work in different companies such as Six Flags, Publix and Winn-Dixie in different jobs and in different geographical locations, which allowed me to get out of my comfort zone, grow as a person and be even more independent. It was wonderful to work in different areas since it allowed me to visit many tourist places that I would never have imagined before, including: the Golden Gate in San Francisco, the Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, numerous Key West beaches such as Higgs Beach, Fort Zachary Beach, Smathers Beach, etc. Enjoy different climates in my stay in the United States and I made friends of different nationalities in all the places I was, in addition to each one of them sharing a little bit of their culture. It was undoubtedly an experience that I would like to live again on another occasion, with its good and bad moments I learned things that in other circumstances I would not have learned and I recommend the program 100% to all students who also want to live this Work & Travel experience since it is impressive how you develop with the language, you increase your vocabulary, you learn to be more organized, to cook new dishes, new customs, improve your skills and return to your country with a happy heart, full of new ideas and traveling again to other destinations. I thank the entire team at Xplorer (my agency) and WWCCE for all the support provided in the course of my Work & Travel program, I will be eternally grateful.
Jenniffer Kuontay / Ecuador / Winn-Dixie
I had the opportunity to meet friendly coworkers and make new friends. I could see that you can enjoy your job if you are in a nice work environment, where you can learn from everybody, In my case I could improve my English skills, and I'm also better at working in a team and working under pressure. When I was in USA, I liked to spend time with my friends visiting new places, we really loved that. I consider cultural exchange is important because you can open you mine to know new experiences, get a little more mature that you were before, you can see the world from other perspective and you can also met yourself better.
Brighit Jhomara Quisuruco Alanya / Peru / Hospitality Services Group