Work and Travel Experience in a Nutshell

In this interview I decided to ask two of my friends, Kata and Dalma about their experiences with the Work and Travel program. I was eager to know how this program works, what are the important things one has to know but what the agencies don't tell. 

Please, introduce yourself.

Kata: My name is Sánta Katalin from Sovata Romania. I am a student, soon finishing the University.

Dalma: My name is Dalma Zatyko. My current location is in Budapest, but I was living for 4 years in Cluj before. I studied there BA Communication and Public relations, then MA Marketing at Babes – Bolyai University. Now I am working in customer service at Citibank.

When were you participating in the work and travel program?

Kata: In the summer of 2017. After my first year of the Master’s study.

Dalma: It was during the summer of 2015, end of the second year of university.

From where did you hear about work and travel? Why did you decide to participate?

Kata: I heard from my friends and at the University as well. I decided to participate because I wanted to work this summer and it was a good opportunity to work, visit a new place and experience a new culture at the same time.

Dalma: I have known about this program for a long time, but not much. In year of university a few of my close friends joined W&T U.S., and when they returned they told me about their exciting adventures. After a while I decided I should also give it a try.

Which agency did you choose and why? What is your experience with that agency?

Kata: One of our friends advised the Adira agency, telling us that it is one of the best in Cluj, so we chose that one. It was a good choice. They were very helpful and kind. We got all the information we needed and they tried to help us as soon as possible with everything.

Dalma: I choose Student Travel. Before deciding which agency should I choose I visited them, and then I made my decision. I chose Student travel because I liked their offers the most and their employees were kind. But at the end I had a huge disappointment. While we were in he US, they did not help us out when we extremely needed it.

Could you please describe how the process of signing up for this program works? What location did you choose and why?

Kata: We applied, completed some documents, paid the program and then we could choose from 600 jobs. We chose a few places but at the same time we got an offer from a hotel in Cody, Wyoming. We really liked the area and everything seemed to fit our expectations, so we accepted this offer.

Dalma: I needed to do a lot of paperwork. Honestly, I do not remember step by step anymore, but we joined the program in 2014 beginning of November and till April we needed to do a lot official paperwork. Then in May we went to Bucharest for the J1 visa. We chose Chesapeake beach, Maryland, but we only stayed for a week.

How was the preparation for the trip? What kind of things and documents were necessary?

Kata: The biggest part was to apply and get the visa, to get the loan from the bank and to buy the plane tickets. The rest were the usual traveling stuff. The whole program covers the insurances so that part is already arranged for everybody.

Dalma: As I mentioned, until May we were arranging all the necessary documents (papers from University, passport, health docs, visa etc.). Two weeks before my trip I started to obtain those things which I needed, slowly packing.

How was your trip? What kind of emotions did you have?

Kata: The whole trip in total was a really good experience. It started with a really long but not that bad flight, continued with a lot of work and a lot of laughter with new friends.

Dalma: In the last month before going I was very excited, because after we got the visa I had known that nothing can stop us now. But when I was on the plane I had a bad feeling, it was like a panic attack. Also, it was hard to say goodbye to my family and my friends for 4 months.  

Please tell me about your first impressions of America.

Kata: First impression: everyone is smiling, everything is big, and everybody has cars.

Dalma: When we landed it was late night, so I could not see much about the city (we landed in Washington) but I never forget the smell of the air. It was so much different than here in Europe. I didn’t like it.

How were the first few weeks? How fast were you able to adapt to this new situation?

Kata: I went with a friend, so the adaptation was easier thanks to her. Not the first; the middle part was the hardest.

Dalma: It was horrible. We had a lot of troubles. We were living with a drug dealer, who was in jail for 3 years, then our boss fooled us with the job. We were supposed to be waitresses, instead we had to clean toilets. And now I am just mentioning a few things. After one week we moved from there to Ocean city. This story was also very adventurous but finally we were in a better place.

What did you work and how was it?

Kata: I worked as a housekeeper and as a hostess. The housekeeping was my first job and I didn't like it at all. They were two-faced people and it was a robot job. The other job was in a restaurant with a lot of interesting people. I really liked to have contact with people, it was a much better job. I enjoyed it!

Dalma: After we moved to Ocean city, we were working in a candy shop. And after a while, in August we found a second job, I was in a restaurant my friend was in a bakery.

Were you able to travel? If yes, what locations did you visit?

Kata: We traveled with a few friends for two weeks. We started our journey by car from Wyoming visited mostly the West Coast: Yellowstone National Park, Reno, San Francisco and its surroundings, Los Angeles, Nevada, Las Vegas, then New York.

Dalma: We had a lot of unplanned costs, so we could not earn as much money as we expected. But I won’t complain, in the end we've spent 10 days in New York, which was amazing.

Which were the worst parts of this trip?

Kata: It didn't have a bad part, maybe the one night when we were sleeping in our car, which was too small for the four of us, or maybe the one time when the driver almost fell asleep, that was scary.

Dalma: The first two months. We had a lot of problems, unfortunate situations which were also dangerous. At one point we did not have any money neither a job. We needed to eat in churches, searching for job all day. Spent more than two weeks like this. My parents sent me money, but we didn’t know how many weeks it will take to find a job.

Which were the best parts of this trip?

Kata: It was really good that we traveled by car and we could stop whenever we wanted. The best part was visiting the Sequoia National Park, and when we spent a whole day just sitting on the beach enjoying the sunshine.

Dalma: The people whom I met. I made a few really, really close friends, we are still keeping in touch,  also we visited each other. And New York.

Which were the weirdest things about America?

Kata: A lot of young people, children, despite or even because of the law, have alcohol and drug problems before they reach their 21^st year. The whole Country is so extreme.

Dalma: The food. It was sooo unhealthy, sometimes disgusting. And some people.

What did you learn during this summer?

Kata: I practiced my English and learned that with a positive mindset and attitude towards work I will succeed in my life.

Dalma: I learned a lot about myself. I just realizes I am stronger than I thought, I can solve everything.

What kind of advice would you give for those who are going for the first time with work and travel?

Kata: Ask your friends about the places you are going to go, and if someone has a good experience with a place it is good to go there. Be open-minded and try not to only work but also to travel during your stay. Try to go to places where you will enjoy yourself. If you like the mountains go there, if you like the sea go there. Make friends and if it is possible go with someone you trust and about who you know that it will be good to stay and work with.

Dalma: Don’t believe what the agencies are promoting about this program. But if you would like to try something remarkable during your university years you should try it.

Would you recommend this program?

Kata: Yes, I would!

Dalma: Yes because, it is a really good opportunity to try yourself, to get to know another culture, practice English and meet new people whom maybe you can be friends for a lifetime.

Interview by Eszter Duka