Matamoros and Brownsville are like one big city divided by a border. This helped me a lot, as I could easily get to the USA and look for work. Distances, just like in any other American or Mexican city, are large, but the bus station was always nearby. I focused all my efforts on the main commercial streets and entertainment centers—this infrastructure was thriving there, including E. Elizabeth Street, Boca Chica Blvd, and Sunrise Mall. Knowledge of Spanish was 99.9% necessary, and many employers were not satisfied with my departure date of September 6th. Before finding a glimmer of work, I filled out about 60 paper applications and 80 electronic ones until I stumbled upon a real job for students offered by the American company Vector Marketing. Vector is a subsidiary of Cutco, which produces high-quality kitchen appliances. The salary was impressive—$14 an hour as a sales agent—and I passed the interview. I had to attend 3 seminars where they taught you how to sell and forced you to look for potential clients among relatives and friends. This made me suspicious. I started checking this employer online and learned about numerous scandals associated with this corporation. But, again, there could be no disappointment! Because those who seek will always find and overcome all difficulties. Just believe in yourself.
I am very passionate about photography, and I met my luck while photographing the local county court. A court employee approached me and mentioned the beautiful dome in the building, and that's how I met Nathanael. Learning about my story, he explained to me that there were 2 more attempts: at the employment center at the county court, and also at the local city hall. They needed both "narrow" specialists and drink vendors in parks on weekends. That's how I started working several jobs: as a freelance worker at a shrimp processing plant (cleaning tiger shrimp, paid by weight), doing detailed car washes (I asked for $20 for the whole package, when it cost $30 at specialized car washes), and also working as a clerk in "emergency management" at the county court (preparing literature for seminars, minor clerical work). They paid in cash, and I especially liked working in the court with literature about emergency situations, which happen quite often in the South. I learned to save not only people but also small pets:) The work was diverse and it was great! I had some money and could afford to buy a real Mexican poncho, which came in handy in Boryspil.
In communicating with colleagues, it was necessary to understand their culture and faith. The experience gained is invaluable and will stay with you forever.
That's how I learned. Living with a Mormon family, I tried to understand their perception of the world, which turned out to be quite wonderful. Nothing was in vain: my flight was postponed by 4 days, and I had very little money for a hotel, and the Mormons offered me their help.
In the Mormon church, there is a tradition of sending young people on church missions. The age of the youth is from 18 to 25, and the condition is "advanced" knowledge of the Book of Mormon and the Bible. They are selected for service in churches around the world, and that's how I met American missionaries in Mexico. One of them had grandparents who lived in either Washington D.C. or Utah, and they were happy to help me... and later it turned out that his grandfather Bob was an ex-senator of Utah. That's how I found housing for 4 days in Washington.
