Hi everyone.

I am Aigerim, and I saw this contest just a few hours before it ends.

I might name my blog "Aigerim in NEW-YORK, like Emily in PARIS." Let me explain why: the American Emily unexpectedly receives an offer to go to Paris for work, and there she encounters various interesting events, new friends, love, and a new culture. Similarly, I, Aigerim from Kazakhstan, having unexpectedly heard the happy news from IEC, believe that I have received a great opportunity to make this summer of 2023 as useful, interesting, and full of new friends, pleasant events, and acquaintance with a new culture as possible. Now I believe in it :)

My full name is Aigerim Temirbekova. I am a 3rd-year student at the Kazakh National University of Arts. My English level is INTERMEDIATE. My major is Academic Singing; in a word, I am a future Opera singer. My whole soul finds pleasure in Art and Culture, and I have been in music and art for about 12 years. During this time, I have been very active and have been achieving success. I am an active participant in university public events, as well as city, regional, and Republican-level events. I am a member of the UNESCO club, a scholarship holder of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and I managed to be named "BEST STUDENT OF THE YEAR" in 2019. I devote a lot of time to my profession—vocal performance—at a professional level. In addition, I lead a healthy lifestyle, play sports, and am mastering English, Italian, and French. I love researching languages, and the history, culture, art, and music of those countries are very interesting to me.

The reason I chose the Work and Travel USA program is that since I was a child, I have been watching American films, operas, books, and their way of life from afar, which sparked a great interest in me. Harry Potter himself opened up my great love because there are places in the USA where that film was shot, and seeing the park is one of my dreams. One of my big dreams is for a student like me who loves listening to Opera to go to the Metropolitan Opera Theatre and see the performances with my own eyes. According to the plan, I saw that there will be a performance in this theater in June with the participation of great opera masters, and I wrote it down in my dream journal.

In 2020, I heard that there was an opportunity for students to go to America with this program. Of course, at that time, everything seemed simple and inaccessible to us because it was a quiet period; we went through a very scary period of quarantine/coronavirus. Over time, I paid a lot of attention to my profession, studies, and development; moreover, my parents were against it because I am the spoiled daughter of the house, and they worry a lot. But now, having fully understood the program and seeing many students return home safely, their worries have gone away. And as a 3rd-year student, I am very interested in the opportunity to go to the United States of America, and there are sufficient reasons for this.

1. I love traveling. Since I was a teenager, I grew up watching "Oryol i Reshka," Dmitry Komarov's "Mir Naiznanku," and Ptushkin's episodes. Those programs changed my view of the world a lot. The beautiful landscapes, historical places, culture, cheerful people, languages, traditions, and arts they showed increased my love for traveling, and a big dream appeared that I want to see everything with my own eyes. On the current internet, on Instagram and TikTok, there are many travel bloggers who have also been participants in the WORK AND TRAVEL program. When I browse through a lot of information and interesting things about America, I think that there are so many opportunities for me to go to America, and I can do it too. "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely," said Mark Twain, and he knew a lot about travel. I know that traveling changes a person's consciousness for the better and improves a person's emotional health.

2. The second is experience. Participating in this program is a unique, special experience. This is not a program that I can participate in every day or at any time. That is why it is special. This is a very inspiring opportunity for bright impressions and learning new things. I think it is unlikely to get this experience, i.e., "opyt" (experience), from other places or programs. New people, their views and culture, and workplaces are different from ours.

3. For a new environment and new friends. Just think about it: students like you from all over, each with their own unique perspective, motivation, culture, and language. How interesting it is to have such new friends. And interacting with local residents helps to fully immerse yourself in the country's culture, allowing you to accept and explore it as it is, without any gloss.

4. The art and music of the USA. Going to the Metropolitan Opera and participating in the performance of world opera singers—what a happiness it is!)

5. I want to further develop my English and reach a conversational level. This is also a very important thing for my profession. Because when I am at competitions or concerts in various countries, it is very important for me to speak freely and communicate directly with people.

And I think it will be very beneficial for my own development. Through the program, you feel your responsibility, you enter the position of an adult, not a child or a student, and you observe how you establish your life in another country, finding and forming your new personal abilities. I think this kind of experience is necessary for the entire young generation.

In general, the benefits this program will give to my career are very significant. In terms of personal and emotional development, improving my English, being able to perform English composers' works well—for example, Gershwin's operas—and being able to revive my country's art for residents of other countries at international meetings, it gives me a great opportunity to ensure that my thoughts reach them fully and that I can leave a good impression about my country.

I am sure that the Work and Travel program gives me more opportunities than just being a traveler! Experiencing life in the USA while working with local residents is a real American experience that will help me in the next stages of my life. In my opinion, the USA is a unique country that gives a person an experience that no other country can provide. This is a country where many have unlocked their potential, a country that is always open to new acquaintances and representatives of any nation and race. A country with great opportunities to unlock potential. Compared to other countries, the United States of America provides something that no other country can provide in terms of the breadth of job opportunities, English language development, mastering a foreign social environment, the beauty of nature, and the mixing of cultures. I hope and believe that I can participate in this program.

Dreams come true if your goal and desire are clear

I sincerely believe that I am one step closer to my dream through this contest, and I am very happy to have participated in this contest that gives us all an opportunity! I am infinitely grateful to IEC (International Exchange Center) for providing such opportunities!