My dream world is done 
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great day! To start, let me introduce myself – Zhansaya, a 4th-year student at Karaganda Technical University from Kazakhstan. I was a participant in the Work and Travel USA program in 2013, 2014, and 2015 (I signed up =)). I am a big fan of the program =) I always thought about starting a notebook (I kept notes on my phone, but those were mostly "philosophical" late-night thoughts) where I could collect all my memories, emotions, ideas, thoughts, tips for the future, and silly mistakes. Now, with good motivation, I will do it, so thank you for the chance to participate in the contest. Even though I have been to America, there is still so much I want to see and discover new places.
I have many photos with info on my instagram (for those interested) - zhansik_1993 (http://instagram.com/zhansik_1993)
Brooklyn Bridge, Sept 25, 2014 (I am on the left, we are cousins (or twins) in the eyes of Americans and non-Asians)
Congratulations on deciding to participate in the program, you are doing great, you will change your outlook on life after visiting America. I advise all my friends to participate in the program with good intentions, and it works out =)). This time, four close friends have already registered and are flying for the first time =)). Many want to, but unfortunately, few decide to, so you are already special =) I hope my motivation helped XD I will try to write in a way that helps future participants overcome "obstacles" and "fears" (that only seem real).
Hm, let me start from the beginning.
I didn't have much interest in America or American TV shows. But in school, I had a very good English teacher in grades 5-7 who sparked my interest in the language. But it faded when she left the school. In high school, my friends started attending courses and preparing for admission to universities abroad (back to Nazarbayev University). They inspired me too (I went to a tutor for 2-3 months), but due to family circumstances, I gave it up and after graduating from school, I entered a university in my city. By then, I had already heard about the Work and Travel USA program, so I started gathering information.
I come from a middle-class family, so I couldn't afford the program right away (I didn't want to worry my parents with money issues, I am a good, independent girl) (also, the summer graduation party soaked up the money from 'sarkyt' – a Kazakh word meaning gifts (cultural exchange)).
At that time, the best way out of the situation was saving scholarships (I earned an increased scholarship =), so I wouldn't have to work from the 1st year, so I prepared for Work and Travel USA 2013. In my 2nd year, I already set aside time for a part-time job and, having managed to collect and fulfill all the conditions, I signed the contract and bought a ticket (theeeen, on the last day, which I don't recommend). Although the prices weren't much different than 2-3 months ago, the choice narrowed (date, transit country).
I will tell you about my 1st flight. I found a good offer on my own (it's real!) (www.j1jobs.com - I sent 40-50 applications, 10-15 replied, and I chose a suitable one there, checking the location of the offers and their legality via Google Maps, and read in detail about the states) (as for me, if your goal is to earn money, then the road is to the north of the country, if to have fun, then to Myrtle Beach)) you can always combine it, wherever you are), I flew alone and for the first time. Starting from boarding the plane, there was no fear (I slept like a log for all 17 hours on the plane)) the night before the flight was hectic), there were many students. Already upon landing in the States, I felt new sensations that couldn't help but make me happy. I had an intermediate level of English. But still, at first, "Hello", "Thank you", the first dialogues with the flight attendant sounded uncertain, as if I had only been studying the language for a couple of days (I think it was because of insecurity). That passed in about a week. I remember when we were looking for the subway at the airport, a black man tried to help us, he spoke quickly and unclearly. When I asked him to repeat, he repeated at the same speed. I thought then, I'm in trouble)) but still, he helped a lot and we somehow understood each other. He wanted to help so much, and I immediately realized that there are different people there, more open and smiling)). From the airport (JFK), I got to The Port Authority Bus Terminal by subway ($5 to buy a card for AirTrain + $2.5 for the subway), you can also take a bus for $13-18. You can also take a taxi if there are many of you (4+). People are very friendly, everyone tried to help, don't be afraid to ask (don't be shy about your English, in the worst case, everyone understands sign language) and it is advisable to ask 3-5 people to be sure. Because mostly there are only visitors at the airport and few will know for sure. We were looking for the Air Train for more than 30 minutes, walking in circles, no one knew exactly where it was, although we just had to cross the road. I needed to go to Boston, I bought a ticket for $40 on Greyhound (I advise buying it online in advance, you can save money, also besides Greyhound there are other companies: YoYo Bus http://www.yoyo.my/BusTicket_en.aspx (a Chinese company - but, the same conditions as in Greyhound and twice as cheap, it carries out its route only between large cities) - I used this company's service myself when I was returning from Boston to New York, google it, I heard there is a place where you can find a ticket for 1 dollar, if I find the link, I'll post it later). http://guide.travel.ru/usa/transport/bus/ - read it! If you are going to Myrtle, it is more profitable to buy a ticket there, so it depends on which state you need.
I met guys who were also going to Boston at the airport, so it was fun to explore part of New York. We all quickly found a common language, were very friendly, and moved in a group, even though it was the first meeting for many. If you are traveling with money, you can spend a few nights in NY or a whole day, you can leave your things at the hotel reception for a small fee) (Chelsea Star Hotel, small bag 2 dollars per day, 3 - large, address: 30th and 8th Ave, not far from Penn Station - a friend left it there) then at the end of the summer you can go towards LA and spend more days there =). By the way, you can buy a plane ticket for different directions at once, e.g., arrival in NY and departure from LA. Also, spend more days during a layover, in my case, I flew through Moscow. Kazakhstan and Russia have a visa-free regime and you can spend up to 90 days legally in the country. I didn't stop myself, but in 12 hours I saw Red Square, MSU, and other sights of Moscow. I will do it for a few days this time, I have friends in Moscow now))). In the summer of 2014, I was already going back so late, it didn't work out, but I planned to. If you do it right away, you won't have to pay a fine for changing dates on tickets =).
We girls bought a ticket for the evening (23:30), and arrived at the Bus Station by 16:00. The Bus Station is located in the center, Time Square is located nearby. Unfortunately, we had huge suitcases, we couldn't walk around much. I remember very clearly, I can easily imagine it, and that feeling after leaving the building to the street in Times Square. The door opened and the noise of the street made an unforgettable impression on me. And this crowd of people, or rather a stream of people. Everyone was different, in styles, appearance, height... culture, languages. When I was going through passport control, I heard many different languages. I will not forget my first impression of New York. It was "waaaau" for me, with my mouth "open" I stood there for 15-20 minutes to deeply save this new feeling in my soul and remember it during the session)). We went to Times Square, found free Wi-Fi on the way, and talked to family, friends, returned to the station (there is also Wi-Fi there, although it's weak). I arrived in Boston in the morning at 4:00. I slept well on the bus, so we walked around in Boston and looked at Chinatown. We bought food)))) it's very windy there, like in Astana))) By 11:00 my employer picked me up. A man, very big, not fat, large build, in shorts and a gray T-shirt. While I was waiting for an hour, I was looking at all the people at the station, from afar I immediately identified Kazakhs, after all, the brain immediately finds "its own". I didn't know what my employer looked like, so I met every person coming towards me with a smile)). He quickly found me. I was lucky, he turned out to be a very good person. On the way, we took those Kazakh girls who arrived with me to their state, it was on the way. So I rode with him for 4-5 hours until we reached the house. I spoke in broken English, I told him immediately to correct me, my mistakes. He asked me to tell him about Kazakhstan, I forgot all the words and described my country so poorly that I felt ashamed, so read something useful and interesting at home)). His wife prepared fruit for me, I ate and went to sleep. It turns out it took 2 days to get there))) I slept for more than 12 hours. I was the only one working for them, it was a small motel, so they treated me well, fed me. This is the house where I lived. The rent was 80 dollars.
'nj
Next will be about work.
I plan to continue my studies and the friends I met in America are helping with the choice of university and offering free housing =) So enjoy America and make new good friends. Best wishes to everyone =)
(I have exams - so I will gradually finish writing)