Story W&T | IEC Exchange

CHAPTER 1. «Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire» © Jennifer Lee

When people meet, they start with simple questions like “Where do you live?” or

“Where do you study,” then they learn about your beliefs and more personal things.

Perhaps I will follow this familiar pattern and begin by saying that I was born and live in

Saint Petersburg and study business informatics at ITMO University.

This is quite a new field and in my city there were only three good universities offering a degree in this program, but that did not stop me. For me it has always been important to choose a place where you can learn a lot. Business informatics combines the fundamentals of the innovation economy, statistical analysis, mathematics, data analysis, intellectual property law and much more. In this program you can broaden your horizons and understand in what role I want to begin my professional path.

I am convinced that a trip to America will help me see economic giants from the inside, since all the largest IT companies in the world are located in the United States. One of the stops of my grand journey will certainly be Silicon Valley, where you can see

Google and Facebook offices in person. Tours of these places will give an incredible stimulus for personal and professional development and, perhaps, someday I will be able to work there.

Studying the internal workings of the most powerful economy in the world is a career boost and an opportunity for professional growth in the future.

CHAPTER 2. «Chasin'

this American Dream» © X Ambassadors

I love to travel and am very grateful to my parents, who gave me such a fantastic opportunity to see the world. They always, even in the hardest times, make travel a priority. One day they said: “Traveling doesn't come cheap for us, we spend a lot, but we get much more in return.” That phrase stuck in my head and became a guiding principle for me. In my short life I have been to almost every country in Europe and several places in Asia, and I think it's time to open new horizons, or more precisely, new parts of the world.

A trip to the USA, to the “land of the free and the home of the brave,” has always been a cherished dream of mine. I have grown up and matured enough to start my first journey alone.

I have heard a lot about exchange programs, but unfortunately due to my age I have not yet participated in them. The stories of my sister, who also took part in the Work&Travel program and a semester exchange in Germany, amazed and inspired me. I realized that during student years you must not miss a single opportunity; you should take part in all programs, because they allow you to travel the world, meet equally vibrant students and gain impressions that will stay forever.

It seems to me that the Work&Travel trip will be the most youth-oriented journey, because I have already found travel companions and like-minded people who will share the whole path with me – from getting the visa to fulfilling the

American dream – and I expect to meet many more.

The Work&Travel program will help me develop important soft skills; moreover, a trip to the United States is a personal challenge. I want to test myself by living alone in a foreign country for several months, earning my own money to support myself. I believe that by participating in this program I will prove that everything is possible.

I want to end the chapter with an excerpt from an Alicia Keys song that, for me, describes not only the city but the whole country

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of

There's nothing you can't do

Now you're in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new

Big lights will inspire you

Hear it for New York

CHAPTER 3.

«Salut au monde! What cities the light or warmth penetrates I penetrate those cities myself, All islands to which birds wing their way I wing my way myself.»

Work and Travel USA is an opportunity to open the door of my country to others. Maybe after this we will be able to fear less, avoid incorrect assumptions, rid ourselves of prejudices and stereotypes that divide us. We must understand that we are the same. The strength and beauty of each culture lie in being open and sharing its unique story, values and experience.

Thanks to such wonderful programs we become more tolerant of each other and make the world better, step by step building relationships with people by exchanging our unique experiences and culture.

CHAPTER 4.

«Music is the universal language of mankind. » © Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

That is why the most important thing is to establish connections, find kindred spirits in the fields of art, music, culture or politics.

I want to feel American culture from the inside, to learn about it not from books and films but through conversations with people of different ages about cinema, music and everything-everything-everything. I want to attend an American rock concert and Lollapalooza in Chicago, and also share my experience of attending the three-day rock festival Nashestvie in Russia.

If you think about it, music festivals and Work&Travel are very similar, because they bring together different people to share a common goal – to get an unforgettable experience and feel unity.

CHAPTER 5.

I should add that I am immersed in geek culture and eagerly await premieres from the world of films, series and comics, as well as incredible cosplayers and events at Comic-Con. I want to meet someone who also loves superheroes and wants to visit a comic book store to buy original graphic novels and other memorabilia. And I will gladly talk about Soviet and Russian cinema and about our geek community.

CHAPTER 6. «

On rainy days in Saint Petersburg I watch American TV shows and always think how wonderful it would be to visit the places where everything happens. Who wouldn't be thrilled to walk the halls of the White House, imagining that you solve problems like Francis Underwood or Selina Meyer? Who wouldn't love a walk through the streets of Albuquerque where Walter White started his “business,” or through swampy Louisiana where Woody Harrelson and McConaughey solved a crime?

CHAPTER 7.

«Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain. » © Jack Kerouac

Of course, this program would not be complete without exploring America's natural wonders. Since my greatest hobby is traveling, I love hiking. It's a great way to stay connected to nature and appreciate the beauty of forms. It gives a sense of freedom! I would gladly share with fellow travelers stories about my adventures, such as conquering the Swiss Alps on a 10-hour route or choking from hydrogen sulfide at the foot of a sleeping volcano crater in the Canary Islands. Walks through Yosemite National Park among glacial valleys and waterfalls, exploring the power and depth of the Grand Canyon will be mesmerizing!

I want to feel the atmosphere of America: wander the streets, listen to musicians, sing with strangers, form lasting friendships and hang out with new friends, party all night and enjoy the spirit of joy, carefreeness and unity.

Our life is unpredictable. In recent years we have been convinced that planning something far ahead is very difficult. All we can do is hope that the Work&Travel program will continue to help young people make discoveries, just as it did almost 60 years ago.

I would very much not want anything to change in it in 20, 50 or 100 years. Right now this program warmly welcomes all students; in the offices they always answer a million questions from curious young travelers and accompany participants from start to finish. In the States students from all over the world are warmly welcomed each year and given the opportunity to enjoy their amazing country. This is why we all love Work&Travel.

P.S.

Photos for each chapter can be seen below

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