Hello, my name is Yulia, and I was a participant in the Work and Travel USA program in 2013 and 2014. In this blog, I would like to share my emotions and experience from participating in the program. I will be sincerely happy if it helps new participants dispel any myths and cast aside doubts about the program. And for those who have already been to the USA, I hope it helps you recall everything that happened to you, and I hope some of you will see yourselves in this story. Also, while writing this blog, I will compare my time in the program, moving from Elementary (2013) to Intermediate (2014). I also feel it is necessary to explain the title of my blog: over the two years of participation, I visited approximately 20 states and heard about all 50. During this time, I was able to determine for myself that each state possesses its own identity, culture, and special trait—an exclusive "shade." Therefore, I am sure that every participant chooses the COLOR OF THEIR OWN SKY, depending on how much they travel and how many miles they have covered.

I decided to title the first page "Intermediate" because I believe that the first feeling of actually being in America arises not when you arrive at JFK or another airport, but when you go through the interview at the embassy. So:

Elementary (2013): My friend and I arrived in Moscow two days before the scheduled date and went to the embassy in advance to see and remember where it was located. We still arrived at the interview 3 hours early, while practicing potential consular questions on the subway. We were incredibly nervous; it should be noted that the refusal rate in 2013 was the highest in the history of the program. While waiting for the interview at the embassy, we noticed a pattern: if someone received approval, the next participants in that window would get a refusal. So, we decided to stand one after another in line to avoid going to the same consul (even though you already know which window most often gives refusals, and you mentally pray not to end up there). Then it was our turn. At that moment, a new window with a consul opened, and my friend went there. Literally 30 seconds later, she came out with tears in her eyes. Ironically, she came out so quickly that I had to go to that same window with the same job offer. Mentally preparing for the worst, I pulled myself together and started answering his questions with a smile on my face (though I think my face was so contorted from nervousness that it was hard to call it a smile). After a series of standard questions about my full name, the offer, and the purpose of the trip, he asked me a question (without smiling even once):

Consul: When did you arrive and what were you doing?

Me: Two days ago, and I was looking for a gift for my mom.

Consul: Good. And what did you find?

Me: Of course, the best gift for her would be if I got my visa, since it's her birthday today!

Consul interrupts me: Well, that's understandable, but you do realize that it doesn't entirely depend on you.

Me: I couldn't find anything because it was raining, and I couldn't find what I was looking for.

(I must say that it really was my mom's birthday that day, but I wasn't actually looking for a gift, as I was busy preparing for the interview the whole time.)

Consul: There is no rain in shopping malls, and still, what were you looking for?

Me (And here, a BERMUDA TRIANGLE appears in my head because I completely forget all my English words, and instead of the usual gifts like perfume, jewelry, etc., I blurt out): A MICROWAVE!

What microwave? What am I saying? And why would I bring it from Moscow to Tolyatti!!! I think to myself.

And then I realize that perhaps my consul is a telepath because he asks me: Why bring a microwave from Moscow to Tolyatti?

Me (It's hard to describe my feelings at that moment; it seems to me that I thought about this question for an eternity, but I still gave a fairly adequate answer): It has special features; it's impossible to find one like it in our city.

After that, he asked a couple more questions about my travel plans, and my visa was approved!!!! To be honest, I think the consul realized I wasn't telling him the whole truth, but he didn't refuse me because I was able to "talk my way out of the situation."

I was overwhelmed with feelings and emotions. On one hand, I did it, I succeeded! But on the other hand, I was very upset for my friend, because I knew how much she wanted to go to the USA, and besides, it meant I would be going alone.

Intermediate (2014): I arrived in Moscow on the day of the interview. There was practically no nervousness, and the refusal statistics were very encouraging—there were practically none. I answered the consul's questions thoughtfully, without nervousness, although I made minor grammatical errors at times. In the end, my visa was also approved. (The questions were typical: why did you decide to go again? why did you change the location? where do you plan to travel?) Then, on the same day, I happily left for the countryside to help my grandparents and not waste time while waiting for the visa (I must say it arrived quite quickly, within 4-5 days). At this "intermediate" stage, what I remember most is the contrast: in one week, I was in: Tolyatti-Samara (an hour)-Moscow (a day)-Penza (an hour)-Countryside (3 days)-Tolyatti (a couple of hours)-Moscow (an hour)-New York.