Finally reaching our town, we immediately headed to work at the Mexically Rose restaurant, which became our second home since we spent most of our time there. At work, the manager met us, fed us right away, introduced us to the workplace and staff, and helped us find housing. Don't be afraid of getting lost or not understanding something; people in America are very responsive and friendly, they will always help and explain everything. All summer we lived in a motel in a room with four girls: two Ukrainians and us two Kazakhs. It was interesting, and life in the motel reminded me of a dorm, as J-1 students from all over the world lived in all the rooms of the motel.
Two days later we started working. The first week passed, and to be honest, everything wasn't as cool as I had imagined. It was really boring; we hadn't met anyone yet. It was interesting at work, of course, but afterwards we didn't know what to do with ourselves, and by the way, I wanted to sleep all the time. I think the time difference took its toll) Sitting at home in Kazakhstan and watching American life on TV, we thought only about how we would walk along the beach in Miami and the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, but that wasn't the case) Therefore, I would like to say: don't expect that everything will be just magnificent and that you will arrive to everything ready-made. There will be disappointments and possibly even tears, and you will face small difficulties, but everything will pass. Remember: Your summer will be what you will make of it (p.s. InterExchange), and that is truly the case.
About a week later, an American family invited us to a barbecue, and after that, everything changed. We met many interesting people, and at some point, we really felt that we were in the most real America.
A little later, we found a second job. In our free time, we visited water parks, museums, the zoo, rode attractions, went to clubs and famous American parties. And I will tell you honestly that everything they show on TV about American youth partying at beer parties is really true. I was a little shocked when I first got to one of these parties. No one there cares what you look like, how you dance, or what you are wearing; everyone just drinks an immeasurable amount of beer and enjoys their youth. I will never forget those summer evenings spent with friends by the pool playing UNO. Or those moments when, hiding from the motel owner, we ran to each other's rooms at night to gather together to play games and have an interesting time. And no one cared that you had to get up at 8 a.m. and go to work, and sometimes to two in a row, because once you get there, you want to spend more unforgettable moments and make your summer!
All of June passed very quickly while we got used to the new country and the new environment, while we got the hang of work, and we already felt at home in this beautiful town. Wisconsin Dells became a real home for me, and I didn't want to leave anywhere anymore, and I realized that this is the real America.
July just flew by unnoticed, especially because July is considered the busiest period, and almost all the time was spent at work. But even there we didn't have to be bored; we worked as assistant cooks in a Mexican restaurant, and that's how we got acquainted with the exquisite dishes of this beautiful country of contrasts. The staff at work was just wonderful, and our head chef Hector played a significant role in my life in America) You could always rely on him; he was like a brother to us, and we had a great time at work. We worked to Spanish music, dancing while cooking, which is very joyful because the atmosphere at work is very important! Sometimes we turned on Kazakh music and were so proud that somewhere in America, in a Mexican restaurant, Kazakh songs were playing)) By the way, many people there liked the song 'Tau Tau Sezim' by Berkut and Aisha!
And in August, you start to realize that there is only one month left and you might never see these wonderful and generous people again, won't have lunch at a Mexican restaurant, won't eat your favorite dish, chicken quesadilla, and won't steal delicious chocolate chip cookies from the freezer anymore, and because of this, sadness washes over you. But on the other hand, you already manage to miss your family and friends, your Motherland! And some kind of incomprehensible feeling appears. In fact, the most important thing is not the fact that you are in America, but the people who will surround you, the atmosphere around you, and your attitude towards all of this! And that very environment will truly make your summer!
