The average number of working hours per week is 40, but for students conquering America, that's not enough, so everyone has one or even two side jobs in reserve. And that's right, because the blood is young, there is plenty of energy, so why not spend it on something useful? A lot has been written about the specifics of the work awaiting Work & Travel participants: students, as a rule, work in the kitchen. Therefore, let's move immediately from the process of preparing/serving food to its consumption.
· Do all Americans really abuse fast food? Besides burgers and french fries, there is healthier and equally delicious food. Given Wellfleet's fortunate location by the ocean, it's not hard to imagine how fresh and delicious seafood you can try literally on every corner. By the way, this town is famous for its oysters, and in October, the OysterFest is held there, where local restaurants present some of their menu items. It's not hard to guess that these are seafood dishes. Any fish hater will become a fan if they try at least a small piece of fresh grilled salmon. Would a vegetarian become a meat-eater? If I were a vegetarian (never in my life), I definitely would have. Real American burgers have truly settled in my heart after they stopped entering my stomach. This is a very sad story; my stomach has been under stress for half a year now, not getting that very taste. And yes, it is true that most people gain weight after America. It's not surprising. I don't even think many of them are sad about it, because they once tasted the flavor of happiness. During our three months there, we compiled our own top 3 best burger places. The undisputed leader turned out to be Hard Rock Cafè. And I still (not without sadness) recall the motto of our gastronomic adventures before almost every meal: "You can't eat that much. Or can you? Anyway, it doesn't matter." Attention, a great tip: there is a restaurant in Boston where for $20 you can choose an unlimited amount of food, and they will cook it right in front of you. Our American friend, having heard our suggestion to go to another place, was, to put it mildly, shocked, if not indignant at our desire to eat somewhere else.
It turned out that the stereotype about Americans eating burgers and washing it all down with cola, in practice, turned out not to be such a stereotype. Indeed, it is the fastest, inexpensive, and, as it turned out, very tasty option to eat. It is interesting that almost every restaurant has a children's menu, where you can find different variations of "plates": french fries and chicken nuggets, french fries and a small burger, fish and chips (which means there are french fries there too), french fries and a grilled cheese sandwich. This list could go on forever, but in my mind, the main dish of a children's menu should be soup, which all toddlers hate and dream of a bag of chips! In general, our parents would clearly have turned gray from such a lunch for their children.
· Vacation options, other than hunting for food.
Cape Cod is only 120 km from Boston, so it is quite realistic to get there quickly to spend a weekend in the capital of Massachusetts. However, there is a possibility of facing the problem of choosing transport to get there. You need to study the websites of bus companies very carefully to choose a bus that is suitable in time and manage to return back. But if you have a driver's license, you can rent a car. Or find a driver somewhere and make friends with them. Boston is worth being visited by thousands of tourists. Quite large in area, the city is comfortable both for walking and, most likely, for living.
Besides going to the metropolis, there are other opportunities to relax while in the same small Wellfleet. First, what else is needed for happiness if the ocean is nearby? That's right, a friendly company and a bonfire with marshmallows on sticks. Yes, yes, just like in the movies.
Secondly, Provincetown is nearby, which definitely won't let you get bored. By the way, there is an excursion called Whale Watch: for 3 hours you sail on a ferry across the ocean, watching its inhabitants – whales.
If you don't want to go anywhere, you can find something to do in Wellfleet itself: a tennis court, mini-golf, an open-air cinema, billiards, bike paths in the forest. You remember that the main thing is the company, right?
Winner in the "best company of the year" category.
· Parties with red cups.
If you are a J-1 participant in America, it doesn't matter how much of a squeezed lemon you will be after work, your legs will still carry you in search of fun. In the evenings, students gather in large numbers in small cottages to truly feel the youth that is given only once. It is very convenient that almost all houses have a backyard or a porch, as there is usually not enough space in the living room to accommodate everyone. Music plays, laughter is heard from all corners of the house, but something is missing. Oh yes, Americans, particularly their female representatives, do not dance. And here the ideas about these wild parties fly into the abyss, is it really possible? But when Europeans arrive, the real fun begins, which American girls watch from their chairs. Another group of dance lovers are Jamaicans, they definitely have no competitors. Very flexible and energetic, they set the rhythm for the parties. And red cups, by the way, are indeed an essential element of the party.
I miss this mafia.
In general, if you want it, the summer passes very intensely, you get acquainted with the peculiarities of the country, its culture, meet new people. You miss home. You get tired. You rest. You rejoice. You collect the best moments in a memory box. But the summer ends, and the university clearly won't be able to forgive you for cheating with America. It's time to go home.
