As long as I can remember, I have always loved to travel, visit different cities, gain a wealth of impressions from new places, and discover new knowledge. However, as you become an adult, you realize that this requires enormous effort and both moral and financial costs. In any case, in the 21st century, people have many opportunities to travel, work, or study abroad. I am extremely happy that everyone has equal opportunities to fulfill their dreams, broaden their horizons, and exchange cultures. The first country where I will begin my amazing journey on my own, without parental accompaniment, will be the largest representative of the Western world - the United States of America. For such an advantage, I and many other students are very grateful and deeply glad that the Work & Travel USA (InterExchange) program exists. It is important to remember that student exchange programs abroad are never easy. It requires a lot of hard work and effort. However, the reward is a future with excellent opportunities, the expansion of one's knowledge, the acquisition of significant cultural experience, as well as diverse opportunities to meet Americans and a chance to learn firsthand about American society, culture, and values.
Why a representative of the Western world? As we know, in our time, there is a clash of cultures along the West-East civilizational line. This has also influenced our country, Kazakhstan. There is an equal influence of Western and Eastern civilizations, the same LGBT and religious organizations, sects, and so on. As an orientalist, I want to deeply study the integration of cultures. For my future career prospects, I have firmly decided to experience the contrast of cultures and the values of different worlds firsthand.
On the other hand, this will give me self-realization by becoming independent in a country that is foreign to our mentality, and a huge experience to see a concentration of different cultures, nationalities, or even races.
America has been a long-standing dream of mine, and for many others as well. American culture has a great influence on our world, especially the Western world. American music is heard all over the world, which is also my favorite and that of almost everyone I know. Hence my passionate desire to get to know the country's culture.
"Adamdy zaman bileydi" ("The era rules the man"). If we ourselves do not abandon our national traditions and spiritual values, nothing will harm us, but on the contrary, it will improve us. I believe that we need to study both Eastern and European countries more deeply: their history, culture, and the problems they face in the process of their development.
Despite the accelerated dynamics of globalism across the planet, now is the time for the rise of the East. The modernization of Eastern countries is certainly connected with the preservation of their cultural identity, such as Japan, etc.
Specifically, the rise of Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, means we must strive to maintain a balance, "simultaneously orienting ourselves toward both the democratic West and the traditional East." This would help us open up new opportunities and prospects for the integration of our scientists with foreign colleagues. Such a decision would help develop a detailed analysis of Western and Eastern values and assess their applicability in Kazakhstani conditions, as we are a young country. We have room to grow, and one can only welcome the desire to take the best from the "treasuries" of both Western and Eastern cultures. It is we, the young people, who can take only the best for our country from developed powers like America, etc. In addition, this student exchange program will help me in the analysis for my scientific work.
Another advantage of the USA is the strong leap in technology, catering, and conveniences for human life. America is famous for its service sector, as the state supports the opening of small new businesses and startups by law; there is great competition in the country, which attracts many clients and develops tourism through the improvement of service sectors. It must be admitted that in Kazakhstan and, in general, in Central Asia, the service system is limping or even lagging behind, and this, in turn, is an indicator of the country's level and image. Any visitor to Kazakhstan, be it a tourist or a representative of another country, pays attention to the quality of life and the delivery of services. Therefore, another goal of my trip to the USA is the desire to contribute to the development of tourism in our country, thereby improving the image of my homeland.
On that note, I would like to finish and thank you for such an opportunity to participate in the competition from InterExchange Work & Travel USA. This is my one small step leading to big opportunities.
