Note: This part of the blog was written on paper and is now being transferred to a blog format. Almost the entire text has remained unchanged. This is so that you, dear reader, are warned and not too surprised.
DISCLAIMER. The author of this creation does not possess the art of eloquent phrasing or extensive literary experience and hopes for understanding from the readers (if any are expected, of course).
The plane is stuck. It has been sitting in place for 2 hours now, full of passengers, even though it was supposed to have taken off. The flight attendants and the captain are apologizing profusely, but we still aren't moving.
On this unhappy note, my diary begins. While an entire ocean lies between me and those very coveted "States," and our plane, being inspected by engineers with a bunch of tired but calm Americans, British people, and a few W&T students—whom, to my shame (oops!), I haven't even met yet—is sitting idle, I will describe my long and at times quite thorny path to the "Land of the Free."
Stage 1: Dreams and Reality
Go to America? How? It's so complicated, it's just a dream...
That's about what I thought a year ago, and I looked at people who were planning to go or had already been on the program with suspicion (or even admiration in some places).
But one autumn day, my friend and my classmate, who had just returned from the USA, sort of convinced me to go to the agency—for which I am hugely grateful to them. That's how my long journey began.
Finally, our plane looks like it's about to take off!
Then there were negotiations with the sponsors of my program (my parents, of course), paperwork, and job hunting (never look for easy ways—you can do everything yourself!). The latter activity might not be very exciting, but at least it's informative. More on that later.
Stage 2: Discover the Unknown.
I don't see the point in describing it in great detail, so I'll focus on the main points. I searched for a job like this: Google Maps -> any state I liked -> In the search bar - restaurant/hotel/motel/amusement park etc. any job you want. Then you send your resumes to their email addresses. I became convinced that success depends not on the number of emails sent, but on the quality of what is sent. Try hard, write, and you will find it. Don't forget that many employers expect you to work for them until almost October. So that's also an important aspect when looking for a job.
As for me, I have a job waiting in a restaurant, even if it is a morning one—tips, tips, my beloved ones :)
5 planes in line for takeoff—I've never seen anything like this! My American seatmates moved to another row, leaving me alone with 3 seats. Great! I'll at least get some sleep. Let's fly!
The next stage after all the procedures related to the offer is the embassy. One of the scariest (it seems) events in the process of becoming a future American guest worker. More on that separately.
Stage 3: Meeting the Parents. Trip to the Embassy
Advice: If you feel that you should have been at the embassy long ago and jumping for joy there, all DS-2019 forms are received, and offers are checked, but you are still waiting for when you will be assigned a date—don't be afraid, call the embassy, find out what's going on with you (if the problem is really related to the embassy or the consular fee, like in my case, for example). The girls working the phones at the embassy are just very sweet, clearly trained to the level of American service. Also, keep calling your coordinator—yes, sometimes you need to make them move :) Unless you do it yourself, no one will do it. I experienced this from my own experience.
I haven't slept for 22 hours. Below is only blue, blue with a uniform yellow glow where the ocean is illuminated by the sun. Oh! It looks like I finally see land! Hooray!!! It looks like Canada. Deserted forests and not a single tiny house.
Now about the embassy itself. Right now, this is of little interest to anyone, but later, I think, it will be useful for future Work and Travel participants :)
The main thing at the embassy is not to worry, to feel confident, and to smile at the consul and not create long pauses in communication—improvise if the consul is silent, just don't overdo it :)). That's it. And under no circumstances should you think about what will happen if you don't get the visa. I won't describe the conversation with the consul regarding questions, as it is individual for everyone and depends on you, the consul, the weather outside, etc. I will only say that I was asked only 2 questions—about work and about rights. In general, I stood there for no more than two or three minutes.
Let's assume the visa is in your pocket and an unforgettable summer awaits you, just like me.
It seems we are approaching the airport. But right now I dream of taking a shower and then a normal horizontal position. And that's all for now, I suppose.
