Participant Profiles
Name: Julia Wilson
Age: 21
Employer: West Chop Club, MA
Why did you choose Work America?
I decided I needed to see a bit more of the world and gain some independence. Furthermore, given the amount of work and reading I am expected to do during term time, it is impossible for me to get a job in Manchester – so I elected to try and earn some money over the summer and at the same time experience some different surroundings.
What sort of work were you doing?
I waitressed at a private members club on Martha’s Vineyard at first, then did casual work in a supermarket and spent the rest of the time travelling and holidaying.
What were the highlights of your trip?
Learning about life in the USA, from political perspectives to linguistic ones, meeting new people and seeing new sights, the feeling of freedom and financial independence, having a break from life in England (and English weather!), having time to reflect and a feeling of purpose and structure in my day-to-day life. And no essays to worry about!
What was the most challenging part of your trip?
When I left my first job (I really wasn’t cut out for being a waitress, especially not in such an intense and fast-paced environment) I was briefly quite scared and panicky because I honestly didn’t know what to do – I was in a foreign country with no way of returning home and no plans or accommodation! However I think this kind of experience can prove character building and the fact that I found a new job and a place to live left me feeling very proud of myself!
Name: Gareth Marchant
Age: 20
Employer: Lake Compounce Theme Park, CT
Why did you choose Work America?
I spent the previous summer working in a bar and decided I wanted to do something more exciting like road tripping along route 66, hiking the Grand Canyon or surfing in the pacific ocean!
What sort of work were you doing?
I worked in a pizza stand in an amusement park. It sounds quite boring, but I made so many friends that in the end it didn’t even feel like work!
Please briefly describe your accommodation
I lived in the halls of residence at a college about a mile down the road from work. There were 24 Brits all sharing together and it was a great party atmosphere the whole time. It was in the middle of nowhere, but we had a driver who would take us to the supermarket or mall or bus station, etc.
Did you travel at all before coming back to the UK?
Yes – despite my frequent trips to Abercrombie and American Eagle, I managed to save enough cash to spend a week in San Diego. I also spent some time in NYC and visited some friends in Boston and upstate New York.
Has the experience lived up to your expectations?
Not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them! I had a great time, met some cool people, saw some amazing sights and had loads of fun!
What was the most challenging part of your trip?
Undoubtedly arriving in New York for the first time – I’d never been there before and was shocked by how intimidating it felt. I got to grips with it eventually though, it must have been that initial culture shock!
Name: Mandy Turner
Age: 20
Employer: Seaside Amusements, DE
Why did you choose Work America?
It was the chance to experience a whole new way of life. I knew I didn’t want to just do the average mundane summer job like working in a shop. Working in America full time for 3 months lets you see the USA in a way that wouldn’t be possible if you were just on a 2 week holiday.
What sort of work did you do?
I worked on a small family-run amusement park on Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, as a Ride Operator / Game attendant. I would work between 6-10 hours per day.
What was your accommodation like?
A beautiful beach house situated 1 minute from the beach front, for which I paid $1100 for the whole 3 months. I shared it with 3 other girls. There were 2 bedrooms, a kitchenette and a bathroom. It was very sweet, comfortable and homely!
What have been the highlights of your trip?
The parties after work each night were a definite highlight, as was travelling to Jamaica for a week’s holiday with our hard earned money before visiting Philly, Washington and New York. Standing at the top of the Empire State Building at night seeing the lit up NY skyline was definitely one of those “wow” moments!
Has the experience lived up to your expectations?
Definitely. I wouldn’t change anything. I had a great time, travelled to some amazing places and made lifelong friends.
Name: Elizabeth Boggis
Age: 19
Employer: Merrill Lynch, NY
What sort of work did you do?
I worked for Merrill Lynch analysing their investments in various regions of the USA and researched different types of companies for prospective investments. It was amazing to be working in a building that overlooks the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Ground Zero!
How did you find your job?
I was lucky-enough to know someone who worked for Merrill Lynch and who advised me of the deadlines for sending in CV's, really that was all I did. I was so lucky that someone within the company who was looking for a Summer Intern thought I "fitted" with the type of person they were looking for. I had a phone interview with my prospective employer, and then I got an e-mail saying that they wanted me - it was as easy as that (although I was very lucky!). One tip I would give anyone applying for this type of work would be to find an American style CV, and use American terms in it because they just don't understand English!
What were the highlights of your trip?
All the things I saw, for example visiting Boston, Washington and Philadelphia were amazing, but so were the Yankees game, the Mets game and especially the NY Red Bulls v LA Galaxy at the Giants Stadium. It was amazing to see a culture that doesn’t support football being so behind the sport just because of David Beckham!
What has been the most challenging part of your trip?
The most challenging part of the trip was before I went, filling in all the forms and ensuring they were correct! However, any problems I encountered with pay etc were easily and quickly sorted by the New York office – they were fantastic!
Did you travel before returning home?
Due to the type of work I was doing in the US, I travelled at the weekends, and not all in one chunk. This made it better I think because I could spend time reflecting on what I saw before moving on to the next place.