Testimonies
Colorado Springs,CO
Exequiel tells us about his experience in the USA as Work and Travel in Colorado Springs, CO.
Name: Exequiel S.
Age: 22 years
Occupation: Systems Engineering Student
Destination: Colorado Springs, CO
Company and position where you work: The Broadmoor, Dishwasher.
-We would like to know how you are and how you feel, as a participant in the Work & Travel USA program
Now I feel good and calmer to have been able to return to the country, but I am a little frustrated because it did not end as I wanted to because of the pandemic.
I learned a lot during the three months, that's why one side took great things with me but I couldn't do the "travel" part and that frustrated us, we had problems with the flights and due to the pandemic we had to return 3 weeks before.
-What was the experience for?
I had never lived alone and learned a lot, to self-manage, wash clothes, cook, I was able to become independent, I already liked being alone and not needing others.
I was able to cope in situations unrelated to one, for example if something happened in the hotel I knew how to solve it or solve my problems.
In addition to improving my English a lot, gaining to meet new people and this stood out against everything else we were like a family from many different countries.
-Was the work as you imagined it?
No the truth. At first I had applied for a position to organize events but since there was no more place, I was given the position of steward and I accepted it anyway.
I did not like the job itself because it was being locked in the kitchen and I could not speak to anyone else, because we were 2 or 3 and I had a little lack of contact with the American.
The way I had to solve it was to go to all the hotel departments to ask for overtime because I couldn't change my job, so I was able to improve my experience and meet my goals.
I got overtime at the banquet and so I had direct contact with the Americans, and I also got housekeeping and could work better in English.
I lived in two different places, the first was a 5-person housing and I was walking or taxi to work, and the second I lived was closer to the hotel, since it was only half an hour away so I was generally walking. and we were already 2 in the room, that was good!
-How was the work environment? How was the relationship with other coworkers?
In general, it was always very good, I had no problems with any partner and we had good treatment with everyone, in all the positions I was.
-What were the best things about your job? And the worst?
The best that I identified was that I always worked alongside a California supervisor and practiced my English, I was able to express it to learn the language.
And of the worst, I did not like the schedule because I worked from 5 pm to 2 am, and when everyone got together to go out or eat and I arrived super late because I had a different schedule, they also put me with Jamaican colleagues and I had to adapt to them because they did what they wanted but they were not my bosses, and the supervisors did nothing to help you. That was a little heavy.
-What did you do on your days off?
We used to go tour the city because it had so much to know. We had a group already armed with whom we were going to see places, or to the shopping all together.
-Were you able to see other places?
I knew several places in Colorado, we organized to go skiing to a place 2 hours from our thing, and we also met Aspen and Valley by car that were a bit empty because of the quarantine but I liked them.
-What surprised you the most?
A little of everything, how people are with you, and meet new people. I never thought that he was going to make friends of the magnitude that I did.
It was my first time in the US, and it was a bit shocking at first but not for the worse, but because I was surprised day by day in how their daily life was.
-Any anecdote that you take as a souvenir?
Oh so many hahaha
We had a mutual friend from Malaysia in the group who became Latin haha, started singing reggaeton and we adapted it to our traditions and food.
To the last thing he already told us "what's up dog", it was a good experience haha
-What would you recommend to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
First I would recommend that you do not be afraid with the language, because it is not a requirement or an impediment, you always find a way to adapt and also make the trip because it will help you grow a lot as a person!
All this information is very useful for us and for the boys who want to travel with the program for the next seasons, so we really appreciate your collaboration.
Age: 22 years
Occupation: Systems Engineering Student
Destination: Colorado Springs, CO
Company and position where you work: The Broadmoor, Dishwasher.
-We would like to know how you are and how you feel, as a participant in the Work & Travel USA program
Now I feel good and calmer to have been able to return to the country, but I am a little frustrated because it did not end as I wanted to because of the pandemic.
I learned a lot during the three months, that's why one side took great things with me but I couldn't do the "travel" part and that frustrated us, we had problems with the flights and due to the pandemic we had to return 3 weeks before.
-What was the experience for?
I had never lived alone and learned a lot, to self-manage, wash clothes, cook, I was able to become independent, I already liked being alone and not needing others.
I was able to cope in situations unrelated to one, for example if something happened in the hotel I knew how to solve it or solve my problems.
In addition to improving my English a lot, gaining to meet new people and this stood out against everything else we were like a family from many different countries.
-Was the work as you imagined it?
No the truth. At first I had applied for a position to organize events but since there was no more place, I was given the position of steward and I accepted it anyway.
I did not like the job itself because it was being locked in the kitchen and I could not speak to anyone else, because we were 2 or 3 and I had a little lack of contact with the American.
The way I had to solve it was to go to all the hotel departments to ask for overtime because I couldn't change my job, so I was able to improve my experience and meet my goals.
I got overtime at the banquet and so I had direct contact with the Americans, and I also got housekeeping and could work better in English.
I lived in two different places, the first was a 5-person housing and I was walking or taxi to work, and the second I lived was closer to the hotel, since it was only half an hour away so I was generally walking. and we were already 2 in the room, that was good!
-How was the work environment? How was the relationship with other coworkers?
In general, it was always very good, I had no problems with any partner and we had good treatment with everyone, in all the positions I was.
-What were the best things about your job? And the worst?
The best that I identified was that I always worked alongside a California supervisor and practiced my English, I was able to express it to learn the language.
And of the worst, I did not like the schedule because I worked from 5 pm to 2 am, and when everyone got together to go out or eat and I arrived super late because I had a different schedule, they also put me with Jamaican colleagues and I had to adapt to them because they did what they wanted but they were not my bosses, and the supervisors did nothing to help you. That was a little heavy.
-What did you do on your days off?
We used to go tour the city because it had so much to know. We had a group already armed with whom we were going to see places, or to the shopping all together.
-Were you able to see other places?
I knew several places in Colorado, we organized to go skiing to a place 2 hours from our thing, and we also met Aspen and Valley by car that were a bit empty because of the quarantine but I liked them.
-What surprised you the most?
A little of everything, how people are with you, and meet new people. I never thought that he was going to make friends of the magnitude that I did.
It was my first time in the US, and it was a bit shocking at first but not for the worse, but because I was surprised day by day in how their daily life was.
-Any anecdote that you take as a souvenir?
Oh so many hahaha
We had a mutual friend from Malaysia in the group who became Latin haha, started singing reggaeton and we adapted it to our traditions and food.
To the last thing he already told us "what's up dog", it was a good experience haha
-What would you recommend to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
First I would recommend that you do not be afraid with the language, because it is not a requirement or an impediment, you always find a way to adapt and also make the trip because it will help you grow a lot as a person!
All this information is very useful for us and for the boys who want to travel with the program for the next seasons, so we really appreciate your collaboration.
