Ονδούρα: Ταξιδιωτικός οδηγός, βίζες και δωρεάν διαμονή · 2026

EExchangeexchangeiec · 29 Μαΐ 2009Διάβασμα

TABLE OF CONTENTS This blog consists of two parts: a diary, which is sometimes boring and covers day-by-day events, and thematic notes to help a first-timer or cover specific topics. Just don't forget that starting from here, you can go through all the pages in order and reach the end. DAY BY DAY: How it all started - what motivated me, the scariest moment of the whole summer, the application process How I prepared. Packing - documents, job offer, interview, how I fought to pass my exams, how to do things the smart way First days in the States - departure day, the saddest moment, Moscow, Sheremetyevo, the flight, Milan, New Fucking York, how I got to my workplace and the first couple of days PART ONE, WORK - from June 3 to August 14, mostly workdays, descriptions of my numerous jobs and colleagues PART TWO, TRAVEL - from August 14 to 16, preparation for the trip, buying gear, departure DAY 1. Philadelphia - the most important page. The first day of the trip. This is the beginning of the main part of the blog, a chain of 30 days on the road CONCENTRATES: FINANCIAL REPORT - Attention! The only and unprecedented full report on the internet about how much and where a Work and Travel USA participant earned and spent! At least, I couldn't find one at the time =) Statistics - numbers and facts. So far, only a list of all the cities and states I visited. Several pages about work. How I found it, responsibilities, pay, and daily routine mover - how I worked as a furniture mover concrete productions - how I worked as a laborer at concrete productions stocker (in progress) - about being a stocker in a clothing store night stocker (in progress) - as a night merchandiser in a grocery supermarket busser (in progress) - how I worked as a busser, i.e., an assistant to waiters in a big Mexican restaurant list of necessary things - I know exactly what is needed for an ideal trip around America by bus, + a few thoughts on what to take to America in general. And a few other tips on daily life: communication - after several failures, I came to the conclusion of how to call home if there is no internet device food - how I ate, what I concluded, and how much money it takes. So that you can immediately arrange a normal lunch upon arrival, and not eat sandwiches from the store like I did the first week. If you know how to cook, then of course my findings won't be useful to you =) I will also tell you (in progress) how I looked for housing and what conclusions I drew from this process. So, let's go! http://blogs.iec.ru/moshkam/blog/honduras/untitled-4

EExchangeexchangeiec · 29 Μαΐ 2009Διάβασμα

How did it all even start, Honduras I don't even remember how it all started... It was 2008, I was a second-year student at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. I knew about Work and Travel USA back in school, but I never imagined myself doing it. So, I just grew up, spent time on the internet, and didn't do anything special because nothing around me was interesting. One day, a flyer was posted on a wall at the university saying that some agency, I think it was Sindbad, would be giving a presentation about Work and Travel USA in some classroom that evening. A couple of friends and I went, listened, but then they backed out. I think one day I realized my own worthlessness and decided to change something, and the only thing that interested me at all was travel. So, I brought up the America topic on the internet again. And somehow, in February, at the family dinner table, I suggested that I might spend this summer not as usual, but maybe go to the States. My relatives didn't show much enthusiasm, and the topic quickly changed. With some sadness, I noted that no one was taking my intentions seriously anymore. At the institute, the guys were also quite skeptical about the idea of going via Work and Travel USA. Someone said that first I had to prove it wasn't a scam, and then he would go with me. I categorically stated that I didn't need such idiots with me in America, I would go alone. Well, if you've committed to it, you have to do it. My brother said, "Go, and I'll respect you then"... I'm telling you what kind of nonsense pushed me. No, of course, I went only for myself, but it was pure nonsense that led me to it... Registration I chose CMO as a sponsor very simply, through the internet. The prices were lower, there were many more participants, and there was a website with a large forum where company representatives communicated with the guys as equals and helped them. It was almost too late to start the program registration, luckily I waited until the very end =) The scariest moment of the whole summer I get out of the subway and walk to the office doors, I walk, I see the sign, I don't remember exactly what I felt, but it becomes very, very scary. I start remembering the last time I left home for a long time, it was when I was 14, a summer volleyball camp near St. Petersburg for a month, how unbearably bad it was there and how I was tearfully preparing an escape plan. I ask myself, dude, you're 19, something should have changed by now, right? And what if it hasn't?? I imagined what would happen if it hadn't and felt tears welling up... In short, I walked, walked to the CMO doors and walked past them, and towards the subway... At the subway, I stood and just thought for half an hour =) Then I pulled myself together, turned around, went in, and registered. There were pretty girls sitting there, a big, confident guy walks in to them and just signs up with a smile, they make eyes at him. God knows what they are thinking, but, damn, how much these thoughts can differ from reality... That was the scariest and most difficult moment. I am proud of myself =)) When I left the office, I was pleased with myself and, in general, my mood was cloudless.

EExchangeexchangeiec · 29 Μαΐ 2009Διάβασμα

How I prepared. Packing, Honduras It gets easier from here. I gathered documents for my international passport. It was simple for me—I have a military ID due to health reasons, so there wasn't much red tape with the military enlistment office certificate. I found a travel agency online that processes these passports in 5 working days (4000 RUB, more details in the financial report). I was short on time, so I paid and got it. I paid the first installment at the central branch of Baltic Bank on Muchnoy. Job offer: I'll say it right away, I bought it. You can read how I did that here. I brought my passport, printed offer, and receipt to the CMO office in one of the final days. They were surprised at how I got an international passport in a week, and I was pleased =) Now, you just have to wait for your interview date at the embassy and for them to verify the offer in New York. On March 26, I received an email from CMO—the interview would be on April 3. I went to the interview calmly; as far as I understood from the internet, it's not scary. In the morning before leaving, I read the frequently asked questions and thought up answers while on the way. It turned out to be not scary at all; the consul asked my name, where I study, and where I will work—three questions—"your visa is approved." Out of the whole group, only two guys were denied a visa; one didn't know English at all, and the other had a brother going. Around March 25, my offer was confirmed. I paid the remaining part of the program and had to specify a departure date. I decided to leave as much time as possible for early exams. My job offer started on May 28, so I set it for May 27, right at the last minute. It couldn't be changed anymore because CMO orders the tickets. That's where I messed up. Passing exams and departure How I would plan everything now: Early exams should be taken entirely in the week before the credit week. To do this, you need to explain the situation correctly two weeks before the credit week. (Professors don't have lines yet and aren't very grumpy—if you explain it right, they won't put spokes in your wheels). Naturally, your main trump card is the lie that you have tickets to America for the start of the credit week. The standard paper about participating in an international exchange program from the CMO office helps here; you need to choose the program start date on the paper wisely. This way, if problems arise with the university, you can resolve them at the beginning of the credit week, but otherwise, the entire credit week should be left for preparation and packing. The departure date should be set at CMO about 3 days before the start date of work (indicated in the job offer). The idea that you need to fly out as early as possible to avoid problems with housing and a second job runs like a red line. In the end, I would have flown out at the end of the credit week and negotiated the start of work with the employer for three days after departure. I had to leave with a fight; one woman refused to give me a credit, saying she wasn't interested in my problems and asking why I was pushing my early exams. In short, I suffered for a long time, but in the end, she became interested in my problems; she actually did the coursework for me and gave me the credit =) All because the woman was extorting bribes from those who missed classes, and I recorded her on a voice recorder. We yelled at each other with profanity; I explained that I have a military ID for mental health reasons, so I'm not afraid of the army, and she annoyed me so much that I would write a statement first to the department and then higher up. I wasn't sure about the outcome at all, but quite unexpectedly, that same evening I received my credit. Conclusion: even though it's nice to take down an evil professor, it's still better to pass before the credit week. On April 28, an email arrived from CMO with all the information about the tickets.

EExchangeexchangeiec · 29 Μαΐ 2009Διάβασμα

First days in the States, Honduras Thursday, October 16, 2008 Departure May 26 Well, I left St. Petersburg just fine. I packed on time, although there was a little panic that I had forgotten something, or that I hadn't managed to pay for my phone card online. There was an unpleasant tension in the air. There was a difficult moment when my parents were seeing me off at the train station for Moscow (my flight to the States was from Sheremetyevo). I realized that if everything went well, the next time we would meet would be in 4 months... and I couldn't be absolutely sure that everything would go well. To be honest, I wasn't even sure about the next day, because before this, I had never traveled alone on such trains... Generally speaking, I had never done anything alone before: I hadn't lived alone, hadn't worked, hadn't cooked, hadn't traveled... And although I was almost sure that I could do all this at a high level, now I was facing a real test. In short, I was really scared, but when problems arise, the strength to solve them also appears. I didn't show it and acted confident. It was very hard for my parents even without my panic; my mom was crying, my dad was looking intently into my eyes, trying to understand how I was feeling. Now it is perfectly clear that it was much harder for them that summer than it was for me... Personally, the following helps me: "Emotional pain is also a loss in survival potential... Only a person does not lose body tissues, cells, or physiological functions. They lose close relatives, loved ones, personal belongings, a dog or a cat, or they lose status or respect, etc... A psychologist would say that a person's loss (whether of important objects or close living beings) leads to a decrease in factors contributing to their survival, and therefore they become upset." Taken from Wikipedia. I enjoy reducing all manifestations of human activity to animal manifestations whenever the opportunity arises =) Maybe it will help you too, like realizing that you are above the problem itself? There. The conductor orders everyone seeing someone off to get out. I get on the train, wave to my folks, the train starts moving... May 27 Then there was Moscow, the mood was good, a new city, everything was curious. I had about ten hours before the flight, so I managed to walk around Red Square, the Kremlin, and sit in an internet cafe on Arbat. I had forgotten a copy of my military ID at home, and the cops could have hassled me, which was not at all what I needed right now. I called, my mom sent it, and I printed it out. It's better to ask the salespeople in any store on Arbat exactly which basement the internet club is in - that's how I found it. Three hours before the flight, I enter the metro. Rechnoy Vokzal station. From there, shuttle buses go to the airport terminals. I think I need Terminal 1. People are all around with bags, also in a hurry, some are worried. One such nervous guy is being led out of the shuttle by "security guards" by his arms; they start hassling him that he didn't pay for the shuttle bus and now he's going to pay a fine, otherwise he won't go anywhere. He makes excuses, is in a hurry, is worried, and takes out his wallet. I felt sorry for him. Such things would hardly have worked on me; if you don't count that I'm just healthy, I have invaluable successful experience in getting a military ID from the military enlistment office. Since then, I know how to fight bureaucratic arbitrariness and I'm not afraid. I could have helped the guy, but I was already sitting in the shuttle, and it was packed. (By the way, these buses seem to run every half hour, it makes sense to wait for a fresh, empty one) Flight At the airport, I realized that I had no idea what to do next. (The last time I flew was a long time ago with my folks) The mood was excellent, I found a couple of girls in IEC t-shirts, I walked up and said "Me too!" and smiled like an idiot =) Then I got to chatting, accidentally spilled a bottle

EExchangeexchangeiec · 29 Μαΐ 2009Διάβασμα

PART ONE, WORK Five jobs, how it was, Honduras My five jobs. I'll tell you how I looked for work, how much people earn, and what their work schedule is like. June 29 Deposited checks into the account. Walked around the churches - they were closed. Called the old man as promised, said "let's do tomorrow." Ate ice cream! $1.95, very delicious, that's how I celebrated my first paycheck. Told Rob I'm staying, we moved some furniture for him. Now he's changing the carpets, and I'm sitting here watching "Caribean Resorts", in five minutes I have to go to the restaurant for the first time. Also met a guy from Palestine, he works for Rob. Came here 3 months ago for a year. I already forgot his name... =) Kind of cool... (Remembered - Waleet, like Wally from the cartoon) Night. Came back from the restaurant. Yiping arrived from Alaska, tired. It's so great here. Everything is white, clean, the people are homey, friendly. Rob did some renovations, replaced the carpet, moved the bed, fixed the AC. The guy is handy... What about the restaurant. In short - it's great, an amazing experience. I started to get an idea of how it works, who works where, and what the pay is like. For example, a waitress with only five tables (it was very "slow") got over a hundred bucks in tips. But her skirt was like a belt. Overall, the restaurant is expensive and cool, the third floor is open-air, with trees. But there were very few people today, probably because it's hot outside. We, the bussers, had nothing to do. All day I brought chips once and cleared a table a couple of times. Boring. But we chatted. Everyone here is young, the girls are very pretty, for Americans, there's a guy from England with a goofy accent. The managers and the kitchen staff are Spanish-speaking. The people in the kitchen are the most important in the restaurant. The ordering system is computerized. In general, a lot of interesting things... At the end, I asked in the kitchen, they gave me some Mexican stuff, two pancakes like things with cheese and meat in the middle. Tasty but not enough, took it home. The pay is a bit weird, $5.15 an hour + tips. And our waitress gave us $5 each in tips. That's it. So for now I'm working for the experience (and the pancakes =) We'll see... Time to sleep... The stupid phone says "Your wheneverminuts are low" and interferes with dialing home via the card. Steph is calling, but I can't talk anymore, my eyes are closing, it's impossible to lift my head.. I'm passing out... PS they let me sleep in the renovated room for one night - you should have seen it! I got very lucky with housing, only just started to realize it. Forgot one more thing! At the restaurant, it was a client's son's birthday, so our entire Mexican kitchen crew came out of their dungeons and sang a Happy Birthday type song to the kid in Spanish =) And also when I was walking to work, at the intersection of Market and High St, there were guys standing opposite each other, some for peace, and one for supporting the war, with a sign something like "honk for our troops". Well, I was walking on the side that was "for the war" and asked the guy with the sign what "honk" meant, we started talking, he's smiling, asks "Where do you think the terrorists are?" I say "Well here, in America". He says "I agree, and those guys over there support them!" I say "Well, the terrorists are at a high level here". He asks "Do you think George Bush is a terrorist?" I say "Well, yeah". He says: "Get the f* out of here!! Go back to Russia, you f*in terrorist!! get out, don't wait till I knuckle you!!!" I was shocked at how he changed.. and a minute ago he was smiling at me =(( Anyway, next time I'll walk on the other side =) To travel preparations

EExchangeexchangeiec · 29 Μαΐ 2009Διάβασμα

PART TWO, TRAVEL How I gave up on everything :), Honduras August 10 ...you can start the countdown, 40 days left until home! ho-ho-ho... Well, okay, the most difficult and interesting part is still ahead! The organized tour isn't working out, and my heart isn't really in it (although I'll try to book it tomorrow=) I'll probably go solo. I'll coordinate actions with my grandmother. Now I need to sketch out a route, buy a backpack, a sleeping pad, a sleeping bag, a hard drive, a camera, batteries, etc. (sandals too) So yeah. There's a lot to do, I'm nervous and sweating =) It's a bit scary. Even a lot... But my soul is calling. If everything works out + I don't get kicked out of the institute for being late - I'll be a hero and for the rest of my life I'll have the full right to eat chips on the couch in front of the TV! Heh =) Tomorrow is Grandma Toma's birthday! Must not forget to congratulate her! August 14, 1:47 AM. I was worried about returning the laptop for nothing - the operation took 5 minutes, the lady didn't check anything except the components! Although I ordered the recovery CD from HP, and the envelope (a huge one) arrived a day early, for $30, via FedEx. So I spent the whole night copying music, 22 gigs, onto five DVD discs. And then in the morning, I reset the laptop to its original state and took it to return. As a result, they will transfer $900 to my card today or tomorrow =) Travel. Everything is pushing me to go on a "round-the-world trip" =) There was a murky situation where, no matter what, I was literally a few dollars short for the Greentortoise tour. And the spots, accordingly, must have run out. I messaged them on Skype 9 days ago - there were 2 spots, the next day - one. Yesterday I called my former classmate, Sanya. He left for Boston, I think, in the 9th grade. He seems kind of depressed (I'm quietly thinking that I depressed him over the phone - I'm out of practice talking, there's so much information - I dumped it on him like a dump truck =() He suggests "Dude, come to Philadelphia! Come on, it's only five hours!" He lives well and doesn't count gas expenses. Just now another Sanya called, with whom we are planning a round-the-world trip via the internet. He sounds like a great guy + we are both 190 cm tall + his budget is also $1500 + he also likes the idea of sleeping on the bus. Plus, Sanya is going to bring a 14.1" laptop and a Canon PowerShot S5IS camera, known for excellent video recording (on 4 batteries). Nothing but pluses, in short. It's even interesting how it will all turn out - usually when it seems like everything is cool, it actually turns out badly... We'll see... In the morning I'll go to Philly, look for a sleeping bag/backpack/camera + try what it's like, in an unknown city for a day, without maps and internet preparation =) Why aren't my parents calling... ugh... =( August 17 - I'm going! On the train! On a round-the-world trip!! A lot has happened during this time, now I'm going to recall... August 14 I went to Philadelphia. $2 bus to the station + $7 train to the city. I wanted to buy gear and a camera. I found a tourist shop online, IGoldberg Army&Navy I think, very good according to reviews. Two-story, cheap, large assortment, right in the center, next to City Hall. I found it easily. Although the city scared and stressed me out a lot - lots of people, homeless people begging, the city is sooo tall!! My head is really spinning and I can't believe what I'm seeing. It's very unusual to orient myself, such a loss of space appears =)) City Hall is also super tall. Everything is also very clean, and the people are funny =) I had already picked out a backpack and a sleeping bag, but didn't find the right sandals and in the end didn't take anything. I also didn't find a guidebook with public transport, only roadmaps in bookstores. In short, I got upset, time is running out already! On the bright side - I got through to my mom from the store. They are doing well =) and I'm not doin

EExchangeexchangeiec · 29 Μαΐ 2009Διάβασμα

FINANCIAL REPORT, Honduras FINANCIAL SUMMARY Initial Expenses -350 RUB photos for passport -4000 RUB passport processing (5 days) -2200 RUB 1st installment for job offer -300 RUB bank account opening for program payment -$355 1st installment for program + SEVIS + $20 transfer fee -3200 RUB 2nd installment for job offer (after confirmation) -3300 RUB consulate fee (April 3rd) -$1440 2nd installment for program + $20 fee __________________ -13300 RUB -$1795 paid to agency for the program __________________ ~ $2368 total paid from home. I also took $965 with me to the States. In total, the summer without me cost my dear parents 3333 bucks. Income I worked for 9 weeks in total. +$345 3 days, 9.8 hours each, moving, $51 tips. That's $11.7/hour + $10 for one hour at a cement plant. +$2798 33 days, 8.2 hours average at Giant Food Store. That's $10.31/hour + $0 for one 8-hour day at Acme grocery store (they stiffed me). +$579 15 days, 3.9 hours average at a Mexican restaurant (juggling with Giant). Breakdown: 389 tips + 190 for hours. Total is about $9.81/hour. Total, I earned about $3732 in two months with an average salary of 10 bucks an hour. Expenses there -$285 spent during the first week (60 bucks on the first day, 110 bucks for 5 nights in a motel, 11 for an adapter, 35 for a T-Mobile SIM. I messed up with the SIM, you can read how to do it right here) -$140/month on food (~70 home cooking, 70 snacks/junk at work) -$550/month for shitty housing with all amenities. Actual monthly breakdown: 325 (split with Vanya), 300 (I shook 350 out of the churches of blessed West Chester), 225 for a basement for half a month. -$300 went to household stuff, entertainment, a few clothes, movies, and things I forgot to record. Travel -$634 for travel prep, gear -$1311 for a month around America including food, transport, and mobile service Total, I spent everything I earned, which is $3732. Conclusions My balance: 0 My parents' balance: -$3333 This means I lived and traveled comfortably on what I earned there, but I didn't recoup the program costs at all. It also means I'll have to work off the program cost like a slave on dad's plantation... If I had stayed instead of traveling and worked that last month, I would have brought home exactly the cost of the program. And if I went a second time using the experience gained, to a tax-free state, and all else being equal, didn't waste the first month, started working immediately, didn't buy a job offer, didn't live in a motel for a week, I would have brought home an extra three thousand on top of the program cost. http://blogs.iec.ru/moshkam/blog/honduras/o-1