Assem Duisenbay What is “today”? It feels like just another unremarkable and forgettable day. Today might be one of those days when we don't want to do anything. We convince ourselves that everything can wait until tomorrow because there is still plenty of time. And no one considers the fact that everything starts today. Today is the most important day of our lives. What we will do, where we will go, and who we will see right now. In our lives, everything happens when it is necessary. That is what happened when I learned about the Work and Travel program last year in 2022. It is time to introduce myself, my name is Assem Duisenbay. I am a 3rd-year student at Suleyman Demirel University. I learned about the program quite by accident, from an acquaintance in our university dormitory. She had been to America twice through this program, and listening to her stories, work experience, adventures, and even difficulties, I was overwhelmed with emotions; I wanted to jump with excitement and joy, and I felt as if I had seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and at that moment I firmly decided that I would participate in this program. I was so inspired by this thought that I started looking for even more information, subscribed to all possible blogs, to the accounts of people who participated in the “Work and Travel USA” program, and watched all parts of the famous Ukrainian program "Oryol i Reshka”. I studied all the conditions, told my parents with great joy, and recounted all the information I had studied over time with such enthusiasm. My parents supported me, but they still had a fear of letting me go alone to such a distant country, as I had never been to other countries before. My parents agreed because my friends were also planning to go, and we found your quite famous agency, “International Exchange Center”, with good reviews and high-quality work. Also known as “TSMO”. And there were no doubts about this program, I finally decided to participate. But that same year, I won a free grant to study on a student exchange program in Poland, and I could not participate in the program. I was surprised and happy, but at the same time, I hesitated until the last moment before making a choice; I had mixed feelings because visiting America, the land of unlimited opportunities, soaking up that vibe from American TV shows, feeling that magical atmosphere, the American spirit of the people, and the indescribable energy had been my dream since childhood. From the 1st grade while learning English, right up to finishing school, I read about America many times, listened to Western pop songs, and studied their culture, traditions, and mentality. And all this interest and enthusiasm for this country grew into a big dream, and I had a goal not just to watch someone else's life, see it all from a glossy cover, or from a phone screen, or listen to stories, but to visit the land of opportunities, America, to live through all these moments, situations, cases, connect with new people, broaden my horizons, and learn something new every day. I am a 3rd-year student at Suleyman Demirel University, and, honestly, participating in an exchange was never part of my study plans. I really still don't know how I got involved in this amazing experience; I think it was a kind of destiny, and I feel so privileged that I grabbed this opportunity with both hands! Only after I received a confirmed place at Adam Mickiewicz University and booked tickets to Poland did my nerves start to fail. I suddenly realized that this would be one of the biggest challenges I had ever had to face. It was scary and at the same time exciting to think that I would be an international student for half a year, especially since this would be my first experience of living independently far from my country. At present, I am in Poland, in the city of Poznan, and I am studying for one semester at Adam Mickiewicz University. At the very beginning, I had to face a number of difficulties, as I need
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