As a participant in the Work and Travel USA 2017 program, I, Vladlena Olegovna Osipenko, worked this summer in the city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in a small shop (with the perk of free caramel). Gatlinburg is a small town by local standards. Speaking of the city, it has many interesting places to visit, cafes, and restaurants. The nature here is beautiful, there are many tourist spots, and the people are friendly. I arrived in Knoxville (the nearest city with an airport) during the day, where my employers met me at the airport and drove me to the city. The employers were welcoming and friendly. Since I was in a small town, it was not easy without a personal vehicle. Public transport is practically non-existent in America. As for the work, it consisted of selling caramel. Students participating in the Work and Travel program are mainly offered vacancies in the service sector: hotels, restaurants, shops, resorts, national parks, and amusement parks. The list of vacancies is not limited to these options; much depends on your knowledge, skills, and level of English. During the document submission process, I felt a little fear about what awaited me across the ocean. I had no idea which state to choose, where I would work, what the people were like, or what their mentality was. At first, it was uncomfortable when strangers greeted you and asked how you were doing, but with constant communication, my language skills improved. I quickly became friends with my employers, who constantly helped me out, helped me understand their culture, and gave me chances to earn money for travel. Of course, I did not let them down and did everything they required. I also made friends with other exchange students, just like me, with whom we made an excellent travel plan and brought it to life. The program itself assumes that you first need to work in the States, gain experience and money, and then dedicate yourself to an incredible journey. Our team consisted of the guys I lived and worked with. It is more fun, safer, and cheaper. Our plan was as follows: Chicago – Las Vegas – Grand Canyon – Los Angeles – Las Vegas – Chicago – Washington – New York. In Las Vegas, we rented a car, and we could return it in Chicago, so we did not depend on buses and their schedules, which allowed us to see everything we really wanted and even more. I visited the Grand Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. It is located on the Colorado Plateau in the state of Arizona within the national park of the same name. The canyon is carved by the Colorado River through limestone, shale, and sandstone. The Grand Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage site. All this beauty was formed over 10 million years. In Washington, I visited the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol. A total solar eclipse on August 21 could be seen in 14 US states. For the first time in 99 years, this natural phenomenon covered the continental part of the country from the west to the east coast, for which it was dubbed the "Great American Eclipse." And I became a witness to this grandiose phenomenon. This trip brought me huge experience and added to my independence, helped me improve my English level, and introduced me to many people with whom we still communicate to this day. Thanks to America, I realized that you can succeed in any country if you have goals and desire, and that most problems have a solution. America changed my attitude towards everything that surrounds me, and in a good way.
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