Lincoln: Travel guide, prices and free housing · 2026

AMAlua Muratgoldinside.lu · Dec 18, 2022Read

Let's get acquainted? My name is Alua, I am only 19 years old, for such a short but fascinating life, for the first time I am taking such an unexplored step into a country unknown to me. I am the eldest child in the family, maybe with this sentence I will be able to describe my decision that has been considered for months. To be more precise, I was such a responsible, restrained and calm child, and I have remained so. I think this influenced this outcome of events. I caught fire with the goal instantly, but I made a firm and steady step towards the dream relatively recently, which I am very grateful to myself and my parents. Summer in Kazakhstan goes according to one scenario — fun, but unproductive no matter how hard you try. It seems to me that Work and travel is a mandatory part of student life and a huge opportunity that should not be missed. This is an invaluable experience that you can't get anywhere else. Probably every young person wants to work abroad, because it gives so many opportunities. Firstly, you can learn a foreign language, and up to a very good level. Secondly, there is an opportunity to learn the customs and traditions of the country, just to see how the local people live. Thirdly, during work, new great friends from all over the world are usually made, you can have fun in pleasant company. And finally, this is a great opportunity to earn decent money that will allow you to fully or partially solve your teenage financial problems. So, as you can see, there are a lot of advantages of working abroad. And most importantly, this time, in the future, according to the stories of those who have worked abroad, is remembered as one of the best in life. I learned about this student exchange program from my cousin, who a few years ago, in her student years, just like I am now, dreamed of such an opportunity, which, despite all the difficulties encountered, was able to snatch her jackpot and was able to visit the country of fulfillment of her desires. The advantages of this program are that the student is given several months to work, and then he will be able to travel around the country for up to a month. Isn't this happiness? “Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta. I have a great desire to explore life through traveling and learning new things. It excites me when I visit new places, learn about different cultures and see how other people live a life different from mine. I just love traveling because it helps me understand that the world is so beautiful, that there is so much to admire and cherish. It's also the feeling you get when you explore new ideas, stories, beliefs, and scenarios. This not only expands your knowledge, but also helps you overcome the challenges you face. I experience life's challenges and pleasures, and I get out of my personal bubble to become a better person by exploring new cultures. Traveling is my passion because it's something I won't be afraid to pursue. A person learns more and more about himself, and every time he travels, he expands his horizons. Travelling helps us to know more about different lifestyles, cultures, cuisines and festivals. Visiting new sights and exploring new places increases our knowledge and widens our global perspective. We get to learn so many things about different cultures and customs. It makes us open minded and gives us a new viewpoint about life and it also changes some of our bad habits. Our vision enlarges as we travel and we start thinking out of the box. USA. It is faraway country, on the other side of the world. It is country of contrasts and great opportunities. There are a number of time zones and two oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic, between us. And what attracts me to it? The US is state with rich cultural heritage and fascinating history. It has passed a long way of formation and has earned respect from other countries. America gave the world a lot of great people, such as Abraham Lincoln , Jam

NANataliia Alekseevavovkina_docha · Dec 15, 2018Read

Miami. Oh… the beaches there. We mostly walked, covering about 17 km a day. Our hotel was located in North Miami, so we ordered taxis to get to the sights. Here is another life hack: download apps like Lyft or Uber, and you will get your first ride for free. Also, our hotel had cards with promo codes that give you discounts on your first 5 rides. We visited Downtown, the Wynwood district, and of course, went shopping on Lincoln Road. Those were wonderful days. But we can't go without adventures, and on the day of our flight to New York, we found out that our accommodation, booked a month in advance, had suddenly been canceled. And, as is tradition, we flew to New York without knowing where we would spend the night. Arriving in New York at two in the afternoon, we only found a host by ten in the evening. A huge thank you to the couchsurfers who took us in! New York, this time, I fell in love with it even more. All this contrast of buildings, cultures, and people made an indelible impression on me. We saw the Statue of Liberty, walked through Central Park, walked almost all of Manhattan, rode the aerial tramway, visited Roosevelt Island, and, of course, did not leave Times Square unattended. How is my America doing? I haven't fully discovered it yet. Thank you to the Work and Travel program and IEC for this unforgettable summer, for new acquaintances, and for expanding my horizons. If you are still in doubt, just go for it and discover your own America. And I'm off to plan my trip for my Work and Travel summer 2019.

NANataliia Alekseevavovkina_docha · Dec 15, 2018Read

How is your America? This is the most frequent question I received upon arriving in Russia. I found out about the Work and Travel program in the summer of 2016. In October 2017, I decided that I had to go, passed the interview, and in November, I signed the contract. Teaming up with an acquaintance, we decided to go to Virginia Beach. Everything was going smoothly; the only thing that scared me was the interview at the embassy. But it seems these are all games of our mind, because as soon as I entered the embassy building, my anxiety evaporated. Just a minute of conversation with the consul and guess what, that's right, my visa was APPROVED. Then came the early completion of my internship and passing exams. Everything... We are in New York... I am standing on American soil, one thought in my head: is this really true? America, which just two years ago was so far away, is now close. The first thing we did in New York was get acquainted with the subway; we didn't like it... We reached the place where buses to our city depart. It was a mistake that we didn't take care of tickets, and only tickets for 9 a.m. the next day were left. Well, what can I say, we practically spent the night on the streets of New York, wandered around Time Square, and met the sunrise sitting on the station stairs. Six hours on the bus passed unnoticed. I admired the view from the window, mentally finding differences from the Russian landscape. We didn't like our apartment, so we decided to move. It was a great decision because our second apartment gave us interesting stories and good friends. I liked working at the hotel, mostly because of the team. Every morning, the houseman Muhammad would say to me, "If you need something, do not ask me, OK?", and my mood would be on top. And the supervisor Kisha's question, "How ya doin'?", confused me at first—what even is that, "how ya doin'?" But then it became an essential part of my day. Joe, who was very friendly to me, always said, "Hey, sweety." Once, with the guys from work, we hosted a Slovak, Thai, and Russian food night. We talked about ideas, impressions, and plans for the future. At my second job, I did henna tattoos. I worked with an 18-year-old American girl named Aliya; thanks to her, I learned what American teenagers live for. At this job, I constantly talked with Americans; upon learning where I was from, they would say in surprise, "Wow, Russia is pretty far from here." I never encountered any negativity towards me; on the contrary, everyone asked me about Russia, about the differences and similarities with America. America gave me a lot of new knowledge and impressions, opened my eyes to the world, I made many friends from different countries, and found a friend who became like a sister to me. And now, quickly, without thinking... The capital of the USA?! Yeeess, dude, right, it's Washington. This city was a must-visit for me; I can't imagine what it's like to be in the USA and not see the White House? I was simply delighted with the city's architecture, memorials, and museums, which, by the way, are free! It's better to make a list of places you want to visit in advance, the main thing is to calculate your strength (because in our whole day in Washington, we visited only half the places on our list). They are all impressive, but the ones that stuck in my soul the most were: 1. Lincoln Memorial. A little Transformers fan was just cheering inside me. Remember the moment when Megatron knocks Lincoln over and sits on his chair? May Grandpa Lincoln forgive me, but standing there, I imagined this scene and couldn't believe that I was actually looking at this miracle with my own eyes! 2. Washington Monument. 3. National Museum of Natural History. 4. The Capitol—a majestic building where ideas for governing the country are generated. And we could say we participated in a historical event: on the balcony of the Capitol building, a young politician (we guessed), kneeling down, proposed to his beloved, and

ЭБЭмиль Бурковbyrakk · Dec 15, 2017Read

Before heading West, we had a few days to spend as we pleased. We decided not to stay in New York, and in a couple of moments, we booked a bus tour. The tour route was as follows: Philadelphia – Washington D.C. – Niagara Falls. Along the way, we also stopped at Watkins Glen State Park, a glass museum, and visited the Canadian border. Initially, everything went off-plan. The bus from Cape Cod to New York turned out to be a completely different one and arrived at the wrong place. Instead, we ended up in a neighboring state. We had a couple of hours before the bus departure, and we were in the middle of nowhere, having absolutely no idea what to do. It was very early in the morning, and there was no one to ask. Google suggested we were near some subway station. We didn't know what kind of subway it was or where it went. We decided to just go there and ask the station staff. EZ ride Fortunately, we could catch a train directly to Brooklyn from there, and from there, we could somehow get to our bus. After figuring out the directions, we boarded the train and headed to New York. By the time we reached Brooklyn, we realized what a mess we were in. Time was tight, and we were already missing our tour. We had to call and text our guide: "Sorry, we'll be a little late, please wait for us." When we boarded the next train directly to the bus station, the guide started calling and texting incessantly. Eventually, when we reached the departure point, the bus was already gone. And again, we were incredibly lucky. My travel companion managed to find a Chinese bus a couple of meters away that was heading to Philadelphia. This was our chance! Paying about 12 bucks, we jumped on the bus and texted the guide that we would catch up with them there. We did manage to catch up with them, and by running from one bus to another, we saved the situation. We didn't really get to see Philadelphia, as they were already preparing to move on by the time we arrived. But the rest of the tour went without incident. Philadelphia: hello, goodbye I really liked the capital of the USA. Everything was perfectly clean and well-maintained, the buildings stood out for their architecture, and we saw FBI cars on the streets :) This time without delays, be more careful in the future I would have liked to stay in Washington longer. Despite the fact that we managed to see the White House, the "Pencil" (Washington Monument), the Pentagon, and the Lincoln Memorial, it wasn't enough for me. My soul craved adventure and exploration. I need to return someday and finish what I started. The Pencil looked even better from afar than up close Old man Lincoln Our next stop was Niagara Falls. The views from above were breathtaking. This waterfall is truly beautiful! It's worth seeing in real life; photos can't convey the experience. By the way, at night, the lighting turns on, and it looks completely different! Day view. I won't spoil the night one :) The tour also included a short film about the history of Niagara Falls (quite interesting), and we also took a boat ride right up to it. I don't know how my phone didn't get swept away by the water, but we were soaked to the bone. Even the raincoat given to everyone at the entrance didn't help. So, for decent photos from below, bring waterproof protection for your camera. Despite the fact that the tour was quite short, it was nice to feel the atmosphere of an endless road trip. You could turn on music, sit and look out the window, reflecting on the diversity of places in America. Not far from Niagara Watkins Glen State Park After the tour, we returned to New York happy, and the next day we headed to the airport. After arriving, we were supposed to pick up a rental car, meet some girls from our group, and set off to conquer the West Coast.

VФVladlena Фамилияosipenko.vladlena · Dec 14, 2017Read

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.

NBNatasha Belyaevasolnyshko_1994 · Nov 30, 2015Read

Washington in five words: heat, art, free, silence, and running. That is exactly how I remember it. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden All students coming to the States for the summer can be roughly divided into two categories. The first are those who earn money for crazy trips around the country; the second are those who slave away at three (I'm exaggerating) jobs without days off to take all their earnings home. My Czech friend Michael and I were somewhere in the middle. Neither here nor there. We worked 14 hours a day and dreamed of getting away somewhere, but it just didn't work out: either our days off didn't coincide, or the weather spoiled the fun, or we just wanted to sleep in. In August, realizing that if we waited any longer, our dreams would go down the drain, we decided to act. Where to go? "W" - Washington - it's close, interesting, and budget-friendly. Still the same National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden After going through dozens of possible "how to get there" options, we settled on E-Point. 60 dollars round trip – at 9:30 AM you are at your destination, at 10 PM you are back in the center of our native Bethany – perfect. The first thing we noticed upon arrival was how quiet it was all around. I was prepared to see colorful crowds of people rushing everywhere as soon as I got off the bus, but in the end, the only semblance of a crowd that caught my eye was a group of toddlers that an attendant was vainly trying to get to move in the right direction. People, where are you? Going to Washington for 1 day is a bit of a stretch. We rushed around the National Mall, trying, as they say, to grasp the ungraspable. The phrase of the day became "come on, faster, we still need to make it there." National Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum (must see!), Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol, White House, National World War II Memorial – we ran through all of this as fast as we could. Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum At the National Museum of Natural History, I spent a long time reading the information on the billboards dedicated to the ocean and the origin of life on Earth - tired of waiting, Michael came up with a great thing: "Listen, do like the Chinese: take photos of everything, and you'll read it at home, come on!" I admit, for lack of another choice, I did just that later on. It's embarrassing, but what can you do. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Most of the time was spent at the National Gallery of Art. Expecting to run through it in an hour, once we got inside, we immediately realized that we would fail this mission, gave up on everything, and began to slowly move from hall to hall with our mouths open. Monet, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, and Warhol – could I have even dreamed of this? At five in the evening, we felt as if we had walked a hundred kilometers in the desert – we wanted to lie down on the grass somewhere and not move. And we also wanted to eat. By the way, about food. For a whole hour, we wandered around the National Mall, trying, as it turned out, absolutely in vain, to find at least one working stall with burgers and hot dogs. Five o'clock is the approximate closing time for all the Mall's attractions, and "food," as I realized, works on the same schedule. We sadly remembered how in the morning, to lighten the weight of our backpacks, we stuffed the leftovers of our packed lunch into ourselves – fools! Who knew. My advice to those who are going to visit Wash – go to the city for a couple of days. Without thinking. It's worth it. And plan in advance what exactly you want to see, because the number of museums collected within this place can drive you crazy. There is an outlet here for absolutely everyone, whether you are a creative soul or a fan of ancient history. And yes, no skyscrapers or shocking buildings – all Washington buildings are elegantly strict, as if to say, look, I'm neo-Got

AKAliya Kenessarinakenessarina · Nov 29, 2015Read

Travels also greatly influenced our summer. I think there are few places where you can wake up and buy a ticket for the evening to Las Vegas or New York. A trip to the US capital, Washington, gave me the opportunity to get acquainted with American culture. We mainly visited museums and memorials. I immediately remembered Abraham Lincoln's favorite quote when I saw his memorial: "When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That is my religion." - Abraham Lincoln. In Washington, I saw cherry blossoms, which I had dreamed of seeing in Japan. It was truly unexpected to see a cherry tree in Washington, so far from its homeland. Having learned the history, I found out that it was a gift from Japan as a sign of cooperation and friendship with America. After reading Theodore Dreiser's book "Sister Carrie," I wanted to visit Chicago and see the scenes that arose in my head while reading it. Visiting Millennium Park and "The Bean" was my first and unforgettable impression of Chicago. But what struck me most was the Art Institute of Chicago, which I highly recommend visiting for lovers of aesthetics and innovation. The museum is famous for its collection of Impressionists and American art. The museum is very large in size and extensive in its selection. Everyone can find something for themselves there. And of course, visit the Willis Tower — the second tallest building in the United States. When visiting, don't forget to book in advance or buy tickets for the 103rd floor. And there, through the transparent floors and walls, you will be able to see all the beauty of the city, and for "lovers" of heights, this will be a real test of courage. I had often heard about "Sin City," but I didn't expect to end up there so soon. Las Vegas is striking in its eccentricity and the number of casinos. Upon arrival, I was shocked that even at the airport, casinos are set up everywhere. And that in Las Vegas, the night seems brighter than the day. I saw the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and others in miniature. The famous Bellagio fountains, the Mirage volcano eruption - these shows are an indescribable spectacle. The city itself is located in the desert, and the cost of housing is very low compared to other states. This is mainly because all hotels have casinos, and the owners make money on the casinos, not on accommodation. So, feel free to go to Las Vegas and don't be afraid to spend a lot of money on housing. But make sure that you or your companions are 21 years old, as in many hotels you can only check in with a person who has reached this age. In addition, in a casino, you can never tell if it is day or night, and there are no time indicators. This is a policy so that people don't notice how much time they spend in the casino. Don't miss the chance to ride the monorail in Las Vegas. This way you can arrange a mini-tour of Las Vegas for yourself. In "Sin City," there is one of the scariest attractions in the world; for extreme lovers, I suggest visiting the Stratosphere – the tallest observation tower in the USA and riding the attractions. The Grand Canyon, or the Great Canyon as I prefer to call it, is one of the deepest canyons in the world. The Grand Canyon is one of the most unusual objects on Earth, which was formed over centuries, millimeter by millimeter. I cannot accurately convey the whole palette of feelings that one experiences when seeing the Canyon. However, I definitely felt inspiration, a surge of strength, and pride for such beauty created by nature. At the Grand Canyon, we visited the "Sky Deck" - a transparent bridge that opens a view of the bottom of the canyon, and it creates the illusion that you might fall. This didn't impress us much; we had already had enough of the views we had seen. And we greedily absorbed them, as if trying to etch them into our memory forever. The Hoover Dam, an Indian village, and a strange magician we met - we encountered all this while visiting the Grand Canyon

BSBulat Shaydullinbulat8801 · Feb 1, 2015Read

27 hours on the road - that's exactly how long the bus ride from Miami to Washington takes. 36 hours without sleep - that's how long you need to hold out so you don't miss anything and keep your belongings safe. A torn backpack - sometimes things just wear out. All of this fades against the backdrop of the city's splendor! Downtown is a pleasant surprise. After not really enjoying the South, you feel cozy here: the streets get narrower, the buildings taller, and there are more people on bicycles. After reaching the hostel, checking into my room, and taking a shower, I headed to the supermarket. My eyes were wide with excitement! The prices were reasonable (though still more expensive than Walmart), and the quantity and variety of goods were a huge relief after the bus trip, where the only food was waffles, bananas, brownies, and a gallon of water. After stocking up on fruit, rice, juice, water, and tomatoes, I returned to the hostel and fell into a deep sleep. Tip: Usually, the smaller and less known the store, the higher the prices. In huge supermarkets, the same food can cost 1.5-2 times less. The next morning, I made breakfast in the company of a Norwegian, 2 Germans, a Turkish girl, a Scotsman, a Chinese girl, and a woman from Texas. The hostel provided dishes; also, people checking out leave food on a special 'Free to use' shelf (where a jar of Nutella was lying, which came in very handy). During the whole time I was there, nothing went missing from the fridge. It's very convenient to see the sights: if you live downtown, you can just walk to the National Mall, where the main monuments and memorials are located, and all the world-famous national museums of Washington and the botanical garden are situated around the National Mall. Tip: Don't be fooled by the size of the National Mall. It's better to set aside 2 days for sightseeing to make it to all the museums (they are very, very interesting!), because they, like all government institutions, close at 5:00 PM. Walking from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, I heard Russian speech. Then, after listening for a bit, I walked over and saw 4 girls and a guy who was silent the whole time (later I found out he was Polish). I introduced myself, and it turned out that two of them were from Kazan, and the other two were from Kyiv, but they were studying in Poland. Dawid, that same Pole, turned out to be a good guy, and we started talking. According to him, he rented a car and drove first to Chicago, then from Chicago to Miami, and from there to Washington. It turned out he was also leaving for Philadelphia in a couple of days! He offered to go with him. I already had a ticket to Philadelphia from Washington, but I agreed anyway. Tip: If you want to visit the White House, you need to apply in advance through the embassy. Otherwise, they won't even let you onto the grounds. We only managed to see 1 museum - the Museum of Natural History. So, we agreed to leave tomorrow at lunch to manage to visit at least the Museum of National History. That's what we did. The weather for all these 3 days was just right: sunny, but not scorching like in the South, and pleasant, not stuffy, slightly cool evenings. And you know who I met at the very end? Those same girls I met at the hotel in Orlando) It's a small world, Washington is beautiful! #Washington #Travel #USA