Living the American Dream: My Work and Travel Adventure

In 2023, I had the opportunity to experience one of the greatest adventures of my life. Since childhood, I have dreamed of visiting or maybe even living in the United States of America. My parents were extremely supportive from day one. So, when the opportunity arose, we didn’t think twice. My first attempt was in 2021, but due to some problems related to the visa appointments—we couldn’t get any from the agency—my hopes and dreams were crushed. 2 years later, we tried again. After countless early mornings to hopefully find a visa appointment, I finally had the date. On that slightly chilly March morning, I made my way to the consulate. While I was waiting in line, I couldn’t stop the countless thoughts that were running through my mind. I was both extremely excited and scared at the same time. When the time had come for my appointment, I ended up with the toughest agent. We started chatting, and he turned out to be one of the kindest people I had ever met. That moment marked the starting point of my Work and Travel program journey. 

3 months later, I was on a plane to Virginia Beach. A 10-hour direct flight with no internet connection. When we arrived, we were taken to the accommodations that we would call our homes for the next 4 months. After a quick Walmart run, we were settled, and the American dream had begun. 

The next days were full of adjustments. A new country you have never seen before numbered people speaking your native language, and a brand-new culture to explore. Each day, I witnessed firsthand everything I had heard about the United States come to life. Virginia Beach was a dream. Never-ending sunny days, the beach by your side, and a job that brings you the joy of meeting new people. 

After working as a waitress at a pizzeria for a while, I started getting used to the daily challenges. One of the funniest—and most bizarre—memories I have was the day a couple came in for dinner. They seemed like an ordinary couple—the man ordered a meat-lovers pizza and the woman asked for "bread.". I am pretty sure I had the most confused look on my face because she thought I didn’t understand her, so she repeated the order, which was bread again, loudly. After taking their drink orders, I hurried to the kitchen to tell the request to my favorite cook. I mentioned that my customer was asking for bread, and he had the same confused look on his face as mine. Even though we were both confused and busy, we did our best. He drizzled some olive oil and herbs on a fresh loaf and ran it through the oven. When I took the order to the table, I was even more baffled. She started screaming and accusing me of not understanding their language. I brought the plate back to the kitchen and explained what happened to the cook who helped me before. My cook was fed up and decided to take matters into his own hands. He made a “bread tower” on one of the plates and told me to wait there. He took the plate to the customer himself and made her banned from the restaurant. So, we never had to deal with that type of customer ever again. 

All that aside, I got to experience and learn how I could live entirely on my own in a different culture than what I grew up with. Everything felt both foreign and familiar at the same time. I got to listen to my favorite band—seeing Arctic Monkeys live was a lifelong dream—visited the concrete jungle and made memories I would not forget for the rest of my life. 

This experience changed my life tremendously, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The lessons I have learned, the freedom I felt while living in the United States, and the joy I felt although I was working most of the time taught me so many things I wouldn’t even dream of experiencing. Even though the struggles were different, they made me feel alive; they pushed me and shaped me. I would recommend this experience to every single university student—it’s a journey that will transform you in ways you never saw coming.