How old are you? 19.
Is this your first time on the Work and Travel program?
Yes, I'm a first-year student, and together with a group of friends from Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski" we decided to go on a summer job. To try our luck and gain some experience…
Tell us a little more about your summer?
Well, I worked as a consultant at a car rental company. In my 3 months in the USA I gained a lot of experience, met people of many nationalities, saved some money, got to know American culture and fell in love with Martha's Vineyard. At work we were mostly a group from Eastern Europe – Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria – plus a few Americans. I'm extremely happy that I ended up at this place with my friends for my student summer job. The multicultural atmosphere at work was incredible. I made friendships that are very precious to me. I'm even going to visit some of these new friends, my colleagues from the USA. One of the guys even studies in Blagoevgrad, but he isn't Bulgarian.
Let me also tell you about an interesting thing that happened to me during the summer. As many people know, the former President of the USA has a house on the island and spends his summers there with his family. I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him on the main street during the Firemen's Association festival, and the Secret Service even stopped me on the street. And Barack Obama's bodyguards themselves rented a 2018 Ford Mustang Convertible from my workplace – I guess for Obama himself.
I had lots of emotions, had an incredible summer, made new friends, strengthened my English, got promoted at work, and left feeling sad, but I hope I'll have the chance to visit the island again next year.
The Work and Travel program is an incredible opportunity for every student to gain experience, make new friends and have an incredible summer, just like mine.
From the thoughts of Gencho