American Dream

[Marcela]

My question is not really about culture itself... Next year I want to go to America for a couple of months. I would like to go this year but it's impossible because I made a break in my schooling and I heard that I wouldn't get a visa when I'm not studying. I want to ask if it's truth that you cannot get to America when you don't study or don't have pemanent job here in Poland? And is it truth that Polish people who know English find a job in US easily? Is it truth that life is much simplier for us there than here? I heard different opinions about that and I don't know what to think...

[Jacek]

What did you study?

[Marcela]

I studied English of course:) I have finished three years of it so far (licencjat). I made a break and didn't continue this year because I went to England for a couple of months. I'm going to start new school in October and the subject is going to be American Studies that is the reason why I ask about America. Why are you asking about my education?

[Jacek]

I believe they call it - curiosity. Tell me more about your little trip to the UK. I'm gonna leave for England in a couple of months and you know I'm trying to get all the useful inforamtion I can so that I don't get surprised up there.

[Marcela]

Well, I don't know if I should talk about England here, when the title is "American Culture"! I hope people are going to forgive us;)
I spent four months in London and it probably is too short to call myself an expert in this topic. However, I managed to learn some things about England at that time. First of all, people here in Poland think that place like London has got job for everyone and that it is nearly impossible NOT to find a job in a couple of days. I assure you and others that it is not that simple. I was lucky to get a job in 10 days but I met the right person at the right time and my ability to speak English was another advantage. Another thing is that when you finally get the job it is not a piece of cake and you have to work really hard for, to be honest, little money which seems to be much only in Poland. If you want to live for that money in England you have to look for additional job and then you usually don't have time for anything except working. Tha last complaint I can have about England is TERRIBLE food and a lot of litter in the streets, people don't throw anything into the rubbish cans, just straight onto the pavements.
Well, these were the bad things I could tell about London but the truth is that once you go there you feel that you have to come back. I met a lot of incredible people and I miss them all very much right now. People there are different than people here, everybody is nice, everybody is smiling to you and most of them are eager to help you anytime. There is something unusual about the atmosphere of England, something I cannot explain to you... I'm sure you're going to like it even though sometimes it is hard not to pack yourself and just fly home:) I'm going back this year for three months and you can't even imagine how happy I am about that! Where are you going to stay? Do know any details of your trip?
And can somebody finally answer my questions about America?

[Jacek]

Hey we can bring up any topic that happen to be on our minds on this Forum, even if it doesn't have to do with America at all. I am an administrator here.....

As for my place to stay in the UK, well I've got two options. I am not quite sure wich one is better for me. Anyway both are in London of course. One house is dowtown and the second one is out in the boonies.

Do you already have something lined up over there? Or you're gonna count on luck again?

[Marcela]

This year I hope to work in the same place as last year (I was a barmaid) because I liked it very much and I know the ropes. I'm still in touch with my management and stuff from the club and they call me once a month to ask when I'm coming back. However, I cannot be sure what may happen. They don't promise me anything and it's only my wishful thinking. I don't even know where I'm going to stay for these three months because my friends are able to provide me an accommodation for about a week and I will have to rent a room. Fortunately, I'm not going there alone. Me and my cousin are leaving in June and in July there are about five more people to come to us.
The worst thing is that after our joining UE hundreds of Polish people want to look for a job in England especially in London and I think that if I don't get a job in the same place I may have serious problems with finding another. But I'm trying not to worry in advance, last year I was anxious, too and everything was fine. My trip is just a big adventure because I don't know what may happen. And that is the thing I really like about London. I suppose you are better prepared for your visit to England if you already have two places to stay and don't know which to choose! Lucky boy!

[Andrzej]

Hi Marcela, I assume that you are going to go with a formal student program, like Work and Travel. In that case, you will most likely end up having some kind of service job connected with tourism or entertainment. I know that a lot of students work in restaurants, casinos (if they choose to go to Nevada), national parks, swimming pools, theme parks (like Disneyland)etc. The money you will make will not be spectacular, but if you learn to be content, you can save up enough to travel around the US and do some fun stuff. If you want to, I can put you in touch with a couple of students we hosted for a month here in North Carolina after they'd completed their Work and Travel assignment in NYC. Do you have any preferences as to what part of US you would like to visit?
Take care.

[Jacek]

Actually I am not well prepared, believe me. I don't have nothing there except the place to live. No job, no family - nothing. Anyway one of my buddies, who worked in London for like 3 years, told me that going to London in the summertime is crazy. There's lots of people in June and July, most of them are students, and whats worse they all try to get a job. Hopefully not everyone will decide to leave for the UK after May 1st and things will work out somehow.

Watch out for all those "Work and Travel" companies, most of them are likely to rip you off! You just never know.

[Marcela]

Andrzej - to be honest I'm not going to go with a formal student program because I don't trust them as well as Jacek. I also know that these programs cost quite a lot of money and you never know what may happen later on. I want to get a visa as a student of American Studies (I hope it is going to help me) and fly there on my own. I know that it's not that easy but I'm going to try next year because this year I wouldn't get a visa anyway. I want to fly with my cousin who has got an uncle in Chicago (as well as I remember) so we will have a place to stay. My cousin already has a visa for ten years and she is waiting for me. That's the reason why we are going to England this year. Summing up, I will try to survive in America on my own:) Of course if a get a visa... :/

Jacek - that's exactly the same thing I'm afraid of. Unfortunately, I will arrive together with the rest of the invaders because I have to work till the end of school year:( Last year there were two girls living with us and they didn't find a job for over a month, they spent a lot of money for the room and living and had to come back with nothing but debts. If this summer is going to be worse then I really start to worry:( Well, I'm going anyway because I believe that when you want something very very much, sooner or later it happens:) So I will have an interesting job, beautiful and cheap room and lots of fun, won't I?

[Andrzej]

I have a feeling you'll be all right, Marcela.
Hope you have a great time and that you will find enough time to visit us here in North Carolina.