It all started on a windy October day when I received a brochure listing job offers in America. It sounded interesting, so I decided to find out what exactly it was about. I went to the office and realized that this was what I wanted to do the following summer. The remaining 6 months were just a few signed contracts and a visa interview.
The place I went to is called Wisconsin Dells, in the state of Wisconsin. My flight had a connection in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The plane landed in Chicago, Illinois around noon. By evening I was already in the Dells. The next day I met my employer, and he showed me around the park where I would be working – the largest water park in America, Noah’s Ark. He showed me what my duties as a cashier were and how I should talk to customers. Everything looked great to me, and I enjoyed working. I met other students from all over the world – Bulgaria, America, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Thailand, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Romania and Nigeria. My managers were two 19-year-old Americans, and over time they became very close friends of mine. Everything in America was different for me – I did my own shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, dishes and many other chores. Wisconsin Dells is a small town with a population of about 3000 permanent residents, but it is the water park capital of the world. The distance to my workplace was about 2 miles and there was no public transportation – the only way to get around was by bicycle. I liked being a cashier; the work seemed easy and pleasant to me, because you communicate with people all day and handle money. From time to time I also helped out as a lifeguard. Apart from the intense heat on July days and the windy days at the beginning and end of the season, the weather was warm and pleasant.
I didn't have any more interesting or exciting stories – it was all work, parties and sleep. I took trips all over the state of Wisconsin. I also went to Milwaukee, Minnesota and three times to Chicago. In Chicago I went up a building called the Willis Tower. An elevator takes you up to the 103rd floor, and from there you can see almost all of Chicago.
This trip not only allowed me to get to know the culture and customs of many other peoples, but also to improve my communication skills in English. Being away from my family and relatives for a few months was also good for me. That is how a strong character is built.