The idea for this new adventure (a student summer job) came to me when I started my internship at NGB . It was early October, and the students had recently returned from their summer jobs in America. When they came to the office, they talked about their stay – they were so excited, telling us about their experiences, their travels and the things that had happened over the summer. They all wanted to go back and spend another great summer.
For several weeks I listened to their stories and started considering the idea. I had wanted to do it before, but maybe didn't have enough courage to step out of my comfort zone. With everything happening around me – moving into a new apartment, meeting and working with new colleagues at university – I decided that maybe it was time to do something else I had never done before. I knew I didn't want to travel alone, even though many students do and still have a great summer. The first person I thought of was my roommate. She studies tourism and is quite an adventurous person, and in fact the decision to go together took us no more than a minute. We had to discuss it with our parents and loved ones, and then came signing up for the program. With a small set of documents and a signed contract, the next step was to choose a job position. The consultants at NGB answered every single one of my questions – and, as you can imagine, there were many. They helped us choose a position and place that suited us, just as they helped all the students who didn't yet know exactly what they wanted to do during their stay. The next step was the interview with the employer – ours was held over the phone, but there are other options such as a CV, a Skype interview, and some employers even come and meet the students in person. We were approved by the employer, who was very kind and answered our questions.
Every step of our application was interesting, but perhaps the most exciting was our visa interview. While working at the company I had gained confidence and was almost sure I would do fine. To be completely honest, the nerves kicked in on the day of the interview, which is normal – everyone gets nervous when something important is ahead. And then it was my turn to be interviewed. The woman asking me the questions was very kind and friendly. And after a short conversation, despite all the emotions, she wished me a wonderful summer.
Now all that remains is the departure itself – the last and, of course, most important step. As with all students, the excitement is great, not only because I will have the chance to get to know a completely different culture, but also because this is a way to grow, discover yourself and build your character.
I think this is an opportunity that shouldn't be missed, and everyone who has the chance should experience the Work and Travel adventure!