Each year lots of students from all over the world dream of visiting the United States of America… Different opinions have a big influence on the future of this Program. How is better: continue sending students through the Ocean or stop that risk and “slavery” in the US.

The Work and Travel Program gives students an opportunity to visit, work and travel in the United States. It needs a lot of documents, time and money to get a visa, buy a fly-ticket and start realizing a dream. Sometimes students expect too much from participating in this Program and get in trouble. For example, everybody heard about student exploitation on the Hershey’s Chocolate Plant in Palmira, Pa. It resulted in annoyed workers picketing.
I gathered different opinions about Work and Travel USA Program in order to make my own one.
Marta Suhyniuk: “I miss the USA so much! Can’t forget all that fun that I had there… I made new American, Russian, European, even Ukrainian friends! And the hardest thing is to realize that probably we will never meet again… Came back home… Grey buildings… Mad people… Finally, I’ve gotten a depression”.
Solomia Klius: “My story about living in the United States is special. When I’d just gotten there, on my first day I was quit. Thank’s God, after a month of surviving without friends, roommates and enough money I met Ukrainians, which housed me in their room… After that it began a gold period. My American friend John helped me to find a job. I started earning money, having fun, buying stuff that I needed… Cannot believe, that I was happy after all that troubles… I met a best friend there. Before my departure she told me that she has a cancer… I cried all my way home and now I dream of visiting her until she will be gone…” (cries)
Unfortunately, I did not meet somebody who could disagree with these two girls. I had only heard about one boy, that visited the USA and does not want to participate in this Program again. But the main thing is that he is not disappointed. He told, that he had gotten enough experience and liked being in Ukraine more… But still it was okay in the United States.
As for me, this Program is one of the best opportunities that students have ever had! It gives a lot to each of participants: learn, how to work, how to make money, how to spend and to save them, how to live without parents, without taking care of you. The treasure of it is independence. Everybody can try how to be an adult! A-a-and at the same time visiting the leader of all countries – the United States of America, travelling to Chicago, New York City, Washington DC, Las Vegas, Miami, LA… - those cities, that we used to see in movies, that are so exclusive and approachless for us. It is the only chance to see a luxury and a chic, that we don’t have in our – pure – world.
Otherwise, every time some problems happen! Nobody can be sure in the next day! It seems to me, that if person feel not ready to go through the half of planet in order to visit another country not like a tourist, but like a worker, it is better to stay at home. Of course, participants have to be strong and smart enough, because they are alone on the other continent. If something happens, they cannot allow themselves to get in panic! In another case it will complicate everything.
“Slavery”… Every Work and Travel participant receives a pamphlet that gives an overview of basic rights, duties and laws in the United States. It gives also phone numbers of different organizations that will be ready to help in different situations. An employer can abuse an employee just because of the fear, that foreign student can have to his or her boss. It depends on the person: being able or unable to protect him or herself. One of the most serious abuses is human trafficking. It is a form of modern day slavery where an employer or other individual, through physical or psychological abuse, causes an individual to feel that he or she is not free to leave the situation. Recognizing that person is in an abusive employment situation is the first step toward getting help. It means that everybody has to be very careful, especially before making any decision.
To conclude, without a risk we will never cut mustard! Opportunity to get known about the other world, another culture, traditions, way of life cannot be a danger. It may be a dangerous experience, but still it will definitely be useful! It is one of ways to improve ourselves in everything: from knowledge of English to cooking dishes. If you feel a risk, the happiness will be more bright for you! Good luck!

Oles Gardzhuk