I'm so happy to share my recent internship experience in the US with you all, as I've experienced and gained so much during this trip.

After returning, my family, friends, and teachers would habitually ask me, "How was it? Was your trip to the US fun? " Even though my response was always a simple, "It was fun," "It was great," or "I had a great time," which seem generic and polite, I truly can't summarize the wonder of this journey in a few words.

Now, I can't wait to share my joy and achievements with everyone—

 

Dreams Take Flight, Surprises Abound

Preparing for my paid internship in the US

 

▲Participating in a visa guidance session▲

 

Before this, I believe many students would have these questions: "Is it real?" "Can you really make money?" "Isn't America dangerous?" "Going to America…" And so on. Actually, even when I was on the plane, before I officially landed in the US, I still had these questions. Because I never thought I would suddenly have such an opportunity, to go to the US so smoothly, and even work and earn money. So, where are the answers to these questions? Let me explain one by one:

When I first learned about the program, I was very excited because I had studied English for more than ten years and was interested in Western culture. I really wanted to find a chance to experience it firsthand, but due to time and financial constraints,

I never had a good opportunity. Then I suddenly saw that the school was offering this high-value-for-money overseas internship program, and immediately got my parents' permission to sign up.

After passing the oral test, the teacher guided me to prepare materials such as an English resume and a self-introduction video, and provided training on interviews and visas.

 

 

▲Materials prepared under the guidance of the program teacher▲

 

I still remember my first formal interview with a foreigner; I was very nervous. After my self-introduction, the interviewer asked me if I knew what their company did and where I wanted to go. Then they briefly introduced the company's location, available positions, and internship guarantees. I just smiled nervously the whole time. Looking back, it wasn't that difficult, as the program teacher had already provided training and practice.

 

Next, the program teacher guided us in preparing all the materials and filling out the visa information. He personally took us to the embassy for the visa interview. After successfully obtaining the visa, I followed the arrival guide provided by the program teacher, booked my flight, and embarked on my trip to the US with my classmates.

 

▲My classmates and I all successfully obtained J1 visas▲

 

Challenges and Growth Coexist

Adapting to Life in the US

 

▲Just landed in the US▲

 

Thinking back to the scene of me carrying my luggage and backpack, feeling nervous and apprehensive as I boarded the plane to the US, is still vivid in my memory. The strangeness of landing, coupled with the hassle of transferring and jet lag, meant that I was carrying more than just luggage; I was carrying a whole body of fatigue.

After a simple wash that day, I lay on a cold metal bed, looking at the ceiling above. Thinking that it was only the first day, and I still had three months to go, I started crying uncontrollably onto my pillow.

 

 

 

Fortunately, within about two weeks, I had basically adapted to local life. Although it was a monotonous routine every day, I had a fulfilling time, with new things happening every day. Most importantly, as long as I was at work, I could hear the sound of money going into my pocket, and maybe even tips.

 

 

Growth Story During the Internship

First Work Experience in the US

My workplace was in Ocean City, Maryland, a city on the Atlantic coast. My accommodation was a short walk from the endless beach and ocean.

 

 

I worked at a very famous and historic amusement park. My commute was only a ten-minute walk, so I was very lucky to save on transportation costs. My main responsibilities were operating various facilities, assisting guests, and managing the prize stalls. The former required physical strength and adaptability, while the latter required communication and sales skills. So I feel that after working there for two and a half months, my personal abilities have improved in all aspects.

 

▲Work moment▲

 

And I think I was lucky to work at an amusement park because, every day I saw the smiles on the faces of the tourists, whether they were family, friends, or couples, and I was always infected by this happy atmosphere. Americans are very polite, and the most common words I heard and said were "thank you" and generous praise, which are actually happy seasonings in life, This kind of atmosphere is relatively rare in China, and this is one of the aspects of what foreigners call openness.

 

Little Chef's Diary

Differences in Chinese and American Food Culture

 

▲American food▲

 

For someone with a Chinese palate like me, the hardest thing to adapt to was the food. At first, it was quite novel, with tacos, pizzas, and hamburgers everywhere. But after eating them for a while, I started missing home-cooked meals, so I would go to the nearby supermarket to buy ingredients and try cooking every so often. Before this, I had never tried cooking myself. At first, it was like a battle, but gradually I became competent. I think this is also part of my growth.

 

 

Income and Exploration

Experiencing the lives of locals

Having said that, everyone must be especially curious about how much I earned and how tired I was during my two and a half months of internship (June 22 to September 1). I worked from 1 pm to 11 pm every day, five days a week, at $15 per hour. After deducting work taxes (which can be refunded after returning home), I earned an average of $600 a week, equivalent to 4200 RMB, and earned about 50,000 RMB in two and a half months. This completely covers the expenses before my trip, and the three months of food and accommodation are also affordable.

 

▲My Payslip▲

 

During my work, I also visited various iconic buildings in Washington D.C. and Niagara Falls. Along the way, I met many new friends, especially Chinese Christians. This was the first time I had such in-depth contact with Christianity, and I learned a lot about religious culture. It also taught me respect and tolerance for others.

 

 

Farewell and New Journey

My Travel Time in the USA

 

 

 

“I love you Eel！”

This was the last sentence I heard the night before I said goodbye to my colleagues.

There are such a group of people in this world who only call me Eel.

A name I randomly chose when I started my job.

That night, we hugged and said goodbye.

It was also the night I received the most blessings and encouragement in my life.

Even if I couldn't communicate with some people in the same language,

I could still feel each other's love.

I am grateful for everyone I met in my life here.

It gave me an unforgettable summer.

The wind was especially cool that night.

It turned out that my summer of 2024 was coming to an end.

 

 

After work, because I didn't find a suitable travel companion, I started traveling alone. I took a six-hour drive to New York and spent two days sightseeing.

 

 

Then I flew from the East Coast to the West Coast, a nearly six-hour flight to Los Angeles. I went to Universal Studios, saw Kobe's statue, and joined a tour group from Los Angeles, visiting five states in seven days, checking in at various national parks.

 

 

Harvest and Reflection

Conclusion

Along the way, I had a very strong thirst for knowledge about the outside world, I saw and experienced many things that I had only seen on the internet or in textbooks. Education has formed a closed loop at this moment. Although I traveled alone throughout the whole journey, I didn't feel lonely. Perhaps because I found what I wanted, and I learned and saw many new things along the way. I especially enjoyed this process of continuous learning and self-exploration. This made me feel my vibrant life force, and that I was bravely moving forward.

I gained so much from this trip, and it changed me a lot. Before all this happened, I never thought I would be so brave one day, and I found what I wanted. This is undoubtedly a great sense of accomplishment for me. Of course, all this is also thanks to my parents, who have always supported and encouraged me, giving me the confidence to take every step. And my friends, both new friends and old friends who cared about me before, without these people and this love, these three months would have been difficult to get through. I think I am lucky. So, thank you for everything, and thank myself.

I believe this is not only an end but also a new beginning.

 

 

All I have mentioned above are the answers to the questions I had at the beginning. Yes, the answers are always on the road, and all we need is the courage to explore all the fog in our hearts. For me, the unknown is a scary thing, but I am even more afraid of staying in the unknown, so I will bravely enjoy the process. No matter what the future holds for everyone, I would like to share a sentence that an elder I met during my trip said to me:

 

Don't be too persistent.

Just enjoy yourself

Enjoy your life!