To work abroad

Currently, there are many different programs that allow you to gain experience in foreign companies during your student years, go to another country for the summer, study its culture, make new friends from different parts of the world, and earn your own money.

In USA There are 3 large organizations that provide summer work for students: Work & Travel, Camp America, YMCA ICCP. Although the purpose of each of them is to organize jobs for students, nevertheless, these companies have their own differences and often even significant. Having two years of experience in the United States at YMCA ICCP, I want to share it with you.

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) is one of the largest youth organizations in the world. It became known through the organization of children's camps. The International Camp Councelor Programm (ICCP) is an international program for country camp educators. The mission of the organization is reflected in the emblem - an equilateral triangle, symbolizing the harmonious development of the intellectual, physical and spiritual sides of a person.

Let's start in order. To become a member of this program, you must contact its representative and fill out an application. Then an organizational meeting is appointed, where you will be told about the program, its conditions, requirements and given the necessary documents for filling in (all are filled in English), explain the rules for filling in. Perhaps a little frightened by the requirements, but this is to weed out those who have not yet finally decided. The main requirement for participation in the program is to know English, be a student, but not the first or last year – Americans are afraid that you in this case are a potential wish to stay there. There are students and no longer students.

The package of documents includes:

- application form (with a detailed description of your skills - on the basis of this you will be selected to a children's camp). You can express your preferences and they will be taken into account. If, for example, you like to shoot with arches or are fond of horseback riding, there is a very high probability that you will be selected in those camps where there are such activities (classes) – this was real examples. Advice to help – if you have crusts, certificates confirming your skills, make beautiful copies and attach. As I said, it will only benefit you and will be able to do all summer favorite thing in the civil camp.

- medical certificate (in the spirit of Americans - with detailed questions). You will have to spend time and go to the doctors, as everything must be confirmed by the seals of doctors and a medical institution. Do not be afraid of this – you better think about your health, and the resourcefulness of our students makes itself felt.

Documents proving that you are a student;

- a self-presentation letter in free form, you can attach a photo.

When all documents are checked by a program representative, they are forwarded to the US office, and you have to wait for a call from a representative from the YMCA ICCP in the US asking about you. Don’t worry, people will sometimes ask you things that seem absurd. In fact, they test your adequacy, knowledge of the language, its understanding, sociability. I got a call at 3:00 a.m. and was asked with the expressiveness of Americans about the weather, my favorite color, and why I was learning English. But at the end of the phone, it said, "OK, we approve of you." That's the most important thing. After confirmation, you apply for a US visa and prepare for the trip.

In the end, I want to note the important distinguishing features of this program from the Work & Travel program:

• YMCA ICCP meets you in an organized manner at the airport upon arrival in New York, provides free accommodation in its hostels (hotels for students), meals, conducts an orientation session - a kind of team cohesion and acquaintance. It is interesting that there is an opportunity to meet people from completely different countries.
• The company organizes your trip to the camp itself from New York.
• You know your future place of work in advance, and it is guaranteed to you (the camp concludes a contract with everyone), conditions, have guaranteed food, accommodation for the duration of work in the camp (and this is very important when compared with the well-known program).

Finally, I want to say that you have to be ready for work. It is not a pleasant pastime in a camp abroad, it is still a daily work, as you go to work, not rest. If you understand this, there will be no difficulties. Each camp establishes its own order, but in general it is discipline, dedication, teamwork, focus on results. This international experience of working with different people has helped me a lot. At first it was difficult, by the end of the summer, fatigue was accumulating (a tight schedule, one day off), but I loved it. And now, when I think about travel and work, I remember only good things. Plus, you’ll pick up your English and make a bunch of friends! Go ahead!

Angelina Sobolevskaya

Photo from:http://www.fairjob.ru/3/