Wang Sheng sent us some great pics for our SWT Winter photo contest. It was clear he had a lot of fun experiences on the program and I asked him to recount some of them below.
“My experience with American culture is very amazing! I have met a lot of super nice and friendly American people during my 3 months stay in USA and they have showed me their culture by sharing with me about their live, how they celebrate Christmas, what do they do when they are free and so on. I think that American people are very friendly and helpful, they are very outgoing and more open in mind compare with my Malaysian friends. I have learned to be more caring for the others. If you want others to respect you, you should respect others as well. I have also learned to be more independent and be more responsible for myself.
While working in the Food Service Department in YMCA of the Rockies, I have improved my interpersonal skills because we have to communicate and interact with the customers while they come to have meal. Next, I have improved my multitasking skills while working as the Cook’s Helper in the kitchen. The working pace in the kitchen is much faster than working at the dining hall so I always have to do several things in a same time in order to keep up the speed with my Chef and I must make sure all the things are done correctly. I have also gained more teamwork skills which makes me a better team player. For example working in the dish room, teamwork among the dishwashers are very important to make sure the cleaning process run smoothly especially at the peak hour! There was a time one of my friend was working at the “windows” (slots for the guest to put their tray with plates and bowls after they finished their meal), a lot of guest showed up at the same time at the “windows” to put their trays and eventually all of the slots are filled up and my friend doesn’t have enough time to clear the slots in time to compensate with the quantity. I was working as the “scrubber” during that time and I moved to the “windows” to help my friend to solve the “crisis” to ensure the guests outside doesn’t wait too long to put their trays. It was a good experience to work in the dish room, the busiest place in the whole dining place as it can helps you to cope better with pressure.
My favorite memory from the winter is doing Cross-country skiing! That was the first winter sport that I got exposed too and I already love it when I try it on the first time. Cross-country skiing is a energy consuming sport as you basically have to use all your body parts while skiing to maintain a good balance, right tempo and right technique. Doing Cross-country skiing in Snow Mountain Ranch is also very enjoyable because Snow Mountain Ranch has beautiful view of nature such as the trees, the snow capped mountains, the frozen reservoir, the skies and sometime if you are lucky you can see moose or little fox in the trees! These are among the things that I enjoyed the most while skiing and because I ski, I get to meet some professional skiers who they were the ones who teach me how to ski and eventually become my lifelong friends. Until now we are still in contact while I have came back to my home country.
I would really advice others to join the Summer Work Travel program because it is really rewarding and the experience is really amazing! I have learned so much from the experience and it has broaden my mind and widen my view about the world. I have experience so many new things not only the culture, foods, weathers but also the people from different country and we are able to live together and interact which is really wonderful. Don’t be afraid to step out from your comfort zone because you will never grow and improve yourself. Along the program you will discover more possibility in your life and it will definitely makes your life more interesting.”
Thanks Wang Sheng for sharing your photos and SWT experience with IENA!