“The Best Decision I Ever Made” – Hailey shares her unforgettable, life-changing experience at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey in the Summer of 2019.

I have always wanted to join the Work and Travel USA programme ever since I started university, and I did a lot of research about it. In 2019, I finally took the leap to make my dreams come true!

I chose Infinity Abroad because of the vast number of job options they have which surpassed any other agency in Malaysia. With their assistance, and my Visa Sponsor InterExchange, I got a job in Morey’s Piers, a family owned resort and entertainment company which was founded in 1969. It is located in Wildwood, on the southern New Jersey coastline. It operates three amusement piers and two water parks, with over 150 attractions & rides~

I worked as a Cash Room Associate in Revenue Department at Morey’s Piers. This position is not open for public as Morey’s Piers only offered jobs like food and beverage assistant, cashier, culinary, lifeguard, games attendant, and ride operators. I was offered this job during the interview section of Morey’s Piers recruiting department and I had a second interview by their revenue manager. I was very surprised and appreciated that I got such a unique opportunity to get to work in the management office. Whether I am lucky or I deserved it, it is a riddle. For the achievement, I can say it with confidence that I earned it with no doubt.

During my employment, I was responsible for daily reconciliation and updating of our MIMI machines which are the cash recycling machines, daily reconciliation of cash to cash revenue reports by cashier and stands. I prepared all reconciled revenue for daily deposits and entering deposits in their formatted programs along with printing necessary reports.

It was a roller coaster of emotions and feelings: getting up at 5am everyday even though my job ends at 1:30am the previous night; missing all those parties during the whole summer even as my friends begged me and I have to say, “I am sorry that I could not join as I have to work very early in the morning in the next day.”; I do not even have any time for employees’ free meal party; only getting one day off every month; rushing to work on my day off as my colleague suddenly called sick; making a small mistake will cause a big problem even it’s only a $0.01 difference in the daily reports; the list goes on.

Many people may think that an office job for the Summer is easy and boring, and probably not enjoyable. However, I understand that everyone has a different view of the word ‘enjoy’. Although it may sound like I was having a menial and boring time, but trust me, I love my job more than any words could describe.

Working in United States allows me to learn cross cultural skills in a globalized world and enhancing my knowledge of American’s Culture. You will find big differences between USA and your home country. My biggest takeaway in these four months is that I have learned to become more mature and responsible in every decision I made, to look at things from different perspectives and to appreciate my own self.

I am a solo traveller, and I didn’t expect I make so many friends in the USA, like REAL friends. I felt so touched when they invited me to join their first ‘Walmart BBQ Dinner’. We only knew each other no more than two weeks, but they made sure I did not celebrate my 22^nd birthday alone but surrounded with presents and an apple pie (which is my favorite, BTW!). Being overseas, I really appreciated having such awesome buddies. We still hang out often after we came back to Malaysia, having gatherings and even joining each other’s convocations.

I didn’t get to fully utilize the 30-day grace travel period, as I had to return to Malaysia for some personal reasons. I only used 9 days to travel from Wildwood, to Philadelphia, then San Francisco, after that Las Vegas and finally Los Angeles. I’m a good planner, and I’ve planned all my post programme trips and booked all the flights and hotels before I started my programme. That’s why I couldn’t join my USA friends on travelling. It’s quite sad that I couldn’t get to travel with them and watching their videos on road trips through social media. But never mind, I’m good and I knew that they really have a good time. I’m happy for them, sincerely.

Living 4 months in the States is not as picture-perfect as you may see on social media. There is a lot of laughter, but no shortage of hardships as well. There will be times you feel that it is so hard to go on, and you have to find it within yourself to push forwards. I feel that this is an exceptionally good lesson in growing up, and I learned not to complain or whine to my family and friends when I encounter a problem, but rather take it up as a challenge and deal with it on my own. I have grown up a lot in this 4 months. No matters what uncertainties I’m facing, I firmly believe in pursuing my dreams without fear. Go big or go home!

Even after returning to Malaysia, sometimes I feel like my life in the USA never ended, and remains a longing of how I wanted my life to be even after my programme was over. I guess is what they meant by the “American dream”, and it is a feeling that is hard to put into words. I am sure anyone who joined the programme like I did would feel the same way. I like sharing my experience with as many friends and family members as I can, and to motivate dreamers to take the leap as I did.

Don’t be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if that means standing on your own. Along your journey, you will meet people who are walking the same path as you, you will connect with them and push boundaries even further. Travelling alone has reassured me that it is completely fine to be “abnormal”. I won’t stop dreaming and I am definitely not giving up any chance to live my own life on my own terms!

Infinity Abroad Summer 2019 participant Thor Qiao Hui shares her Work & Travel USA experience.

I have spent my Summer at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, Colorado. In 3 simple words – IT WAS SUPERB! I have experienced way more than I have ever expected, gained life-long friendships and great memories as well.

YMCA owns 2 resort/ranches in the Rocky Mountains National Park – for me, I applied for Snow Mountain Ranch. Starting off with the working life—I was stationed in the Housekeeping department. Occasionally, I was scheduled or voluntarily worked overtime in the Food Service department, but my main working place was Housekeeping.

Housekeeping was NEVER easy, it is physically exhausting, but it brings a lot of job satisfaction. Our main duty is to clean the cabins, lodges, yurts and public bathhouses. As staff members, we are randomly assigned to teams under different team leaders and to different locations every day, which is a good thing as we will have something different to look forward to every day.

Us hardworking housekeepers catching a nap during our 15-minute break

Travelling to different cabins for work in a van

Us housekeepers helped and supported each other throughout the busy days. We entertained ourselves and created our own joy within the packed working hours and that’s why I did make good memories in my workplace.

Yay!

 

When we were not on the clock, Snow Mountain Ranch itself has an amount of things to explore, and all by walking distance. Compared to Malaysia, the weather was really dry over there so even in the glaring sun, we hardly sweat. Unlike in Malaysia, you will be sweating by just walking for 5 minutes under the sun lol!

YMCA arranged all kinds of activities for us staffers to do on our time off:

Hangin’ out with the Huskies

It was a free entry for staffs. We get to pet and play with huskies, as long as we followed the safety rules briefed to us earlier. Due to the hot weather, the huskies were not that furry but still, they are adorable!

 

The Nine Miles

It was like a 45-minute hike to the top, and the scenery along the way up was fabulous.

Hiking buddies

The Llamas

It was a really great experience to interact with llamas as we rarely see them in Malaysia. We even got the chance to bring them for a walk. They are tame, friendly and hungry always!

Walking the llamas (What an experience)

The Waterfall Hike

Instead of hiking I would consider this as trekking. An American friend leaded us towards the waterfall and we even tried crossing the river to the other side. We made it!

Horseback riding

Staffs get free rides as well! The horses there are way buffer and healthier than the ones we see in Malaysia.

All these activities were enough to keep us occupied on our free time, but of course, wandering around only in the Snow Mountain Ranch is not enough. My friends and I also participated in staff trips (graciously organized by YMCA for international staffs) and we used the YMCA’s free shuttle bus to the nearest town – Winter Park.

 

The Rocky Mountains National Park

I have been to this place twice, on the 15^th of June and the 8^th of August. Guess what, I saw two different views. This is because the weather was still cold in the early of June so there were snows and herds of animal everywhere.

However, the weather turned slightly warm starting July and the snow just melted and the animals started to hide among the forests.

Before reaching the national park itself, we went to a small museum-kinda-place that explains about the whole history and formation of the park. We even got to see some animal samples there.

 

The amazing scenery along the road during our June visit to Winter Park

The best spot for a picture

The view during the August visit. A big difference from since June as the amount of snow is significantly lesser

Had a great time with our Chinese & Taiwanese friends

With my Latin American friends

The Grand lake

This is one of the most symbolic places in Winter Park. The lake was clear and pretty and lots of people were there taking pictures (so did I). There was also a street mall by the lake and it was a great place to take a look. (window-shop only, because things there were expensive XD)

And me at the lake

The History Colorado Center

This was one of the staff trips. We had 2 hours to look around but it was not sufficient at all—we could stay there for the whole day just soaking up all the information, history and artefacts in there. We did learn a lot about the history of Colorado including the native American’s culture and some history of Colorado’s famed craft beer scene.

Group photo at the entrance

Beer and wine glass tower

The Colorado Miles

This is the most convenient mall we could find in Denver. However, it requires a 2-hour drive from where we stay to get there. It has a variety of shops in it and we never returned home with nothing.

The entrance of Colorado Miles

The amount of shopping we did, just 2 persons within 3 hours (Oops)

The 16th Street Mall

16^th Street Mall is an outdoor mall with musicians performing along the roadside – a unique experience for us Malaysians.

The Winter Park Resort

This is the last stop of the shuttle bus from Snow Mountain Ranch. It is a beautiful small town mainly visited by families. As a YMCA staff, we could request a Grand pass at the HR office to get free access to all the activities over there (thank you, YMCA of the Rockies)!

The Gondola ride

The view from the Gondola as we went up

People queuing up for the Alpine slide!

The Alpine slide was so fun! Basically we just take the ride up to the hill and slide down on this special-modified board. It took me a while to familiarize with the controls, but it was exhilarating!

The mini golf area. The gondola spotted on the left is same as the one I showed previously. A lot of mountain bikers will take the gondola up to the hill and then ride down.

Houses in the Winter Park Resort

Shops in the Winter Park Resort

 

Apart from activities and trips, we participated in plenty of events as well:

The Independence Day Parade (4th of July)

I am glad that I had a day off on that day. Hence, I participated in the National Day parade held at Granby, representing the YMCA of the Rockies team.

During the parade. There were kids along the roadside waiting to catch (snatch) candies.

At night, the American friends brought us to watch the fireworks. This was the only good catch from my phone but trust me, it was way more spectacular to watch it through my own eyes.

The YMCA housekeeping group photo after the fireworks.

Nav night

There was a Christian group called the Navigators participating in the Summer Training Programme here, where they worked in different departments at the YMCA as well. I made lots of Navigators friends working in housekeeping and they welcomed us to join their Nav night on every Tuesday. During the nav nights, they will have ice breaking, role-playing, worship and preaching sessions.

Role playing performance

The Kitchen (Bay 0)

The kitchen played an important role for the staffs. Whenever we were hungry in the middle of the night or felt like cooking for our own, we will be there.

The Chinese decided to cook hot pot for our American friends

Group picture session after the meal with some of my American friends– from the Navigators and the LT programmes.

The Chinese gang – Malaysia + China + Taiwan

International Events

The YMCA values international staffs as an important culture of their organization. Hence, they held events such as international dinner, international fair and cultural exchange nights for internationals to truly present their own country. This should be the main difference of the YMCA comparing to the other employers in the Work and Travel programme. Hence, I got the opportunity to meet people from many countries over here—more than I have ever expected. I am so grateful I get to work here!

Malaysia presentation night. From the left is Joanne, Hui Chien and me.

We had a session teaching the audience to sing Rasa Sayang.

International fair. This was the poster made by us!

Performance of Rasa Sayang and Gelang Sipaku Gelang.

International Dinner. We literally cooked curry chicken on our own and it turned out great!

 

Of course, these are just some key highlights. There are way more things that I experienced that if I put into words, this would become a 10,000 word thesis! Simple encounters like experiencing 4 different weathers in a day which was snow in the morning, sunny in the noon, raining in the afternoon following by hail; seeing wild animals everywhere like in National Geographic, and just witnessing how the locals here respect and value them; I saw magpies (a kind of bird) “walking” more than the times they were flying ……

In a nutshell, this programme opened my eyes and made me realize how little I experienced the world as a person. My perspective about Malaysia and other countries has changed, and I felt a strong sense of patriotism and gratefulness to be a Malaysian. This is definitely the best choice I have ever made in my life and I will not hesitate to join the programme again, given the chance!