On My Way To the US of A

I live in South Africa and I've always wanted to travel and explore the world, but unless you have lots of money (which i don't), it's pretty much impossible these days. So the next best option is working overseas; that way you earn money while travelling. That's exactly what i decided to do and here's my experience in the pursuit of discovery:

About two or three years ago I heard an ad on the radio for jobs in America. I still remember I was driving home from work and at the next red light, I quickly saved the name of the company (Away2xplore) on my phone. I've wanted to work overseas for quite some time now and a few years ago I almost went Au Pairing overseas through OVC, but decided against it because I'm not really that fond of children. But I really wanted to go; and especially to America. So when I got home, I checked out the website for Away2xplore and I really liked what I saw; it looked legit (very important) and everything I wanted to know, was on there. I checked out the Seasonal Carnival Jobs section where, if you're a guy, you mostly work on the rides and if you're a girl, you either work at the game stands, food stands or ticket booth.

At the time I couldn't apply to go work overseas because, not only did I have a good stable job, I also had debt. Lots of debt. But I was very determined to go work overseas, so I made a plan to pay off my debt. It was hard at times because often things would come up that I didn't budget for and it would set me back a little, but slowly it shrunk and after about two years, I was basically debt free. I still had my car, but by now I was able to sell it at a small profit. So the end of June 2013, I was ready to quit my job and go work overseas.

I filled out the application on Away2xplore's website. It was maybe a little too early since they didn't start recruiting for 2014 yet, but I followed up in September to make sure they still had my application and they did! They told me to wait for a call. The end of September that phone call came through for an interview early October. I organised with my then-current job to leave early and went for the hour and a half interview. I had to answer a wide variety of intensive questions, which was actually quite fun. I also had to do a drug test (of course). Then I filled out a bunch of paperwork and left there feeling confident. I haven't done many interviews in my life, but I do have one tip: never be over-prepared; just be yourself and answer honestly.

So for the next month I waited patiently to be notified whether I've been accepted or not and by the end of October - either in my last week or on my last day of work - I was informed that my application had been approved! It was an amazing feeling; knowing that you are one step closer to achieving a (basically) life-long goal and the prospect of GOING OVERSEAS was beyond exciting. In order to secure my application as well as my visa appointment, I had to pay a part of the Visa fees as soon as possible. And of course I didn't want to let this opportunity slip through my fingers, so I did!

The next step was orientation and contract signing. I made my appointment the end of November and had to take my parents with to sign sureties that if something had to happen and I don't fulfil my contract, they pay the cost of the trip. Which is only fair since it costs Away2xplore R25000 per person they employ. At orientation I got my visa application form that I had to fill out - they do the application for you, but you provide the details and now I just had to wait for my visa interview date.

The work permits came through in the new year and I received my US consulate interview date - which was the 12th of February at 10:30am and I had to be there at 10am. This was an interesting process, since I've never done it before, and I was ridiculously nervous because I was scared that they won't give it to me for some odd reason. But it was completely different than I expected. I thought it would be a legit sit-down interview where you get asked a million questions and then at the end they tell you whether it's been approved or not.
The actual process is signing in with security as you enter, then you go outside (inside the consulate) where another security will point to a door that takes you inside the actual consulate. It actually looks exactly like a bank; there are five counters with glass separating you and the people who work behind them. You wait in line, then go up to one of the counters where they take your fingerprints on a scanner-thingy, then you sit down and wait to be called to another glass window for the interview. They don't tell you anything about the process though, so I kinda had to figure out for myself what was happening.
I probably waited about fifteen minutes before i was called to the interview window and it was one of the weirdest moments in my life. Firstly you talk to the person behind the glass over a phone. Secondly he has an American accent and although it's easy enough to understand, you kind of wonder if you heard him right. He asked me to scan my left index finger, and I was so nervous, that I second guessed which finger was my index finger! He probably thought I couldn't understand English (you'll see why in a bit) which would not help my case.
Anyway, so after the finger-scan, he asked me one or two questions about why I was going, where I was going to work and why I want to work there. He then asked if I had received my booklet about working in America (it basically covers your human rights) and if I understood it. This is what I'm talking about - either it's protocol for them to ask, or he wanted to check if Ii could read and understand English (probably the former), it felt like the latter though. Then he asked me to pay two windows down and bring him the receipt. There were two things to note here: firstly the cashier was literally at the next window (there was a sign above), which wasn't two windows down, right? So at this point I felt like he was definitely testing me. Secondly this meant that my visa was actually approved! But I was so confused with his two-windows-down instruction, that I kept looking at him (even though he wasn't looking at me anymore) to make sure I was at the right window. But after a few seconds of looking around like an idiot, I just decided this must be "two windows down". So I paid my fee and returned to him with the receipt. He signed it and gave me my forms. Then I had to go to the DHL counter and pay a courier fee to send my visa and passport to Away2xplore's head office in Johannesburg and I was done! The fact that I was going over with a recruitment agency, helped a lot with the approval. It felt so good but so weird at the same time because no one officially told me I had my Visa (I checked my papers a million times though) and no one congratulated me. So at the end of the day I realised that it wasn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be. But I was so relieved.

Now I only had to wait for the departure date! I got the call Tuesday the 18th of February to say that I'm leaving the 4th of March (in two weeks!) and all of a sudden reality sunk in. I kind of panicked because there's a lot that you have to organise before going overseas. Luckily I'm a list person, so I've been making lists since I went for orientation last year and I was ready to start packing.
First I got my medical kit, which consists of everything under the sun. My mom is a nurse, so she made me buy everything she could think of in case something went wrong. It cost a fortune (medicine is expensive!) but I'd rather be prepared. I also bought my toiletries.
And I also decided to pack up my room before I go because I have a lot of stuff that I don't want people to necessarily touch or take and also so it won't gather dust.
We're allowed to pack one big suitcase and then have your hand luggage that you take on the plane with you. I didn't have a proper suitcase, so I went and bought a massive 75cm one. Come to think of it, I really hope I won't look like a fool with my gigantic luggage, but I just have so many things to pack! And of course I want to bring stuff back as well. (Edit: the 75cm suitcase is too big! So i'm exchanging mine for a smaller one that can only take up to 20kgs!!). I'm planning on packing my suitcase the weekend before I leave. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it!
I also haven't slept very well lately. That's due to nerves and excitement as well as over thinking - I'm a huge over thinker (unfortunately). And there's just one thing I want before I leave South Africa: Col'Cacchio pizza!! My family and I will do my farewell the Sunday/Monday night before the Tuesday of my departure. Again, lump in my throat!

So my conclusion is that when working overseas, you are able to save a lot of money because you have minimal expenses (unlike where you live because of rent, car, groceries, petrol, etc), but also you will have to give out a bit of money in order to go and save money. Away2xplore offers Travel Insurance which is like a Medical Aid but it also covers your travelling (loss of passport etc). It doesn't cost that much (R1900, R2000 or R2400 respectively for the three options) and you will be covered outside of work hours if anything had to happen. (During work hours, your employee pays for medical emergencies). They also offer and additional ticket option where you pay a small amount (R1980) before you go and if there is a death in your immediate family, you get a return ticket and you get one week unpaid leave to attend the funeral and grieve. So besides those two options, you only have your visa fees to pay which is around R3000 because of the exchange rate.
My medical kit was about R700 because, as I said earlier, I bought everything under the sun. Toiletries were R400 because I'm a girl and we use a lot of stuff. My huge suitcase was R850 at Game (which is actually cheap in comparison to other places - Edit: the smaller suitcase is about R1100). Then you also need to buy some pants and shoes for work (if you don't have), which cost me about R500 (I buy cheap - Mr Price and Pnp Clothing). You also need a battery operated alarm clock and a padlock for your trailer (which you can buy overseas if you want). Your accommodation is included, you only pay your taxes, food and entertainment.
So in the end you do need to put a bit of money on the table, but at least you don't pay for your return ticket and you will make more than enough money to bring back home. So it's so worth it in the end.

I'm looking forward to an experience of a lifetime and did I ever mention I absolutely LOVE carnivals? As a child we used to go to the carnival every year in my hometown and those were the best days of my life! I think I can definitely say that I've come full circle.
Apparently we're starting is Miami, Florida and so that's probably where I'll fly to. I have two thoughts on that; firstly, Dexter!! And secondly, I can't believe I'm going to Miami! It just feels absolutely unreal at this moment.