Working as a waitress in New York with BUNAC

 

She was working as a waitress in a cocktail ba... nope, that’s not right. It was actually a country club. In New York State. As part of BUNAC’s Work America program – the ultimate way to earn money and see the world over your uni holidays. 

Meet Timea, who spent her summer on our Work America program working at one of New York's most beautiful country clubs, Fishers Island Club. Here’s her Work America story.

Where did you hear about Work America?

It was actually suggested to me by an advisor at the university I attended.

What was a typical working day like?

I was working as a waitress in the restaurant and daily tasks for me included those relating to front of house duties, such as serving beverages and food to the customers and making sure everyone was having a pleasant time with us.

What were the highlights of your job?

The best thing about my job was working with such a great international team. Everybody was really friendly and in such a short space of time I was able to form great friendships. Because of this every shift went by so quickly and we all had so much fun throughout.

What did you get up to in your spare time?

I was lucky enough to live really close to the beach, so in my spare time I would spend most of my time there either by myself or with the friends I made at work. Also, we were SO close to New York City - living a short journey from there is something I feel very lucky to have experienced!

What about the people you worked with?

The social life was great, everybody I worked with were really open and friendly - a lot of the staff members were from outside of the US, which meant most of us were in the same boat experiencing the same emotions.

Finally, what advice would you have for someone thinking about doing Work America?

I would say that this is the best thing you could do. Travelling and exploring a new culture comes with a lot of benefits! You learn a lot from the experience and also from the people you meet - when you go back to your country you take home with you the most wonderful memories.

 

Been inspired to raise your uni holiday game? If you’re 18-30 and a full-time student, sign up for our Work America program. We’ll help match you with a summer job before you go, provide the sponsorship you need to apply for your J-1 visa, and support you throughout the whole process. See you, Stateside!