My Work & Travel Holiday USA 2019

My Work & Travel Holiday U.S.A 2019

How it started?

Do you like travel?

If there is a chance where you can travel for months in a lower cost and you might earned money back home, will you go for it?

Indeed, Work & Travel Holiday is an opportunity for us. For the first time, I heard about this from my senior Yeong Chien, who went Work and Travel (WAT) USA Winter 2015. He had a lot of fun and told me that I am qualified to participate the program too!

Senior Yeong Chien WAT Winter 2015

Meanwhile, I am a final year medical student and is going to have a long waiting period for housemanship after the graduation. I always wonder how I can kill this 8-12months time. Since I love to travel and Yeong Chien inspiration, I went to research about Work and Travel Holiday. 

• Which country provide WAT?
• How long is the program?
• What are the eligible criteria?
• How much funding to prepare before going?
• Is it safe?

Hmm, apparently there were plenty of country provide WAT such as Australia, Korea, New Zealand, Canada, France and etc.

Australia— Only 1100 quota and no job secured prior to departure. We can stay up for a year. (No quota left when I check, period is too long and I do not feel secure as a first timer)

Korea- I do not speak Korean. Skip.

France- I do not speak French. Skip.

Canada- Need to have CAD$2500 (~RM7500) during the stay (too expensive for me and I do not have friends review)

New Zealand- Only 1150 quota/yr. Can go for 6 months and need to have NZ@2250 (~RM6100) during the stay. (No quota already)

U.S.A- Many reviews, 2-4 months program, secure a job before departure, have shelter to stay, supervisor will be allocated to monitor us, 24hrs email helpdesk, legal education to protect us from human trafficking or work abuse and baby steps to guide us on the application. (Since I have Yeong Chien guidance and review. Alright, let’s go for this!!!)

Application Story

United States of America Country Profile

The United States was founded after the American Revolution and 1783 Treaty of Paris. The country has 50 states and 2 federal district. From its founding, the United States is a constitutionally-based federal republic with strong democratic traditions. The country is almost 10,000,000 sq km with 319,000,000 citizens.

There are 3 agencies available in Malaysia for WAT USA.

1.       Speedwing (Yeong Chien’s agency, more well-known)

2.       Out of The Box (OOTD) (Has an office near KLCC)

3.       Infinity Abroad (I was not aware until OOTD mentioned about it)

Funny story was that I approached all 3 agencies. As the application involve substantial amount of money, I was skeptical about getting scam and prefer to meet with the staff in person.

Speedwing Story

Apparently Speedwing Malaysia office closed down and I only could communicate with them via email. They have Speedwing Training (Asia) Pte Ltd in Singapore but they do not manage Malaysian student. Alright, let me approach OOTD and see how it goes.

Out of the Box (OOTD) Story

I visited OOTD office near KLCC, the officer was a helpful lady. She gave me an insight on WAT and emailed me the vacancy. I told her about Speedwing story and my concern. After the discussion, she asked me to checkout Infinity Abroad.

(Infinity Abroad please say thank you to this OOTD stuff because she referred me to you. Lolz….)

Infinity Abroad

Once I visited to Infinity Abroad website, I decided to choose Infinity Abroad as my agent!!

Check their website yourself and you will know why I will choose them!

http://www.infinity-abroad.com/programs-2/work-travel-usa/

• They have all the FAQ and details about Work and Travel, from what to expect from Day 1 until tax refund.
• They have the most choices of vacancy as compare to the former two agencies.
• Their email and Whatsapp replies are almost instantly to within 24 hours.
• I met one of the person in charge, Favian physically. He shared me about the students’ story and built my confident on the agency (not getting scam).
• Payment also by stages, so we have enough time to fundraising.

Mr Favian Cheng from Infinity Abroad

Get started (From Infinity Abroad)

Work & Travel USA has two program each year, summer and winter. You can choose whichever program that suit for your time.

Summer (May 25 to Sept 15)

Winter (Nov 25 to March 15)

Eligible Criteria:

• A full-time university/ college student, OR a graduate no more than 6 months before the start of your program
• Between 18 to 28 years old
• Possess average English skills (My English level was MUET band 4 yet American said Malaysian is one of the best English speaker at my area, around advance level)
• Able to honor at least 2.5 months’ work commitment in the United States

So I signed up WAT from Infinity Abroad and tried to convince my best friends to participate together with me. However we faced the dilemma of the final year medical student.

• What if we fail the exam and need to repeat the semester?
• Will all our money burnt if we paid for the processing fee and pass the interview and then we fail the exam and repeat the semester?
• If we pass the final year, our convocation is in the middle of the program and the university does not allow us to defer the convocation.
• If we go before the convocation, we may skip our once in-a-life-time convocation or have to pay extra cost just to come back for the convocation.
• There is a risk that our VISA is a single entry instead of multiple entry which will not allow us to return Malaysia for the convocation.
• If we go after the convocation, there is only 1 job applicable (Cedar Point) and only can work for 2 months which could not cover back our expenditure.

Long story short, all my friends declined my invitation due to many dilemma. I took the road less taken to travel alone. In the end, I managed to come back Malaysia for my convocation, had a 5-months WAT U.S.A experience and been to 16 states and Washington D.C! 

Flew back from USA for my convocation.

“The whole purpose of an adventure is to gain some spiritual or emotional insight. When you compromise the process, you compromise the gain.”

Where I work?

As a typical Chinese, there are a few factors leading me in the decision on which employer to choose.

• Is the paid high?
• Is the cost of living high?
• Any chance of getting a second job?
• How much is the flight ticket?
• Whether the boss will allow me to go back Malaysia a weeks for convocation? 

I would praise Infinity Abroad again for the assistance, they recommended me WonderWorks, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! (sob… sob…)

I can say they are the kindest boss I had ever encounter throughout my working life! Not only releasing me back for my convocation, the boss, supervisors and the staffs always helped me throughout the journey!

WonderWorks Colleagues

There were Malaysian, Dominican, Turkish, Peruvian and American colleagues worked together. We were allocated to work as rope course attendance, concession, box office and ride attendance. It was very fun to work with people from difference culture.

At the same time, there was a hidden staffs’ benefit in WonderWorks---- the pass exchange program! As the employee, we have the free access to 52+ attraction worth $1000+ and we can bring one companion for free too! I literally went to one attraction each week and had fun! 

• I showed some free places I visited in my WAT Holiday USA video, feel free to check the video below!
• WonderWorks and the attraction have the right to terminate the pass exchange program. I do not guarantee you will get it for free in the future!

What I did during the 5 months in USA?

Well, I am not a good narrator and there were so much things I accomplished during my stay. Please watch my video that summarized my 5 months story!

https://youtu.be/M2YQ2YwVvFE

 

Basically I had good food, met new friends, attended some cultural activities, working and travelling around.

Special credit to two big groups of NGO that helped the students a lot during this summer. They are World Harvest Embassy and First Baptist Church Pigeon Forge! Both group provided the students free transportation from the airport to Pigeon Forge, free transport to send us to Knoxville to make social security number, provide free lunch and dinner, free laundry, free English conversation lesson, organized a lot of cultural activities and trip for the students. I admired their enthusiasm in helping the students and I felt so glad to be able to WAT in Pigeon Forge!

Tatiana and her husband Alexei and volunteers helped us a lot!

At the same time I would like to thank to all my fellow couchsurfer hosts for volunteer to provide shelter during my grace period journey! I saved a lot of accommodation cost! Basically I only paid for 3 days hotel during my one month grace period trip!

My favourite couchsurfer host, Corwyn. He likes to play board game.

Reflection

I almost burst into tear when I watched my WAT video again and again. There were so many love and kindness given throughout my journey. Therefore, hereby I list down 10 reasons why you should Work & Travel Holiday to U.S.A!

1. USA is the largest economic country in the World!!!
2. We should learn why a country can be so strong and make ourselves strong too!
3. We can earn USD and spend for our trip! Inexpensive way to travel and explore around U.S.A.!
4. There are many diversity in the foods! The portion is gigantic and delicious too!
5. We can make many international friends! Some found their girl/ boy friends here too!
6. The people are generally open minded and kind. I felt humanity and love!
7. There are many beautiful cities, scenery and events for us to explore!
8. WAT is only for 18-28-years-old university/college student! Once you miss, you cannot join anymore!
9. We will learn to appreciate our country and our parent. For example, providing us good food, transportation, shelter, hot shower and strong WIFI signal.
10.  We can shape our independent, adventurous personality, social skill, communication skill and learn to live and help each other in a group.

* If you have any question regarding to Work and Travel Holiday, check my video to find out the answer ya! ^^

A Panic Xmas Eve 🎄

It was Christmas eve when I was attending a morning class in the female ward.  I saw the Medical Officer was asking for help,  so I kepo and went inside the procedure to have a look.

They were doing lumbar puncture,  a provedure that drain the spinal fluid from the patient to send for lab.  The most common reason to do this procedure is to diagnose meningitis.  Well,  it was my first time seeing how this procedure is done,  alright I decided to stay and observe/ assist .

It was the Medical Officer first time to perform this procedureprocedure , it was bit clumsy.  The patient is a chinese elderly aunty,  thin with long pony tail.  Initially she was lying side on the bedbed because had weakness to sit upright.  However when she heard that this was the MO first time,  she was panic and miracle happenedhappened,  she was able to sit upright perfectly.  I guess lot people worry lumbar puncture will cause paralysis , but dont worry , the senior doctors here were well trained!

Both the MO together with a senior MO were there . One experienced in Anesthesiology posting while another one from Emergency Departmrnt background. Although it took them some times to get into the spine, but we managed to get 8 bottles of cerebrospinal fluid! Yeah! Mission accomplished!

Yeah! While I was in the joy for being able ti assist in my first lumbar puncture procedure, the result was causing me a panic attack.

"Everyone! The fluid result turn out to be Neisseria Meningitis! Everyone must take prophylaxis antibiotic ya! You student, also need to take. So misfortune, first experience then get this."

I was very blurred about what was happening, the doctor prescribed me Ciprofloxacin 500mg single stat dose.

"You will be fine after taking this medicine." The MO reassure me.

Out of curious, I google this bacterial meningitis.

"Neisseria meningitis is a very severe disease, the mortality rate is very high and it can cause outbreak. Close contact must take prophylaxis antibiotic to prevent secondary bacterial meningitis."

I was brain freeze for few second. Reading the next line.

"Close contact is defined as a person who is together with the patient for >8hours, within 3 feet distance or exposure to the respiratory droplet such as kissing, mouth-to-resuscitation, handle nasogastric tube. The disease does not spread by casual and brief contact. Healthcare workers rarely get infected. Incubation period is 2-10days, can become ill in 3-4days."

Oh yeah, I should be disease free.  Without further concern, I continued the class and then board on the bus from Johor heading back to KL. It was a 3-4hours journey.




But wait! I am going to my friend house  to overnight and heading to church the next day for Xmas celebration . Will I carry the germ and spread to them? This disease can kill people.  Gosh!

Anxiety strikesstrikes , googling about all the guidelines available, spamming pediatrician, infectious disease specialist and general practicant.

While lecturer and GP asked me to do activity as usual, Infectious disease specialst asked me to avoid crowd.

Hmm, then drama comes when I reached KL. Wore a N95 mask when meeting my friend, then Chi fitness bath from head to touch, wash my spec and phone throughoutly and then wonder whether I need to book a hotel to quarantine myself... ==

Anxiety leads to stomachache and emotional breakdown. Luckily a friend of mine share his panic attack experience to me.

"IF you wont get the infection, why ppl around you will get? To make a person infect, you need a huge bacterial count and exposure time. Which I dont think my body will have after being so "sterile".  Furthermore, the antibiotic I took will kill 90-95% of the bacteria. It should not be any problem."

Well, although it was kinda mental torture, but it really made me a lesson to take precautious method in the future approach.

Tire to bother so much, God will decide whether will cause any infection. What I am sure is the chance is very very tiny. Sleep je la... (In the dream also see the infection. Dammn..)

Merry Xmas to everyone. The next day, allergic rhinitis, respiratory droplets!!! (Panic 99! I think better wear mask a.. Haiz)

Wearing N95 at least 24hr after taking prophylaxis antibiotic.

Merry xmas to everyone!

Chemoprophylaxis post exposure of Neisseria Meningitis.

Welcome to the Blog!!

The warmest welcome to my blog! It was 5 years back since my last article in blogspot using the light-hope-city.blogspot.com. Perhaps there were so many stories revolve around me to share and I decided why not I try to share my experience here so that it could benefit the audience.

I am currently a Final Year Medical Student in International Medical University (IMU), there was a lot of story in my life to share here. I had been through a lot of uphill and downhill in the past few years, perhaps it could be beneficial for everyone as a reference.

In this blog, my aims is to share about my medical story, some of my life story and perhaps the most exciting travelling story. The media will be in English mainly, not sure if I would type the story in Chinese because I used to write blog in Chinese until I abandon the mother tongue after I studied in Medical school.

Here is some basic introduction of myself.

Dr. Jimm Soh

Name: Jimm Soh Boon Khang (Formerly known as Jaywin Soh)
* Change Jaywin to Jimmy without y (Jimm) due to fengsui reason.

Birthday: 12 Dec 1993 at Rooster year, Sagittarius boy. ^^

Favourite Foods: Sashimi, Sushi, Dark Chocolate, Icecream, Chicken Rice
Favourite Drinks: Milk Tea, Fruit Tea, Green Tea, Juices.

Hobbies: Read sales & business book, Watch Anime, Dance, Travel
3 Words Personality: Meticulous, Energetic, Adventurous

Weird Behavior: Like cartoon, fluffy doll and act cute.
Attracted to: Animal, Anime, Cute Stuff, Oval shaped face girls/guys, Muscular Hunk

Q1: What is your ideal day?
A: Travelling around the world with the love one, meet new culture and people
Q2: If you are 100yo and talking to the youngster, what will you advice them?
A: Dare to chase your dream, live your life with joy till the max, don‘t be katak bawah tempurong.
Q3: When you are 100yo, how will the family, friends, community say about you?
A: He is a GI specialist contributed to the community and world, famous internationally and a caring husband. Dedicated to help around the needy and the mentor of youngster.