blog

An update from San Francisco

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:45:10 +1100

Newton is currently in San Francisco, on our Work and Travel USA 12 month program.

"I finally managed to get to write something. I hope this is what you're looking for - I tried to attach a couple of photos but the email bounced back...Please let me know if there's anything else you need :)

It had always been a dream of mine to travel and spend a year abroad and in May of 2011; my dream came true thanks to the 12 month Work and Travel Visa USA program. While I’m sure many people chose or will choose to travel throughout the States, I decided to spend my entire time in San Francisco. San Francisco is an alluringly beautiful city filled with great people, awesome sights and attractions. Crossing the majestic and sometimes fog-obscured Golden Gate Bridge is a very special sight and it constantly reminds me of the dream I’m living. The city itself is bustling with activity and is full of charm, from the vintage yellow and green trams running up and down Market St to the cable car which feels akin to a roller coaster going down those steep San Francisco streets.

I consider myself pretty lucky to have found a job within two weeks of arriving and on top of that, in my chosen profession – the financial services industry. The firm I work at has a great history and my colleagues are just awesome. There’s so much experience within the firm that I learn something new every single day and then there’s the unlimited opportunities. I was extremely lucky to have been invited to attend the Schwab Impact 2011 Conference – a conference with over 4,000 attendees and guest speakers like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair of the U.K. and astronaut Mark Kelly, a decorated Navy captain of the final mission of space shuttle Endeavour. What an eye-opener the Conference was!

One thing that fellow Work and Travel Visa USA participants should be aware of though is the importance of an American credit score and how difficult it can be to find a place to rent, especially since it’s just so competitive. Imagine my initial shock when I turned up at an open home thinking I had a great chance only to find another one hundred people thinking the same thing…

So far I’ve had such an awesome time in San Francisco – really there’s nothing better than immersing yourself in a new city and living life to the fullest. I know I’ll never forget the time that I spend here.

Thanks,

Newton"

Bonnie Lane – 12 Month Work and Travel USA Visa Program

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:35:41 +1100

My journey:

I am having the absolute time of my life in the USA and couldn’t be happier. I arrived in Los Angeles 5 months ago and had a wonderful week long holiday, and then had the amazing experience of travelling by train onto New Orleans. The train went through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, passing through stunning landscapes. After a short holiday in New Orleans I moved onto New York where I set myself up for 4 months. I found a place to live in Brooklyn in a very lively and interesting neighbourhood – it felt like the ‘real’ New York and was so different from any place I had been back home.

As previously planned, I began a 3-month internship at a digital media arts centre in Soho. This was a great experience and I made many connections. To get to my internship I bought a pushbike and rode over the Brooklyn or Williamsburg bridge everyday which I loved. I completely feel in love with New York and certainly felt the magic everyone talks about. I also had the experience of working for a film screening company which was fantastic.

I am now at an Artist Residency in Vermont with 50 other artists from all over the world. I have made great connections and friends and had way too much fun. This has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Pictures from New York

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:33:58 +1100

1. The View
During my first week in New York City, my friend Molly Nichols and I decided to take a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Once we reached the rooftop we couldn’t help but look out to the view of Central Park, the Upper East Side and the city skyline.

2. The Holidays
When you’re roommate is from upstate New York you tend to benefit by experiencing the holidays in a family environment while doing local things. For my first Halloween, I was lucky enough to experience pumpkin picking and carving in Kingston, New York with a bunch of good friends.

3. The Baseball
Thanks to my new friend, Jackie, I was given an extra ticket to the famous and extremely popular Yankees Verse Redsox game. I delved right in with the giant popcorn, foam fingers, screaming fans and wiener hotdogs.

4. The Snow
Being from sunny Sydney, Australia you don’t tend to see the phenomena of snow. My first real snow sighting just happened to be an intense blizzard that hit New York City around December 2010. Like a crazy Australian, I ventured outside to experience my first winter wonderland.

5. The Landmarks
I was extremely lucky to live in an apartment which was amazingly located in the middle of Greenwhich Village. While walking around my neighbourhood I was able to capture the sites of the Washington Square, Arch, the Empire State Building and the famous fountain which is often featured in the Tv series, ‘Friends’.

6. The Work
Interning in New York City is the dream of many. I was fortunate enough to intern and work at some of the most prestigious and popular fashion companies and magazines. Here I am pictured with my fellow intern, Katie, at the Badgley Mischka Fall 2011 fashion show. Models, clothes, photographer, oh my! Definitely a perk of interning for Badgley Mischka.

7. The Love
Exploring the city with my roommate, Laura Mesches, and my friend from back home, Greg Seskin, allowed us to stumble across the famous ‘LOVE’ statue.

8. The Entertainment
At the beginning of the Broadway season in September, an event known as Broadway on Broadway is held in the middle of Times Square. The musicals of the season have the opportunity to showcase a number from their show in order to promote themselves. Hundreds and thousands of people crowd Times Square to be a part of the musical unveiling. I was lucky enough to be amongst this crowd and see a myriad of Broadway talent which was all hosted by the famous Kelsey Grammar.

9. The Game
My friend, Greg Seskin, was lucky enough to be on exchange in Mississippi at the famous Ole Miss University. I took the opportunity to visit him one weekend. Fortunately this was a home game football weekend. The cheerleaders, the marching band, the chants and the padded players all left me speechless. I felt like I had left reality and had been placed in an American teen movie.

10. The Bonfire
Upstate in Kingston, New York with my roommate and friends I experienced my first Smore. Graham Crackers, Hershey Chocolate and roasted marshmallows all combined and then eaten in the messiest possible way. Something I had only heard of. Now it was my turn to create my very own Smore over a real roaring fire amongst my very best friends.

12 months in LA

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:06:44 +1000

Jessica spent 12 months in Los Angeles and has started her Masters in Arts. She is interested in Film and TV and went to the US on an Internship in her industry. Below are some quotes from Jessica's video describing her time overseas.

"It's a much quicker, easier process. Student Placement checked that all the forms were filled out correctly and I wasn't missing any information. Then I went off to the Embassy and gave them everything at once. And then 2 weeks later I got my visa in the mail........Basically you're not by yourself, you've got a service that is there to help you and I think you can't put a price on that."

"I got to try every role in front of the camera and behind the camera.......I have a lot more knowledge under my belt that will really be able to push me to do better. A few companies over there that I did work with do want to get me back......it looks great on your resume......I definitely found where I want to be."

Click here to watch and listen to what Jessica and other returned participants have said about their time in the US.

Sarah - Traineeship in New York

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:35:54 +1000

Hi Student Placement Australia!

I spent a wonderful 18 months in NYC enjoying your Trainee USA program. I have to say to date, it was the most adventurous and exciting time of my life.

It’s amazing how fast my trip went by and I cannot even begin to tell you about all the amazing adventures I have encountered in this crazy ‘melting pot’.

The Trainee USA program was extremely beneficial in my tertiary learning in furthering my studies in the tourism field.

I had the pleasure of meeting other participants of the program in my workplace from all over the world. I was primarily working on my Management skills in a wholesale tour operator company in midtown Manhattan.

I thank Emma Mackay for all her support & for answering all my queries leading up to this wonderful journey.

It truly is a once in a life time opportunity that I will never forget.

Sarah Klain

Editor’s note: The Trainee USA program has several significant differences to the Work & Travel USA program. To read more about the Trainee USA program click here.

Brad - WATUSA in Washington DC

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:07:08 +1100

Hi. My name’s Brad Stewart and I come from Broke in NSW and I recently arrived in America on the 12 month Work and Travel visa. This was all possible thanks to Student Placement Australia (SPA) whose website I had spotted whilst surfing the internet.

The application process was easy. I simply called the SPA office and they provided me with all the information I needed. I was so keen and eager to get to the US that I wanted to do everything as quickly as possible, and SPA made it happen! They took care of everything. All I did was sign the pages and email them back, they sent the visa pages to America then all I had to do was wait for them to come back with approval so I could book my flight. I was over the moon that it only took a couple of weeks from the start of the application process to when I left Australia.

Another perk that the Work and Travel USA program offers is that it gives you the freedom to find where you want to live and work whilst you’re in America. It’s so great that you can go wherever you want and live there for as long as you want (up to a year)! I feel this is something that really makes the experience so much more enjoyable. You really can come and see as much of this wonderful country as you want.

I have been here in America for a couple of months now and I’m currently working as a chef at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Georgetown in Washington DC. In a way I was lucky that I had qualified as a chef within a year and was still eligible for the program, otherwise I would have missed out on this great adventure!

I’m also lucky that I will be here for the inauguration of the new President Elect, Barack Obama, so it really is an exciting time to be in Washington!

I recommend anyone who would like to come to the US to contact Student Placement Australia and get the ball rolling. I am very grateful that I came across their website and for their assistance in making the whole experience so enjoyable!

Brad Stewart

Gabrielle's Having a Ball in Chicago

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:03:56 +1100

Gabrielle Ball, from Mitchelton QLD, is in the middle of her Work and Travel USA program. She’s currently living in Chicago and has some useful advice to help make life easier for people looking for accommodation in the States.

“Things have pretty busy for me over here pretty much since I arrived. I have travelled over here with my partner who is the recipient of a scholarship to the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University in Chicago.

When we arrived we enlisted the help of an apartment finding service as we had no idea where to live, which areas were good, which areas are best when dependent on public transport and the like. We were able to sign a lease three days after arriving in the country! I highly recommend similar services to others travelling to the USA if they are available. Apartment finding services here are free of charge as well!

Something else that I highly recommend after arriving in the USA is getting a State ID card. I have discovered that passports are not acceptable forms of identification. I found that I couldn't even hire a DVD without a form of ID issued by the United States. I didn't (and still don't) feel comfortable about getting a US Driver's Licence (most states require both written and practical driving tests before issuing a licence). I was able to obtain a State ID card from the Department of Motor Vehicles. In order to obtain a State ID card, applicants must first have their Social Security Number.

At present the people of Chicago are celebrating the election win of Barack Obama. He has very strong ties to Chicago and his historic victory has become a victory for Chicago as well.

These are the best pieces of advice that I can offer you from my experience thus far.

I'm also really looking forward to seeing it snow here in Chicago. The last few days have been only a few degrees above freezing so the snow can't be too far away!”

Sincerely,

Gabrielle

Pete Limon Reports from New York

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:58:31 +1100

Pete Limon, from Deakin University VIC, is currently living in New York and is 3 months into his Work and Travel USA visa. Pete provides some useful advice for anyone interested in working in the US, particularly in the New York area, in the current economic climate.

“I arrived with my girlfriend Becky in New York on July 15th, and we went straight out to the little town of Stony Brook, Long Island where Becky's mother lives. We were lucky to have a place to stay until we found an apartment and jobs in New York City.

For the next couple of months we looked for jobs. We searched employment websites and went to job agencies for interviews. We also started looking on http://www.craigslist.com for apartments to rent in the city.

The current state of the US economy meant that jobs in NYC were hard to find. My work background was in the hospitality industry, but I was hoping to get some form of office work. My lack of experience made it very hard for me to find any type of work in this industry. Becky had better luck, she had a few great interviews and a few jobs to choose from.

In the meantime we took a gamble and rented an apartment in New York City before either of us found work! We found a nice little studio apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Everything worked out in the end, Becky took a fantastic job at Calvin Klein working for the VP of Store Design. I found a great paying job at a Wine Store very close to home.

I'd definitely advise anyone coming to the US to have enough money to cover at least the first three months of living expenses. The job market is in a sorry state at the moment, and it's difficult to find work. There are definitely jobs available, but it takes some hard work to find it!

Also, we both found that employment agencies are basically useless when there is a shortage of jobs. We wasted many hours signing up at job agencies that ended up having no work to give. The best way to find work in my opinion is to go direct to companies and submit your resume to the HR department. If you're looking for hospitality work, just walk in and ask to speak to a manager.

I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone wanting to live in the US. The experience of living and working in another country is a great way of expanding your knowledge of the world. I'm looking forward to the next few months living in New York City!!”

Katie Allwood - 2 months in..

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:51:46 +1000

Katie Allwood from NSW, is currently in America on a Work & Travel USA 12 month visa. She wrote to tell us about her experiences thus far as she travels around the country whilst contemplating when and where she will start working**.

I’ve been in the States for about 2 months so far.

So far I’ve slept in a lighthouse, camped in Yosemite National Park, and stayed in a home hostel with an American family. I’ve biked along Venice Boulevard, sunbaked in Malibu and walked the pier in Santa Monica. I’ve seen sea lions, elephant seals, deer, squirrels and a raccoon. I’ve been to the home towns of some of my favourite bands, and met beautiful people from all over the world.

I'd definitely recommend this visa to anyone who wants to delve a little deeper into the culture of the country than can be done in a month or two of travel. Because the visa is fairly open, and there are no time restrictions on starting work, you can really make what you want of your experiences, and your time here.

Actually applying for the visa was a bit of a worry for me, as I studied at a private College, not a University in Australia, and I thought this might affect my chances of being accepted. The staff at Student Placement were so friendly and reassuring, and talked me through each step of the application process, answering every question I had (and I had a few!), nothing was ever too much!

Thankyou Student Placement and CIEE!

Katie

Internship USA News

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:20:39 +1000

Sabrina Jacob is just about to depart on a 13 Month Internship USA program to train at Chung King Studios in New York.

"Dear Student Placement Australia,

I would like to thank everyone involved at Student Placement Australia and CIEE Boston for the opportunities that your organizations offer. I have wanted to gain insight into the US way of life and their work ethic for quite some time. I was actually just losing faith that there was even going to be a way in for me and then I saw one of your ads on TV!

So now, I'm three days away from achieving my dream of training within a recording studio in New York City. Thank you so much. And Emma Mackay has been absolutely great, no matter how many times I've called her!

Thanks again,

Sabrina Jacob"