Program’s Year: 2022
Local Agency: American Learning (Thai Agency)
Sponsor: Janus International
Hello! It’s Wanda right here.
I had an amazing experience with my Work and Travel program in 2022, so I wanted to share it with you.
I participated in the program from May to September 2022 through American Learning (ALC), with Janus International as the US sponsor.
I will be putting the content into different section so it’s easier for you to read.
Main Job: Let’s start with the job. I applied to work at the baseball stadium of the Cincinnati Reds as a Concession Attendant. According to the job description, I was supposed to earn $77 per game (event). However, I ended up working in the gift shop, earning $12 per hour and $18 per hour for overtime (after 40 hours).
For those interested in other roles, you may ask HR if there are more opening position that you could help with. I agreed to work in the kitchen as well so I got to do 2 jobs at the stadium. During the week with games, I would work in the kitchen for 2-3 days before the game and then do both kitchen and gift shop work on game days. In the weeks with games everyday, I could work up to 80 hours. It might sound exhausting, but I could manage to balance it out because not every week is like this.
Games didn’t happen every week, but I earn enough to spend and travel.
Besides the gift shop, some friends worked at the Concession Stand during games, and some served food in the club.
Accommodation: I lived in a rented house arranged by the agency. It was a two-story house, and my friends and I stayed upstairs. The kitchen was nice and perfect for cooking. However, it depends on the agency and how they’ll manage the housing. Participants for the upcoming years might not get to stay in the same house as I did. The house was a 20-minute walk to work, with beautiful views. The house I stayed in was also close to bus stops so I could take a short bus ride for $1-$1.5
Second Job: Finding a second job is possible. You can ask at restaurants or apply to places like McDonald’s or other fast food restaurants. There are many restaurants and hotels. So, you may look for a place that is hiring.
City Review: Cincinnati is a city with easy access to various amenities. It’s not too big, but it’s convenient. The area I lived in was slightly outside of downtown, with beautiful views. The public transportation is good, and it’s easy to call an Uber. There are also bicycles and scooters available.
Food and Other Stuff: There’s a wide variety of food options. I enjoyed eating sushi, but mostly I cooked for myself. There’s a place called Jungle Jim’s that sells Asian groceries, though it’s a bit far, so you might need to share an Uber. For general shopping, there’s TJ Maxx and other malls nearby, accessible by bus or on foot. For larger malls with many shops, you can go to Kenwood Mall, which is also accessible by bus. For outlets, taking an Uber is recommended.
The city has beautiful parks, hiking spots, a water park, State Fair, Pride Parade, and hot air balloon events.
Financials: Many people ask if you can save money. It really depends. The city has many restaurants, so you might spend a lot if you love going out. However, it’s possible to stay on a budget. I mostly worked at the stadium and got a second job in the last month due to a delay in getting my SSN. Despite this, I managed to save money, even after spending a week in New York.
Overall, I’m very happy with this experience. If you like a city with urban conveniences and natural beauty, you’ll love it. I enjoyed watching people enjoy sports games, working while watching baseball, and sometimes there would be concerts playing at the stadium. I got to see Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Joan Jett live since the stadium was looking for people to sell drinks at concerts. The job also offered an opportunity to work during weekends/ during gameday in other stadium in other cities with covered hotel expenses.