Let there be US

Blondie in Marlborough

2012-07-13T22:01:00.002-07:00

I slept. My girl stayed awake to try some clothes I bought her.

"Hey, what do you think about this one?"

I turned my head to the place from where I thought voice was coming. "Hey, wake up for a second, what do you think about this one?". Suddenly, I stood up and start gibberish something in English. "Hey, it's me, you don't need to talk in English, are you alright?". Then, I start apologizing again in English, until I became aware of her. Somebody told me once "when you start dreaming in other language, you are just step away from mastering it." What a ridiculous situation.

Later, my girl and I went to walk. "Here is the place where we were buying booze, there are markets, here we bought pizza few times...". We saw Mona Lisa on one doors, checked golf field, went to the Marlborough Downtown. It was a cute walk. Some 20 minutes walking from Marlborough Downtown, there was a McDonald. Mladen and I were choking in banana and strawberry smoothies there. Now comes time for session with my girl. She was thrilled.

Marlborough is a cute town after all. But, I couldn't live here. I am a guy for big towns. For flats, stores in front of my bilding, near some park, water, public transportation. At least, I would like to be that kind of guy in United States.

Torture or problem with public transportation

2012-07-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Trip from China town in NY to Boston South Station passed in 4 hours, maybe little bit more. My girl was exhausted so she quickly found her place for sleep - my shoulder. I was again watching dark places around headlights. Also exhausted, but couldn't sleep.

Few days before I went for my girl, I was spending hours on the internet searching for ways to reach Boston from Marlborough, and timetable of trains and buses. The nearest train station was 7 miles away. There was no bus connection. There were some confusing information on various web sites, telling about what used to was. I made a phone call to check does bus still go on wanted relation and rude male voice answered me: "No!". So, traffic connection stayed unsolved problem, and I hoped how there will be solution on Central Station.

And now, here we are. It was around 3AM. I was about to left my girl until I check when is the next train to Westborough, but we went together. There was no one at the station! The next train was going in 4 hours! The same situation like in NY - what to do in Boston in 3AM? I was feeling like a piss. We returned to the Central Station. Air-condition was working like it has been pumping straight from North Pole. I felt sad for my girl. Almost 2 days without decent sleep. Cab was the only option left at that moment. One guy told me that drive would cost around $100, which was insane. The city of Marlborough was really a countryside. Public transportation in Massachusetts is a real shit! Girl and I slept at the station's chairs.

In the morning we experienced one of the cutes ride I ever was. Guys, who were checking our tickets, were in the mood like they won $1.000.000 on lottery. They were announcing, actually singing the name of every station. Sweet like a cheese cake.

Finally, at the 8AM, I was opening the door of my apartment.

Fast forward

2012-07-07T01:49:00.000-07:00

After Mladen return for Serbia, time suddenly start passing quick. I had fun, and in some other posts I will write about it. September came. On Labor day my job was finished. Everyone gone, everything become empty. The room where just few days ago there were a lot of people, now is scary. Only me and emptiness.

In 11PM I was waiting for my bus to take me to NY. After 4 months I'm gonna see my girl. The new chapter of this program is about to begin. But, I didn't plan that bus will come in NY in just 4 hours. What to do in NY in 3AM? There was one Russian girl, her second year in US, with knowledge of English worth nothing! This is second type of people I don't like - first one are generations of Latinos living in US without intention to learn language of the country which provide them so much.

Any way, some kind of talking came and we both find ourselves on the bus heading to the Newark airport. She was returning home. I was waiting for my girl to come. Second question: what to the at the Newark airport for 8 hours? I found some free seats and made space to take a rest. But I couldn't sleep. Air-condition was working so strong that I was freezing! I didn't bring sweatshirt because outside was hot. To be worse, there was no free WiFi connection. I went outside. There was one spot from where I could watch airplanes landing and taking off. Remember my first day in Boston? The place where company's office was? My sentence "I could do like this all day long"?

Around 3PM I was inside again. On the lane for arriving passengers there were no one. Thinking of her walking to me brought me some drops in eyes. "Hey, I could go in toilet for the second", passed through my minds. That second become 10 minutes in searching for toilet and chewing gums. When I get back, she was already there, standing with two more people. I grabbed her like sleeping man grabbing his pillow. Last time she saw me I was 104kg weight. Now with 93kg, muscular arms and unshaved beard I looked to her like a bear.

One hour later we were walking through Central Park. It's gonna be a long one - our return bus is scheduled for 10PM. The only one thing left: to figure out where is China town and "departing" street.

What is going on

2012-07-06T12:56:00.002-07:00

Last 12 writings was not particularly related to my life in United States during Work and Travel program, nor particularly interesting to you. Since I start working few months ago, I have no time to devote entirely to my blog, but I also have no intention to leave my web world .)

Still, few interesting things happen recently:

1. I wrote a couple of articles for Work and Travel iskustvo (experience), giving some advices I wish I had in 2010. A lot of them still waiting to be publish, 'cause guys who running web site are in United States on their program.
2. Actually, this is it :)

What should I say? Don't wait for new posts soon. Hope next time you will find some surprise here. Till then... Enjoy in this summer!

The Serbian Orthodox Church

2012-04-15T23:15:00.000-07:00

Probably someone will find this useful and interesting.

http://www.serborth.org/

The worse American postcards

2012-03-13T12:34:00.001-07:00

Check for more: Bad Postcards.

Coupons

2012-03-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

The adress you will find usefull - Retail me Not! Huge list of coupons, worth watching.

Serbia, not Siberia

2012-03-03T00:55:00.002-08:00

"I won't be writing about climate, natural beauty, art, cuisine and other things we are proud of in Serbia, because you can read that online if you are interested. And I think once you start reading it, you will just get more and more interested. I will be writing about why I love Serbia and why I think you should visit it."

Check it out: Serbia, not Siberia by Jovana Miljanović

Promo codes

2012-02-25T01:04:00.001-08:00

You are student, living within borders of US?
You would like to spend as low as you can?
You also like to travel?

Then you need to visit this page: Student Universe promo codes. Here you go some of them:

Hope you will find something interesting. Just in case, check what Terms have to say and see do you fit their conditions.

Being a Serb

2012-02-17T02:18:00.000-08:00

from 9gag

Lost America

2012-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

While I still out of my focus...

...take a look on the work of photographer Troy Paiva and his Lost America - Night Photography of the Abandoned West. Beautiful. My favorites are those from aircraft's graveyards.

And from photographer Kevin Balluff we have photo session on Flickr - airplane graveyard.

I have a dream

2012-02-12T01:05:00.001-08:00

You can find translation to Serbian on Wikipedia: "Imam san" (I have a dream)

Jodi McKee

2012-02-08T09:39:00.001-08:00

Source: etsy.com via Jodi on Pinterest

Experience is the best advice

2012-02-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

First share of this blog on domestic web!

Work and travel iskustvo is the place where you can read how other evaluate places they were working and living, chances for other job, and how satisfied they were at the end. Like I mentioned somewhere before - "the best place to start, the best place to end!" (Dio)

If you have a story to tell, visit "Iskustvo"

Take me to America

2012-02-07T08:58:00.001-08:00

Lesson from Seth Godin

2012-01-19T05:57:00.000-08:00

Over your head

"Once the water is deep enough that you must swim to stay afloat, does it really matter how deep the pool is?"

Thanks to Alfredo Arcieri for introducing me to the work of Seth.

Warship at Charlestown

2012-01-17T01:08:00.001-08:00

Preview of prehistoric GPS

She won

How to have fun when you're not having fun

2012-01-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

...applies to those who are living (or gonna live) far away from any fun.

So, question is what you can do to make your time fulfilled? Specially, when you are living far away from some clubs, bars, things like that? I start thinking about this topic now, which is sad, but try to learn from my experience.

Lets start from indoor fun:

1. "Man don't get angry!" You can make teams, play in something, like in removing the clothes.

2. Yamb. Also perfect without restrictions in terms of number of people.

3. Warships. This one actually works the best if you are working with another lifeguard at the pool. Pay attention that there are no people at the pool in the same time!

4. An upgraded version of fun - buying consoles (PS, Wii, or Xbox)! There are some "if" before this step: if you have an outlet power, if you find a TV. If you find a TV, you can make a deal with friends, share expenses, or just buy by yourself and do rent of it. There are lot of games out there, but for guys Pro Soccer Evolution or Fifa is choice No1. Right? Some driving game or tennis eventually.

Outdoor fun:

1. Noting is the best like old fashioned barbecue. Beside meat, you gonna need beer, but be aware that drinking on the street is not allowed.

Hope that in some point, some of you guys will share your own view of having fun.

Have a fun!

Doing business in America

2012-01-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

That day was insanely hot at Jefferson Hills. After we open the pool, almost immediately we were seeking for shade. Two good looking girls came and took position away from me and Bogdan. Few minutes after, came one guy who other residents marked as "speedo boy", because he was the only one wearing speedo. He was carrying a large book in his hand. If I am not wrong, he had a home phone with him. Yeah, not cell phone, but regular one (cordless).

So, girls were away from us, he positioned close to the water. He opened the book and start calling:

"Hy, my name is @*#&!@* and I have a job proposal for you. I am working as a .net programmer, offering full service for your business like creating a web site, technical support, etc. It is only $99."

"Hy, my name is...", and he was calling and calling. I was thinking how cool is that, having a freelance job, going to the gym early in the morning, then having breakfast, swimming pool after that, and all on such a sunny day. But, soon I realized that those three guys were the only guests on the pool. That was strange.

Girls entered the water. One of them was wearing really tight, two pieces swimwear. With oiled skin, she was a nice eyes-view. Momentarily, "speedo" guy level up in his work - he moved closer to those girls. This time, his conversation over the phone was like this:

"Hy, my name is @*#&!@*", he pronounced his name very loud continuing "and my phone number is xxxxxxxxxx", repeated it 2 times, and the rest of conversation you know. After second call, girls moved from shallow water to deeper, ended up on the edge. From that point I knew what will be the next move of the "speedo" guy. Near girl's chairs, there was one table with umbrella - perfect spot for moving "speedo"'s business. He continue his ritual, probably hoping how girls will be impressed by him.

Here you go 2 reasons why he wasn't successful with them:

1. Girls are Brazilian, he is annoying American.
2. Even dough he is good looking, he was wearing speedo which is HUGE minus to them. Actually, to the whole pool. One women approached me and ascertain how there should be NO SPEEDO warning sign.

Interactive driving using google map

2012-01-08T11:28:00.001-08:00

...coming soon. Stay tuned!

Lifeguard tips

2012-01-08T05:30:00.000-08:00

What every lifeguard should know?*

Things to do before job starts:
- learn about specific rules on the pool! Rules are usually written on the table attached on the fence or various objects around (maintenance room, main building, etc.). Its supposed to be visible to others.
- check water, deck, pool bottom (if is windy, pay attention closely because surface of the water could be wavy, and pool bottom messy);
- pay attention does supervisor have usual time for checking you!
- try to learn or write names of residents, their kids, get close to them (if they are worth of it).

Running diary:
- working hours, situations, memories, ideas
- food, exercices
- write down usual phrases: how you doing? take it easy! what you up to?
- story to tell after you return (work and travel forum, Serbia Travel Club)

Time for fun:
- swimming, playing with residents
- giving a green light for jumping and diving

How to sleep. Even dough I am not recommending this because you should know your pool and residents well first, in some cases (in lots of cases) you are going to be tired and gonna need some break time. Usually, by Murphy's law, when you need your break time the most, pool is insanely crowded. So, what you gonna need: sunglasses, rescue tube and table/desk. Sunglasses are there to hide your eyes, so no one can see that you are sleeping. Rescue tube is there to help you in positioning your self by putting the tube on your legs, then your elbow on it and your head in the same hand backed on the tube. Desk is there to make you look like you are watching the pool from your seating position.

How to keep your self away from sleeping. First of all, you are responsible for human lives! Thats why, if you need to keep your self awake, follow these rules:

- Walk around. Do not forget to keep your rescue tube with you in a case of emergency.
- Go to swim. Water will refresh your body and give you more energy for some time.
- Drink a lot of water or coffee. It is "necessary evil", but more liquid in your body will give you more energy because your organism will work in order to consume these liquid. It could also make you gonna piss, which brings me to the next step;
- Do not hesitate to take a brake time! You have a right to do it on every hour, so use it clever - wash you face, neck, stretch your self, take a deep breath, go in the airconditioned room for a while but always watch the pool area.
- Count people on the pool, in the water, make various equation, keep your brain uptight. Write in your diary. Pinch your self and do not hesitate to yawn - it will inject more fresh air to the brain.

To conclude - keep your self busy!

Note: It works only in cases where supervisors are not checking your pool often. Also, its apply to pools in Boston area only.

*be advised that list will be revisited and edited...

Marco Polo

2011-12-29T23:36:00.001-08:00

Day as a day was passing normally. People were coming, people were leaving, coffee has been consumed, sun was burning, kids were screaming... kids were scream... kids wer... "Poooooooooooloooooo!", a long scream from one of the kids woke me up. "Hey bud, keep your voice down for a bit, will you?".

I was looking them. One kid was spinning around with closed eyes, yelling Marco, Marco. Other kids were esceping from him yelling Polo, Polo. What a strange play. "Stop looking, he is watching, he is watching". They start splashing each other what became a signal for cutting this play down.

Another day at another pool, picture was the same. Kids were chasing each other in the water, yelling Marco Polo up to the exhaustion, and while I was thinking how annoying it is, other people on the pool were lying, watching, hanging out, minding their own business.

The Game

Recipes

2011-12-10T23:43:00.001-08:00

WARNING!
The fallowing post is one of the longest. If you want to make a decent meal while you in US, then you should read it carefully. Enjoy.

"Meat taste like a tire, everywhere is sugar, GMO foods...". Yep, that is what I've heard so many times. For someone who is going in US for the first time, it could be scary. "What the Hell I am going to eat there?!". Well, you can do it different, and I will try to show here.

Markets in US are well equipped. For all what you need! (like some slogan). So, the most difficult part was to figure out from where to start? When you standing in front of the fridge, hardly seeing its end, time could go very fast if you spend it on thinking. Chicken meat, pork, veal, sausages, barbecue meat, ice creams, milk, eggs... On the shelves, the same thing with choices: rice, pastas, sauces, juices, cornflakes, cereal, mixture for pancakes, vegetables in cans...

First month we were eating everything, having no plan at all. It would be difficult not to, among those choices. But, next month, all together with my exercises, I start writing down combinations of meals, all what could work for me.

1. Rice. There was a box of it with some spice. For M and me it could last for two or even three days. After we return home, I was usually putting water in the deep pan, with a small amount of olive oil. Then goes rice. From time to time, I was stiring it, also adding a little bit of milk. By guide from the box, it should be finish after 15 minutes, but Zana learned me to take a small peace of rice and check whether it is cooked enough.

When rice is done, we were adding tuna or chicken from the can over it. Great thing with a chicken is that it usually goes with some vegetables or sauce. Additionally, we were putting Iceberg or garlic sauce.

Awesome thing for dinner.

2. Tortillas. The easiest and fastest meal to prepare. While tortilla is warming on pan, we were making a mixture for stuffing. It is the same like previous - tuna or chicken. Additional, vegetables from cans such as corn (or maize), peas, etc. were going also in stuffing. Iceberg sauce or ketchup, and small peace of mustard is the must have. Sometimes we were putting sauce specially made for tortillas.

With a rice, second favorite thing for dinner.

3. Barbecue. Maybe we were lucky to have BBQ burner, running on gas on many location inside our apartment area. In one store we found Vegeta, so chicken was the logical choice for BBQing. And, the delicious one. Burgers were alright, but I prefer chicken. There are so many choices and types of meat, that I regret why I was not BBQing more often. There are also buns, and with some BBQ sauce or mustard, whatever, it could be some stronger dinner.

4. Eggs. Strange that I start from the dinner first when breakfast should be an engine for the start of the day.

Scrambled eggs - for M and me, 4 eggs, with a little oil before and milk, after stiring is over. M found some blue cheese, or stinky cheese how I call it. With slides of cured meat, usually chicken or turkey, also great stuff for beginning of the day.

5. Pasta. There was nothing to think about - with Barilla you can not be wrong. Same like with an eggs - stinky cheese, some ketchup or sauce for tortillas and pastas. While pasta is boiling, I was adding a little bit of olive oil inside.

Not so strong, but delicious way to start your day.

6. Pancakes. Savory and sweet. Savory with stinky cheese and cured meat, and sweet with Hershey dark chocolate and a ball of an icecream.

After that you can only continue with sleeping.

7. Zana's specialty. You gonna need oil, onion, potato, veal, some spice. Estimated time: 35 minutes.

In Serbia, we usually put onion at the beginning of cooking, in Moldova it goes at the end. So, first we put a pan on the cooker, and add some oil. Then, we need small pieces of meat to fry. While it is frying, we need potato to be sliced like fries. After we done, fries goes together with meat. Fallowing Zana's advice for checking whether is meat cooked enough, and after we confirm, chopped onion goes over everything and we can turn our cooker off.

One guy from workandtravelforum.com explained very simply how meals should looks like:
Breakfast: "By me, the most ideal meal for breakfast are cereals. I am eating it for years, changing only producers."
Lunch: "Meat in any way".
Dinner: "Pasta, spaghetti, macaroni..."

Bon appetite!

Mate

2011-11-28T23:39:00.001-08:00

So far, you were probably asking yourself: "Who the Hell is M?". I know that many people I met and spent a life with, will know about who I am writing. Still, leaving full name could make concret person uncomfortable, so I decided not to.

He is my friend from the High School. Few times I tried to recall how we even met each other, but I couldn't. It happen spontaneously, like many things in our lives. Friend of the friend, hanging out somewhere... and it goes. Friendship has been born. I looked at it like it was something really special. Not many friendships people make during our lives which worth.

Then, High School ends, our ways went in different directions. We were seeing each other rarely, and it hurt me a little bit. Fallowing some usual, daily basis, rituals, meeting new people, working on relationships... soon, you remembered your friend from time to time, also rarely.

But, things are about to change. I offen think how life is trying to tell me something by giving some signs and very often I am listen and trying to fallow them. We met after a long time. My proposal was to go in one shopping mall, where I tried the best ice-cream so far. Then, during conversation, he said how he was thinking about Work and Travel program. "My God, me too! I am even trying to find good agency. Good deal. Would you like to go together?". And there it is, we start seeing each other again.

What I am going to write now, could call a confession. I don't why, but during few months, I was feeling like I am larger then "something", I don't know what, system maybe. Conviction without coverage. I was high, very high like on some drugs, but my was created from coffee. Here's the thing - I wrote that agency was sending offers every Friday. We discuss about them all the time. We were watching maps, big cities around places from the offers, etc. Alaska was not an option, still from 10 offers, 8-9 was for Alaska.

In February, Hard Rock Cafe sent the best offer, with good hours and wages. But, I already arranged a trip with my girlfriend and missed it. "More good offers will come", I was hoping. Then March passed without single decent offer, and days in April become unpleasant. M was calling me almost every day, asking what is going on and what we are going to do. Every day. I was thinking: "M, listen, we are paying them. They are in obligation to provide for us good offer. We said where and what we want to do. It is up to them now to look for it!" I showed enormous self confidence, but wasn't actually thinking how huge problem is. Conviction without coverage. That was the first huge difference between us - he was thinking in this, real world, I was on some other dimension, imaginary one. He wanted to know all on time, I was avoiding the fact that time we supposed to go will come very soon, hoping how everything will be how should be.

Then, at the end of April, I had "black out". For the first time I was feeling how I am not ready for that story. Putting all together: money I am going to spend, Master studies I have to finish, girlfriend I had to leave. Suddenly, inside of me woke up the worst scenario - I decided not to go. One morning I went to the agency, talked with Milena and Dušan, and despite their arguments how all be fine, I pulled-off from the program. Then I made a phone call.

"M, I decided not to go."
"What!? When did it happen?"
"I was thinking a lot, and it is too big for me."
"Are you hearing your self? Do you know what you are saying. How can you do this to me?"
"M..."
"What M!? You were thinking about this for a while. Why didn't you tell me this earlier? I could find someone else to go with. You fucked me up! I don't know how can you be such a man? You fucked me up!"

He hung up. I was standing on Nemanjina street, next to the building of National Bank, on a sunny day and feeling like someone just pissed me from above. I didn't expect that. Never really thought what is coming. And for the first time felt how awful I become.

Later, during the day, I changed my mind. Rearranged everything again, conclude a truce with M. Process of "growing up" had been reacher for one more experience. M is the reason why I went to USA.

Writings around...

2011-11-27T01:59:00.001-08:00

...mostly on Work and Travel. "The best place to start, and the best place to stop" like Dio said at one concert.

it goes...

After three weeks: "Here I come again to share my experience with everyone after tree weeks of work. As I wrote earlier, I ended up in Boston. To be precise, in one place 30mi away from the city. It called Marlborough.

Before I came here, I had to finish training in DC, which had been relatively easy (medium difficult?). The most difficult part was oral and written exam, but it ends successfully. All together, 3 days. The last day of training, we left to Boston. The thing which I can claim for sure, whoever come to work here, will be in some of the apartments, which usually have their own pool. So, one combination for work could be inside of apartments complex. There is another combination - if you bring your international driving licence and if in the office decide to give you a car, like in my case, you could work up to the 8mi away from your home. Others get bicycles. From this year, hour is paid for $8, overtime $12, for those working in Boston and around. Reason? Well, I guess they have not enough lifeguards for MA. By week I get 50h, which is not bad, but I often dislike the way of paying our paychecks. It goes on every three weeks, covering first two of working, and one more which will be paid on next round. You get the schedule, so on you is to play with calculations.

Apartment cost $97 weekly, by person, which in total cost more then it is. We get everything what we need for it - pots, pans, spoons, forks, knives, towels, detergent courts, can opener. We have washing machine and dryer as weel. There is a gym nearby, and we were lucky to catch WiFi for free.

We didn't go out so far, because of rainy weather, and mostly because we were saving money. Advantage of Boston and MA, compared to Washington is - if is rainy, we don't get day off, but continue siting at the pool or inside office's building, while waiting for rain to stop or until is end of the working day. If is rainy for the whole day, we supposed to go to management of the pool and ask for something else to work. Yeah, right. The point is that company is paying whatever in our case, so we have to do something if we are not working. In Washington is not like that. They get day off immediately, without being paid.

By M's calculations, we will get around 2000 euros at the end, maybe even more, together with $1000 we supposed to get from Tax department (tax return). In final, it matches what we read and what we already know about earnings in the first year, but I want to believe different. With 2000 I can not do anything I wanted, except buying some stuff, and probably visit sites on the East coast. Do not count on $250 of bonus if you come earlier, because company is sending it et the end of the year on home adress.

When we talking about additional work, in my surroundings there are many markets, shops, and soon I will go to check what is going on. The problem is - when to work? Because, working hours here are from 10AM to 8PM, which not left enough time for additional work, except on days off. One guy told us that he tried to work as a security in front of some club, but he found that difficult and tiring. Sleeping at the pool is not an option, of course.

Job description - it is not just siting at the pool and taking care about people in the water. Work involves scheduled control of water (chlorine, pH and some other chemical's ratio, up to the 10 measures - 1 on each hour). Mostly, if results were repeating, we were copied previous. There is also pool vacuuming, ie. cleaning the pool bottom, and it goes from time to time, depending how clean the pool is. Setting the chairs, cleaning around the pool, somewhere watering flowers, changing garbage bags, cleaning the filters at some pools, cleaning the baskets (it calls skimmer), etc.

So, there is always something for work, but at the end all comes down to <bleja>. Reading of books is allowed if there is no people in the water, but lap top is strongly forbidden. Or, is not if they not catch you. In some rooms, inside office building, you can make tea and coffee for free, and drink water if they have a machine.

That is it for now. Who wants to ask more, or if I remember something else, I will write. And to add at the end - Boston is beautiful!"

After three months: "I would not recommend this job to anyone. Especially not over the HSP. There are so many but/if and what if factors. My disappointment is, above all, related to money, which is nothing when company takes whatever belongs to it. There is no fraud here, everything is clear, but when you figure out that, significant time pass which you could spend somewhere else.

If among you guys, there are those who wants to go to work for them, I have an advice - come early as you can and try to impose to the people in the office in order to work anything before job starts (such as cleaning of the pool, driving around lifeguards who are coming, etc.). That specific time is great for taking the money, but only if you impose, because others know the same and it is a great chance to become supervisor or something more than lifeguard after that.

Bring your international driving licence.

Work on your English, mostly because of Americans (even dough there are many Latino people, Brazilians, Puerto Ricans)."

Other writings:

1. Answer on one question: "I looked at the offer, and can say that it is standard. Working hours are same like HSP, and paying in accordance with that - miserable. If you come earlier, great, but do not count on this $250, because it would be send on your home adress at the end of the year. Story about cleaning of the bathroom as a part of your duties is silly. From the other hand, I could not know how those pools look like. Good thing is that they are in metro area, which means that pools are reachable by metro. It is the cost more, and of you consider that you do not have provided food - I would have refused this offer.

If you still want to go, then we can discuss how to make the most of your staying there. Here you go some ideas - one guy bought the massage table and was charging for massages; others were teaching the swimming, some were doning it individually, some forme the groups; barbecue, but in your arrangement, which means that you collect the money and go buy what is necessary (pools usually have special place for barbecuing), etc."

2. Answer on other questions: "You should not be afraid. If you know to swim, count that you already step into the water of this business. It is correct that there will be complicated things about rescue techniques, helping the drowning man, etc., but you exercise first, then trying many times...

I wrote before that despite my decent knowledge of English, the most difficult part of exams was written one. Some questions I didn't understand and good for me that we have right to correct with indication of fault. Even dough someone could think that examiners working on attracting more people to become lifeguard, my point is that they are trying to make questions and issues easy to understand right."

3. Answer from other lifeguard: "Your claim that you are not good swimmer, doesn't have to be of importance. It could happen that you are watching the pool where 10 people coming and which is of depth 1.5m. Earning - very questionable. Do not expect "I don't know what" overtime work, because they will try to gave the less as posible. They will take $150 of deposit for accommodation, which will be return after you comeback in Serbia. They took us $100 for rented bicycles, but later returned $50. By the way, new one in Walmart, cost $75. Two guys from Ukraine bought it, and on every four week, they were going to Walmart and asking for another one, because they were not satisfied. Smart guys, God bless warranty.

Oh, yeah, there is another test you gonna work in Serbia, called "pool operator test". It is a licence that lifeguard could work with pumps and chlorine, etc., but for us it didn't work when we get in USA, so we have to pass it again which was charged $75, and you have to do it.

About additional job - I don't know what to tell you. First, I couldn't search for it because I was waiting longer for SSN then usual, and lost almost one month. Later, I was going from market to market, application first, second, third... fifth, and had lucky with one Giant, so I worked in August two jobs and somehow arranged my finance.

Again, it depends in which region you gonna be, how public transportation works, how far is your pool from your home. Those are some things on which you can not affect, so no one can promise you, neither from agency, neither some people, that there gonna be some possibilites... so pay attention and do not be fooled by some stories and promises. Experience you can get will be more then positive in any case. Just keep your head calm and do not be unrealistic"

Final touch: "Aldough I was writing about my experience in topic Lifeguards, I will rewrote it again. Agency, over which I went, called AYUSA. They were alright, but I was expecting more offers. They fulfilled what they said in the beginning. I applied at the end of December. Offers were coming on every Friday, and it goes like that until March. Then, they were on every two or three weeks. Among 10 offers, 8-9 were for Alaska. The rest were not worth watching by my opinion. The best offer was for Hard Rock Cafe, but unfortunately I was not able to apply because I was in Paris at that moment.

Finally, I accept offer from HSP, and later finish training in Washington. There were a few tense, but nothing serious. Even people who didn't know English well, passed exams. My recommendation is to do training in Belgrade, if is possible.

I choose Boston as a place where I would like to work, and mate and I get little town called Marlborough, which is 30 miles away from Boston. Very few people get that possibility to work in the Boston. Usually people get surrounding area of the city.

We have been welcomed at the main station, and later taken to the apartments which were equipped very well. In the beginning, there were four of us, and later even 6. That was not by the contract like should be, but at the end people were leaving... anyway, it was not too bad. We heard how others had "situations" when people from the office were sending new lifeguards in their apartments, until provide accommodation for newcomers. So, it happen that in moment eight people were living together for a while.

We got a car. That was cool, until... things went complicated. Four of us should work on the TWO pools, because one was for two lifeguards. That is the deal we made with guys from the office. However, because new people were coming from time to time, we were doing different pools, mostly on 7 - 10 miles away from each other, and that was not a problem. The problem begins, when I stayed the only one who was driving. Daily, I was "killing" 60 miles. Sometimes even more. Company changed tactic, and start sending me paychecks with lower amount of money for the gas. I tried to "animate" the office, but their answer was "We tried everything, decision comes from the company, because the car is for only one relation, like is written in the contract. It seems that you wanted to work on other pools, so... The best thing you can do, try to talk with your fellows, and share expenses." The truth is that management of some pools didn't want lifeguards sent by the company, and many residents were asking for some of us. Beside that, guys from the office were playing with schedules in order to "create" not more then 55h per person, while their close friends, or should I say girlfriends, were having even 70h, but that is for some other story (gossip, never checked it).

Job is done on Labor day. There are some pools working after that, but still, only those who are "good" with fellows from the office will have it.

To conclude - if I could chose again, I would never pick this job. Even dough I get peaceful conditions for working, I was not satisfied with money. I was having $500 on every two (three) weeks neto. If there are some questions..."