Is it worth it?
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
It's been a while since I'm back here in Malaysia and it's also not long before I'd be going back to USA. Honestly, I'm really excited and this is going to be the best Christmas wish that is going to come through. In fact, this is going to be the ONLY wish that is ever going to come through. I'm excited of my new life along with what I'm going to have to face when I'm there. I'm excited to start classes and so badly want to go skiing.
I have to say that quite a lot of things happened back in Malaysia when I was in USA last summer. The oil price fluctuated, the government / politics was unstable, a church member remarried, an ex-boyfriend and a friend I knew since nursery time - passed away, a few of my friends went from single to 'in a relationship', and a few break ups happened too, new feelings created and some just died. A part of me did changed yet I am still the same hard headed, rude, strong and difficult Esther just about any of you used to know.
When I am back, there were friends who asked me about my experience in USA and I told them about a few of the culture shock I had e.g. no warm water served in restaurants. I told them about my fucked-up-lazy-ass supervisors but how happy I was to get to know so many people who worked at Cedar Point from all over the world such as Taiwan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, China, Japan, Romania and so on... I told them of how much I earned thanks to my excessive long working hours, and how certain things are cheap there hence my excessive shopping. I told them about how hot the sauce is at Buffalo Wild Wings and me going there religiously every Tuesday for the 35cent for one wing promotion. There were also the bottomless lamb ribs at Applebees, the thick pizzas, cheap McDonald's burgers, fries, delicious chocolate cookies too. I talk about how the air in Cleveland is so much cleaner, how my face wasn't as oily, how I never wake up with migraines that lasted for 10 hours or more when compared to where I am now, in Kuala Lumpur. I talk about how guys in USA were an average a head taller than me and they don't think I'm fat unlike here in Malaysia. I talk about how people there envied the charcoal black hair that I have and my small eyes that I dislike so much. And how most girls over in the USA look like barbie dolls- with long legs, blue / green eyes, blond / brunet hair and bigger breast if compared to Asians who always find their bra size a cup smaller there. It's funny how most things that are a taboo here and considered unaccepted are the very same things that are considered 'cool' over there. Sometimes I even think that I'm over popularized in Cedar Point but still, everyone who works in Area 3 knows me. Maybe I make impressions, good or bad, I still do.
Over here, I will give you rough estimation of the accounts spend and earned throughout the whole Work and Travel Programme :-
(Work for 4 months and 2 weeks of travel)
Before USA:
RM400/500 - plane tix
RM300/400 - application fees
RM100- other expenses
RM10,000 - Total upfront expenses
In USA
USD6,731 (RM23,384) Pay
USD300 (RM1,050) - Bonus
USD300 (RM1,050) - Housing (in Cedar Point)
USD670 (RM2,350) Federal Tax
USD120 (RM420) State Tax
USD70 (RM245) Sandusky OH Tax
USD5,445 (RM19,057.5) - Total earned
USD2,245 (RM7,857.5) - Living expenses + excessive shopping + everything else for 5 months
USD1,500 (RM5,250) - Travel to Niagara Falls, Mackinac Island, Chicago, Detroit, Washington DC and New York
USD3,800 (RM13,300) - Total expenses
After USA
USD1,700 (RM5,950) - Remaining
I still manage to bring back a quarter of what I've earned from CP. Honestly, anyone can easily bring home more money but that depends on your living expenses and trips you spend there. Each person's expenses varies and I happen to spend quite a lot on shopping. So the ultimate question of the day, "Is it worth it?" I would have to tell you the honest truth. Before I left for USA, my ultimate goal is to earn money and nothing else was on my mind other than that. Too money minded, I am. But after being in USA and experiencing more in life, I've come to a conclusion that life isn't all about money but about how you walk the path you choose in life. I never regret a single bit of the experience I had in USA - through the hard times and the good times.
It was the best decision I've made so far in my life and I have to confess that it was worth every bit of every damn afford and money put into it.No one paid me for saying this and this isn't an advertorial, but it's just that I genuinely want to share with you. And if you have the chance, please go out and see the world, life is more than just your little comfortable crib. You won't know what you are missing out, seriously.
I really have my parents, Ken my Mass Comm lecturer and WAT to thank for all these.
Damn, Eric. You should have come to Cedar Point with me. And damn again because I know you a lil too well. And damn the 3rd time coz I really want you to come to USA with me!
Labels: Cedar Point, Friend, Life, Travel, USA, WAT, Work
posted @ 02:59,
