Crisis to hit WAT students

Like every year, this summer many AUBGers participated in the Work and Travel Program (WAT) offered by several agencies in Blagoevgrad. But no matter where in America they ended up, this summer students had to adapt to the new economic environment caused by the dwindling job market.

AUBG sophomore Alexandru Izverschi spent his summer in the United States working rather than travelling because he needed to pay for his college tuition. Finding a job was difficult in the beginning, he said. Izverchi had to apply for a job in every possible place, and finally got one after a week.

Not only the employers, but also the employees felt the effects of the economic crisis, Izverschi added. The restaurant he worked for faced considerable difficulties compared to the previous summer. Last summer the restaurant was busy during the entire week, Mondays and Tuesdays included, and they had twice as many staff members. This summer it had barely enough customers on weekends, and the owners kept just enough employees not to pay overtime, he said.

Many international students who came to the United States through a WAT program for the summer had a difficult time finding a job, Izverschi added. Some of his friends left after a month because of the lack of employment opportunities.
"Well, it was an adventurous experience. Lots of work, and a lot of important decisions to make: where to live, where to work, what to do after and so on. I think it is a big step in the development of each personality," Izverschi said. "Finally, with all its pluses and minuses I will probably go again next year with the Work and Travel Program," he added.

Petya Valcheva, Blagoevgrad Branch Manager of the Usit Colors Work and Travel Agency, said she thinks some students were afraid they would not find a job this summer because of the tough economic situation in the United States. "There was a reduction of 5 percent in the participation of the students [in 2009]," she said. "Anyway, students have already started to get information in order to apply for the next year, so hopefully it will be a good year," Valcheva added.

Ina Peneva, an AUBG junior, said she worked at the same places she did last year, as one of the jobs offered her housing. "It was exhausting because I had to work a lot, but also a lot of fun because I met a lot of other people who introduced me to their culture and way of living. [...] I had the chance to travel, so it was even more fun for me," she added.

"Till now I have heard from students that it has been a good year for them, especially for the students who already had jobs from the previous year. They have started to apply now that the programs cost less, and hopefully we will have a better year this time," said NatashaTrajkovska, WAT Program Coordinator at the ZIP Travel agency.

"It was a good experience [...], but it is just awful having two jobs and no [free] time, [...] even for watching TV," said Costantin Scacun, AUBG sophomore. He worked in a restaurant and was paid $2.63 per hour plus tips, and had a second job in a deli where he had a higher wage than the minimum eight dollars an hour guaranteed by Massachusetts law. Scacun did not feel the effects of the economic crisis and was satisfied with the experience he gained, he added.

"It was not that easy for me," sophomore Elisaveta Bozhinova said. She could not find a job because she did not have enough experience. "They looked more for [...] bartenders or waitresses, and all that I had done before was working a few hours per week as a receptionist, which obviously was not enough."