My Summer Journey: Learning and Living in the USA

Traveling to the U.S. has made my English improve much faster than studying in a classroom. I use English every day — at work, at the grocery store, on the bus, and at home with my international roommates. I hear different accents and learn how to understand them. I also practice listening and speaking all the time, which helps me feel more fluent and natural.

Last week, I heard a story from a coworker about a guy who tried to steal from a store near the boardwalk. The police arrived very quickly and arrested him. It was surprising for me because everything happened fast and in an organized way. In Colombia, sometimes justice can take longer. Here, I noticed that there are many rules, and if you break them, there are consequences. That’s why it’s important to respect the law everywhere.

In today’s world, we consume a lot of information on social media. It’s important to know how to think critically and not believe everything we see. For example, sometimes I see videos on TikTok or Instagram that look real but are fake or exaggerated. Media literacy helps us understand who created the message, why they created it, and what they want us to believe. It’s important to ask questions and compare sources before sharing information.

Living and working in the U.S. has shown me many cultural differences. For example, Americans are very friendly and say “please” and “thank you” all the time. They love sweet things — even sweeter than in Colombia! People here eat dinner very early, around 5 or 6 p.m., and they really respect personal space. Also, they love tipping, which is not common in my country.

English is everywhere in my daily routine. I speak with customers to take their orders, answer questions about the flavors, and sometimes make small talk. I also have to read work schedules, signs, and messages from my manager. In the beginning, I was nervous, but now I feel more confident. I’ve learned how to pronounce new words and use expressions like “What can I get for you?” or “Enjoy your day!”

This summer, I’m living one of the best experiences of my life. I’m working in an ice cream shop in Ocean City, New Jersey in the boardwalk in front of the beach. Every day, I help customers, serve ice cream, clean, and work as a team with people from different countries. It’s hard sometimes, especially when I don’t understand everything in English, but every day I improve. This experience has helped me become more responsible and independent.