The last of the international students visiting on J1 work exchange visas to the Ocean City MD and Delaware seashore regions have now departed in early October of 2006. This is a very positive program for both local businesses and vacation visitors to Ocean City Md and the Delaware Seashore Communities and for the international university students. Without the hard working students employed here during the peak tourist season, local businesses would find it impossible to hire enough employees to serve the vacationers in the local restaurants, hotels, amusement parks, fast food and convenience stores, and other local businesses.
The students, typically from E Europe and Russia, often it being their first time to travel ANYWHERE, especially to a foreign country, are always feeling and enduring the fear and worry of what will they experience upon their arrival. Will they find a place to live? Do they really have a job available? Will they be safe here? Other matters of concern also occupy their thoughts on a constant basis.
We have created an online student resource which is stilll a work in progress, but available now for students to obtain pre-arrival information about our communities prior to departing their homelands for Ocean City MD and the Delaware seashore communities including Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach and Lewes Delaware.
During this past summer season, I have again realized that there remain issues relating to the supply of affordable and decent student housing and the availability of jobs, in particular a 2nd job for many students. Some students leave within weeks after their arrival and return to their country early or relocate to another city to find a better situation where they may find a job or often 2 jobs or adequate housing.
One needs to understand that the students expend some $1500 to $2000 or more dollars, usually always borrowed from a relative and needing to be repaid upon their return for their round trip airfare and other associated costs for visa, passport, and sponsoring agency fees and often would find themselves without any means of recovering this expense without being able to obtain a 2nd job during their short stay.
Student Housing in Ocean City MD and the Delaware Seashore Communities is the most urgent and immediate need when the students arrive. Beginning the 1st week of June, quickly all available housing is taken during the month leaving many students still arriving throughout June with no permanent location to stay. We took in some 4 students on a temporary basis this past summer until they could find housing. Some housing became available in the last days of June and they were ultimately able to locate into a more permanent summer apartment. During June, many landlords reserve their units for the annual June Bug High School graduates who flock to the Beach Resorts to celebrate their graduation from high school. After they depart, these apartments become available and it seems to free up enough housing so things are somehow managed. Of course, some students have already arrived and departed due to lack of jobs or housing. Some larger employers provide housing for many of their student employees, but smaller businesses are not able to manage such expensive housing investments.
Maximum job availability doesn’t really open up until right before the July 4th holiday week, which really kicks off the July and August peak tourist months for Ocean City Md and the Delaware Communities including Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach DE. During June, those students with jobs find they aren’t given maximum working hours until July. 2nd jobs are more likely to become available in July and August. Those students with better english speaking skills are usually more successful in obtaining maximum employment income during their stay. Some students are never able to find a 2nd job and depart in early September not really realizing their anticipated income expectations. Those that endure the 1st month of struggle however depart having worked 2 jobs for most of the season and are by then seasoned and anxious to return and do it again the following summer. All of the students I have met and associated with here are hardworking, honest, dedicated and very anxious to do the job to the best of their ability. The only drawback is when a student has been approved for the program, yet lacks adequate english speaking skills, they are not really able to optimize their stay and cultural experience in our resort communities.
CAN WE IMPROVE THEIR EXPERIENCE? Hopefully, in the coming years, new student arrivals will have a better understanding of what to expect prior to their arrival. Those that endure their first few weeks usually end up having experienced a satisfactory and significant goal in their young lives. I know there are ways AND MEANS to improve the experience for the students as well as for the employers. Let us hope we continue to strive in our resort communities TO SEEK OUT THESE WAYS to make the students feel more comfortable, respected and to thank them for their continual contribution to our local communities. Some non profit organizations do provide significant assistance. An example is the local Holy Savior Catholic Church in Ocean City Maryland. CLICK HERE TO READ AN ARTICLE detailing their supportive assistance for the students. Certainly, they enjoy the cultural experience of living in our community for a short time and meeting those of us from the great melting pot! The opportunity for these students is a great help in dispelling myths about life in America. Usually, the only previous exposure some students have to the American lifestyle is through having watched very old American Movies, or generally uninformed information handed down to them by their parents and grandparents. This cultural understanding exchange goes both ways, as those who meet the students and socialize with them locally also can dispel some previous incorrect assumptions one had made about people in E Europe or Russia.
Once again, stay tuned to our work in progress ~ International Student Guide At The Beach .. as we will continue to modify it, add to it, and make it a truly great resource of pre arrival information for the international student worker. I might add that during the spring, summer and fall of 2006, I have had the honor of meeting students from Thailand ( who arrive in the winter months and stay until May as do some students from Brazil ), Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Slovakia, Ireland, England, Lithuania, Latvia, and some independent Republics within Russia.
Replies and comments are welcome! Simply register (follow the instructions) to register and you will be able to post comments. We truly appreciate your feedback so register and post up a comment. After you register, a password will be emailed to you (for security purposes) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND POST A COMMENT OR FEEDBACK! We value your privacy .. Your email address will NOT BE shared with any others, rest assured.
