WHERE TO GO

“You’ll be an Aussie or Kiwi your whole life, why not be a Yank for 4 months? There’s something about ditching the tourist cap and adopting the life of a working local overseas, that really makes you find out who you are, independent of the life you know back home.” - Jenita from Melbourne, a past Work USA participant

LOS ANGELES

If icons are your thing, you’ll never be bored in LA. Disneyland, Hollywood, the sunset strip, Santa Monica, Beverley Hills... the city is certainly not lacking in famous names, whether they’re up in lights or not. And if you’re not too keen on the cold, then LA’s mild winter will win you over too. LA is the only city that can be grimy and shiny at the same time, glittery like a prostitute’s mini-skirt and charming in a cheap, tacky snow-globe kind of way. But for all its superficiality LA is the sparkling epitome of the American Dream, a living embodiment of the tenets upon which the country hangs its idealistic coat - the city where dreams come true.

LA is full of exciting and plentiful work opportunities and offers a vibrant lifestyle to match. So descend into the smog-filled valley that is LA and see if you rise, phoenix-like and sparkling like the trophy of the American dream.

“During my trip to the States I spent the majority of my time in LA. I lived with my brother in Hollywood, right next door to Charlie Chaplin’s old house and just down the road from the Jim Henson studios where all the Muppet movies were made. A few blocks away were Hollywood Boulevard and the Sunset Strip.” - Tristan, a journalism student from Brisbane

Famous for: Hollywood Boulevard (check out the Hoff’s star on the walk of fame), the Hollywood sign, Disneyland, Venice Beach (check out the eye candy at muscle beach), movie stars, fast food chains, Chinatown, Kodak Theatre, Mann’s Chinese Theatre (with the autographs and markings of the stars immortalised in cement).

SAN FRANCISCO

If you’re thinking of spending your working holiday in San Francisco there’s only one thing we can tell you - DON’T! Sure, you could wander the endearingly sloped streets, climb aboard the clattering cable cars and hang out with the funky locals in the cool cafes and trendy jazz bars... But at what cost?! The problem with going to San Francisco is you’ll lose your heart there.

So it is only with a level head that you should even contemplate spending any time in San Francisco. This adorable city will bring out the artist, poet and romantic in anyone who sights its stunning bridge or steps along its charming streets. San Francisco boasts opportunity without anonymity; creativity without pretence; intelligence without arrogance. In short, San Francisco is everything a city should be, so if you’re going to indulge yourself by living there, just make sure you keep a firm hold of your heart.

"The best thing about working in America was that I was able to meet so many interesting people from all over the world." - Skye, past Work USA participant

Famous for: the Beat Poets, (a group of writers in the 50s and 60s characterised by anti- authoritarian politics and innovative, defiant thinking), earthquakes, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz (maximum security prison which housed famous inmates including Al Capone), summer fog, the ‘painted ladies’ (the characteristically brightly painted Victorian houses, particularly those bordering Alamo Square park), San Francisco Pride (the world famous gay pride parade and festival).

NEW YORK

Trying to sleep in New York is like being 6 years old again and trying to sleep on Christmas Eve... there’s too much adrenaline coursing through your veins from the day you’ve had, and too much excited anticipation about the day to come. There’s a reason why New York is the city that doesn’t sleep - there’s no time for sleep when a city is so alive with opportunity.

Working in New York is like stepping into a fairytale and realising that the city is yours - you can do almost anything here, from serving cocktails in a funky bar to working in Times Square or temping in an office. The city buzzes with life, culture and possibility and you could be part of it. So why not wake up in the city that doesn’t sleep?

"I went to LA for a bit to visit a cousin, then flew to NYC and played there for a week... Make sure you travel with a backpack - suitcases are a pain to travel with. I went with a back pack and was very thankful!!" - Michelle, from Melbourne

Famous for: Empire State Building (have a ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ moment at the top), Broadway Productions (pick up the cheap tickets a few hours before the performances), Central Park (walking, people-watching), bagels, New York pizza (you’ll only need one slice), Times Square (see the best of American expertise in neon), New York Mets, New York Yankees, the Chrysler Building.

IT COULD BE YOU:

“I was fortunate enough to find work making cocktails at Temple Bar in NoHo, Manhattan - one of the premier cocktail lounges in the USA and the trendiest nightlife areas of NYC. Living within walking distance of work in the uber-cool East Village made life all the more enjoyable, and featured the added benefit of meeting students from nearby NYU. Working in a bar is great way to meet new people in an unfamiliar city and I have formed friendships that I am confident will last a lifetime. I found New Yorkers to be the most genuine, fun-seeking people in the world.”
- Michael from Sydney

WASHINGTON DC

Aside from housing all three branches of the US federal government, Washington is an exciting city with a great culture that just happens to host some of the world’s great thinkers. It serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and many other national and international institutions. Due to its status as a major political centre, Washington is also frequently the setting for large political demonstrations and protests, particularly on the National Mall.

The city’s political landscape makes for an exciting destination to live and work - and with so many opportunities you’ll never be bored - so Get Smart, head to the West Wing and open the X Files on this exciting city.* Oh, and Marvin Gaye is from Washington so why not head to DC and get some... ahem... healing.

Famous for: The White House, the Smithsonian Institution (a group of museums, including the national air and space museum which has the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft in the world), the Jefferson Memorial, the National Mall (refers specifically to the land stretching from the grounds of the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol (think Forrest Gump running through the reflecting pool).

* No, we’re not being too random - all these shows were set in Washington.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Home to Harvard and boasting a reputation as an intellectual and cultural hub, Boston is a gorgeous city with an old-town charm. Alongside its reputation as a scholarly cultural centre, Boston also has a thriving music scene and nightlife. It’s one of the birthplaces of hardcore punk and still has many great spots to catch the latest live music.

Famous for:: America's first public school, Boston Latin School and American first college - Harvard, a thriving punk music scene, the Boston Marathon, Boston Red Sox.

IT COULD BE YOU:

“I really loved seeing the snow covering the city and the olden day charm of the city, lanterns, cobbled streets and the Charles River frozen over. Also ice skating on Boston common was a highlight and the proximity to New York City ($15 Chinatown bus) was awesome. I worked at a chartered accounting and financial planning firm in Boston. I was mostly preparing financial statements and travelling to visit clients with my boss to help with audits of accounts. It was fabulous! We even had a client in Washington DC so I got to fly there and stay in the Hilton and then my boss gave me a day off to check out the city!”
- Pip from Sydney

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Gangsters, guns, crime, drugs for many years the windy city was famous for all the wrong reasons. But as with all great cities and as Mark Twain observed - if nothing else, Chicago is changeable and has re-invented itself as a strong creative, cultural and business centre.

The third most populous city in the USA, Chicago has many options for the working holidaymaker. Known for its blues, jazz, soul and gospel, anyone who loves music can find live music and new talent in the city’s trendy bars and clubs. Chicago was also named best sport city in the USA in 2006 so there’s always entertainment to be enjoyed - help the Chicagoans cheer on one of their teams to victory and see what it’s really like to be a local!

Famous for: The musical Chicago, home of the Oprah Winfrey Show and Jerry Springer, Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Bulls, a vibrant music scene - blues, jazz, soul and gospel, the setting of gangster rivalries in the 1920s (involving Al Capone, among others).