The Bounty of the Summer

by William Koshinar

Last year I started studying at City University because I wanted to improve my English. During the year, I found an agency which offered summer work in American camps. My English was quite poor at that time; therefore, I asked for work in the kitchen. I worked as a support staff. During the summer I worked in a Jewish camp which is situated in North Carolina. My work was based on preparing and serving food for kids. Last year, 860 kids from all parts of the USA spent their summer in this camp. During ten weeks I worked side-by-side with people from England, Romania, Russia, and Scotland. At the beginning this work was very difficult for me because I had troubles with English. For instance, I didn’t understand Scottish English and the English the black cooks used. After two weeks of suffering, I started to feel better. Each day I would work in the kitchen with nice people. Sometimes we had fun, sometimes too much work. As days passed by, my English skills were improving, so I did not have problems to speak fluently. The best gift that I got during the summer was my improved English skills. Actually, having many friends and knowing different cultures are the real gifts of that summer. Every beginning is hard, but the end is so easy and enjoyable. The patience always brings roses.