Is there something you didn’t expect and the program brought you?

First of all, self-confidence and self-assurance, but I also gained a second home. I never expected that such a strong bond would be formed between me and a place on the other side of the globe – I have returned to the small town of Bretton Woods, New Hampshire five times and never once thought about spending the summer somewhere else.

Any travel tips or practical advice?

My first and most important advice, which I myself have never been able to follow, is not to reach the luggage weight limit when leaving Slovakia. Even if you think that you will need all these things, you are definitely wrong – in the US, you will probably buy some things at Walmart, T.J.Maxx, or Target right after your first paycheck, and at the end of the summer you will find that you will not even fit everything in your original suitcase. There is no need to stress unnecessarily when planning travel, but it is better to start early, especially when it comes to buying plane tickets. There is no need to be afraid of the unknown, as one will remember these experiences for the rest of your life, but on the other hand, you also need to be careful. End-of-year travel is not a time to save money: buy what you like; pay for a ticket to Disney World; taste the specialties of the given location and try the sports that have been tempting you for a long time (how about surfing in Hawaii?). Believe me, I didn’t indulge in any adventures either and now I regret the missed opportunity very much.