스태포드 CPA 프로그램 후기

    I am a student at Stafford House – San Diego. Stafford House is right across the street from Chongro San Diego, which was very convenient for me. I have been taking the CPA program at Stafford for two months now. The CPA program gave me a great opportunity to work at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, San Diego. It wasn’t easy for me to meet the natives and make American friends even though I was in the U.S. But I got a chance to meet many native speakers at work, and it was a really good experience for me to talk with them and make friends.
    Usually, I worked at the store and at the front desk. My primary work was to help Heather, who arranges goods at the store and greet customers at the front desk. Working at the front desk was very exciting. Mostly I would inform customers about the donation, and explain further when asked. 
    I liked working at both the store and the front desk, but I would rather stay at the front desk instead because I could practice speaking and make conversations with many customers who come to the Museum. It helped me become more confident in speaking English a lot.

    The most memorable event at work was the December Nights. December Nights is a huge event held in Balboa Park in the beginning of December, when everyone is immersed in Christmas and holiday vibes. I worked from 3pm to 9pm on Saturday during the December Nights, and I met a volunteer staff named Sam. He had the brightest blonde hair I have ever seen. His personality was as bright as his hair, and he gave me so much positive energy during work that I was able to enjoy working even more than before. 
    Also, on that day my work was to watch people as a security at the 3D Photo Grapes room. This room has many exciting displays for children, so I had to keep my eyes on customers with children. I was a little bit nervous whenever someone came in with their children, but at the same time, it was fun to watch the youngsters enjoy as well. I also ate delicious foods including tiramisu, which was amazing. 
    Another unforgettable memory at work was the Christmas celebration. I had dinner with all the staff members and we exchanged small gifts. I couldn’t prepare any gift though because I didn’t know about the gift exchange culture, and had no idea that I would even be invited to dinner. But I still received a cool MOPA t-shirt. I think it will remind me of the happy memory every time I wear the t-shirt.
    I am thankful for the opportunity to work with kind people at the Museum of Photographic Arts. I feel a little bit sad that I couldn’t talk much with people working on the second floor, but overall it was a very valuable experience for me. I highly recommend other students like me to apply and work at MOPA if they get a chance to, because it will also be a great experience for them in America.