“You’re strong, never be afraid!”- my mother said as we were leaving, embarking on a yearlong journey to America, far from all my family and friends. In our culture family and friends are the life force! It’s not the money, status, or power but ultimately it is the people in our life that we cherish most. My husband Yazan and I were leaving them behind to take on an exciting, promising, and challenging project in America, an internship with the famous 5-star Wee Burn Country Club that caters to elite clientele. We were two young and talented graduates of the prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Arts in Jordan and this was the opportunity that life only throws at you once, we said, and both agreed to take this opportunity and run with it! We had all the mixed feelings: we were excited as much as we were scared, but that exhilarating thought of this phenomenal experience overcame our fears. All we knew is that we have each other …but never expected to have such a fantastic (or life-changing/ memorable) experience.
We consider ourselves very lucky to enroll in the program with TransUSA Exchange the organization which made our program possible. All our questions were answered in pre-departure materials provided, the confusion, uncertainty and stress were lifted away with the clear and concise plans they had for us, from the visa application and all throughout our stay in the US. Their support was priceless and, at times, necessary; it was so good to know someone had our back!
Our experience at Wee Burn Country Club was everything we hoped for, and more. We enjoyed the challenges that a 5-star kitchen presents as well as the support of our colleagues who helped us feel confident in creating memorable dishes. The staff was very diverse, and we got to meet and work with wonderful people, professional and friendly at the same time, which contributed to a great environment.
Our internship culminated with a contest organized by the American Culinary Foundation where we took home the silver medal…. I couldn’t believe it, yet it was us being awarded this honorable distinction! The recognition of our passion to create food people love is now framed on our wall. We will forever cherish and remember that day. We are going back home confident that this necessary experience, which sharpened our skills and offered a new vision, gave us all the tools to be successful in tackling our dream: a fine dining steakhouse. Just look for the best steakhouse in Amman. We hope to see you there!