Clara Wan Li Shan
Participant, Cedar Point, WAT 2008
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Who would have imagined that I’d travel across the world to spend 16 weeks working at the number one rollercoaster park in the U.S., Cedar Point, Ohio? Encouraged by friends who described it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I decided to take the leap at 21 and join the program.
At Cedar Point, I worked in catering, preparing buffets for both small and large events. The schedule varied depending on the number of bookings, but that gave me the chance to work in other departments such as park sweeps, cashiering, food preparation, and laundry. This allowed me to understand more about how the park operated behind the scenes.
The first few days were rough as my luggage was delayed, but things quickly improved. Working at Cedar Point felt like being part of a global community, surrounded by people from all over the world — Americans, Czechs, Colombians, Taiwanese, Turks, and many others. We spent our free time going on rides, exploring the park, hanging out at the beach, and sharing meals, forming friendships that I’ll always treasure.
One of my highlights was catering a private event at the home of Mr. Richard Kinzel, CEO of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.
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After fourteen weeks of work, I spent two more weeks traveling across the U.S., visiting cities such as Chicago, Niagara Falls, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Seeing the American Idol Tour live and the breathtaking view of Niagara Falls were unforgettable highlights.
This journey taught me independence, adaptability, and appreciation for cultural diversity. Though I didn’t break even financially, the personal growth and experiences were worth far more. It was truly a journey of a lifetime, and I’m grateful to CIEE, Cedar Point, Speedwing, and my parents for making it possible.