Williston city experience
Hello, my name is Javid Abdulhasanov. Originally I am from Azerbaijan. I am living in Italy.
I would like to write about my experience in city of “coyotes” Williston (North Dakota, United States).
It happened when I visited United States with Work and Travel program in 2011. Of course I will not write about what happened during this program. So let’s go ahead…
How I heard about Williston
Also my friends applied for WAT to visit and work in United States. Some of them choose Williston, because choices were great in this city. But I and my 4 friends we choose New Jersey Six Flags Park. (to have fun and work in this park). During process I heard that Williston is kind of desert and bored place so therefore without doubts I choose Park. So we passed all steps and flied to United States.
We were so happy to work and have fun in Six Flags Park. About a month and half we worked in that Park, and then we heard some bad news for New Jersey. Everybody talking around about bad news was Hurricane Irene is coming in august. Everybody was upset and a few people come to Park. For this reason Park got economic problems. So we were so sad for everybody who lives in this area. And we were afraid.
How I visit Williston
Soon we decided to move out from New Jersey. In results of low income we were out of money. We contacted with one friend who lived in Williston and he invited us to Williston. About a week we prepared luggages we and took the road to Williston (in idea like to visit desert and to earn money). To reach Williston also was difficult. Greyhound bus service took us to Dickinson (last stop), arrived early morning. We went to local restaurant, have breakfast and waited 6 hours. Same time we asked to everyone how to go to Williston, because there were not any bus services. We were disappointed. Soon we met one old cowboy with pickup who took us to Williston. Happiness!!! Finally we reached to Williston. First when I saw city I was shock. I have never seen the smallest city like Williston in my life. In the city were too much people, too many big trucks with oil tanks, too many restaurants together. Just one strip club, and just one disco club. I asked to myself “How are local people lives here?” We thought we are in the hell.
How I met Williston
First one month we were really bored. Time by time we all settled for all conditions. All friends find jobs. Everything was fine. Sometimes I drive through city from begins to end. Because it took 30 minutes to go and come back, it was really funny.
After a few months day by day I met and speak with new people from city, in that time I worked in one gas station. During day offs or some weekend we visited neigbor states Montana (Red lodge, Yellostown, Billings) and South Dakota (Rushmore) and etc. Our landlord Tammye Lyseng was (still) a great and brave heart person. We lived in her apartment. She was from Williston. And also our neighbors were perfect. Once I speak with Tammye about Williston, I asked her “why there are too much people but city is small”. With answer she told me “Ten years ago Williston was desert, quiet and problem with unemployment. Mostly business was in agriculture, then changed to industry and the only reason was oil boom. After this great news the city changed totally. Percentage of unemployment in this city is about zero. After this oil boom everybody was Happy. Time by time I saw strangers in this city”. Of course there was good money in oil fields jobs.” Then I understand what is happened here in Williston. Because I am from Baku, Azerbaijan. Also history of my hometown is the same with Williston. History is really strange. You do not know what will happen tomorrow. Like what happened with Williston. From desert life to rich life.
Results
So this experience gave me opposite feelings in my future life. We all are human and everything is in our hands. From that day I choose one slogan “DEVELOPMENT IS HIDED JUST BEHIND OF EDUCATION. CATCH and USE IT !!!”
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