Jay Lloyd's Getaway: Students' Summer Job Migration
By Jay Lloyd
CAPE MAY, N.J. (CBS) -- Have you noticed how many of those smiling servers at dockside restaurants in South Jersey have interesting foreign accents?
There's a reason. While American students are enjoying working in Europe over the summer, European students are coming here for summer jobs, and also getting a chance to bask at some really nice Jersey shore resorts.
So, as in past years, you're liable to hear some interesting accents during your shore getaway this summer.
Those summer workers, many from Eastern Europe, are polishing up their English, becoming immersed in American culture, and filling a gap in summer staffing.
"If these students didn't come over, we'd probably struggle to fill our staffing needs," says John Cooke, who operates the Victorian Motel, in Cape May, NJ.
Would he be able to use displaced Atlantic City workers?
"Casino workers probably have a higher expectation," he admits.
The jobs being filled are housekeeping, kitchen workers, and servers -- all vital to the Jersey shore tourism industry. Many of these visiting summer workers are in a US State Department-approved program.
And, if you are going abroad this year, you may run across young Americans who are bartending, entertaining, or teaching English while getting a dose of European culture at almost no cost.
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