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Nia Moores, a second year Events and International Festival Management , is sharing the inspiring story of her summer placement in Orlando, Florida, where she spent three transformative months working at Universal Studios’ Volcano Bay water park. The experience was part of , Wales’s international learning exchange programme, which creates life-changing opportunities to learn, study and volunteer all over the world.

Nia, from Aberdare, said the experience, arranged as part of the Yummy Jobs Programme, gave a real taste of life in the United States and also helped her develop new skills and a global outlook.

During the placement, Nia worked as part of the Food and Beverage team at Volcano Bay, taking on a variety of roles from cashier and food prep to assistant chef. Her responsibilities were both front and back-of-house, allowing her to interact with a diverse range of guests and support the culinary team across multiple restaurants throughout the park. 

“Working in various parts of the resort allowed me to gain hands-on experience in different roles, which was invaluable to my personal and professional development,” she said.

While initially facing challenges like homesickness, she quickly adapted thanks to a close-knit group of friends, many of whom were also from the UK. 

“We all faced similar struggles, but the friendships we built made a huge difference,” she explained.

Nia said her time in Florida not only boosted her professional skills but also increased her confidence and sense of independence. “This experience opened my eyes to the many possibilities that await after university. My confidence has soared, and now I’m even interviewing for a position at Walt Disney World, which I never would have considered just a year ago,” she said.

“I feel much more independent and capable now. Living in such a different environment from my small village in Wales taught me a lot, even down to the small things like slightly adjusting my accent and word choice to communicate better with people from different backgrounds.”

Whilst studying at ���ϳԹ���, Nia has also been involved in the House Party Events Project with Swansea Arena and has also worked at many other events including supporting the ITT Future You Conference, working with 4theRegion on their Green, Start Up Expo and It’s Your Swansea Conferences.

Nia said she would strongly encourage other students to pursue overseas placements, emphasising the profound impact they can have.

“This experience has given me a unique perspective and an edge that many others won’t have. If anyone is considering an international placement, I would 100% recommend it. It not only gives you valuable skills, but it also helps you see the world in a new light.”

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467071