美國打工度假是美國聯邦政府為宣揚文化、獲得全球青年認同而設計的計畫；希望此結合工作與假期的旅遊型態，能讓申請者以工作所得自行安排旅遊行程，真實體驗美國生活。一般認知的工作與假期似乎存在於不同面向，此對立概念逐步被打破，打工度假成為目前許多年輕人參與的旅遊行為；然而以往研究鮮少以美國為場域對象，且較少關注參與者因跨文化而衍生之衝擊。本研究採用質性的參與觀察法及深度訪談法，探討美國打工度假者的心路歷程，包含出發前的動機、實際於美國工作與旅遊所遇到的文化衝擊與適應，以及回台後的成長與反思。研究發現參與計畫的動機可歸納為推力因素之把握青春、增進語文、訓練獨立、增廣見聞，及拉力因素之朋友推薦、費用低廉、實際體驗、轉換環境、美國憧憬。打工期間，新奇的生活體驗與異國文化衝擊交互而來；而結束工作踏上旅程時，參與者一方面享受跳脫一般觀光的美國之旅，一方面也必須面對旅程中的狀況。回台後，整個行程的一切都幻化成使人蛻變成長的養分，對於打工度假計畫也有了新的觀感與見解。

”Summer Work & Travel” is a project made by the government of the U.S.A., for publicizing the culture and getting the global youth to approve. The program is a combination of working and traveling; the applicants could not only arrange their own tour by the income but also experience the American life. People usually think that work and travel are two different concepts; however, working holiday breaks the normal idea and gradually becomes many young men's travel plan. Lots of prior studies focus on Australia as the research boundary, and less interest in working tourists' cross-culture shock in America. This research adopted both participant observation and in-depth interview to discuss working tourists' experience which includes the motive before departure, the cross-culture shock and adaption during the journey and the reflection after back to Taiwan. The findings induced push factors and pull factors for the motive. Seize the youth, improve the language skills, train to be independent and broaden the horizon belongs to push factors; friends' recommendation, cheap expenses, practical experience, change the environment and expect the American life are pull factors. Novel life and foreign culture shock interworks while the working time; on the other hand, when the job comes to the end, participants could enjoy their exclusive trip in America, but they have to deal with every condition by their own in the journey. After they back to Taiwan, the whole journey transforms into a kind of nutrient for growing, and they get the new feeling and understanding about the work & travel program as well.