Route J-1

By Faith Nyamakwere, J-1 Summer Work and Travel participant from Zimbabwe

Faith poses with the Recording Angel Statute at entrance to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Nashville.

During my J-1 program, I had the privilege to work at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Centre, which is reported to be the largest non-casino hotel in the Continental United States outside Las Vegas, and is also ranked as 28^th in the list of largest hotels in the world.

Most people come to the resort to experience the unique “Country Christmas” offered by the Gaylord.  As a Gaylord star, I provided all the guests with the flawless services that they deserved and at the same time got to see and explore amazing places and attractions in Nashville, Tennessee. Some of the amazing things that I experienced at the Gaylord “Country Christmas” celebrations included snow tubing and ice skating, seeing the hotel decorated with thousands of twinkling lights and ornaments, the General Jackson Showboat lunch and dinner cruise, and the ICE! Sculpture exhibits of the Nutcracker and the Grinch (where scenes from these classics are hand carved from 2 million pounds of ice!).

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Stephanie Scholz, J-1 Intern from Germany

Stephanie poses with New York City Skyline from Roosevelt Island.

Editor’s Note: We asked J-1 participants to answer a few questions about their experience. Below are responses from intern Stephanie Scholz.

What surprised you most about your Exchange Visitor Program experience?

I was amazed how fast I adapted to everything. After a couple of days I felt really comfortable living in the U.S. This is because my sponsor organization made the transition easy for me. I was immediately introduced to a lot of people, including other interns, at work and was given rewarding projects and assignments to work on such as taking care of the whole visa process for future interns and helping to organize events.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Marta Lange, J-1 Intern from Latvia

Marta admires the statue of cardiac surgeon Michael E. DeBakey at Houston Methodist Hospital.

It was a cold and windy December morning when I left my beloved, snowy Latvia and landed in sunny Texas. Houston greeted me with skyscrapers, palm trees with Christmas lights, and a swimming pool in my backyard. In the so-called Lone Star State, one can find surprises on every corner. At first, as a person hailing from a country of two million people, getting used to Houston was difficult. Attempting to understand the people and their culture, the lifestyle, the city itself, and the food portions was quite a challenge. I stubbornly refused to admit that I was experiencing culture shock, but upon further reflection, I now realize that I was.

At first I struggled with making small talk in elevators and getting used to the fake-smile “how-are-you” culture. To be honest, this positive attitude sticks, and after a year I am able to admit that I will miss saying “hi” to complete strangers on the street. The Southern hospitality in Texas is something that a very Nordic person like me will never forget. That is one thing I could not fathom at the beginning, but now I really enjoy it! That is one of the factors that really made me love Texans: being polite and really meaning it, opening the doors for each other, saying “ma’am” and “sir” to everyone regardless of their age. I fell in love with Houston only after twice being away from it. I had to leave Houston and return in order to finally acknowledge how much I love it. At the same time, the importance and magic of the city really lies in the Texan people.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

Interview with Scarlett Palomo, J-1 au pair from El Salvador

A version of this story was originally published on AuPairCare.

Scarlett and two high school students in front of Belton New Tech High School in Texas.

When J-1 au pair Scarlett Palomo learned that her area director’s daughter was studying Spanish in her Texas high school, Scarlett jumped at the chance to visit the school and speak with the students. She wanted to tell them about El Salvador, the beautiful country that she knows and loves. The students were beginning a project on Central America, so they were excited to learn about the region from first-hand experience.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Camille Ferland, J-1 Au Pair from Canada
A version of the story was originally published in Au Pair in America

Camille volunteering for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at the Chicago Triathlon

Camille is an au pair from Canada living with her host family in Illinois and is also a State Winner for the 2016 Au Pair Community Service Awards. She shared the following observations on her extensive volunteer work at many fundraisers and community events. 

During this past year working as an au pair, I volunteered for many different causes and events. My first volunteer experience was with a community event, the Sheffield Music Festival and Garden Walk, where I worked as a beverage server. Inspired by the positive feeling that resulted, I explored online and signed up to help out at a charity event called THE Breast Cancer Fundraiser, a fun event raising money to provide care packages for people undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. I sold tickets at the main entrance, helped run the silent auction, and listened to inspiring stories of strength and bravery.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Heidi Mispagel, Executive Vice President, APEX PROaupair
A version of this story was originally published on PROaupair.

Four professional au pairs with surfboards (left to right): Marina Da, Julia Hinderhofer, Saskia Derkow (all from Germany), and Eva Spielbichler (from Austria), professional au pairs with APEX PROaupair

For many exchange visitors in the au pair program, California beach culture epitomizes the American dream – warm sunshine, sandy beaches, tall palm trees and talented surfers.

In December, APEX PROaupair held its 8^th annual Surf Outing. Eighty-three professional au pairs living with host families all across the U.S. joined 14 staff members from the U.S. and Germany for a weekend of sunshine, surfing and “California dreaming” in San Clemente, California.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Steve Roberts, Marketing Coordinator at AuPairCare
A version of this story was originally published on the AuPairCare website.

Stefan, an au pair from Germany

Stefan had two goals in mind when he planned his stay in the United States: to be a great au pair for a very special family and to share his passion for the sport of handball with others in his new home. Having played handball since the age of five back in Germany, he felt that involving himself in something familiar would help ease the transition of moving to a new country.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Alba Garcia Rodriguez, J-1 Intern from Spain

A version of this story was originally published on the InterExchange Blog.

Alba taking conch measurements in the Caribbean.

Alba Garcia Rodriguez previously interned at the Ocean Conservancy and is now pursuing a graduate degree in marine management. She hopes to attend the 69th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Conference in the Cayman Islands to present her important work and is raising money to do so.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Xiaowen Niu, J-1 Summer Work Travel participant from China

Wen celebrating the 4th of July in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin.

The J-1 Summer Work and Travel Program has been the best life experience I‘ve ever had.

During the summer of 2014, I worked at an ice cream and candy store in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin in scenic Door County. It was the first job that I had ever held in my life. Everything seemed so challenging, especially communicating with customers in English. At the beginning, I had trouble understanding my supervisor’s instructions and customer orders. My boss noticed that I was struggling and gave me a lot of training to help. She also knew I was interested in early childhood education, so she helped me find a volunteer opportunity once a week at a nearby day care center.

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Categories: Program Spotlight