Route J-1

By Tanya Burovtseva, InterExchange sponsor organization

J-1 participants meet with Google employees.

Arriving in a new country and embarking on a cultural exchange experience is not an easy task. Surrounding oneself with a network of like-minded individuals from the very beginning makes the J-1 Visa exchange program experience more interesting and fun.

InterExchange, one of the J-1 Visa sponsors, facilitated a series of weekly cultural meet-ups in its headquarters in New York City in June. These meet-ups helped participants learn about features of American culture and included discussions about cultural ambassadorship and the role of people-to-people diplomacy. The meet-ups also engaged exchange participants in cultural events such as a briefing session at the United Nations, sporting activities, and visiting major New York City attractions and landmarks.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Rachel Atterbury, Program Manager, International Culture & Career Exchange

Four teams, three picnic tables, two hot dogs=one great afternoon!

On Saturday, June 11, the hardworking interns packed their reusable bags to the brims with debris left out on the lovely Junipero Beach, which is located 20 miles south of Los Angeles, California. We partnered with an awesome, non-profit organization Surfrider Foundation who guided us in the shore clean up and many local volunteers also helped rid the litter from the soft sand. The bags holding the rubbish were weighed at the conclusion of the clean-up which was then used in the city’s statistical data for future studies. The waste collection certainly made us more conscious about how we need to pay closer attention to restoring our surroundings to their natural beauty.

Karolina, Lead Activity Coordinator (Front) & J-1 interns from Korea work together in gathering the litter scattered on the beach.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Lynette Evans-Tiernan, Director of Communication and Outreach for J-1 Program

Have you ever stood on the beach with your toes nestled in the grainy sand, looking out at the vastness of the ocean’s awe inspiring beauty while listening to the soothing sounds of the waves as they crash against the shore? It’s a calming experience that always makes me feel reconnected to the natural world and Mother Nature.

We live on a blue planet. The ocean covers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and provides 99% of the Earth’s living space. Not only is the ocean a shared resource that connects people – physically, culturally and spiritually – but it is also a driving force in the global economy, pivotal to food security, human health and scientific advancement, and home to a vast ecosystem that regulates climate and weather.

Our blue planet is fragile. It’s at grave risk – and it’s not happening by accident. Human activity is the cause. Rising levels of carbon dioxide are causing our oceans to acidify. Pollution endangers marine life. Overfishing threatens whole species as well as the people who depend on them for food and their livelihoods.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Trish, J-1 Intern from the Philippines

Trish posing in front of American flags

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Trainee Program has changed my life in many ways. It has allowed me to enhance my communication skills and I have learned how to multitask in a fast paced environment. I have met a lot of people from countries all over the world with different cultures, traditions, customs and beliefs, and many of them became my close friends.

Like most J-1 participants would say, this has been a life changing experience for me, not only in my professional career, but also in helping me build my interpersonal skills. Before I arrived in the United States, I had stage fright. I would literally start shaking if I stood up in front of a crowd. But when I started working at Kalahari Resorts, I was able to overcome my fear. I can’t believe that I now run the orientation for J-1 Work & Travel participants. I was also able to speak at the Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton International Student Consortium to share my experiences. This was a very unforgettable experience for me because I never thought that I would be talking in front of foreigners without feeling shy. I have gained confidence and self-esteem through this program.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Shellie Weaver of Missouri, host mom of a J-1 Secondary School Student

Emmanuel eating a S’more, one of his new favorite foods

Emmanuel Dabuo of Ghana befriended everyone from the moment he arrived. Whether at school, home, church, volunteer activities, or sporting events—he became the center of attention and achieved “movie star status” in our small community. His million-watt smile, genuine love of all people, hilarious giggle, and positive personality made him instantly popular. His willingness to step outside his comfort zone and try new things inspired others to be fearless. He reached out to those kids at school who were friendless, sitting alone in the cafeteria, and became their new best friend. His name means “God with us,” and it fits him well.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Daniel Grave, J-1 Summer Work Travel Alumni from the United Kingdom

Daniel Grave representing team UK at California Cup in Santa Barbara

Beginning in 1990 as a student from Portsmouth University, I spent two summers on the J-1 program with a good friend of mine.  It was the beginning of a journey that led to starting my own business, which last year served over 200,000 clients and is quickly growing to a world wide brand.

This was a unique J-1 program where I began to develop my entrepreneurial skills selling educational books door to door in the United States.  At first, I was a bit skeptical about going off to run my own business in America, but as my friend had done it before and the Southwestern program had been around since 1868, I thought I’d give it a shot.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Linda Haglund, J-1 Intern from Finland

Linda Haglund (giving the thumbs up) with her fellow I-LEAD leadership training students at American University.

Something has happened to me, and I have changed. I’m stronger, more confident and more hopeful about the future. I’m happier, more open and more in the present than I’ve been in the past. I have 60 new friends from 30 different countries. And I feel it in my bones: I can do anything!

My week in Washington, D.C. has made me a new person, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that the leadership training I-LEAD 2016 was one of the best and finest experiences I’ve ever had. Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

By Lauren Aitken, Cultural Vistas sponsor organization

Papa Oppong reviews designs at the DC Fashion Foundation Incubator

After designing a collection in collaboration with Swarovski and interning for Rosario Dawson, people knew that Papa Oppong, a Ghanaian fashion designer, would go places. But it wasn’t until his U.S. internship at the DC Fashion Foundation that he found his passion project: combatting Malaria through fashion. Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

Pack your bags, grab your passports, and start your engines. The Route J-1 blog is back with a new and exciting line-up of stories, directly from the J-1 Exchange Visitor community. Join us as we take a road trip across the United States and around the world. You’ll see how the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is connecting people and creating opportunities for cross cultural learning and understanding.

Here are the people who will share their stories in our new community written posts:

• Meet current J-1 Exchange Visitors and learn about their program experiences and adventures in the United States. J-1s are located in cities big and small across the country, and they are giving back to their communities through volunteerism, supporting local industries through their work, and creating lasting friendships and ties with their American friends and colleagues.
• Learn from J-1 Alumni worldwide and see how they are leveraging the skills and knowledge they gained in the United States during their exchange programs. J-1 Alumni return home to run their own businesses, address global challenges, and enact positive change in their local communities. Meet and be inspired by these incredible leaders and change makers.
• Visit local communities and see how they come together to support, learn, and promote J-1s living in their cities and towns. Many go above and beyond because they believe in the J-1 experience. This includes our network of homestay families, host employers, and host organizations where J-1s work, live, study, teach, do research, share their specialized skills, or receive on-the-job training.

Check back each week for a new post and new perspectives. Now, let’s get this journey started. The Route J-1 road trip will be a life-changing experience.

Sincerely,

The Route J-1 Team

Categories: Program Spotlight