Internship USA: Martin’s Story
Posted on Monday, August 5th, 2024 at 12:59 pm.By CIEE
Logistics Intern at Transporeon Group in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania
Martin, from Germany, enjoyed diving into American culture: learning about American holidays, making new friends, and even doing a 100-mile bike ride.
During my internship, I really appreciated living with three American roommates in a house with a shared kitchen, living room, bathroom and separate sleeping rooms. I benefited from living with three roommates by having the opportunity to meet their friends. I was also able to improve my English significantly as I was forced to communicate in English all of the time. Furthermore, we became very good friends and we did a lot of activities together. For example, we took trips to Ocean City, NJ. We celebrated Thanksgiving with my roommate’s family in Pittsburgh and attended some of my other roommate’s shows to watch them act. We had a good time while cooking German and American meals, also celebrating birthday parties with them. These were all unforgettable experiences.
Categories: J-1 Visa
15th Anniversary of BridgeUSA’s Office of Private Sector Exchange Coordination and Compliance
Posted on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024 at 9:28 am.
The Office of Private Sector Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) oversees the health, safety, and welfare of nearly 300,000 exchange visitors who come to United States each year to enhance mutual understanding between their country and the United States. This is achieved in the way the Designation Office manages the private sector sponsors, how the Program Development and Coordination Office keeps regulations current, the Office of Program Administration investigates exchange visitor incidents and complaints, and how the Office of Exchange Coordination and Compliance (ECC) holds sponsors’ accountable for non-compliance. In 2024, ECC is celebrating 15 years of keeping exchange visitors safe by reviewing and analyzing sponsor operations.
Categories: J-1 Visa
From FOMO to Family Medicine
Posted on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 at 1:53 pm.
By Dr. Sushania Pryce
From as early as I can remember, my family physician inspired me to help others. His ability to care for everyone in the community, from old to young, left me in awe. It became my life goal to follow in his footsteps. Before entering medical school, I knew I wanted to become a family physician. After all, growing up in Oracabessa, Jamaica, a very rural community, that was the only type of doctor I knew. Fast forward to now, years later, I have traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to complete my residency training to become a family physician.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
On this National Camp Day, read about Fiona’s remarkable journey of self-discovery as a retiree on a J-1 visa.
Posted on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023 at 7:40 pm.
A Leap of Faith
Fiona Griffin is an Irish BridgeUSA alum who spent two summers as a camp counselor in Wisconsin. On this National Camp Day, read about Fiona’s remarkable journey of self-discovery as a retiree on a J-1 visa.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
World Space Week 2023: BridgeUSA Research Scholar has Lofty Plans for Nanotechnology
Posted on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 at 7:08 pm.
Very proud of living in the Washington area.
Carles Corbella Roca, Ph.D., is a Spanish physicist who has recently completed his BridgeUSA exchange experience as a Research Scholar at George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C. Given his focus on plasma methods for materials design and production, Carles’ work has potential for scientific application in space and makes him an ideal exchange visitor to spotlight during World Space Week 2023!
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
BridgeUSA College Exchange Visitors Seek to Advance Social Change in the Deaf Community
Posted on Wednesday, September 20th, 2023 at 1:51 pm.During International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Languages, we would like to highlight three Deaf BridgeUSA exchange visitors who are studying at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Gallaudet is a world renowned institution of higher learning which serves deaf and hard of hearing people to become the university of first choice for the most qualified, diverse group of deaf and hard of hearing students in the world, in addition to hearing students pursuing careers related to deaf and hard of hearing people. Its Office of International Affairs selects students who will create a “Global Gallaudet” that positively impacts the quality of life for the full spectrum of Deaf identities worldwide.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
Eat, Play, and Give: Exchange Day 2023!
Posted on Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 5:42 pm.
Today, we are highlighting community stakeholders and exchange visitors from around the world who came together to celebrate Exchange Day 2023. For nine years, the exchange community has celebrated Exchange Day annually on the first Monday of August and it has grown to become a worldwide celebration of the power and breadth of cultural and academic international exchange. On Exchange Day, participants, alumni, and their communities are invited to take part in service projects, reflect on the ways in which exchange programs have impacted their lives, and to continue to promote cross-cultural understanding. Check out how Exchange Day 2023 was celebrated around the United States and round the world.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
Member Feature: Celebrating Exchange Day with Greenheart International’s Haldis Toppen
Posted on Monday, August 7th, 2023 at 2:11 pm.Written by: Haldis Toppen, Director of Communications, Greenheart International
In 2014, the Alliance set up a training for three sponsors in the Midwest – Cenet, Greenheart International and Spirit Cultural Exchange. It was a few years after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton implemented major changes to the BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program, and the Alliance thought it would be a beneficial to take stock of these changes and for these three organizations to share some best practices they had learned and developed. It was during this training that the idea of Exchange Day (formerly J Day) was created.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
It’s a Derby Dream, Meet Equine Trainee Ian Wilson from South Africa
Posted on Monday, July 24th, 2023 at 7:05 pm.
“I wanted to participate in the CAEP program because it has allowed me to chase my dream of breaking into the American thoroughbred industry, renowned for producing the world’s best racehorses through three centuries of materialist selection,” shared Ian.
“Being granted a student visa, the internship has provided both theory and practical aspects that have been the stepping stone needed to develop a career in the thoroughbred industry. This has been beneficial as one gains hands-on experience raising thoroughbreds, learning about their make-up, and how to manage them.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
Diagnostic Science Lab Benefits from having International Trainee’s Skills/perspective
Posted on Friday, June 30th, 2023 at 5:36 pm.
Greenheart Exchange; Photo credit: Robert Harper and the team at IVD Solutions
Greenheart Exchange works with hundreds of globally-minded U.S. businesses who hire international interns/trainees through our Career Advancement Program (CAP). This Department of State-designated program provides career enhancing and cultural exchange experiences for bright, energetic international students, recent graduates, or professionals and allows U.S. businesses to tap into diverse skills and perspectives while increasing their visibility in today’s global marketplace.
We recently interviewed Robert Harper, Founder and CEO of IVD Solutions, who currently hosts George Temeng, a recent Masters in Biological Sciences graduate from the UK. IVDS is composed of skilled engineers and scientists who develop innovative diagnostic tools and technology. IVDS’s mission is to discover scientific solutions that improve the quality of life through timely, accessible, actionable diagnostic information. Here’s what Mr. Harper had to say about his business and hiring a CAP intern/trainee with Greenheart.
Categories: J-1 Visa, Program Spotlight
| About Rebecca Pasini Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange | |
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Rebecca A. Pasini joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchanges in July 2023. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister - Counselor, Ms. Pasini has been an American diplomat since 1997.
Ms. Pasini previously served as the Director of Public and Congressional Affairs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs from 2021-2023. Other Washington assignments have included positions in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Office of Foreign Missions, and as a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. She has also completed multiple overseas tours, including as Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as the Consular Chief in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Other tours included Mexico City and Kuwait.
A Maryland native, Ms. Pasini has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University, a master’s degree in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, and an undergraduate degree from Mary Washington College.
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