Making Peace One Exchange at a Time
Posted on Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 at 9:07 pm.By Marcellin Niset, J-1 Secondary School Student from Belgium
This story was originally featured on Rotary Voices
Belgian Exchange Student Marcellin Niset in Alaska
The Italian-American author and actress Vanna Bonta wrote, “There’s no hospitality like understanding.” That quote stuck with me as a Rotary Youth Exchange student to Alaska in 2015-16. I arrived in Alaska, a wilderness filled with beauty and love, determined to make my exchange purposeful and beneficial for myself, my host community, and the world.
An exchange is not only about a student going abroad, it is about all the people that make this exchange possible, and the ones that are impacted, directly and indirectly. Read More ›
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight
Putting the “Green” in the Greenheart Global Leadership Conference
Posted on Friday, September 2nd, 2016 at 6:01 pm.By Kyle Trebotich and Haldis Toppen, CCI Greenheart Work and Travel Program
J-1 participant Kenyata Thomas of Jamaica helps to trim plants at the National Arboretum.
It’s about building Global Leaders: That’s why in early August, Greenheart Global hosted its third annual Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. Thirty-six J-1 participants from 15 countries attended in three tracks: social justice, environmental sustainability, and international mission driven business. These are the adventures of participants in the environment track.
The group’s first stop was Green America Exchange, an organization that provides a stage for green companies to showcase their environmentally conscious goods. Our team had great questions, and the meeting turned into a dynamic conversation with group members sharing ideas about how these concepts could be implemented in their home countries. Sicong Wei from China said: “I think when I go back to China, I will look to find a similar organization to Green America Exchange and if I cannot find one, I will work with others to try and create one.”
Categories: Program Spotlight
In Boston, Au Pairs Help Clean Up the Charles River While Enjoying a Day Together
Posted on Wednesday, August 31st, 2016 at 2:13 pm.By Gisela Nilsson, Cultural Care Au Pair sponsor organization
Au pairs, community coordinators, and staff in front of Education First (EF) Center
“It looked so clean, but when you start looking, you find all sorts of things hidden,” one of the au pairs exclaimed as she meandered along the winding banks of the Charles River, collecting trash and other debris with fellow au pairs and community members.
Cultural Care Au Pair staff, community coordinators, and au pairs joined the Charles River Watershed Association to clean up around the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts this past spring. The Charles River used to be one of the dirtiest rivers in the country but has improved greatly thanks to efforts by the association and volunteers. Bags upon bags of trash were collected, and the clean-up team felt the accomplishment of their work. “I really enjoyed hanging out with other au pairs while helping clean up in the sunshine,” said one of the au pairs.
Categories: Program Spotlight
In Alaska, J-1 Participants See the Value of Our Ocean Everywhere
Posted on Wednesday, August 24th, 2016 at 9:04 pm.By Adriana Kusnirova, CCI Greenheart Senior Partner Relations Manager
J-1 participants attend the Weaving Watersheds project, a community-based Interactive, impermanent art experience.
In south central Alaska, the fishing community of Cordova cares so deeply about our oceans that you can’t escape the theme for even an hour while in town. A number of Summer Work Travel participants are also there this summer, experiencing Alaskan culture in this community tucked between the Prince William Sound and the Copper River watershed.
“Our Ocean” is an initiative led by Secretary of State John Kerry to raise awareness about ocean-related issues around the world, such as marine pollution and sustainable fishing. At Greenheart International, we believe in the importance of protecting all parts of our environment – so this is an initiative we are excited about!
Categories: Program Spotlight
J-1 Program Fosters Innovation and Global Perspective
Posted on Thursday, August 18th, 2016 at 8:29 pm.By Jessica Rey Dubra, Marriot International Host Employer
J-1 participants from Spain enjoying lunch.
Get inspired! Read this question and answer style interview with host employer Marriott International.
Why did your organization decide to participate in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program?
At Marriott International, we believe that international education is a pathway that leads us to three absolutes: peace, innovation and mutual understanding. While sharing an evening meal at the family table and experiencing an average day walking in a J-1 participant’s shoes is a good start, learning alongside him from the same white board in the same classroom is a life changing experience. Moreover, it is a pathway to diplomacy over war and a pathway to lasting friendships that transcend age, race, or borders.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Let’s Google it! J-1 Participants Explore Google NYC Office
Posted on Tuesday, August 16th, 2016 at 7:10 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
J-1 Long Beach Clean-Up Protects Our Oceans from Pollution and Debris
Posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2016 at 5:57 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
J-1 Community Supports Secretary Kerry’s Our Ocean Campaign
Posted on Monday, August 8th, 2016 at 9:31 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
J-1 Program Transformed an Intern into a Leader
Posted on Friday, August 5th, 2016 at 12:30 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Celebrate J-1 Day with Us!
Posted on Monday, August 1st, 2016 at 1:09 pm.By Lynette Evans-Tiernan, Director of Communications and Outreach, J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
Eat. Play. Give.
What do those three words have in common? J Day.
J-Day is a nationwide celebration that brings J-1 exchange visitors together with their American hosts and local communities to celebrate and share cultural diversity, give back to their local communities, and have some fun too.
We invite you to celebrate the power of International Exchanges with us!
Get involved. It’s easy. Here are some suggestions:
- Participate in a J Day event in your area. Most events are open to everyone. See a full list of events at http://www.alliance-exchange.org.
- Read about J-1 experiences and adventures on the Route blog. Don’t forget to check back later this week to see how J-1s across the country celebrated J Day.
- And most importantly, share your photos and J Day experiences online using #CelebrateJDay.
Categories: Program Spotlight
| About Rebecca Pasini Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange | |
|
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.
Categories
Flickr
 View more photos |