Route J-1

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

By Judy DuCharme, J-1 host family from Door County, Wisconsin

Cooking Chinese-style

My house was full of smoke and laughter as six Chinese girls cooked all of their favorite dishes for my husband and I. They barely fit in my little kitchen, but they were having a wonderfully crazy time cooking the foods they missed from home.

Three things amazed me that night: the way the girls prepared the meal, slicing each green bean very carefully into five or six slices; how they set our table, like Thanksgiving but with foods we never imagined; and how they were so appreciative, so happy to cook for us and to be with u Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

By SunJeong Lee, Client Relations Officer, Cultural Vistas
A version of this blog post was originally published on the Cultural Vistas Blog.

A Korea WEST exchange participant teaches an American student in Jefferson High School in D.C. how to use chopsticks and a play Jegichagi (Korean hacky sack).

Editor’s Note: How have your perceptions about America changed following your U.S. exchange program?

This is the question we’ve been asking J-1 exchange visitors as we explore how interactions between Americans and citizen of other countries are helping to strengthen individual ties and promote cooperation. J-1 exchange visitors are demonstrating that they are evolving into cultural ambassadors: individuals who will serve as leaders in their communities by bringing people together and fostering intercultural learning and understanding.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Erik, J-1 Camp Counselor from Iceland
A version of this story was originally published on Camp America.

Nick and Erik behind the “Pleebs”.

Hi everyone, my name is Erik and I’m from Iceland. I went to Camp Letts in Maryland during the summer of 2012, and I will never forget it.

I have a lot of good memories from camp! Being a camp counselor is more than just clocking in and out. You actually become a very important part of the children’s lives. Believe me when I say it, they will remember you for a very long time. The reason I know this is the fact that I had a very special moment at camp. I had a 12 year old kid in my cabin that was extremely shy and really didn’t want to be there…at all! He didn’t want to be a part of the activities, so I felt a bit sorry for the little guy.

I tried everything I could to get him to participate in activities. After a couple of days, he went from being a shy kid to the center of attention. It was a great week for both me and him.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By SunJeong Lee, Client Relations Officer, Cultural Vistas

A version of this blog post was originally published on the Cultural Vistas Blog.

During his athletic media relations internship at Binghamton University Jaehyuk (Jake) Lim, now a Korea WEST alumnus, formed a close bond with other WEST interns looking to gain experience with a Division I athletics program.

[Note: This is part of a series featuring reflections from J-1 exchange visitors about how their perceptions of America changed after living, working, traveling and studying in the United States. This week, J-1s discuss how their cultural exchange experience helped them build lifelong friendships and networks.]

Time and time again, when we evaluate our programs we learn about the many meaningful friendships made, as well as the close contact that continues with colleagues and locals alike. Nearly 80% of our Train USA participants state that they will stay in touch with their personal and professional contacts. Case in point, a J-1 Trainee from Leipzig, Germany, said he has developed a more positive perception of the U.S. He will stay in touch with his American colleagues for professional advice once he is back in Germany, and also to share best industry practices.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Thato Khasuli, J-1 intern from South Africa

Thato hiking in Mount Willard, one of the popular Mountains in Bretton Woods, NH.

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

What does your exchange experience mean to you?

The J-1 cultural experience has been a blessing upon my life and career. Before this experience I had never been on a plane, let alone traveled abroad. The experience means a lot to me because I made new friends, enhanced my skills and knowledge in the travel and tourism sector, and had the opportunity to travel around the United States. This experience also provided me with the opportunity to provide for my family, my mother and my little sister, and to discover myself – who I am, where I am, and where I want to be. The program gave me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Nathan Arnold, Director of Media Relations for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State 

Assistant Secretary of State Evan Ryan and Ambassador of Ireland Anne Anderson signed an agreement to continue the Ireland Work and Travel program on December 5.

On December 5, Assistant Secretary Evan Ryan and Her Excellency, Ambassador of Ireland, Anne Anderson signed an agreement to continue the Ireland Work and Travel (IWT) Program for an additional three years and bring it out of pilot status.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Luana Garcia De Carvalho, J-1 Au Pair from Brazil

Luana [middle] discussing Brazil and her experience learning about environmental
issues during dinner with fellow J-1 Our Ocean participants Helen Luo (China, Research Scholar) and Nathan Apiri (Ghana, SWT)

My name is Luana and I’m an Au Pair from Brazil. I’ve been in the United States for one year and I have some exciting news!

On September 15-16 I had the amazing opportunity to attend the “Our Ocean, One Future Conference.” In its third year, this was the second time the conference was held in Washington, D.C. This year, the goal of this international conference was to “catalyze actions to protect our ocean from threats and to empower a new generation to lead the way toward a healthy and sustainable ocean.”

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By SunJeong Lee, Client Relations Officer, Cultural Vistas

A version of this blog post was originally published on the Cultural Vistas Blog

J-1 exchange visitors are taking some time to tell us how the Exchange Visitor Program changed their perspectives about America. This week we will discuss how exchange visitors are discovering strength in vulnerability.

J-1 alumna Alina Rafikova, who participated in the Fulbright and Muskie programs, shared this photo from her experience exploring America.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By SunJeong Lee, Client Relations Officer, Cultural Vistas

This story was originally published on the Cultural Vistas Blog

Salima Ismaylova, a J-1 trainee from Azerbaijan, poses here with her extended American family: “This is a picture of all the amazing people I spend my life here with. This is a huge family who embraced me the way I am, full and complete.”

Recently, exchange visitors were asked how their perceptions of America had changed after living, working, studying, and traveling in the United States for their J-1 exchange program.

While always a work in progress, many exchange visitors were amazed at how diverse cultures coexist in the United States.

“I was not aware of the incredible diversity in workplaces and in the community here. It has taught me a lot – and it’s a part of the reason that I’m so thankful for coming here,” said an intern from Örebro in Sweden.

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Categories: Program Spotlight