Love at Third Sight, Deep in the Heart of Texas!
Posted on Friday, February 10th, 2017 at 3:42 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Sharing Technology Experiences in a Texas High School
Posted on Tuesday, February 7th, 2017 at 9:17 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Building Peace through Art: An Interview with J-1 Scholar Hyppolite Ntigurirwa
Posted on Thursday, January 26th, 2017 at 10:20 pm.A version of this story was originally published in International Arts and Artists.
Hyppolite Ntigurirwa and fellow Artist Leaders Andrea Gordillo and Chanel Matsunami Govreau.
Photo by Kyle Klein Perler and courtesy of Arts Connect International
Hyppolite Ntigurirwa has a vision for peace. After witnessing the horrors of genocide, he turned to the transformative power of art to help spread his message of peace. He formed a theater group at his school in Rwanda as a way to unite students from different ethnic groups. “We witnessed the power of performing arts to bring people together, challenging the status quo and starting the long process of social change,” he said of the experience. Since then, Hyppolite has continued to use theater as a tool for healing, reconciliation, and peacebuilding in post-conflict communities both in Rwanda and abroad.
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Categories: Program Spotlight
J-1s Share Passion for Horticulture and World Travel
Posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2017 at 8:45 pm.By Adrianna Rutkowska and Beata Jażdżyk, J-1 Interns from Warsaw, Poland
Left: Beata taking care of indoor plants | Right: Adrianna moving fertilizer bags
Upon first meeting the both of us, we may seem like two completely different people. However, having two passions in common—horticulture and a curiosity about the world—has sparked a close friendship.
We first met as students of the University of Life Science in Warsaw. After graduation, we both decided to apply for a J-1 internship via an international exchange program at Ohio State University specializing in horticulture, agriculture and turf grass. Upon being accepted, we were placed in Oakland Nursery in Delaware, Ohio, to study ornamental plants.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Au Pair Finds Meaning Through Volunteering
Posted on Thursday, January 19th, 2017 at 10:19 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Professional Au Pairs Experience the California Dream during APEX 8th Annual Surf Outing
Posted on Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 at 11:08 pm.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 8th 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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
J-1 Host Family Celebrates a Dynamic Decade of Hosting Exchange Students
Posted on Tuesday, January 10th, 2017 at 9:47 pm.By Sarah Bailey, Marketing Manager, EF High School Exchange Year
A version of this story was originally published on EF High School Exchange Year blog
Antonia- shown on the far right (EF Class of ‘08-09) joins the Schutte – Vanderzee wedding (Photo courtesy of EF High School Exchange Year)
Meet the Schutte Family from Rushmore, Minnesota, who are celebrating a decade of hosting exchange students!
What is the best part about hosting a J-1exchange student?
The special relationships that develop are priceless. Our three daughters have also benefitted immensely from these exchange experiences. We get just as much out of it as the students do. I regularly wake up to e-mails from my students, and we Skype with them weekly. This past fall, two of our daughters got married and each had a former exchange student as a bridesmaid in their weddings! Our students will always be like daughters to us and hold a special place in our hearts. Someday our girls will host too – it’s a no-brainer.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Sharing a Passion for Handball with “Family Away from Home”
Posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2017 at 8:48 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
Contributing to Marine Conservation, Making a Difference
Posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017 at 9:00 pm.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.
Categories: Program Spotlight
The Best Life Experience
Posted on Thursday, December 29th, 2016 at 9:51 pm.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.
Categories: 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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