Route J-1

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.

Living and interning abroad can lead to an enriching experience on both a personal and professional level. Often, it can contribute to developing a more sophisticated way of looking at the world.

On Highway 1 (also known as California State Route 1) in California, J-1 Intern Nadine found this amazing bridge (Bixby Creek Bridge) between Carmel and Big Sur.

Here’s what an intern from Hyogo, Japan had to say:

“Living in the D.C. area was an amazing experience for me. Before going there, my image of the city was like a typical urban big city with many commercial buildings and the White House. If I had visited there as just a traveler, that may not have changed. But the one and half month stay made me realize how D.C. residents and people working in this city have tried to preserve their cultural tradition and memories and deliver them to the next generation.”

Cultural Vistas staff and interns and trainees from Ukraine, England, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Germany, Austria, and South Korea gather at Jefferson High School in D.C. to share their cultures with American students as part of International Education Week.

Immersing yourself in the culture will also help you become more globally aware.

Over 75% of our J-1 participants said cultural knowledge and communication skills gained in the U.S. will be useful for finding a job and working once they return to their home country. As a J-1 intern from Aachen, Germany summed up: “The difference in cultures acted as a multiplier for everything I learned, as well as in the professional as in the social scope. Never would I have gained so much experience and useful business relationships staying in my home country.”

What did you take away from your J-1 exchange experience? Did you encounter surprises while in the United State or in your host community? Tell us your stories online using #RouteJ1.

Categories: Program Spotlight