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.

Jetskiing at a BRIDGES kayaking event.

An American couple came in one day while I was working with a friend, and we had a great conversation. And guess what, this kind American couple became our host family (and still are even to this day). My host parents explained that there is a program in Door County called BRIDGES, which helps international students establish friendships with Americans and learn more about United States culture, and provides helpful services to exchange visitors who work and live in the area during the summer and winter months.

My host parents took the two of us to different events each month. Through this program, we got to make new friends and learn more about the community. Also, my host parents helped us get around town, took us shopping, and even invited us to have dinners with them. My host family was the big push that allowed me to understand my new and very different surroundings.

Wen with her host family.

My host family took me to visit the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay after I applied for admission. It is located just an hour away from Door County. Now I am a student with an F-1 visa studying in the United States. They are still my host parents, but above the “host,” we are a family.

Life is amazing; you never know what will happen, how the choices of today will influence the direction of your life in the future. When I look back, the three month experience I had living and working in the United States as a J-1changed my life. I became more confident to face the difficulty that was in front of me, and I am more open and willing to learn about different cultures. My career goal for the future is to work with international students and advise them on how to study and live well in a different country. I look forward to graduating this May and starting a new journey in life!

Categories: Program Spotlight