Route J-1

By Anna Boisseau, Communications Officer, Cultural Vistas
A version of this story was originally published on Cultural Vistas Blog

Marius Hartman tries the beer he made in Sierra Nevada’s Tasting Room. Photo Credit: Sierra Nevada.

Water, malt, hops and yeast.

Because of something called the “purity law,” those are the only four ingredients allowed in German beer. And so, unlike the more experimental nature of the American craft brew scene, German brewers tend to be purists. There’s a right way to make Pilsner, to make Oktoberfest, to make Kölsch. That’s why Marius Hartmann was so surprised when he first tasted Kellerweis, Sierra Nevada’s take on a traditional German Hefeweizen beer. As a Brewing and Beverage Technology student at University of Applied Science Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, Marius and his peers often sampled international pints.

“He didn’t know an American brewery could actually make a good Hefeweizen,” said Abe Kabakoff, the head pilot brewer at Sierra Nevada.

After realizing international work experience would set him apart from others in his program, Marius decided to work on his English. In 2014, he enrolled in a course at California State University, which is in the same city as Sierra Nevada. That’s when he met with Abe to discuss the possibility of an internship. Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

By Luuk Pessers, J-1 High School Student from the Netherlands

Luuk poses with the Statute of Liberty on a ferry cruise

Being an exchange student in the United States is an incredible opportunity. There is no better way to learn more about a culture than being in the middle of one. I believe it enriches your knowledge and English language skills, but above all that, it makes you a richer person.

Especially in the world today, where people are sometimes scared of other cultures, I think it’s very important that people connect with other cultures. Knowing more about other cultures means that you better understand the world. Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

By Lauren Rees, Marketing Assistant, Camp America
A version of this story was originally published on Camp America.

February 1st was “I Heart Camp Day!” To celebrate, Camp America pulled together its team to talk about why they love camp so much. See why these current J-1 exchange visitors and alumni from the United Kingdom love working as camp counselors.

Left: Adam Squire, Canyon Creek Summer Camp (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) | Right: Emma Burns, YMCA Camp Takodah (2015, 2016, 2017)

Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

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.

Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

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.
Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

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.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

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 8^th 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.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

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.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

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.

Read More ›

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