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.

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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 Lynette Evans-Tiernan, Communications Manager for the Exchange Visitor Program

Moira Cacia and Angela Mininni (J-1 au pairs from Italy) we‘re very excited to see so many Italians running the race and happy to cheer them on.

On Sunday, November 6, more than 1,000 J-1 international exchange visitors – students, interns, au pairs, and research scholars – volunteered at rest and water stops along the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon course, supporting the 50,000 runners from over 135 countries who ran the race. Meet some of the volunteers and read about their experiences:

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Garazi Alkorta, J-1-Au Pair from Spain
A version of this story was originally published on Expert Au Pair

Stunning views of the city from the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)

When I decided to start this journey called the au-pair experience, being more than 5,000 miles away from home for a year, on my own, living and sharing experiences with strangers sounded like a scary idea. Let’s jump into the car and travel through this – not always so easy – road that turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Petar Dragnic, J-1 Summer Work Travel Alumni from Serbia

Petar and Andreaa monitoring players in “Escape Room”

I participated in the Summer Work and Travel program in 2013 and 2014, and I can say that participating on this program was the best decision I made in my life! I spent two summers working in the Asticou Inn, a fine-dining restaurant in Northeast Harbor, Maine. It is a small town on the beautiful Mount Desert Island, which is a home of Acadia National Park. I had a chance to meet a lot of great people from America – and also from other parts of the world. Besides having fun with my friends, I had the opportunity to learn a lot of new skills related to customer service and business management.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Lynette Evans-Tiernan, Communications Manager for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

J-1 Visa Exchange Visitors Volunteer at the 2015 TCS NYC Marathon

We’ve officially started the countdown to the New York City Marathon, Sunday, November 6.

Why are we at the State Department so excited about this event? Well, more than 1,000 J-1 exchange visitors – students, interns, au pairs, and research scholars – will be volunteering at rest and water stops along the race course to support the 50,000 runners from over 135 countries who will run the race. These J-1 students will be the largest single group of volunteers at the race, onsite to ensure the marathon runs smoothly. In additional, several J-1 exchange visitors will be running the marathon.

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Categories: Program Spotlight