Route J-1

By Lynette Evans-Tiernan, Director of Communication and Outreach for J-1 Program

Have you ever stood on the beach with your toes nestled in the grainy sand, looking out at the vastness of the ocean’s awe inspiring beauty while listening to the soothing sounds of the waves as they crash against the shore? It’s a calming experience that always makes me feel reconnected to the natural world and Mother Nature.

We live on a blue planet. The ocean covers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and provides 99% of the Earth’s living space. Not only is the ocean a shared resource that connects people – physically, culturally and spiritually – but it is also a driving force in the global economy, pivotal to food security, human health and scientific advancement, and home to a vast ecosystem that regulates climate and weather.

Our blue planet is fragile. It’s at grave risk – and it’s not happening by accident. Human activity is the cause. Rising levels of carbon dioxide are causing our oceans to acidify. Pollution endangers marine life. Overfishing threatens whole species as well as the people who depend on them for food and their livelihoods.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Trish, J-1 Intern from the Philippines

Trish posing in front of American flags

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Trainee Program has changed my life in many ways. It has allowed me to enhance my communication skills and I have learned how to multitask in a fast paced environment. I have met a lot of people from countries all over the world with different cultures, traditions, customs and beliefs, and many of them became my close friends.

Like most J-1 participants would say, this has been a life changing experience for me, not only in my professional career, but also in helping me build my interpersonal skills. Before I arrived in the United States, I had stage fright. I would literally start shaking if I stood up in front of a crowd. But when I started working at Kalahari Resorts, I was able to overcome my fear. I can’t believe that I now run the orientation for J-1 Work & Travel participants. I was also able to speak at the Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton International Student Consortium to share my experiences. This was a very unforgettable experience for me because I never thought that I would be talking in front of foreigners without feeling shy. I have gained confidence and self-esteem through this program.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Carlos Mayogra Garcia, J-1 Trainee from Colombia

Carlos Mayorga presenting his ideas to a 2016 MBA class at Inalde Business School.

I have been an entrepreneur for 12 years now, working on how to find the power to transform countries and empower people to build a foundation for sustainable development. I have witnessed how political decisions and policies create change in Colombia, but many of those public initiatives take more time than people expect. Through the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) program, The McCain Institute empowers NGLs to tackle these types of issues and search for the best practical solutions to positively impact communities.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Lynette Evans-Tiernan, Director of Communications and Outreach, J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

Eat. Play. Give.

What do those three words have in common? J Day.

J-Day is a nationwide celebration that brings J-1 exchange visitors together with their American hosts and local communities to celebrate and share cultural diversity, give back to their local communities, and have some fun too.

We invite you to celebrate the power of International Exchanges with us!

Get involved. It’s easy. Here are some suggestions:

• Participate in a J Day event in your area. Most events are open to everyone. See a full list of events at http://www.alliance-exchange.org.
• Read about J-1 experiences and adventures on the Route blog. Don’t forget to check back later this week to see how J-1s across the country celebrated J Day.
• And most importantly, share your photos and J Day experiences online using #CelebrateJDay.

Categories: Program Spotlight

By Shellie Weaver of Missouri, host mom of a J-1 Secondary School Student

Emmanuel eating a S’more, one of his new favorite foods

Emmanuel Dabuo of Ghana befriended everyone from the moment he arrived. Whether at school, home, church, volunteer activities, or sporting events—he became the center of attention and achieved “movie star status” in our small community. His million-watt smile, genuine love of all people, hilarious giggle, and positive personality made him instantly popular. His willingness to step outside his comfort zone and try new things inspired others to be fearless. He reached out to those kids at school who were friendless, sitting alone in the cafeteria, and became their new best friend. His name means “God with us,” and it fits him well.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Daniel Grave, J-1 Summer Work Travel Alumni from the United Kingdom

Daniel Grave representing team UK at California Cup in Santa Barbara

Beginning in 1990 as a student from Portsmouth University, I spent two summers on the J-1 program with a good friend of mine.  It was the beginning of a journey that led to starting my own business, which last year served over 200,000 clients and is quickly growing to a world wide brand.

This was a unique J-1 program where I began to develop my entrepreneurial skills selling educational books door to door in the United States.  At first, I was a bit skeptical about going off to run my own business in America, but as my friend had done it before and the Southwestern program had been around since 1868, I thought I’d give it a shot.

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Categories: Program Spotlight

By Keisha Gregerson, Wisconsin Dells Taxi (J-1 Transportation) Owner

Wisconsin Dells Taxi owner Keshia Gregerson and daughter Keylnn pose with the fleet of cabs.

Wisconsin Dells Taxi was built on the foundation and the local demand to provide international students transportation to and from work locally. There was not much of a source before we started nine years ago. As we began to grow as a company, I started to realize how important this program was to our community and the vital role it plays in the growth and success of our local tourism industry. This is when I really started to get involved. I’d like to think providing affordable transportation to these students has played a role in the growth and development of this program, but I could be biased!

As I started to reach out to employers, I began to gain communication with sponsors and eventually Wisconsin Dells Taxi joined the local J-1 Consortium. I have gained such a wealth of knowledge through this group, which has helped me set a standard of business and educate my staff as well. The consortium meets monthly and we discuss safety, issues, events and the overall well-being of our local population of J-1 students. This group of people is truly amazing. It is quite humbling, actually. In turn, I take this knowledge and integrate it into my business and our daily operations. I have such an amazing team that truly cares about the health and safety of these students. It almost feels like we take them under our wing while they are here with us, and we are always sad to watch them go. Those farewell trips to bus stations, airports and train depots are always full of tears, hugs, and “see you again.” Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

By Linda Haglund, J-1 Intern from Finland

Linda Haglund (giving the thumbs up) with her fellow I-LEAD leadership training students at American University.

Something has happened to me, and I have changed. I’m stronger, more confident and more hopeful about the future. I’m happier, more open and more in the present than I’ve been in the past. I have 60 new friends from 30 different countries. And I feel it in my bones: I can do anything!

My week in Washington, D.C. has made me a new person, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that the leadership training I-LEAD 2016 was one of the best and finest experiences I’ve ever had. Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

By Lauren Aitken, Cultural Vistas sponsor organization

Papa Oppong reviews designs at the DC Fashion Foundation Incubator

After designing a collection in collaboration with Swarovski and interning for Rosario Dawson, people knew that Papa Oppong, a Ghanaian fashion designer, would go places. But it wasn’t until his U.S. internship at the DC Fashion Foundation that he found his passion project: combatting Malaria through fashion. Read More ›

Categories: Program Spotlight

Pack your bags, grab your passports, and start your engines. The Route J-1 blog is back with a new and exciting line-up of stories, directly from the J-1 Exchange Visitor community. Join us as we take a road trip across the United States and around the world. You’ll see how the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is connecting people and creating opportunities for cross cultural learning and understanding.

Here are the people who will share their stories in our new community written posts:

• Meet current J-1 Exchange Visitors and learn about their program experiences and adventures in the United States. J-1s are located in cities big and small across the country, and they are giving back to their communities through volunteerism, supporting local industries through their work, and creating lasting friendships and ties with their American friends and colleagues.
• Learn from J-1 Alumni worldwide and see how they are leveraging the skills and knowledge they gained in the United States during their exchange programs. J-1 Alumni return home to run their own businesses, address global challenges, and enact positive change in their local communities. Meet and be inspired by these incredible leaders and change makers.
• Visit local communities and see how they come together to support, learn, and promote J-1s living in their cities and towns. Many go above and beyond because they believe in the J-1 experience. This includes our network of homestay families, host employers, and host organizations where J-1s work, live, study, teach, do research, share their specialized skills, or receive on-the-job training.

Check back each week for a new post and new perspectives. Now, let’s get this journey started. The Route J-1 road trip will be a life-changing experience.

Sincerely,

The Route J-1 Team

Categories: Program Spotlight