January 26, 2012 – 4:43 pm
Take advantage of your time here in the United States by taking a scenic drive! Sometimes the journey itself can be just as enjoyable as the destination. Here is a list of 10 routes that display the natural beauty found in the U.S. Happy Trails!
1. Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), California: One of the U.S.’s most beautiful and iconic roads, this coastal drive provides scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. The 332 miles from San Francisco all the way south to Santa Barbara overlook gorgeous beaches on one-side, and stunning trees, redwoods inparticular, and greenery inland.
2. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina: This parkway has been referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive.” You will drive through miles of breathtaking scenery and plenty of National Park to explore. The parkway extends 469 miles along the southern Appalachian Mountains and connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains. Go in May for the wildflowers, but consider the fall season to catch a glimpse of the beautiful foliage. Read More »
January 24, 2012 – 4:28 pm
Did you know that almost everyone experiences homesickness at some point in their lives? It’s not just something for kids at summer camps; adults also miss the comfort and familiarity of home when they go somewhere new. As an international intern or trainee living in the U.S., far away from your own country, you may find yourself feeling homesick at times. This is completely normal! Your new environment in the U.S. is likely to be very different from what you are used to, so finding yourself missing home is natural.
Homesickness can take many forms. Most commonly, it is characterized by a sense of anxiety and stress that comes about when someone is missing home. Often people feel sad or nervous and constantly think about home. Sometimes homesickness can be so overwhelming that individuals may withdraw from their new surroundings instead of getting out and exploring them. In addition, you may not become homesick right when you arrive in the U.S. Often the first few weeks in your new city will be so exciting that homesickness will be kept at bay. However, many people find that after the first month, once they have gotten settled into a routine and the initial thrill wears off, feelings of homesickness will begin to surface. Read More »
January 19, 2012 – 10:13 pm
Despite the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having in New York City this year, it is once again time for the Career Training USA Winter Photo Contest, so get out your cameras!
The theme of this winter’s photo contest is “Winternship: Interning and Training in the USA.”We are looking for images of you in action at your host company! Send us pictures interacting with
Our last Career Training USA Winner!
colleagues or clients and anything else that shows you at work this winter in the USA.
Each person may submit multiple images for this photo contest. Here are the requirements for your entries:
- YOU must be in the picture! If not, how will we know you’re having a spectacular winter at your internship?
- Your photograph must be taken in the work place! Pictures at your desk, talking with colleagues, or anything else that is happening in your host company are the kind we want to see!
- Your picture needs a description! Please send us a brief explanation of what the image shows: where you are, whom you are with, and what you are doing.
To submit your photos, email your pictures with “Winter Photo Contest” in the subject line to swadlinger@interexchange.org by February 10th, 2012. Please include your full name, email address and phone number in your message. You must also send a signed photo release form, which will be sent to all CT participants via email. Note: We cannot consider your entry without this signed form!
All photo submissions will be uploaded to our Career Training USA Flickr stream. The lucky winner will get a $75 cash prize, be featured in an upcoming blog post and be posted on our Facebook page! Not to mention the bragging rights!
So grab your camera and get to the office! We can’t wait to see what amazing photographers we have at Career Training USA!
January 16, 2012 – 5:31 pm
Dr. Martin Luther King (born January 15, 1929) was an American Civil Rights pioneer, working primarily during the 1950s and 60s as an advocate for rights of African-Americans. He is famous across much of the world and is one of the most written about persons in history, but in the United States specifically, we set aside a special day to
honor him.
During the early 20th Century, African-Americans in some southern states lived under a set of laws called Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws meant that black Americans were required to live separately from white Americans and they were treated effectively as second-class citizens. Blacks were not allowed to eat at the same restaurants, live in the same neighborhoods or even ride in the same section as white Americans on the public buses.
The de facto beginning of the American Civil Rights movement and Dr. King’s civil rights work was a bus boycott in the city of Montgomery, Alabama. A woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger and was arrested. In turn, the boycott was organized as a non-violent protest of the city’s segregation laws. Read More »
January 12, 2012 – 6:16 pm
Did you know that as a J-1 intern or trainee, you may have the opportunity to extend your program in the U.S.? If your program is currently less than the maximum allowed for interns and trainees, then you are eligible to apply for an extension.
You may now be asking, “Well, what’s the maximum I can extend for?”
Good question!
If you are an intern or a Hospitality/Tourism trainee, then you may stay for a total of 12 months. This means, if your current program is 4 months, you can stay up to 8 more months. All other trainees may stay for a total of 18 months.
These limits are set by the U.S. Department of State. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to extend your program longer than these maximums. And it’s also never possible to change from an intern to a trainee. Read More »
January 9, 2012 – 3:42 pm
Before you leave home, there are a few things you should do to ensure you can easily access your money while in the U.S. First, consult your bank to see if your ATM or cash withdrawal card will work overseas and if any fees will be charged for international use. You should also have a few other ways to access your money when you arrive. Some good options are Traveler’s checks or a credit card.
Cash:
It is a good idea to bring a small amount of cash in U.S. dollars with you for things you will need to purchase as soon as you arrive, such as transportation from the airport to your hotel or housing and food. You can also exchange currency at the airport upon arrival-note that airport currency exchange centers will charge a commission and may not give you the best exchange rate. Usually, you will get a better exchange rate if you use your cash withdrawal card to take cash out of your account. U.S. dollar bills come in $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations-there are no coins in denominations larger than $1. Read More »
January 5, 2012 – 3:37 pm
Even though the U.S. is a relatively young country, it has a rich and interesting history that can be experienced second-hand in many parts of the country. So, one weekends when you just don’t know what to do, take you nearest bus or train to one of these fascinating historical sites and learn about a side of the U.S. you may have never heard of before!
1. George Washington’s Home. Visit the beautiful home of the first American President, the Mount Vernon Estate. Located in on the Potomac in Virginia, right outside of Washington D.C., this is an easy and worthwhile trip for anyone in the area.
2. Gettysburg. One f the most important historical events in United States history, the famous Battle of Gettysburg was fought in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 1-3, 1863. Often referred to as the “turning point” of the American Civil War, this battle had the largest number of casualties in the war. Today you can take tours of the battlefields and visit the Civil War Museum.
Photo of Colonial Williamsburg courtesy of www.history.org
3. Ford’s Theatre. Explore the historic theater where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Learn about his struggles during the Civil War and view exhibits relating to his fascinating life.
4. Colonial Williamsburg. This historic district was the capital of colonial Virginia. Featuring reenactments and costumed actors, Colonial Williamsburg is a living interpretation of life as it once was. Check the out the original and reconstructed buildings that date back to 1699. Read More »
December 29, 2011 – 5:17 pm
2011 is coming to a close, and we here at InterExchange Career Training USA hope that you have had an enjoyable holiday season. For our past and current participants, we hope that 2011 has provided you with many opportunities to learn about and experience life in the U.S. If you have completed your program and returned home, we hope that you look back on your experience as a positive and important step in further becoming a global citizen. And for those who hope to join us in 2012, we look forward to welcoming you to the InterExchange community.
To all of you, we wish you a fun, safe and Happy New Year!
InterExchange Career Training USA
December 22, 2011 – 8:42 pm
Blog post written by InterExchange Career Training USA trainee—originally from France—Jenny Ba.
As a visitor in the U.S., there was no chance I would not stop by the U.S. capital city, Washington D.C. I have always had a deep interest in American history and could not wait to learn more about it outside of a university classroom. I was expecting it to be a very full-on weekend and it happened to be even busier than what I thought. Washington D.C. has so much to offer, that 2 days and a half were far from enough to do and see it all. But in the end, I managed to make the most of it and would recommend everyone to visit it.
I had not planned my weekend in advance; I had only printed out the ’10 Things to Do Under $10 in DC’ blog page on the InterExchange website and assumed that I would walk around the monuments, go to the Holocaust Museum —highly recommended by many of my friends— wander in Georgetown and join some activities organized by the hostel. This turned out to be a great and very cheap weekend! Read More »
December 19, 2011 – 4:36 pm
Visiting and especially living in a new country is going to be fun and exciting, but it is also going to be an adjustment. The following are some things to keep in mind about Americans and U.S. culture before you arrive.
“To-go” concept—Eating on the run: Most Americans are always on the go. They are running from one appointment to the next, going to and from work, picking up kids, running errands and going to business and social meetings. Because of this, there is often not enough time to have a formal, sit-down meal. A common expression is, “24 hours in a day is not enough!” You may be surprised to see Americans walking around with coffee mugs, beverages or food in to-go containers. You may see people eating a slice of pizza on the street or downing a cappuccino while in line at the bank. Since there isn’t enough time to sit down in a café and enjoy a cup of coffee, or relax for a few minutes and eat a snack, Americans often take things “to go.” Read More »
![InterExchange [Logo]](http://www.interexchange.org/files/images/blog/logos/logo-interexchange.gif){kind=logo}