InterExchange Work & Travel USA Wants Your Photos!

January 9, 2012 – 3:56 pm

Calling all Work & Travel Winter 2011 participants! This is your chance to enter the Work & Travel USA 2011 Winter Photo Contest!

You could win a $100 gift card if your photo is selected as the winner!

All entries are due before February 15, 2012!

2011 Summer Work & Travel USA Photo Contest Winner!

InterExchange Work & Travel USA is happy to announce our annual Winter Photo Contest. We’re looking for photos that best capture what Work & Travel USA is really about. Send us your favorite photo of your everyday work experiences or fun adventures you have been on. Whether your photo shows you hard at work, having a lunch break with your coworkers or backpacking across the country—wow us with your work & travel experiences in the United States!

Enter now! First prize is a $100 gift card! Second prize is a $50 gift card.

To enter, fill out our online entry form today with your name, country of citizenship and employment location. Make sure each photo is at high resolution (3 MB or higher). No more than 3 images per entry.

Your picture will then be uploaded on InterExchange Work & Travel’s facebook page. All you have to do is log onto facebook and “Like” your photo on Work & Travel’s page and share them with family and friends! The participant with the most “Likes” by March 1st, 2012 will be the Work & Travel USA 2011 Winter Photo Contest winner!

  • All entries will be edited for content.
  • Click here to view Summer 2011 submissions on Flickr.

We can’t wait to see your work and travel adventures!

*All prizes are in the form of a gift card to one of the following retailers: Old Navy, Banana Republic, Sears.

By jpageiex | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

New York City – The Outer Boroughs (They are Fun—We Promise!)

December 28, 2011 – 4:22 pm

Beyond Manhattan, the four outer boroughs of New York City often have foot traffic that rivals Times Square. Often overlooked by tourists, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx offer authentic ethnic cuisine, spectacular museums and some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline.

Brooklyn

Once recognized as a magnet for new arrivals to the United States, it is now the epicenter for fine arts with a burgeoning art scene and hipster culture. Go where the cool kids go and escape the high-end department stores to the Brooklyn Flea Market. Not only can you find unique vintage pieces, but also jewelry by local artisans and one-of-a-kind trinkets.

Photo courtesy of Country Living.com

If Rockefeller Center is too crowded for you during the holidays, then Dyker Heights is a great place to visit. Dyker Lights has a brilliant display of over the top lights and larger than life nutcrackers and statues that rival any suburban neighborhood in America. Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in City Guides, Travel, Uncategorized, working abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Quick Fact Sheet for Working in the U.S.

December 23, 2011 – 5:20 pm

US 2011 Minimum Wage

All Work & Travel USA students are guaranteed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Where Federal and state laws have different minimum wage rates, the higher standard applies. Please refer to the chart below to find the corresponding wage rate in your state.

 

StateCode

StateName

Min. Wage

StateCode

StateName

Min. Wag
AL

Alabama

7.25

 MO

Missouri

7.25
AK

Alaska

7.75

 MT

Montana

7.35
AZ

Arizona

7.35

 NE

Nebraska

7.25

AR

Arkansas

7.25

NV

Nevada

8.25

CA

California

8.00

NH

New Hampshire

7.25

CO

Colorado

7.36

NJ

New Jersey

7.25

CT

Connecticut

8.25

NM

New Mexico

7.50

DE

Delaware

7.25

NY

New York

7.25

DC

DC

7.25

NC

North Carolina

7.25

FL

Florida

7.31

ND

North Dakota

7.25

GA

Georgia

7.25

OH

Ohio

7.40

GU

Guam

7.25

OK

Oklahoma

7.25

HI

Hawaii

7.25

OR

Oregon

8.50

ID

Idaho

7.25

PA

Pennsylvania

7.25

IL

Illinois

8.25

RI

Rhode Island

7.40

IN

Indiana

7.25

SC

South Carolina

7.25

IA

Iowa

7.25

SD

South Dakota

7.25

KS

Kansas

7.25

TN

Tennessee

7.25

KY

Kentucky

7.25

TX

Texas

7.25

LA

Louisiana

7.25

UT

Utah

7.25

ME

Maine

7.50

VT

Vermont

8.15

MD

Maryland

7.25

VA

Virginia

7.25

MA

Massachusetts

7.40

WA

Washington

8.67

MI

Michigan

7.40

WV

West Virginia

7.25

MN

Minnesota

7.25

WI

Wisconsin

7.25

MS

Mississippi

7.25

WY

Wyoming

7.25

 

  • If you work over 40 hours a week, you may be eligible for overtime wages. Some states have overtime wages and some do not. Housing or food is considered part of the minimum wage if it is included in the job offer.
  • To further review your state’s minimum wage laws, please visit the US Department of Labor site at http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm.

Contact InterExchange at 1-800-621-1202 or worktravel@interexchange.org if you have a problem with underpaid or unpaid wages. InterExchange will provide you the necessary forms to file a claim against your employer.

By jpageiex | Posted in Advice and FAQs, Reminders and FAQs, working abroad | Comments Off

Green NYC: Top 10 NYC Parks to Escape the City

November 17, 2011 – 5:06 pm

New York City is filled with beautiful parks that provide a break from the hustle of the city’s busy streets. Many of the parks have a calendar offering free events throughout the year. Click on the links for more information about exploring the parks and participating in their events!

1. Central Park
Central Park first opened in 1859 and is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. The park stretches from 59th and 110th Streets and 5th and 8th Avenues and boasts over 800 acres of public space. In the summer, rent a rowboat or kayak at the Loeb Boathouse. And in the winter, go ice skating in one of the two ice skating rinks located within the park. http://www.centralparknyc.org/ Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in City Guides, Parks, Travel, working abroad | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Have a Capitol Time on the Cheap! 10 Things to Do Under $10 in Washington D.C.

November 14, 2011 – 4:13 pm

Spending some time in the District?  Here are 10 ways to take advantage of the U.S.’s capital city:

1. Jazz in the Garden: Every Friday evening throughout the summer — rain or shine — the National Gallery of Art offers free jazz performances in the Sculpture Garden. You are welcome to bring your own picnic dinner or purchase food at the café. Live music is from 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The nearest Metro stations are Archives/Navy Memorial, Smithsonian and Judiciary Square. Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

InterExchange Work & Travel USA Participant Goes to Washington—Oh, and Meets the President of the United States!

November 7, 2011 – 3:51 pm

Summer 2011 was Surenkhorol’s first visit to the United States. She had decided the year before that she wanted to have a life changing experience before completing university. “Where better to go than the United States?,” she thought.

A native of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, Surenkhorol found employment in a major U.S. city, Washington, D.C. It seemed like an exciting place filled with opportunities to meet new friends, as as well as a chance to see where American legislation gets passed before it becomes the law of the land.

Little did she know that on the fateful morning of June 19th  - Father’s Day –  as she clocked into work at a local restaurant, she was going to have one of the most unexpected experiences of her life.

It all started when, while making milkshakes in the back of the restaurant, Surenkhorol heard loud screams and lots of clapping. She had no idea what was happening and imagined that it must simply be someone’s birthday. Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in famous people, Travel, Uncategorized, working abroad | Tagged , , | Comments Off

What is the Real Meaning of Halloween?

November 3, 2011 – 2:43 pm

We love Halloween at InterExchange, and not just because there’s candy everywhere in the office! We promise!

No one knows more about the significant role that Halloween plays in different cultures than Jeannette, the Compliance Officer of the Work & Travel USA program. Jeannette actually focused on Halloween’s significance in the U.S. as the subject of her college dissertation. Incidentally, Jeannette’s dog was also just featured in one of New York’s major newspaper for his cute Halloween costume.

So Jeannette, tell us about the tradition of celebrating Halloween as well as how this tradition has been evolving over the years:

Halloween has different significance and names all over the world. Honoring the dead and creating festivities for them goes as far back as ancient Egyptian times. Egyptians would honor the dead by creating large pyramids and performing offerings led by priests.

The practice of offering gifts at tombs are not just a tradition from ancient Egypt, but also practiced in Mexico for “El Dia de los Muertos.” On this special day, Mexicans gather at the cemetery with food and treats to celebrate with dead relatives. This doesn’t just happen in Latin America. Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

10 Things to Do Under $10 in Boston – Have Fun Without Hurting Your Wallet!

November 1, 2011 – 4:17 pm

Are you in Boston for your program or planning a visit? Here are 10 ways to experience the city and have fun without breaking the bank:

The Freedom Trail: If you are a history fan this Boston visitor’s staple is for you! The Freedom Trail marks a red brick path through 16 historic sites in downtown Boston. The majority of the locations on the route are free or suggested donation only. The Trail tells the story of the American Revolution and includes sites such as the State House, Paul Revere’s House and the site of the Boston Massacre. The total length of the trail is 2.5 miles, but you can start from different points for a shorter hike. For more information: www.thefreedomtrail.org

Rent a rowboat: Jamaica Pond is an idyllic pond located between the Jamaica Plain and Brookline neighborhoods of Boston. You can rent rowboats for $10 per hour or take a stroll on the 1.5 mile walking path. www.jamaicapond.com Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Yes, Work & Travel USA Will Impact Your Life. Here’s How.

October 24, 2011 – 3:43 pm

How will the Work & Travel USA program impact your life this summer?

And what impact has the Work & Travel USA program had on our participants?

These are the questions that we set about to answer each year. At the end of every season, InterExchange evaluates how participants perceive the Work & Travel USA program as well as how the program has benefitted their lives.

We’re happy to share the results with you as you prepare for your very own exciting summer experience working and traveling in the United States.

The most significant area of improvement for our participants was their level of English skills as well as their understanding of other cultures. Many participants believe that their experiences abroad will help them in the future when interacting with potential business colleagues and partners from other countries. For some students, the Summer Work and Travel experience was their first time in the work force. As a result, they learned valuable time management skills that they can later put to use in their studies and future careers.

“Customer service in the United States is very distinct,” states one participant from Russia, “I learned how to communicate in a professional and polite manner with all clients.”

Life isn’t all about work, though. Work & Travel USA participants hopped on buses and trains to visit major U.S. cities during their stay. At the top of their travel destinations were the usual suspects— New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, DC. They happily sent in pictures of themselves having a blast with friends during their travels, which we also happily posted on our flickr account. Nothing makes us feel warmer and fuzzier inside than seeing our participants having a great, intercultural experience in the United States.

Overall, Work & Travel USA students left the country with a more positive opinion of the United States and its people. They also indicated that they would definitely be visiting again in the future, as tourists. Be sure to drop by our office to say hello, future tourists!

Want to experience American life this summer? Plan now with InterExchange. We guarantee we will find you a job with a reputable, ethical employer in the United States. Or if you already have a job, we can still serve as your J-1 Visa sponsor. Contact us today!

 

By Jessica | Posted in Advice and FAQs | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

New Job Placements Available for Summer 2011 Work & Travel USA Participants

August 29, 2011 – 3:51 pm

Calling all Summer 2011 Work & Travel USA participants! Looking for a great job for the rest of the summer? If you meet the following requirements, you won’t have to look any further, we’ve got fun jobs available now! Read More »

By Matthew at InterExchange | Posted in Advice and FAQs | Comments (0)