How did you discover and get involved with Spirit Cultural Exchange?
After graduating from college, I knew that I wanted to be involved with international travel and exchange, which led me to the job posting for Spirit!
Attending a lake-site barbeque in Minnesota.
What appealed to you the most about Spirit?
The idea of sharing my love of travel with people from around the world! It is amazing how many first-time travelers sign up for our program, which I think is incredibly brave. Working for a company that helps different cultures come together in such a meaningful way helps make every day worth it.
Has your prior experience studying abroad in Spain influenced the work you do today? How so?
While studying abroad, I encountered a lot of difficulties, from a difficult host family situation, culture shock, and more. But I also had amazing experiences in traveling throughout Europe, making both US and international friends, and learning a lot about myself. That experience sparked my interest in travel and in helping others have a transformative experience.
Enjoying NY Cheesecake with Intern/Trainees in NYC.
Describe a typical day on the job.
As the program manager, I am involved in all aspects of our Intern/Trainee program. In a normal day, I meet with different members of our team, communicate with domestic Host Companies and international partners, support in-country participants, and work on recruitment of new opportunities for our candidates.
What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?
Hearing from participants who have not only gained professional experience but have achieved personal growth during this experience.
Where do Spirit Cultural Exchange participants typically arrive from, and where are they likely to end up? Does your program operate in one location or many?
Depending on which program you participate in (between Summer Work and Travel, Intern, or Trainee), you can end up in a variety of locations. For our Intern/Trainee programs, many of our placements are in urban areas and we accept placements in all 50 states! We currently recruit from all over the world and hope to continue expanding the diversity of our program.
How should students prepare for a Spirit Cultural Exchange program?
Read, read, read! We provide a lot of pre-arrival materials, including an online orientation and reading materials, in addition to our Premium Offer and Training Plan. I encourage every participant to thoroughly review the information and research the community they will be living in. We provide the information for a reason and we hope everyone takes some time to read through it.
Attending a Mexico City hiring event with international partners.
How does Spirit support in-country participants?
Spirit offers an extremely high-level of support to all of our in-country participants. Throughout all of our programs, we have a dedicated team of staff members who offer support in a variety of ways, from phone calls to email to Skype. We believe in helping to support participants to resolve their issues before they become serious. I would encourage any participant on a J-1 program to reach out to their sponsor in case of any concerns. We even have a 24/7 emergency phone line if you require urgent assistance when our office is closed!
What kind of things can participants expect to learn on a Spirit Cultural Exchange program?
In addition to learning more about your professional industry, you will learn about a typical American workplace, what it’s like to live in the US, and more about yourself!
Describe what a typical Spirit Cultural Exchange program is like.
As we operate in so many different locations and occupational categories, all of our programs are very different! However, we do our best to help make sure all of our Host Companies are available to help support participants upon their arrival with everything from housing to grocery shopping.
How have you seen participants benefit from their time with Spirit?
I hear from many participants that they have improved their English through their time on Spirit’s program, as well as gain confidence in their professional abilities. Both of these skills can be extremely valuable upon returning home and joining the workforce.
Volunteering at a Chicago 5k with participants.
Why should future students be excited to join a Spirit Cultural Exchange program?
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience! It is very rare to have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in another culture, which makes this experience even more exciting.
What are your hopes for the future of your organization?
My hope is that we continue to offer high-quality experiences in the US for students and professionals from every corner of the world. It is always our goal to support the “spirit” of cultural exchange and our decisions aim to help us reach that goal.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is being able to speak with people about their personal stories and histories. During my time in Spain, I tried to talk to as many people as possible about their history and their family’s story, but also about their view on the world. It is fascinating to step away from what the news tells you is going and learn about topics first-hand.
