The 2019 Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP, www.fusia.net) has officially ended with the conclusion of Session B. The Session B interns have had to say goodbye to friends and colleagues that they will surely continue to talk to for years. They now return to their homes equipped with new knowledge, skills, and memories.

Each summer, the second batch of student interns feel the pressure to live up to the first group’s success and the expectations of their host organizations. This year, that was no problem as the group quickly acclimated to their new surrounds and the American working environment. They traveled to their internships in high spirits every day, full of enthusiasm and curiosity.

America attracts people from all over the world to develop new skills and experience its exciting culture. The CCIP gives students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore the opportunity to live in a vibrant, global city. Over two months in the city, they grow considerably, gaining a greater understanding of the world and their place in it. Participants in CCIP leave with a stronger sense of the direction of their futures.

Of course, nobody can express that better than the interns themselves.

Levinna, a student leader from the University of Hong Kong, said, "Joining CCIP gave me rewarding experiences, not only in terms of professional development but also in personal growth. I interned with Yu & Associates, a consulting engineering firm, and the people there are fantastic. They entrusted us interns to do technical and professional tasks: calculations, reports, proposal write-ups, client interactions, and using civil engineering-related software. The company offers a strong kinship and learning environment. Beyond my internship, I met wonderful people. I want to give special recognition to CCIP’s staff who were very helpful and friendly. I joined the program to have a summer internship, but I gained a new family and incomparable experiences as well. It was a wonderful way to spend my summer!"

"This summer, I got the unique opportunity to intern at Admerasia in NYC,” said Jovia, a student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “I had the pleasure of entering into the advertising industry with a group of friendly, professional, and dedicated people. Through assigning me various tasks – making contracts, tracking our competition’s marketing strategy, attending meetings and contributing my own ideas to clients – my colleagues taught me numerous workplace skills. The purpose of social media marketing is to combine and utilize marketing and social management skills to enhance the company’s public presence. It requires effective interaction with customers and promotion of brand-focused creative content to attract a larger audience. Through this first-hand experience of the advertising industry, I saw how there are big opportunities for people who are both creative and analytical and can manage a fast-paced environment. That is exactly the kind of career I can see myself having."

Yet another student at the University of Hong Kong, Tim said, "Joining this program has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only did I gain invaluable knowledge and experience in my field, I also made friends of various nationalities and cultural backgrounds. Plus, the internship took place in New York City, a non-stop metropolitan city unlike any other, where different cultures blend together seamlessly. I would definitely recommend this program to people who are looking to expand their knowledge and discover new things."

"This was so much more than an internship,” explained Win Ee, a student of psychology at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. “My six weeks here have been a kaleidoscope of beautiful memories, spontaneous adventures, encounters with truly special people that have left an indelible mark, and unique experiences that have changed me as a person and shaped my perspective about the world and how I want to live. Professionally, the strides I took at Colón & Peguero LLP have given me so much confidence, I believe I will be able to excel anywhere. Having professional experience in Manhattan will no doubt be a huge step up in my career. As a program, I don’t think you can find a better visa sponsor than CCIP. They went above and beyond to take care of my needs and safety, even replying at 2 a.m. My only lament is that I can’t stay longer. I would do CCIP twice if it were possible. You won’t find a better internship experience than this."

"Quality internships are essential to gaining skills that can't be taught in a classroom,” stated Chinese University of Hong Kong student Carol. “CCIP provided me hands-on practice to gain professional experience and develop my skills, including communication, working within a diverse workspace, multitasking, and meeting deadlines. CCIP also provided a great way to network with people in the industry. My boss and colleagues greatly supported me and have given me tips and contacts that will surely improve my future career!"