Before their internships ended, exchange visitors from East Asia took advantage of the great deals at the Woodbury Common, an outlet center about an hour and a half north of New York City. The Cross Cultural Internship Program (www.fusia.net), an EVP J-1 Intern program sponsored by FUSIA, arranges for students from across Asia to intern in New York City and experience American culture while they're here.
Woodbury Common is one of the largest outlet centers in the region, with over 200 retail stores and restaurants for visitors to find great deals. The center, which is visited by millions of shoppers from around the world every year, is so large that different sections are color-coded to help keep shoppers from getting lost.
"Everything is much cheaper here than it is back home," Rice from the Chinese University of Hong Kong stated. "I'm taking home gifts for my family and friends, and for myself, of course."
Outings like the shopping trip to Woodbury Common are organized by student leaders. The activity isn't just about buying souvenirs, it gives the exchange visitors opportunities to strengthen their leadership abilities and practice the skills they've been gaining while at their internships. It's also a chance for the group to see more of the United States outside of New York City.
On organizing this trip, Xiyao from Nanyang Technological University said, "I worked with my other leaders to make sure this was a fun activity for the whole group. I think everyone had a great time and came back with something new."
