CCIP 2014, we're ready!

Traveling from halfway across the world, thirty plus elated undergraduates from Singapore and Hong Kong gathered in New York to attend the Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP). As the students in session A begin to arrive, the winsome cultural exchange commences.

This year, CCIP works with eight elite partner universities in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau. Students, each with unique characters and backgrounds, come across from Asia to New York City to gain practical experience and cultural knowledge through the State Department's Exchange Visitors Program.

The 2014 program kicked off on May 24 when all students have arrived in New York City. The students attended the Post-Arrival Orientation at the Flushing YMCA where they reside during the duration of the program. During the orientation, students met with each other as well as representation from the housing facility and the program organizer. Each student was asked to study the Pre-Departure Manual beforehand and present a specific topic.

The orientation was conducted under an exciting and engaging atmosphere that livened students and kicked the program off to a great start. Students were ready to embark on this life changing opportunity for the next seven weeks.

Next up was the Student Advisory Board (SAB) meeting in which designated student leaders enthusiastically discussed the arrangements for the forthcoming activities, including assigning activity leaders and reviewing travel itineraries.

Looking forward to what's to come, Jenny Jing, a student of National University of Singapore majoring in Statistics, said, "I can't wait to explore the following next seven weeks. It will definitely make my holiday different and legendary." That very same sentiment was shared among all the participants.