Today, seven new arrivals, together with exchange visitors who have began their internship over the past few weeks, joined together to attend a welcoming orientation at the Flushing YMCA.
During the session, Elizabeth Kay, the Founder of and Responsible Officer of the program, gave her opening speech, review updates, and stressed on issues, such as housing and program rules and safety tips. She also urged all the exchange visitors to actively participate in program events and activities to make the most out of this internship.
After the orientation, the group went to one of the most popular destinations for shopping in New York — The Woodbury Common Premium Outlet. The outlet features more than 220 designer brand stores like Burberry, Prada, Tory Burch, and more.
After the two-hour bus ride, the CCIP participants immediately spread out to explore the well-known shopping paradise. In Woodbury, students easily found discount goods for themselves and friends and family back home. The marked-down selection rivals the same quality and styles found in upscale retail spots in Manhattan but at a much more agreeable price.
"The choices and the deals here are great. All the special offers definitely helped me save a lot! I can't wait to share everything with my friends and family when I go back home," Lily Cho, a Korean exchange visitor studying at the University of Hong Kong, expressed in excitement.
"There are so many choices here that I didn't even know where to start at the beginning. This place covers so many famous designer brands. I also love the outlet area too — it's outdoor, and every store is spacious, which makes it very comfortable for walking around," said Chuxiao Wu, a mechanical scholar studying at Nanyang Technology University.
After several hours of finding bargains, students' hands were filled with shopping bags as they made the return journey to Flushing. They are now looking forward to the upcoming cultural activities within the next week: attending New York City's Dance Week and a weekend trip to Washington DC.
