Time flies when you are having fun. Laughter, food, and photo-taking filled the last weekend in New York for CCIP participants at a Cunningham Park barbecue. After weeks of training and cultural-exchanging, CCIP participants gathered on Sunday for an outdoor party marking the official end of the 2015 program.

The CCIP group, working with Marc Haken, President of Friends of Cunningham Park, were able to secure a spot in the park for a farewell barbecue. Cunningham Park, the premier park in northeast Queens, is a 375 acre park that includes a national hiking trail, the only mountain bike trail in Queens and many recreational activities including tennis, basketball, cricket and baseball

"I loved getting close to nature and enjoying the flora and fauna which I never expected to see in the middle of such a big city. We were so lucky to be able to have our barbeque there", said an excited Claudia Hui, a student from Hang Seng Management College.

Leaders of the party prepared food and games, making sure everyone could have fun once more before leaving the city. "We had so much fun. Thanks to the leaders who prepared all of this. I am going to miss everyone here. We all bonded quickly when the program started and supported each other throughout the internship. I will definitely treasure our friendship," Kelly Shum from The University of Hong Kong said with gratitude.

We were so pleased that Marc Haken, who is also an advisor to CCIP as well as President of Friends of Cunningham Park, and Elizabeth Kay, the organizer of the CCIP, stopped by to join with us to share our barbeque.

The 2015 Cross Cultural Internship Program was such a great success as it has given us such a deep insight into American culture, history, government and people.