FUSIA/CCIP J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (The Cross Cultural Internship Program, CCIP, www.fusia.net) celebrated its 10th anniversary, bringing together exchange visitors and key supporters of its cultural initiatives with the 2018 Recognition Ceremony at Citi Field, home of the Mets, on Friday, July 6, 2018.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer declared this day "CCIP Appreciation Day" for the fifth year out of the program's 10-year history. Over 130 guests, including exchange visitors, local and foreign government representatives, university partners, and host representatives, attended the event to celebrate the joint efforts of the greater New York City community and exchange visitors from Asia and Pacific nations to promote cultural exchange through the CCIP exchange visitor program.

Government officials in attendance:

- US Department of State Office of Private Sector Exchange Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs representative Kevin H. Crowley
- NYS Senator Toby Ann Stavisky – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Senator Tony Avella – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Assemblyman Ron Kim – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Assemblyman David I. Weprin – one of the internship host organizations
- NYC Councilman Peter Koo
- NYC Councilman Barry S. Grodenchik
- Ms. Xiaoyu Wang and Mr. Zhe Qiao – Education Office, Consulate General of the P.R.C in New York
- Consul Jasmin Wee - Consulate of the Republic of Singapore in New York
- Consul K. Devadasan Nair - Community Affairs, Consulate General of India in New York
- India Vice Consul K. Devadasan Nair

Representatives from various government officials also presented certificates, citations, and proclamations recognizing involved parties' efforts and achievements of the program (www.fusia.net/award):

- US Senator for New York Charles Schumer
- US Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
- US Congresswoman Grace Meng – one of the internship host organizations
- US Congressman Joseph Crowley – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo
- NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli
- NYS Senator Toby Ann Stavisky – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Senator Tony Avella – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Assemblyman Ron Kim – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Assemblyman David I. Weprin – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Assemblywoman Nily Rozic – one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou – one of the internship host organizations
- NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio
- NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer
- NYC Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer
- NYC Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams
- NYC Queens Borough President Melinda Katz
- Public Advocate for the City of New York Latitia James
- NYC Councilmember Peter Koo
- NYC Councilmember Rory Lancman
- NYC Councilmember Barry S. Grodenchi
- NYC Councilmember Paul Vallone
- NYC Councilmember Francisco Moya

Representatives from host organizations and partner universities, along with community leaders, were presented handmade papercuts as tokens of appreciation for helping the exchange visitor internship program further its mission of cultural exchange. Selected students and hosts took the stage to describe the positive experience of participating in the program.

The ceremony commemorated the students' experiences with a video presentation produced by the exchange visitors. The photos featured in the video offered a touching look at student life that took viewers down memory lane.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Marc A. Haken, the Youth, Education, and Library Committee Chair of Community Board 8 in Queens (CB 8Q) and President of Friends of Cunningham Park. A longtime program advisor, Mr. Haken thanked all parties' collaborative efforts. CCIP presented a video specially produced for Mr. Haken highlighting his years of participation in the program.

A baseball game between the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays followed the close of the ceremony, providing students with a classic American experience to end the night. Most remarkably, the stadium was filled with enthusiastic cheering and applause for CCIP when a 10th anniversary shout-out appeared on the game scoreboard.

While the ceremony marked the end of the first wave of the 2018 CCIP participation, it also marked the beginning for Session B students, who have seven exciting weeks in the US to look forward to.

Quotes from the students:

Ying Xuan Jocelyn Chua 蔡颖璇- Group Leader
Nanyang Technological University
Major: Applied Physics; Minor: Entrepreneurship and Computing
Integrated Marketing and Communications internship at Aithent, Inc.

Last semester, while scrolling through my school’s career portal searching for a summer internship, I chanced upon The Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP). I decided to apply for it alongside several other promising internships. When I was first accepted into CCIP, I ceased my search as I felt that the CCIP program would give me a rewarding and unique internship experience that a local internship lacks.

As one of the group leaders for the CCIP program, I was required to assist several other CCIP participants in administrative matters before the start of the program. The first challenge I faced was building a friendship with the other participants before I met them. I had to find a balance between being a co-participant and a group leader. When deadlines for submissions were due, I needed to be firm without compromising the newly built friendship. Throughout the seven weeks, I learned to accommodate different people in varying situations while building friendships.

The CCIP program has enriched me in numerous ways, from personal growth to acquiring professional skills. I have expanded my social circle past geographical boundaries while deepening my understanding of the different cultures and diverse backgrounds of the other CCIP participants. Moreover, I also learned some Cantonese, which will be helpful when I visit my Hong Kong friends in the future. Personally, I have grown as an individual, becoming more independent and self-sufficient oceans away from my family. I would definitely recommend the CCIP internship to friends who seek an eye-opening experience.

Natali Chien Lin Ghui 魏倩霖- Group Leader
Singapore Institute of Management (SIM)
Major: Communications
Integrated Marketing and Communications internship at FUSIA Communications, Inc.

Initially, I was anticipating the overseas exchange programs that my school offers. However, when I received an offer to join CCIP, I opted to take the opportunity because the program provided a unique experience to travel and gain professional training at the same time.

At the beginning of the program, I made the choice to serve as a group leader, and accepted this challenge without hesitation. The beginning was especially tough, as I, along with other group leaders, had to lead and communicate online with other students before meeting each other in person. Another challenge was to interact with students from various countries. As Singaporean students, we are accustomed to doing activities independently and as quickly as possible. By contrast, the Hong Kong students do things at a more deliberate pace, which proved to be a strength as well.

All these experiences have allowed me to grow. I now adapt better to my surroundings and am more aware of other people's perspectives, as well as my own familiar norms. I have made good friends I hope to keep all my life, and now appreciate other cultures more than ever before.

Interning directly for the program organizer also allowed me to develop a greater ability to handle professional situations and look at the bigger picture. I have learned a great deal about my personal qualities, work ethic, and the specific skills that I can harness to achieve more in my future career.

Yichun Fang 方奕淳- Group Leader
University of Hong Kong
Major: Law; Politics and Public Administration
Public Admin, Government, and Community Outreach internship at NYS Assemblyman David Weprin's District Office

I wanted to get more exposure to a different culture so I joined CCIP this summer. Though there are alternative choices such as going to a summer school, I thought CCIP was the perfect combination of cultural exchange and work experience, therefore I signed up for it.

I interned in Assemblyman David Weprin’s district office, and I was lucky enough to try many different new tasks, one of them being legislative research. As a political science and law student, I began to see the links between academics and actual world practices, and I became very interested in American constitutional law.

Before this internship, I would say I was not a confident person and preferred to write things out rather than speaking up, however, this internship pushed me to change. I began to enjoy interaction with people and gained greater confidence. Being introverted is not a weakness, but I believe that the social skills I learned from this internship are definitely valuable.

I also served on multiple activities as a coordinator and became one of the student leaders of the group. This experience has allowed me to groom my leadership skills, helped me get to know more people, and build stronger friendship and professional networks.

Man Tik Cheung (Dave) 張文迪
City University of Hong Kong - College of Business
Major: Information Systems Management and Information Management for Financial Services
Property and Casualty Insurance internship at Djam Insurance Brokerage Inc.

Prior to this internship, I think everyone was worried about challenges working with our various host companies and I was no exception. However, the encouraging and patient nature of my host made my internship program at Djam Insurance the best experience I could have.

Working in an unfamiliar environment concerned me, as I was unsure about many things such as the company's working culture and the language barrier. Thankfully, my host was very welcoming and she made it a comfortable environment for the interns to ask questions. In the beginning, I expressed concern over my accent; however, my host company was very understanding. She told me that everyone had an accent and reassured me by sharing stories of experiences they have had with people of heavy accents that did not pose a problem. What comforted me the most was that it gave me the courage to speak up in office and confidently answer the office phones to speak with clients. Moreover, they had praised me for my interpersonal skills during the host evaluation, which encouraged me a lot.

The duration of this internship was not sufficient for me to master the required professional knowledge of the industry. However, CCIP is definitely a good training platform for students like me to learn how to adapt to foreign environments and build meaningful relationships with people from different cultures. I am thankful to have been at the forefront of this experience, which taught me to understand how relationships are built, especially between the host companies and the organizing company, FUSIA; my understanding of interpersonal skills and its importance has heightened. Moreover, the program encourages students to be independent through opportunities to take ownership of coordinating different program activities. I am thankful to be part of this program- to learn what it takes to be a leader, to manage people from different cultures and to develop social networks for my future.

This experience has not only enriched my working attitude, but it has also opened my eyes to the different cultures. Knowing that we have students from Singapore, Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong, I was unsure of what it might be like because I never had the opportunity to interact with them. However, to my surprise, I learned that Singaporeans are warmhearted and funny people, and Taiwanese people are very polite. Since the style of conversation differs too, it was an experience that definitely improved my social skills.

CCIP is definitely one of the most meaningful programs I have ever joined. I learned new things everyday and from every experience. Now I can say that I am a more confident and considerate person because of the people I met here.

Ho Yan Yu (Stephanie) 余可欣
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Major: Business Administration
Advertising internship at Admerasia, Inc.

I love to visit different parts of the world, not only to travel but also to make new friends, to understand different cultures, and most importantly, to gain new insights from them. I gave myself one year to explore the world and in that time, I have interned in Shanghai and Dublin, and been an exchange student in Sweden. My next stop was New York, a vibrant city that includes people with all lifestyles.

Interning at an advertising firm has been one of the most fruitful experiences I could ever have. In the US, I understand that chances are given to those who prepare thoroughly and show eagerness to learn. I asked for every learning opportunity and my supervisor provided the best platform for me to shine. I had the valuable opportunity to organize a press conference, which definitely brushed up my interpersonal and event planning skills.

I appreciate CCIP as a well-organized multicultural program. Student leaders lead all activities, which is fun and enjoyable. The most unforgettable activity was going to the United Nations and attending the Youth Conference, which fueled my dreams to influence the world and stand on that stage one day.

I am so glad that our program included students from Singapore and China. Although most of us are Chinese, we have diverse cultural backgrounds. Being good friends with them is a joy!

I hope I can apply what I have learned in the US and share my wonderful experience with everyone.


Hor Yau Serena Wong 黃可悠
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Major: Law and English (Literary Studies)
Public Admin, Government, and Community Outreach internship at District Office of US Congresswoman Grace Meng

I initially signed up for the CCIP program because I was interested in an internship in New York City. I believed that an internship in a foreign environment, especially another international city, would benefit me and help me grow as a person. The rewarding experience proved that I made the right decision.

I faced various challenges throughout my internship. I interned at a congressional office and it required me to learn how to assist constituents with different types of requests and applications in a short period. While answering questions, I also had to be careful about the sensitivity and appropriateness of the terms that I used. I felt that I have matured emotionally, and am now much more confident in handling new tasks on my own. Practically, I was given the chance to polish skills necessary for my future professional goals as well. I am deeply grateful for the patience and kindness that staff members from my host office had shown me.

As a participant of the program, I also had the chance to join a variety of activities and make new friends. I got to explore the city, interact with locals, and learn to respect and even appreciate a culture that is completely unlike my own. While communicating with friends from diverse backgrounds, I have also gained new perspectives, which have enhanced my understanding of different values and ideals.

Overall, the experience benefitted me in many ways. I am glad that I chose to join the program -- it has helped me grow personally and professionally.

Lai Yee Chan (Lily) 陳麗儀- Group Leader
Education University of Hong Kong
Major: Global and Environmental Studies
Integrated Marketing Communications internship at America China Public Affairs Institute, Inc.

I am a graduate this year, but I still choose to participate in this overseas internship program. I feel that coming to the US internship is a rare opportunity, especially because I am eager to experience company operations and logistics. The United States is the world's number one country in terms of research, economics and trade. Therefore, I chose to work for the China-US Diplomatic Association in hopes that I can learn more about market planning before I actually work.

This overseas internship program did not disappoint and it gave me a unique opportunity. Being invited to become a student leader was even more valuable. By organizing different events, I was able to get to know the culture of the United States through my research and to provide tips for the activities that I helped to organize. More importantly, I was able to communicate and cooperate with other students from different universities. It is indeed the happiest thing to get to know different friends.

Tit Hung Jackson Lai 黎鐵鴻 - Group Leader
The Open University of Hong Kong
Major: Internet Technology
Digital Communication and Design internship at Aithent, Inc.

Through the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP), I was presented with the opportunity to intern at an Information Technology (IT) software firm, which coincides with my major- computer science. Given that theoretical knowledge is incomparable to real life application, I find satisfaction in applying what I have learnt in school to the tasks assigned to me. Through the internship, I gained a deeper understanding of the possible future career paths and it has deepened my love for what I am currently studying.

I got to experience American culture, which differs vastly from Hong Kong's. In New York, work-life balance is highly valued, and the office atmosphere is warm and friendly. A personal favorite of mine would be the lack of distinction between different positions within the company. Co-workers are highly encouraged to contribute actively during meetings and all viewpoints are accepted impartially. This internship experience in New York has spurred my interest in building a career in United States and It has undoubtedly been the highlight of my university life thus far.

I got to explore my interest in IT and expanded my horizon towards my goal. I had to utilize User Interface (UI) Design Tool and it invoked an interest in me, which I will explore further next time. In this digital age, the need for computing, programming, and UI designing expertise is rising; thus, I see exploring and experiencing in such field can increase my competence in related career. I see a bright future in this growing digital age and I believe this internship is beneficial to my future career.

Overall, my biggest takeaway is the friendships that I have forged during this program, which I will treasure after the program has ended. Despite being from different countries, cultures and background, we have learned to appreciate and understand the differences. I am glad that I have expanded my social circle internationally.