Cultural Activities

The Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) students visited the office of Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand located on 780 3rd Avenue on Thursday, August 9. The visit was hosted by Ms. Arelis Hernandez, Director of Outreach at the office.

When all the students are seated in the meeting room, Ms. Hernandez patiently explained the structure of the American government, and Senator Gillibrand's work. There are also her colleagues and interns telling us about their work.

The students learnt that Senator Gillibrand was sworn in as United States Senator for New York in January 2009, filling the seat of the current Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. In November 2010, she won the election for the seat with 63 percent of the votes. Prior to her service in the Senate, she also served in the United States House of Representatives, representing New York's 20th Congressional District, which spans across ten counties in upstate New York.

Yan Hei Yiu, a student from the University of Hong Kong added, "I loved how Ms Arelis described America's political system so succinctly and clearly. America's political system is surely a complex one, but it seems so vibrant and exciting!"

The visit was an eventful one where students gained a much deeper insight and understanding of America's political system, and saw how it was different from the political systems in their own countries. The students looked smart in their business attires and carried themselves professionally. Throughout the session, they asked questions and had thoughtful exchanges with Ms Arelis and her colleagues. The visit ended with a group shot with Ms. Hernandez herself.

All in all, the visit was an eye-opening experience for the students and really served to broaden their global perspectives.

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A group of students came from 8 elite universities in Asia, with a common goal and background. They gathered at Flushing YMCA to receive their Certification of Participation. (www.theccip.com)

During the End-Session Gathering, students were recognized for their significant contributions throughout the past 7 weeks as interns. Elizabeth Kay, the founder and the organizer of the program, gave her greetings to the students and announced the winners of the Star Award Program.

The Star Award Program is designed to recognize the top 10% of the participants who have consistently made extra effort to the program.

"Hope for your understanding on not talking too much about the Star Award program at the start of the program. We kept it in low profile so that students can be themselves," said Kay who announced the four winners of the session's Star Award.

Kay praised David's active role in helping other students. Elicia demonstrated a high sensitivity to music and her strong responsive ability. Icy had been very patient in teaching other student's the dance. Luna put in a lot of efforts in organizing activities. Earl demonstrated an outstanding behavior and personality. And David benefited the program a lot behind the scene.

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The Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) set the South Street Seaport Museum ablaze on Wednesday night with the glamorous closing ceremony as well as a new piece of unforgettable memory.

The annually closing ceremony is a crucial part of the Cross-Cultural Internship Program which celebrates both the success of CCIP 2012 and its 5th anniversary. It aims to appreciate the earnest support from the participating hosts, partner institutions and supporters, and of course, the participating students who turn every single idea of CCIP into reality. Earl Christianson Chua Ng, student from The Chinese University of Hong Kong took the role of emcees for the event.

To kick off the wonderful night, Marc Haken, President of the Friends of Cunningham Park, Inc., an honorary advisor of the program, first thanked and praised the students, and delivered a speech to support the program.

The speech-giving and participation of several government officials and representatives highlighted the whole event. Council Member Peter Koo, who is also one of the organizers of CCIP, and representative from District Council Member Mark Wreprin’s Office Veronica Ng were the first to hit the spotlight. They spoke to give their tremendous compliment to the program when were invited by Marc to the stage and sincerely presented a proclamation as to reconfirm the success of the whole program.

Next, representative from Comptroller John Liu’s Office Esther Yang and representative from Assemblyman Rory Lancman’s Office Sergey Kadinsky also gave their speeches, and presented a Commendation and a citation respectively.

Following the speeches from the honorable government officers, Mark Haken shared the appreciation from other officers who were absence Wednesday night with all the participants, including a proclamation from US Senator Charles E. Schumer, a citation from Assemblywoman Grace Meng and congratulation letters from US Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand and NY State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. Marc Haken presented these appreciations to CCIP organizer, Elizabeth Kay, in respect of her successful work.

Emcee Earl Christianson Chua Ng came back to the stage afterwards and introduced guests who attended the celebration. Invited by Earl, Consul Yuin-Lyn Ng from Singapore Consulate delivered her speech. In representing of the consulate, she brought to students the congratulations and encouragements from afar.

The spotlight was then switched to the host supervisors. Group by group, all host supervisors were invited to the stage. Designed by Zhai Yue, a student form Macau University of Science and Technology, and handmade by Zhai Yue and other students, a pair of beautiful paper-cut birds which full of Chinese features were gifted to all host supervisors. Those gifts represented the thankfulness and gratitude from students to the hosts for providing the precious opportunities to step out a life-changing milestone. Students went up with their respective supervisors and took a group photo for memento.

Vive versa, Thea Goodman from Hamilton Madison House and Gene Eng from GC Eng & Associates, PC, hosts of the program, gave speeches on praising the students for their exemplary effort during the course of the program.

Fu Han, a student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, then went on stage to give a speech on behalf of all participating students. He spoke about the many things he had learnt throughout the internship and thanked the hosts again for the opportunity they offered. He especially thanked to Ms. Elizabeth Kay and the many other people who had helped organize the program, and the Student Advisory Body who had volunteered to help organize numerous exciting weekend activities.

Without further ado, Assemblyman David Wreprin came into the ceremony, with his humorous speech and a citation from his office. The ceremony was excited by his appearance and speech.

To end off the night, the attendants were treated to a stellar dance performance by some students who had just formed a new dance group only since they got to know each other during CCIP. They worked hard to rehearse the performance during the free time in several exhausted nights. The ceremony was at its peak and wound up with the wonderful dancing show.

The closing ceremony might have marked the end of CCIP 2012, but the friendships forged, the memories, the laughter, the tears and the life lessons learnt are certainly unforgettable. The CCIP spirit lives on.

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7 students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) visited the renowned New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) this Thursday. Thanks to the CUHK New Asia College Alumni Association, these students were handpicked and given exclusive access inside the NYSE. There, they saw firsthand the exciting and tense trading activity that goes on behind the glamour of stock exchange.

The NYSE is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at US$14.242 trillion. The average daily trading value was approximately US$153 billion in 2008. The students were taken on a tour of the place under the guidance of New Asia College Alumnus and ex-employee of the NYSE Peter Liu. He explained in detail about interesting NYSE topics such as traders, trading posts, bell-ringing conventions and hardware updates.

Albus Fu, a Business major from CUHK, said, "It is so cool that we are here at the NYSE and we get to see how it operates on the inside. This visit is special to me because I'm very interested in trading. I will definitely not forget this amazing experience."

The students, mostly Finance and Accounting majors, asked the guide to share more about his experiences and lessons he learnt from his years of stock market experience. He gave sincere and honest answers and was open to all sorts of questions from the students.

The short visit to the NYSE was informative and an eye-opening experience for all.

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The Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) students visited the office of Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand located on 780 3rd Avenue on Thursday, August 9. The visit was hosted by Ms. Arelis Hernandez, Director of Outreach at the office.

When all the students are seated in the meeting room, Ms. Hernandez patiently explained the structure of the American government, and Senator Gillibrand's work. There are also her colleagues and interns telling us about their work.

The students learnt that Senator Gillibrand was sworn in as United States Senator for New York in January 2009, filling the seat of the current Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. In November 2010, she won the election for the seat with 63 percent of the votes. Prior to her service in the Senate, she also served in the United States House of Representatives, representing New York's 20th Congressional District, which spans across ten counties in upstate New York.

Yan Hei Yiu, a student from the University of Hong Kong added, "I loved how Ms Arelis described America's political system so succinctly and clearly. America's political system is surely a complex one, but it seems so vibrant and exciting!"

The visit was an eventful one where students gained a much deeper insight and understanding of America's political system, and saw how it was different from the political systems in their own countries. The students looked smart in their business attires and carried themselves professionally. Throughout the session, they asked questions and had thoughtful exchanges with Ms Arelis and her colleagues. The visit ended with a group shot with Ms. Hernandez herself.

All in all, the visit was an eye-opening experience for the students and really served to broaden their global perspectives.

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On 9th Aug 2012, 31 students paid a visit to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office which is one of the 3 offices in U.S, while the remaining 2 are located in San Francisco and Washington D.C. respectively. Being one of the permanent representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, HKETO(NY) strengthens the economic trade, investment and cultural ties between Hong Kong and the U.S.A. by introducing the unique business environments and numerous opportunities to U.S investors. It plays a vital role for the economic development of Hong Kong.

In the visit, Mr. Paul Cheung, Deputy Director of the HKETO (NY), gave the students a bigger picture about the department. Throughout the presentation, he showcased the regular events arranged to emphasize the tight business cooperating bonding between New York and Hong Kong. After that, it comes to the most interesting part, career sharing. As many students in Hong Kong are interested in the government administration, he shared about the career insight and prospect of an AO such as on-the job training and promotional path. He also shared about the difficulties and challenges that he has came across with. Afterwards, he kindly shared his experience in the interview. His unique and valuable experience delights the students and sparkles their interests towards policy making.

The visit is valuable and knowledgable that students felt of great honor to learn from Mr. Paul Cheung's wisdom.

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After a long day at work, students rushed down to the Bryant Park to enjoy the outdoor jazz music performance from Abby Payne. The Park hosted a series of musical concerts to celebrate music in New York. Students were overjoyed that they managed to catch the event.

Abby Payne sang soulfully against the backdrop of the tranquil Bryant Park, treating the audience to an enthralling performance. The fantastic and captivating music certainly soothed and refreshed the students, and many students left the concert with their spirits soaring high.

"I have always loved music!" said Elicia Ban from the University of Hong Kong, "The classical music was so compelling and Abby Payne and her band played with so much passion! I really wished I was as talented as her!"

As Orsino in Twelfth Night puts so lyrically, "If music be the food of love, play on." The students' only regret was that the night had ended too early.

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Over the weekend of August 4, students from the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) took part in the annual Dragon Boat Festival held in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Flushing, Queens, New York City. Students either took part as dragon boat racers or volunteered at booths set up at the festival.

The Dragon Boat Festival is an annual multicultural sporting event held in New York to celebrate the fifth month of the Lunar Calendar. It is one of the largest dragon boat events in the United States. This was the 22nd Anniversary of the Festival, which began in 1990 on the Hudson River in Battery Park City. It was first promoted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York City.

The weather was clear throughout the festival, with sunny afternoons and cool windy evenings. The dragon boaters, especially, were very delighted to experience no rain which would result in choppy waters.

Vincent Fung, a student of Lingnan University said, "We train together, live together, have our meals together. The team is like one big family now. Joining the Dragon Boat Festival as a competitor in the race has definitely added more color to my New York CCIP experience."

At the start of the race, one of the student leaders had gathered all the CCIP supporters and led them in a cheer for the CCIP dragon boat team. The students in the spectator stand were not left out of the excitement, cheering and clapping enthusiastically.

Many students also helped to tend the booths at the festival. They took the opportunity to mingle with festival guests and make new friends. The festival was brimming with Chinese festive cheer, and everyone, Chinese or non-Chinese alike were all having a ball of fun.

The Dragon Boat Festival was a great opportunity for the Asian community in New York to preserve and share their rich culture. It saw the greatest number of participants in its 22 years and was a huge, roaring success.

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The long-awaited day for 53 students of the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) had finally come.

On Thursday, July 26, 53 CCIP Session B students visited the United Nations in New York, an influential global entity with every decision impact the lives of people around the globe.

The Headquarters of the United Nations is located on 1st Avenue between 45th and 46th Street, in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, with a breath-taking view overlooking the East River. Many of the students went about excitedly trying their best to capture the most picturesque shot of the building.

On the guided tour, students were introduced to the structural overview of the organization and toured the facilities. They also looked in awe the gifts of art members of the UN had donated to the New York headquarters over the years. Many marveled at how the art pieces were distinct of varying cultures, such as an ivory carving from China, and drums from the Caribbean. The students learnt that the UN is the centre to encourage good-will cultural exchanges between nations, and plays an important role in providing third-party aid to nations in need, in addition to providing a platform for nations to foster diplomatic relations.

"The complex is huge. I can't believe that I have opportunity to witness firsthand to the works that UN is doing," commented Yuanyuan (Wynne) Wang, a student from the Macau University of Science and Technology.

Special thanks for Earl (the Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Luna (the Macau University of Science and Technology), the two SAB leaders, for taking attendance and coordinating the students.

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Students from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) went on a visit organized by University of Hong Kong Alumni Association to the Brookhaven National Lab.

The Brookhaven National Lab is one of the ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the US Department of Energy (DOE). It is an advanced lab on cutting edge science, conducting research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences as well as in energy technologies and national security. The students spent 3 hours touring the facility, watching live scientific demonstrations and attending a LASER show. Students were amazed at the gorgeous laboratory and the advancement of technology in the US. The experience was eye-opening for many students.

After the tour of the Brookhaven National Laboratory, the students visited the Tanger Outlet in Long Island. There were two shopping centers and more than 38 brand name stores. Students were excited to see the sales and discounts offered by the stores. As evening approached, the students had dinner with members of the HKU Alumni Association. Prominent HKU seniors with diverse background shared their experience with students and gave them sound advice; HKU students also grasped the opportunity to interact and learn from them. The dinner was filled with much joy and laughter. It was a memorable day.

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Friday, July 20, 2012 - Herman Chan, Director of Careers and Placement for the University of Hong Kong enjoyed dinner with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) students last Wednesday at the Old Shanghai Restaurant in the Manhattan's Chinatown.

Most HKU students participating in CCIP this summer attended the event. The group sat at two tables, where Mr. Chan spoke with the students and listened to their experiences as interns in New York City. He also shared his experiences and gave suggestions to the students on how to set their goals and plan their career path.

Students had an active discussion with Mr. Chan and everyone enjoyed the meal. Students were especially appreciative that Mr. Chan took the time to dine with them during his stay in New York.

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Sergeant Ray Morales along with Officer Robert Sulmer from the NYPD went down to Flushing YMCA on Thursday night, 19 July, to give a Safety Talk. The informative session was held by two seasoned officers who were familiar with the Flushing neighborhood one week after students first arrived in New York City.

Officer Sulmer stressed that crime happens without forewarning even though New York is one of the safest cities in the world. Thus, prevention is the best solution against crime. He gave practical safety tips such as reminding the students to always be alert and aware of their surroundings, and to trust their first instincts which are mostly accurate. He also taught the students how to pick out suspicious characters and dangerous articles on the subways, and advised them not to go on empty carriages and not to ride the subway late at night.

The officers were very patient, detailed and engaging throughout their talk. They quoted real-life examples and even invited students up to the stage to perform demonstrations of how to react in dangerous situations.

Luna Zhai, a student from the Macau University of Science and Technology noted, "This talk proved to be so useful! I have learnt so much on how to keep myself safe from crime and I will certainly bear in mind all the tips that the officer gave!"

Toward the end of the talk, Sergeant Morales reminded the students for the last time to always look up when they are walking on the streets. He shared that he has observed that young people are always engrossed with their mobile phones and do not look ahead when they walk. His advice to "look up!" was simple yet powerful.

After a short Question and Answer session, the students gathered for a group photo with the two officers. They left the talk taking away many important lessons that would prove to be useful in the weeks to come.

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Fresh faces of session B students from the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) were seen in the Assembly Room of the Flushing YMCA. 68 students from renowned universities from all over Asia had arrived safely in New York to intern in 30 plus host companies in New York and New Jersey.

The orientation provided students with information about living in New York and what to anticipate in the seven weeks to come. For many of the students, it was their first time in the Big Apple, and they were all filled with much anticipation.

The room was abuzz with conversation when the floor was opened for the Question and Answer session. During the session, students' questions about work attire, reporting time, meals and accommodation were clarified.

At the end of the sessions, many students stayed back to mingle with one another. The Post-Arrival orientation started off Session B of CCIP 2012 on a high note.

After the orientation, the students gathered outside the YMCA for a group photo-taking session, marking the start of their brand new adventure in CCIP.

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On Thursday, July 12, all 74 Session A students came together at the Flushing YMCA for the End-Session gathering. A sense of forlornness seemed to hang in the air in the Assembly Room, the same room where the students had had so many gatherings before, with this gathering being the last one the students would have. Still, the room was alive with much chatter and laughter.

The Certificate Presentation Ceremony began shortly after with Certificates being presented to each student. The students received their respective certificates with much joy and accomplishment, and there were some students who shared their experiences and takeaways from their time spent on the internship.

Lijin Kan, a student from the National University of Singapore and also from the Student Advisory Board, said, "I really appreciate this opportunity for me to come on this internship. I have learnt so many life lessons which would definitely come to be useful for my future. I would also like to thank EK for everything that she's done for us to make our internship experience a memorable and meaningful one. I have really made a new friend, along with many other lifetime friendships."

To end off the night, everybody gathered to take a final group photo. It was a heartwarming sight to see 74 individuals, who started off as strangers coming from different backgrounds, now leaving the program as friends.

That night, one could really experience the family spirit of "We're All in the Same Boat", which is the motto of the program. Everybody was weaving in and out of different groups of friends, taking photos and exchanging contacts. The gathering concluded the first session of the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) 2012.

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As Independence Day neared, the students were excited they could join in the national celebrations. What better way was there to enjoy this momentous American holiday than to watch the Major League Baseball live at Citifield Stadium, Home of the Mets? By celebrating baseball, we celebrate America.

Witnessing the New York Mets face off with the Philadelphia Phillies was certainly an unforgettable experience. To know that the Phillies had not been winning many matches and were eager for a win made the game even more intense. The stadium was alive with thunderous cheers of passionate supporters and the students all joined in to cheer for their favourite team.

The intense rivalry between both teams made the game an adrenaline-pumping one especially when both came head-to-head during the first few innings of the game on their scores. The fans' enthusiasm was simply infectious. Even students who had never watched a game of baseball in their life began to take sides and were completely absorbed in the match. Even though some supported the Phillies, they could not deny that it was a heartening moment to see the New York Mets win the game in their home field.

With adrenaline still coursing through our veins at the end of the game, the students were treated to a magnificent display of fireworks to commemorate the 4th of July, an apt representation of the vibrant American spirit.

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The long-awaited day for 31 students of the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) had finally come. Besides being able to take a short break from work, these students had signed up for a visit to the United Nations in New York, followed by Singapore Mission. Many important negotiations that alter the course of world history have taken place in the headquarters, hence the visit of the grounds was definitely momentous.

The complex is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, with a breath-taking view overlooking the East River. Many of the students went about excitedly trying their best to capture the most picturesque shot of the building.

On the guided tour, students were introduced to the structural overview of the organization and toured the facilities. They also looked in awe the gifts of art members of the UN had donated to the New York headquarters over the years. Many marveled at how the art pieces were distinct of varying cultures, such as an ivory carving from China, and drums from the Caribbean. The students learnt that the UN is the centre to encourage good-will cultural exchanges between nations, and plays an important role in providing third-party aid to nations in need, in addition to providing a platform for nations to foster diplomatic relations.

The highlight of the tour for the Singapore students is a tour of Singapore Mission in the UN. The students had a rare opportunity to meet and interact with Mr Mark Neo, Counselor and Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the UN. Mr Neo kindly explained Singapore's diplomatic mission in the UN. He shared his experience of having been a diplomat for over 20 years. The question-and-answer session which followed was vibrant and light-hearted, with many students eager to ask Mr Neo their questions.

"Today was just an amazing day for me as I had learnt so much about how diplomats worked!" Commented Xian Jun Cheah, a student from the National University of Singapore majoring in Political Science. " I have learnt so much from his sharing. His talk has really given me a much clearer direction about my career path. It is really my dream to be like him some day!"

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20 CCIP students attended the Soft Skills seminar conducted by Mr. Fred Teng, Chairman of Hong Kong Association of New York and Chief Executive Officer of China Newsweek Corporation. The seminar, held at the headquarters of NewsChina, was about the art of networking and effective communication.

At 6:30pm, Mr. Teng started off the session with a welcome speech and a brief self-introduction. Originally from Shanghai, China, he has been living in the US since the age of 15. The charismatic speaker is seasoned in the area of management and knowledgeable in diverse fields.

The introduction was followed by the main presentation, along with tips on basic business etiquette. Speaking from his wealth of experience, Mr. Teng gave the students practical handles on how to communicate effectively. He also taught them how to improve on their networking skills in order to be well connected, especially in the business sector.

Mr. Teng also encouraged the students to read more about business etiquette and communication skills. He recommended some books that have taught him useful skills over the years. Mr. Teng also shared that much of his learning takes place through trial and error. He encouraged the students to not be afraid to try. "Practice makes perfect. Keep looking out for ways to improve yourself and sharpen your communication skills by talking to people," He said.

The presentation was followed by a thoughtful Question and Answer session where he gladly answered the interesting questions the students had.

Judy Au, a student from the National University of Singapore said, "Fred taught us practical skills in communication. He gave us tips on how to carry ourselves in professional situations, hone our public speaking skills, and maintain relationships. I now see the importance of networking and the opportunities it creates for me."

Special thanks to Mr. Fred Teng for conducting this seminar for the students of CCIP. Mr. Teng will conduct another session with the session B students.

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60 Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) Session A students gathered at the 103rd Street and Lexington Avenue subway station on Tuesday evening to begin their Museum Mile Journey.

Fifth Avenue was bustling with excitement, with people from all over New York gathering to attend the annual Museum Mile Festival. Despite the heavy rain, the crowd of art enthusiasts formed long lines outside their favourite museums.

The Museum Mile Festival celebrates its 34th anniversary this year. Every year, Museum Mile Festival participants get free admission into ten museums that take part in the festival. The Museum Mile, located on Fifth Avenue from the 82nd to 105th streets, includes the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum among many others.

Upon their arrival, the students split into smaller groups and quickly streamed into the museums. The adverse weather surely did not dampen their spirits. Students meticulously planned their route so they could visit the museums they had interest in during the three-hour festival.

Li Chi Leung, a student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong said, "It is great to be able to visit these amazing museums for free. I was mesmerised by the exhibitions, especially at the Met, which was my favourite."

Rachel Kwan, a student of the National University of Singapore said, "I never thought I'm the kind of person who could appreciate art, but I'm thankful to CCIP for encouraging us to sign up for this. I thoroughly enjoyed myself."

The festival rejuvenated the students' tired souls after a full day of internship, and was a memorable event for all.

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After a long day at work, the students gathered at the conference room in Flushing, YMCA at 9pm for what was going to be an interesting and engaging talk by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Sergeant Ray Morales and Officer Robert Sulmer from the NYPD shared with the students important tips on staying out of harm's way in New York. The talk was engaging and gave the students a refreshing perspective on how they could keep themselves safe from criminals.

The students learnt that there were three elements which were needed for a crime to take place: motive, desire, and opportunity. Though people mostly cannot influence a criminal's motive and desire, they could certainly not give him an opportunity to strike. Both officers from the NYPD kept the students engaged throughout the talk, and shared compellingly from their wealth of experience.

Another interesting lesson the students learnt was how to react in the event that they were attacked by a criminal. To much of their surprise, they learnt that instead of screaming for help, they should scream 'fire', which would function better in grabbing the attention of passers-by in the area. Both officers also stressed the importance of trusting one's own instincts, especially when danger lurks around us.

"I've said it and I'll say it again. Always trust your instinct! If something in your heart tells you that there is danger, go with it! Your first instinct is probably right." Officer Sulmer said.

The officers concluded the talk with a hearty question-and-answer session, where the students had many pertinent questions for both officers. There was also a photo-taking session. To end off the night, the Student Advisory Board (SAB) planned a surprise birthday party for Dacheng, a student whose birthday was on the same day as the NYPD safety talk. Much laughter and merry-making followed before the students departed for their rooms.

"I've learnt so much from the safety talk by NYPD!" Judy recollected. "I've realized that I have a personal responsibility of keeping myself safe by consciously taking the relevant measures such as not going out alone. It's been a really informative session!"

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The Flushing YMCA was thrown into a festive mood yesterday (31 May 2012) as FUSIA Communications officially kicked off the 2012 Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) (www.theccip.com)with a sumptuous Barbeque dinner and get-together. Group photos were taken and everyone had a lot of fun.

Councilman Peter Koo, a member of the New York City Council representing City Council District 20, graced the BBQ event and welcomed the students to the city. He shared his story about the tough days when he arrived at America as a young man, opening his business and becoming a councilman to serve the community. He hoped that the students could draw valuable lessons from living in New York like him, and wished us well. Other hosts joined in welcoming the interns.

Soon after, a delicious spread of food laid out across the barbecue pits. Everyone gathered to cook the food together, having a great time mingling with each other for a time of letting their hair down. Most amazingly, the food and drinks never seemed to run out as everyone ate and drank heartily.

Like every happy occasion, there was a common sense of forlornness as the night drew to a close. The festive mood still lingered in the air as the students departed for their rooms.

"I'm just so sad that the night seemed to pass by so quickly!" Yu Xuan Ng, a student from the National University of Singapore, commented. "The barbecue was really such a great opportunity for me to get acquainted with new friends. Making and getting to know new Hong Kong friends really lets me brush up my Cantonese! I'm really looking forward to the days to come! I'm sure I will make more friends and learn a lot of new things!"

Indeed, without the support of the most dedicated ones, the event would not have been possible. Special thanks go to all hosts, supporters and friends who attended the barbecue:
-Morgan Jones from the Mayor's office
-Raymond from the Chinese University of Hong Kong United College Alumni Association
-Max and Kari from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Alumni Association
-Marc Haken, Linna Yu, Angela and other host representatives from Global English Academy
-Gene Eng from GC Eng & Associates
-Andy Lun from Toto Group
-Olga from DJAM Insurance Brokerage Inc
-Viola from Padilla & Company LLC
-Mr. Edward Plesnitzer, Fernando and other staff members of YMCA who so graciously offered their help in barbecuing
and everyone who helped make the barbecue and the program possible in one way or another.

The first few days of CCIP have been fun and illuminating for the students, and greater things are in store for them in the days to come.

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The Cross Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) hosted a successful two-day kick-off orientation to kick-off the 2012 CCIP – a cultural exchange program for future global professionals. During the orientation, over 70 Session A participants from Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Indonesia and more met together with the representatives from the organizer, FUSIA Communications at the Flushing YMCA to celebrate this momentous occasion.

During their orientation, the organizer welcomed the students and thanked the students for their support and hard work. Elizabeth Kay, the principal of the program stressed important topics such as last-minute host briefing notes, housing and program rules, and safety tips that had already been covered at the Pre-Arrival Orientation.

She closed the orientation's remarks with these thoughts – Get involved. If you haven't signed up for the activities, please consider signing up now. Invite your friends and colleagues to join our upcoming Welcoming BBQ. Stay proactive, stay healthy and leave a positive impression.

This year's program has 142 participants from eight top-tier universities in Asia, including the University of Hong Kong (41), the National University of Singapore (31), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (27), Lingnan University, Macau University of Science and Technology (9), City University of Hong Kong (8), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (6), Nanyang Technology University (5).

The participants will be residing at the Flushing YMCA and interning at 35 different host organizations within and around the New York City area.

"I still lack experience but I will compensate my inexperience with dedication, hard work and open-mindedness. I can't wait to get to know more people from the program and learn as much as I can through the seven-week duration, "said Xihao Zehao, a National University of Singapore student originally from Mainland China.

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