Thousands of people lined up along the streets of Jackson Heights on Sunday to watch the annual Ecuadorian Day Parade. The parade celebrates Ecuadorian Independence Day which falls on August 10.

CCIP J-1 Interns (www.theccip.com) took part in this parade by marching with New York City Comptroller, Scott. M. Stringer and staff from his office. This was a great opportunity for exchange visitors to experience the city's melting pot of diverse ethnic and cultural influences that included traditional dances, beauty queens, and colorful floats.

"It was my first time joining an Ecuadorian activity," said Hayley Chau, a student from the University of Hong Kong. "I enjoyed watching the expressive dances and taking photos with the local performers. It was a rare opportunity for me to get to know about this culture."

Comptroller Stringer, who graciously invited the CCIP interns to this unique experience, is a native of New York who has been serving the city for over two decades, including many years as a state assemblyman and as Manhattan Borough President. He has been the Comptroller since 2013.

"I appreciated the chance to join this activity," another student, Ka Yee Lam, said. "People with multi-cultural backgrounds were gathered on the street and celebrating the Ecuadorian Independence Day together. I'd never seen something like this before in Hong Kong."