As part of their time in the Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP, www.theccip.com), exchange visitors spent the morning of June 9 volunteering at Cunningham Park. The visitors were given a variety of tasks by workers at the park. These beautification efforts included raking leaves, picking up trash, and pulling weeds.

One of the core purposes of CCIP is giving exchange visitors from Eastern Asia the opportunity to learn about American culture. Volunteering is considered a civic duty, one that is encouraged in communities across the nation. The time spent at Cunningham Park was a chance for the exchange visitors to get a firsthand experience of active citizenship.

Sherry from Nanyang Technological University said, "It was really a refreshing experience to volunteer at Cunningham Park. Besides being the first time volunteering at a park, this is also my first time raking leaves. Back in Singapore, I would not have a chance to do such a thing. Though it was a little tiring, it was a nice work out in the morning to be moving my body! The coordinator also told us more about Poison Ivy and gave us a brief lesson on them. Now, I know how to identify poison ivy, how they grow and where the poisonous secretions come from."

Kimmy from City University of Hong Kong mentioned," In the U.S., I have a chance to do a lot of activities that I have not tried in Hong Kong. Today’s volunteering work is a leave-cleansing activity. For most of the young generation does not have a chance for this kind of work because of busy school work. By experiencing this cleansing work, interns can understand the hard work of the underprivileged people; interns realize that we cannot take everything for granted, we need to pay effort for maintaining the comfort of the community. "

Connie also studies at Nanyang Technological University. She added, " We enjoyed the sunshine, the woods, the lawn in Cunningham Park. We had a tiring yet wonderful time with each other, and with uncle Tony. Before coming to this volunteer event, I thought collecting the fallen leaves was an easy job, but today’s experience tells me this piece of work takes a lot of sweat and collaboration."

After the students finished their volunteer activity at Cunningham Park, the group traveled to the American Museum of Natural History. While the students are in New York City, they will participate in a number of activities around the city, and even in other states. The students all have the chance to lead such activities if they choose.