The work and Travel cultural component

Your student workers are here in the United States as exchange visitors. They have come here to learn about our culture, our customs, our history, and our local differences. Your role as a Host Employer is to help them discover what makes our country special. We ask you to arrange something for your exchange students once a month. Use your imagination! What do YOU want them to learn about us as individuals and as a country?

Here are some ideas we have gathered from host employers:

• Visit museums, zoos, theme parks, local historical societies, and the local chamber of commerce
• Attend concerts, sporting events, movies, and the theater
• Go on shopping excursions; be sure to visit local malls and outlet shops
• Shop Local; visit independent restaurants, shops, and farmers markets.
• Explore US foods and partake in US traditions: attend barbecues, picnics, and visit ethnic restaurants
• Share a meal with your US coworkers or friends you make in the US.
• Celebrate US holidays by attending parades and holiday events.
• Check local bulletin and community boards for meet up groups and book groups
• Play sports and join the local recreational sports teams
• Celebrate an Ethnic Holiday – share this with your coworkers and friends!
• Plan a road trip and go site seeing. Also, look into local bus tours and specials.
• Attend state and local fairs, festivals, block parties, and antique car shows
• Go camping; roast marshmallows around the campfire and go hiking
• Visit your local library and learn about local history.
• Visit beaches and parks
• Attend events and celebrations you are invited to
• Share your culture; consider hosting multicultural trivia night, diversity roundtables, or cultural dress and costume nights.
• Visit US religious sites; Buddhist Temples, Synagogues, Mosques, Churches, etc.
• Explore multiculturalism and diversity in the US – try looking at local universities for multicultural clubs or speakers
• Immerse yourself in local tradition; learn a folk dance or go to the rodeo
• Volunteer – look online for your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen
• Search out local yard sales and flea markets
• Try snowboarding or skiing – you can rent skis or snowboards for a day at a local mountain
• Use Cross Country Skis or Snowshoes to explore the local woods. You can usually rent them at a local mountain or local shop.
• Visit a local ice skating rink – many places will let you rent skates right there at the rink.
• Go Sledding! You can usually find inexpensive sleds at a local Walmart or Target. Then go explore some hills!