Testimonials

Chikako Murakami has been interning at MCAM for three months, assisting with event planning and marketing. She'll be leaving NH this weekend and returning to Japan with a new found knowledge of American Culture. MCAM has appreciated her assistance and will miss her cheerful presence in our studio.

Learning the Language of American Culture
By Chikako Murakami

I arrived in the United States last April as a foreigner from Japan with the hope of improving my understanding of the English language and daily American life. What has surprised me during my three month stay in New Hampshire is how easy it has been to feel a part of this community and how naturally I have been accepted.

In Japan, I work in advertising for a large economics publishing firm. At Nikkei BP Creative we strive to meet our customer's marketing needs by matching the uniqueness of their business with our service delivery. While in Japan, I observed that U.S. marketing practices are very progressive and I have been interested in coming to the U.S. and learning more about marketing strategies for some time.

After studying English for two years in Japan, I contacted Cultural Homestay International about their International Volunteer Program and their Short Term Enrichment Program. CHI's programs offer participants experience at a U.S. business or non-profit operation while enhancing their English speaking skills. Based on my interest in television marketing, I was placed with Manchester Community Access Media, MCAM, one of the largest public access television stations in New England, and reside with a local host family in Manchester NH.

MCAM is a non-profit organization that assists people in making their own television programs. Its work environment is very dynamic and diverse and people from all walks of life with various interests and talents come to MCAM to learn television production and produce programs. Their marketing efforts are primarily focused on increasing awareness of the channel, fundraising through promotional underwriting and by offering production services to local businesses.

By nature, the U.S. is a multicultural nation and it has been very easy to feel a part of the society here. At MCAM, I have met lots of people from various nationalities. This experience has broadened my awareness of individual and cultural differences. New ideas are always being proposed, discussed and implemented here. I have especially appreciated being included in event meetings and invited to share my opinions. I have felt welcomed and accepted here, and have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity.

Living in a foreign land, I've also discovered a few things about myself. I have been surprised with my initiative in carrying out the projects that I've been assigned. I have developed a more rounded view of American culture and have improved my negotiation skills. This trip has shown me that taking risks and trusting others is worth the challenge and the professional growth that results. When I return to Japan I will continue to look for challenge with a lot more confidence than I had when I had left and began this internship.

On a lighter note, visits to New Hampshire shopping outlets have improved my bargain hunting skills and playing their affordable golf courses has lowered my handicap. Oh yes, I admit, it hasn't been all work. But that's another story for another time.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Convenience stores, fast-food, fruit products
Trainees assist the management team with business communications and customer service. They learn basic administrative skills, including web-based sales and marketing tools. Trainees schedule employees, maintain company correspondence, update websites, and assist in sales to customers.

"It is a great pleasure to thank CHI and my host business for providing me a wonderful training in the USA. This is one of the most thoughtful experiences in my life. I am grateful to you for making my dream come true. This training helped me groom myself into a better personality and I developed my communication skills and work habits."
Shyla, from India.

"I adjusted to American daily life very well. My host mother said I was na excellent house guest. I made many good friends at my workplace. I learned to play racquetball and I socialized with these friends. I learned several new engineering skills. I believe this experience will be very useful in my future."
Ki Jung, from Korea.

Cornelia, from Germany, at her host business

SCHOOLS AND TEACHING

Private and public schools (Unpaid)
Trainees interact in English with American children in a classroom with an American teacher as a guide. Trainees learn the American curriculum, but they may also develop special projects in which they teach skills, games or songs representing their own countries.

Schools in California really love to have trainees

"The host business gave me good opportunity to learn many things. I meet many good teachers and they cheered me on to become a teacher in Japan. Now I have the confidence to be a teacher. I will never forget the children, I learned so much from them. It was really good experience to join the Career Training Program."
Eri, from Japan.

"Eri had a very positive, succesful experience working in my kindergarten classroom. She worked with the children and helped me in my daily preparation. She collated packets, passed out papers and prepared art projects. It was a pleasure to have Eri work with me."
Kindergarten teacher.

Hiroe, from Japan, on her first day at school

MARKETING AND SALES

Manufacturing companies
Trainees learn about product lines so they can interface with overseas factories and create sales and import/export documents. They learn to build sales relations by attending international trade shows. They research competitors on the internet and send public relations letters to international prospects.

HOSPITALITY

Hotels in many cities
Trainees provide professional service to hotel visitors. Trainees often rotate through all departments, such as front desk, customer service, reservations, hotel computer skills, safety skills, room cleaning, breakfast service, accounting and billing.

This is my 7th month as a trainee here. Im very blessed that CHI is there helping students and young professionals like me to explore, learn and improve my skills. Aside from that, to know the lifestyle, culture and meet different people around the world. I appreciate and thank you so much for your help and god bless you always. Keep it up! :)

Ryan - Philippines

This program has been a great experience. As soon as I arrived in my host family I felt "at home". My Host Family was better than I could ever expect! They introduced me to the American "way of life". I was involved in every family activity and that's why I had no problem to adjust to daily life and that, from the beginning. It's been a real pleasure to stay with the Goerndts, they are great people.

At my workplace everything was great too. The attorneys were at my disposition for guidance. I was involved in different projects and I had a lot of work to do. If, at the beginning it was difficult to stay concentrated during the whole day (8 hours), I quickly found the good rhythm and after 1-2 weeks I could give my best.

Besides the real improvement in my English skills (now I can work in English without any problem) I learned more than I expected about American Law (the projects in which I was involved, included Contract Law, Environmental Law, Antitrust Law, Litigation, Privacy Law, Copyright and Trademark Law and Civil procedure). I also learned how a big American company makes Business. I think everything I've learned will be very useful in the future.

Guillaume - Peru

At my host business I felt as a part of the family, making me comprehend much more of the American culture and values. About my learning, I cannot express how much I've learned here. Not just about the business itself, but also from the everyday living and working with different kinds of people.

I did things here that I never thought I would do and I even rather enjoyed it! In short words, I had a great time here and I'm going back home with a cultural luggage even larger than my real one!

Carlos - Brazil

My integrated practical term was a great opportunity for me, to learn about American business, working habits, people, country and culture. The majority of Americans is very open minded and interested in foreign countries and cultures. I only experienced welcoming people who were interested in my culture and background. The American way of working is very relaxed and meeting deadlines is not as important as in Germany. The aspect of socializing in my host business was very important for all my colleagues, and so there were a lot of social activities after and even during the work. Trainees at Action Against Hunger are treated like full time staff, which is very comfortable and motivating.

As my host family was an African-American family, I had a great chance to learn about the culture, history as well as the daily life of black Americans and this was my most important personal experience. My host mother was also my internship coordinator, which was very helpful. Nevertheless, my host family was the most welcoming and nicest host family I ever experienced.

The most interesting professional experience was to see and to learn how Non-profit Organizations work and to see the difference between Profit Orientated businesses and non-profit Organizations, in terms of marketing requirements, Human Resources requirements as well as operations requirements. Especially the marketing activities were totally different from the classical marketing approach in Business Administration. Profit orientated businesses promote tangible products or services which people get in return for their money, but Action Against Hunger has no real tangible products and people get nothing tangible in return for their donations, so all marketing activities are a great challenge in order to stand out from all other Humanitarian Aid Organizations. It enabled me to put the theory of my studies into practice, which was very helpful and a great challenge. I also learned a lot in terms of marketing, which I haven't learned in University.

Furthermore I was able to improve my English writing and talking skills a lot, which will be very helpful for my future career in Germany.

Stefanie - Germany

During the last year, my life has changed and now I have a different point of view about how to appreciate my culture and also how to accept a new culture. I learned how to live alone, with new rules and with no support of my parents. I also learned how to be responsible in my workplace and follow rules and expectations in my job.

In the last year I was growing up in my company, first I started working in the front line, but with days I was getting experience and now I am the manager of the store. All that was possible with hard work, patience and dedication.

Now after a year working in the United States I am going back to my country with more expectation in my life, new skills, with no fears for new jobs or task, being sure that whatever is going to be my future I will achieve every objective.

And finally I just want to say thank you this opportunity, I will never forget it.

Andres - Peru

So, the following are few lines to describe what I consider one of the greatest experiences of my life. Before applying to the program I asked myself why I needed to do an internship in the USA. To improve the language, of course. To learn about a different culture, of course. But why not somewhere else?

Firstly, I was looking for a work experience within the entertainment industry, something that is normally unobtainable in Italy, and I found it only in the US. This is also true for other sectors, in the services above all, that in Italy are unknown, incomplete, inefficient, unaffordable, or simply not as well developed as in the US. Interning for a radio station, in particular, has represented for me a very exciting taste of a job that I consider unique in its genre.

Secondly, I noticed that the working method adopted in the US is quite different from the one adopted in Italy, because of the better organization and the more stimulating credit system. Since the first day I started at the radio station, I was trained by specific people who actually dedicated a lot of time to teach me my duties and introduced me to all the other people working there. To my surprise, I was never considered just an intern and thus merely exploited, a situation which is very common in Italy. On the contrary, I found an extreme availability of the people working there and a high flexibility at the same time that enabled me to be involved in every radio activity, from the promotions to the web site, not to mention even my participation in many shows on the air.

Last but not least, people I related with. I mean, my beautiful host family, people I met during my trips to Boston and New York, yourself and your family and, again, people at the radio station: friendly, generous, honest, true, determined, funny, and profound. I will never forget about them.

That is the reason why I can not feel comfortable at all now, here in Italy. This is the only "negative" side of the story. If I could go back I would not change anything of such a wonderful experience. Well, maybe I would only postpone my return ticket!

Thank you very much for the opportunity you gave me and I hope to do it again some time in the future.

Gaetano - Italy

18 months has passed and leaving United States is the toughest part of my training. The opportunity and career growth in the US is way far different from my home country. I have learned tremendously from participating in this program. Being recognized by the top management team of my Host Business Company is absolutely overwhelming, they are all supportive and they never let me feel upset from my mistakes. They have helped me grow through recognizing my strengths as an individual and encouraged me to make my own decisions in the department.

It was such a great opportunity being the Head of Food and Beverage Department, running the day-to-day operations and everyday challenges has taught me more. It wasn't easy but I didn't give up. Handling and dealing with 20 or more vendors, working on the floor, running the show, working on the different shifts, being flexible, dealing with 18 associates of different races, it wasn't easy at all. But knowing their lives, origin, understanding them, that's what helped me manage everything. My decisions in the department are important and highly respected by the Management team. My absence now in the Company is such a great impact leaving them an unmanaged department and very lonely place.

I have learned so many things most especially being independent and how to organize strategies in life. Having friends for life is one of the things that make my departure from US even harder. They have helped me from day 1 until now. We have also learned how to deal with our indifferences. We have shared and practiced our different cultures and traditions and we enjoyed every single moment we were together.

Now I've already found this kind of opportunity, I have influenced my Host Business to hire more Filipinos to work for their company and requested for more Filipino interns to support them in their future training. They have had a positive feedback regarding interns regarding their attitude and willingness to work. That is why my Host Business is now doing their best to take me back in 3-6 months.

Thank you very much CHI for giving me the opportunity to express and practice my skills here in the United States. The program is worth and CHI interns are always prioritized and your training program is highly respected and complied by the Host Businesses. I have grown as a better Young Professional that leads me to have a different perspective in life and the program made me grow as a better individual.

Mary - Philippines

When I meet students at the school, everyone says "Hello, Kanako". I am glad to hear "Kanako" from everyone, because they remember my name.

I help the music program, so I teach trombone and violin in the band. But it is difficult to teach in English, so I always try to pay attention when the music teacher says something to the kids.

I went to Disneyland with kids from the band. It surprised me, because I did not think I could go to Disneyland.

In the classes, I play the piano and the students sing songs. One day, I tought Japanese kids's song and holding papers "origami" to kindergarten's children. It was the first time I organized the class by myself, so I showed the class to my Japanese professor via web camera. I enjoyed to teach music and Japanese culture, but I found something to improve myself, which are how to explain in English and how to organize classes. I think I should teach in classes more and more. It will help to study English and my teaching skill.

I also help at kindergarten. They are so cute. I teach math and English classes. In the recess, we play together in the playground. And actually I could not understand their English at first, but now, I can understand. I think this is a big improvement. I learned how to explain to kids by using easy words. For example, how to use scissors. Many children speak Spanish, but teachers teach in English, so I would like to pay attention to children about how to get English.

Kanako - Japan

I consider myself lucky for training in a company with such good professionals in a great and respectful environment. My boss is one of the most intelligent men I have met in a couple of years. Besides being a hard worker, he is my personal friend. He gave me the chance to train in pretty much every area of the company. It is very difficult too find a company nowadays that is willing to show you the whole "engine" of the company. Not only that but all my co-workers were very helpful and open-minded to share their knowledge with me. It has made me a better professional and a better man.

My training exceeded my expectations. I achieved all of my goals and had gained way more knowledge and experience than I expected. It was a great experience and I would strongly recommend this training program to anyone.

Vitor - Brazil

Now I am going to my home country, Colombia, with the best memories after one year in the USA. Besides the great work experience which allowed me to gain valuable international experience, I also learned to live in another culture and cope with a different environment. Through this internship program I had the opportunity to immerse and discover the US culture from the inside.

I met great people who were exceptionally open and always willing to help me and to show me their customs and traditions. I learned something new every day and gained precious professional experience. I enjoyed every day at my training, not only because it was helping me to develop and improve the skills related to my career, but also because I shared with amazing people who were always able to help and guide me on my learning process. My supervisor and co-workers always made me feel confident, helped me to improve my English, and they constantly recognized my work and dedication.

I am leaving now, but I consider this program to be a great investment for my future and the success of my professional live. At this moment, I know exactly what my career path is because this experience was also a journey to discover my perfect fit on the work force. This program was a huge step that will help me to succeed and to achieve all my career goals. Now I am one step closer!

Maria - Colombia

My name is Jasen, 33, half Italian and half Slovak. I live between these two countries. I work as a director, commercials, TV shows, music videos and recently my first feature film. This is why I decided to try it where the big things happen for real. Hollywood, Los Angeles.

That was a great idea, but there was one small problem. How can I get there? Everybody wants to go Hollywood. What I needed was a connection, somebody that could help me to get there, and could help me with all the paperwork needed to go to the US. Well, not so easy, or better, almost impossible. That's what I thought.

I spent the following two months sorting out how to achieve this. I checked web pages, I sent a lot of emails, but of course nothing happened. Then I discovered CHI, Cultural Homestay International. I sent them an email about me and about what I wanted to do. In few days I got an answer from them, telling me what they could do for me. They asked for some time to sort it out. At the same time they gave me the address of their partner company in Italy, in order to start sorting out all the needed paperwork.

Less than one month later I received an email from CHI, telling me that there was an opportunity to get into a production company in L.A. I couldn't believe my eyes, that was simply fantastic. I started thinking about all the friends that could have done a played a joke on me. It was impossible to believe. Can you imagine it? You are under a storm, going back home with the dog as quickly as possible trying not to get wet, when suddenly your phone rings and they tell you that you are going to spend one year in one of the biggest film production companies in the world, with one of top directors available on the market.

Well, going back to reality, one month later I was at the American embassy in Milan doing my paperwork and on the 1st of July I landed at LAX, the international airport in Los Angeles. Probably it was only then that I realized that it was not a dream. And if it was, well, I didn't want anybody to wake me up. But that was not all. I forgot to tell you that CHI took care of all the rest too! I came to L.A. and I already had a place where to live. I really didn't have to take care of anything at all. I am staying with wonderful people, in a very nice house. I have all what I need, and I am having fun with them too, laughing most of the time. They're simply great.

Now, middle August, I am one of the happiest persons I've ever met. I am working hard everyday, enjoying every minute of it, learning things that I couldn't even have dreamt about.

Well, keeping it simple, what CHI did for me is to transform a dream into reality. A big dream. And it happened in less than 3 months.

Jasen - Italy

How to Apply!