CHI in the News
The News Times, a local paper in Oregon recently published an article about a group of CHI exchange students.
Wet Welcome
"A large group of exchange students from Beijing, China literally waded into central Oregon coast culture Thursday afternoon by exploring Nye Beach on a typical rainy winter day.Several members of the group used an umbrella to protect their shoes as they cavorted barefoot over the sand and through the water at the shoreline. The students and their academic coordinators hail from the Lebanon-based Southern Oregon Region of Cultural Homestay International (CHI), a nonprofit educational exchange program founded in 1980 to foster international understanding, friendship, and goodwill. CHI places exchange students from more than 40 different nations into American homes, where they stay anywhere from four days to six weeks to directly experience the culture, language, and customs - and share their own."
Au Pairs on Skates
Two separate groups of au pairs recently enjoyed a fun winter pastime - ice skating!
Au Pairs in Virginia:
Au Pairs in Atlanta:
Photos From the Field
This winter, Area Administrator's LuCinda Mountifield and Jennie Fouts gathered a group of students and friends together for a fun day of shopping in Seattle, WA. They had a wonderful time!
Participant Spotlight: Petra 
Slovakian AYP student Petra Fuskova is having a wonderful time here in the United States! She recently wrote this letter about her experience so far.
"It's been already over 5 months since I arrived - in the great Amerika. I like it here a lot and would like to congratulate CHI. My coordinator Pam is great, she helps me, take care of me, we also do various activities together. Also the Michigan APA Lisa is very good. It's wonderful I have such a support here - from the Host Family, school to coordinators, who are very helpful to deal with homesickness. Thank you!"
- Petra
CHI Students Raise Money for Haiti!
Recently a group of six AYP students from the Sacramento area gathered together to raise money for Haiti. They spent five hours at a local supermarket, and by the end of the day had raised $400! The proceeds went to benefit the efforts of UNICEF and the Red Cross in Haiti. We are so proud of their generosity.
CHI in the News!
The Democrat Herald, a local paper in Oregon recently published an article about a group of CHI exchange students.
"LEBANON - They were familiar with birthday parties and blowing out candles. They, too, sing "Happy Birthday," albeit in Chinese.
But pinatas? To the 35 students who traveled to Lebanon from Beijing for a 2 1/2-week visit through Cultural Homestay International, that was a new one.
Puzzled looks on the faces of the students, ages 12 to 18, followed CHI adviser Heidi Durrett of Sodaville on Wednesday as she picked up a wooden stick and stepped under the pinata, suspended from the ceiling of the River Center by a rope controlled by her husband, Doug.
With no blindfold handy, Durrett borrowed an oversized St. Patrick's Day top hat from one of the boys and pulled it over her eyes. Then she took a swing at the cardboard star, while Doug yanked the rope to send it spinning away.
"OHHHHHH!" chorused 35 voices.
The students leave today. The pinata, part of an "unbirthday celebration" to say goodbye, was just one of many surprises to unfold during their stay.
They came to learn English the way Americans speak it - very different than the formal phrases they're taught in class, Durrett said - and to experience American culture.
They stayed with families in Lebanon, Sweet Home, Albany and Brownsville, who took them bowling, to the coast, to church and out to dinner.
In turn, they taught their hosts to use chopsticks and say Chinese phrases. One group of boys made potstickers, with wraps donated from Sum Yan restaurant.
Students had English classes most days at the River Center and had several activities, including playing American board games, participating in a scavenger hunt and eating an American pancake breakfast. One night, Bing's, a Lebanon Chinese restaurant, put on a buffet of traditional dishes for the group.
Ma Yixing, 15, who went by the name "Alice" during her stay, said she especially enjoyed a hike with her host family.
"Here, the air was fresh. I was surprised, because in China there are many cars and the air pollution in some places is very serious," she said, "And the trees, they're very tall. My family told me they have a long history."
Chen Lei, 17, who went by "Nick," said he wasn't expecting shopping prices to be so low, particularly at the Nike store in Portland.
"Very, very cheap," he said, showing off a new pair of black sneakers. "I bought three pairs. The prices of three pairs of shoes, you can just buy one in China."
Host mom Carol Hollingsworth said she took her visitor, Yang Chao, 16, to the Dollar Tree to get a gift for the unbirthday white elephant exchange. Just about everything in the store, she told him beforehand, is made in China.
"He goes, 'I must see this place!'" she said, laughing."
Participant Spotlight: Matt Ma
Below is a letter from Internship participant Matt Ma.
Greetings,
My name is Matt Ma, from China. I started my internship in a waste & recycling company located in Denver Colorado in August 2009.It was a great honor being selected as an 
Internship Program participant and being placed into an incredibly honorable company.
I want to extend my great and sincere appreciation and thanks to Culture Homestay International that introduced this program into China and many other countries. I was privileged to get to know the program and eventually became a member of it. I actually know so many friends in CHI so well and I have also visited CHI's headquarter office myself. I feel so happy to meet them and so grateful for all their help and kindness. CHI assisted with my visa documentations and gave orientations and found me housings and dealt with my medcare insurance and many many rest. I am really proud for being with you extraordinary people and so thankful for all your support all the time along the way!
My main service in my company is to do background check of Chinese partners which want to build business relationships with my company. I am there to make sure that these buyers can handle our export materials in the very right way, and are absolutely environmentally safe and responsible. It has been known that there are many companies out there not taking good care of local surroundings but still running 24/7 with the all full set of licenses, the only reason for this is that they have some "connection" with Chinese government people. So here I came to do all necessary research to ensure that we are not working with a partner that is damaging Chinese environment.
I am very proud of my company for this. And also I have been learning tremendously during my job and from my colleagues, who have my great respects. While during the work, I would often introduce to my company more Chinese traditions, customs, holidays, and how the business goes on in China, specifically from the point of a young and newly-graduated man' view. A lot of times, my colleague were feeling so hard to understand or accept what to us are most common sense and situations in China, I feel, too, sometimes, quite strange for the western way of work. This has been a quite pleasant and fruitful learning process. My company is now getting a lot better about how to conduct business with Chinese companies 
and with Chinese government as well as more Chinese cultures. And I learned so much more about United States. I had my first Thanksgiving Holidays in our Vice President' family party. I received birthday card which has many colleagues' blessings on. They gave me so many rides to visit Denver area and so many places. They took me to football game and my vice president would bring me Time magazines every other week, they even bought raincoat and gloves for me... I am not able to utilize just words to extend my thanks for them and I am so sure that we will be lifelong great friends even though my internship ends next August.
This has been a fabulous year to me, a absolute greatest time of treasure in my life, all my best best and sincere wishes go to you all, my company, all my colleagues, CHI, and all my friends here! Thank you all very very much!
Best withes,
Matt
Welcome New Au Pairs!
CHI Au Pair USA welcomed a fantastic new group of Au Pairs in January! They had a wonderful orientation and are now spending time getting to know their new families!
AYP Student Published in Local Newspaper!
Academic Year student Jeremie Sanem from Belgium recently had an article he wrote published! The article appeared in the "Teen Essay" section of the Press Democrat, a major Santa Rosa, CA newspaper. We are so proud of Jeremie!
Employer Holiday Letter from Work & Travel
Dear Employers,
First and foremost, CHI wants to thank each of you for partnering with us again this winter season. It is our hope that your "International Team" has begun to arrive and is doing well.
Your support of CHI's Work and Travel Program continues to gain recognition around the globe; every season we receive wonderful letters of gratitude from our overseas partner agencies asking us to forward their sincerest appreciation to you. Your examples of professionalism, strong work ethic and incredible caring natures are being emulated by the next generation world wide.
It's hard to believe that with the winter season barely underway, we have already begun our hiring tours for summer 2010 and have placed the first 350 students! If you have not submitted your summer staffing needs as of yet, please do so immediately; our partners have many excited students waiting to fill them!
CHI will be closed December 24 th and 25th; in the event of an emergency the students can call our 24-hour emergency line 1- 800-432-4643. Lost passports are not considered emergencies and will be dealt with December 28 th .
This may be the time of year you may see a bit of homesickness; it's difficult traveling for over 24 hours, settling into a new job in a different country, wondering if English was truly what you were learning all these years in Language school and then spending the holidays all by yourself . So, please be patient, December 26 th will be here soon!
CHI wishes all of you a happy and healthy holiday filled with family and friends!
Warm regards,
CHI Work and Travel Team
2nd Annual ExchangesConnect Video Contest
On November 17th the U.S. Department of State launched the 2nd Annual ExchangesConnect Video Contest. Enter your original video and you will have a chance to win an all-expense-paid international exchange program from the Department of State!
Together with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, we invite you to address this year's theme, "Change Your Climate, Change Our World." Tell us in a video, 2 minutes or less, how you are making your community a better place and contributing to a healthier, safer, cleaner, and more peaceful world for all of us. Check out ExchangesConnect today to view the Secretary's address and for more details about the Video Contest!
ExchangesConnect , managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, is an international social network that promotes mutual understanding by highlighting cultures, commonalities, and exchange program experiences. People from all over the world, ages 14 and older, are invited to submit their videos to ExchangesConnect from November 17, 2009 through January 12, 2010. Videos will be voted on by the ExchangesConnect community. A panel of judges, comprised of ECA international exchange program alumni, will review the community's top rated 40 videos. ECA will then select four winners based on the judges' rankings. The winners will be announced on March 2, 2010, and each will be eligible to participate in an approximately two-week-long ECA international exchange program.
ECA's first video contest attracted over 8,400 members from 180 countries, and over 360 contest entries, in the eight weeks it ran. The announcement of the winners received significant online domestic and international press coverage of the initiative and its impact of growth in ECA's ExchangesConnect social network - now with other 14,250 members! If you haven't already, check out the winning videos from our first ExchangesConnect contest, "My Culture+Your Culture=?"
If you do submit a video, please also send a copy to CHI!
We would love to feature your video on our website!
A Letter of Thanks
In response to CHI turning 30, CHI Founders Tom and Lilka received the touching letter below from past AYP and W&T participant Martin.
Dear Tom and Lilka,
I would like to congratulate you and I am so glad and thankful for the first IDEA you had 30 years ago. It made a possibility to travel abroad, know other cultures and meet people that i will newer forget. It showed me a land of opportunity, land of hope and courage. Your idea made me a better person. Person with vision. And i can truly say, I could not achieve what I did, without your "gift" to me. This gift as a cultural exchange in US, to be part of an American family, to see it customs and to know, that you can bring difference in somebody's life.
I learned that I CAN. The courage of the people gave me hope. Made a way for me. To see that I really could follow my dreams. This change could newer be repaid. Could not be measured. The change to a new, better person is something that you carry all your life with you. Therefore I carry CHI, you Tom and Lilka with me all my way. You were on the beginning of a lifetime journey. A journey that is now full of excitement and joy.
Therefore the thanks goes to you .. all staff of CHI - and also my supporting family, hand in hand with a dream of life.
Thank you,
Martin
Employer Spotlight: Wildwood Linens
CHI Regional Manager Kristina Williamson had the pleasure of working with an amazing employer this summer, Wildwood Linens. Not the most glamorous of jobs, but a well run operation that relies on its international work force and knows just how to make it happen! Kristina wanted to share their story:
Wildwood Linens is a year round business employing over 90 year round staff as well as taking on 60 international students and 60 or so domestic college students in the summer season. They provide clean linen 
for many of the businesses on the Jersey Shore. What makes them a fantastic placement for our Work and Travel Participants is that Wildwood Linens as an employer goes out of its' way to make sure that the summer students get a cultural experience as well as make a decent wage in a full-time job situation.
The management at Wildwood Linens makes sure the students know exactly what to expect before even arriving in Wildwood. They have an interactive website with pictures of students in action, extensive job descriptions, very clear arrival instructions, housing information, and a lot of information about the area the students will be living in. All of the information a student craves before departure. They also reach out to the students in advance, check and double check arrival information and work closely with the CHI staff before student arrival.
As an employer they offer a summer employee orientation with all summer workers, domestic and international which includes a Pizza Party, during the first weeks of arrival. They welcome the students with full support! They encourage our International Students to work side by side with their domestic counterparts.
They provide a full-time employee, Joe Lloyd, designated to the students. Joe offers trips for the students to such places as Philadelphia, Niagara Falls, Washington DC, and New York City, as well as visiting water parks and amusement parks. He is on site at the housing for all 
the student's needs. He is their go to guy if the students have any issues at all.
Housing is located in Wildwood Crest where there is access to the beach communities of Wildwood and Cape May. Housing is dorm style with two to four to a room. There is a shared kitchen with four refrigerators for the kids to share. The wonderful thing about Wildwood housing is if the students stay to the end of their contract they get 100% of their $75 a week housing back as an end of the year bonus! Incentive to stay, wouldn't you say?
Wildwood Linen is my star employer of 2009!!
Recently I received a letter from management at Wildwood Linen that I feel compelled to share:
Dear Kristina,
My experience with CHI, during the summer of 2009 was nothing short of outstanding.
Heather Gale, was always available for any and all situations that the students who used CHI, might have occurred no matter how minor it seemed. Her personal telephone number and e-mail address were posted in our Linen Lodge, and the students took full advantage of the information.
She even was able to assist a couple of them in getting a "Second Job", that allowed them to make additional money. Heather, visited our Linen Lodge resident building, every other Wednesday, the entire summer and sat and spoke with the students regarding any issue that might have come up for them.
Over the years, we have had students that had used other agencies, but those agency never had personal contact with the students like CHI. You could call a "Toll Free" number, and speak to someone in an office that had no personal connection to the student and would give a standard answer to questions that were asked but no one ever responded to assist the student.
If any other employer was to contact me and ask my opinion of CHI, it would be a very firm positive response that the employer could not go wrong by hiring with CHI.
Have a good trip to Thailand and hope to hear from you upon your return.
Best regards - Joe
Thank you Wildwood Linens!
Coordinator Spotlight: Joani McCullough
Joani McCullough has only been working for CHI Au Pair USA since April, but she has already made a big name for herself within the company. Based in Atlanta, Joani started with just two au pairs, but has quickly progressed, and is now proud to be overseeing six in her area. She has a strong personal belief in giving to others, and enjoys the opportunities created by the CHI Au Pair USA program to share that belief, and do good for the community.
The program is a good fit for Joani because she has a personal history as a host mom. When her two children were young, Joani took advantage of the wonderful benefits an Au Pair program offers, and the rewards have been immeasurable. She cherishes the time her and her family had with their international guests. They still keep in touch with those au pairs, and even go so far as to take vacations to visit them in their home countries, whenever they can.
Joani tries to instill in her au pairs an understanding of the importance of volunteering. For this year's National Volunteer Week in May, she was able to put that understanding into practice. Joani took a group of her Georgia-based au pairs to volunteer at Atlanta's local Ronald McDonald House, where they served meals to families with sick children. They even had an article on their experience that day published on a local website.
The success of that day inspired her to continue the new tradition, and recently, Joani and her au pairs embarked on another day in that spirit. This time, they volunteered for MedShare, an organization that collects surplus medical supplies and equipment from doctors' offices and hospitals, and distributes them throughout developing countries. The au pairs spent the day sorting and packing the supplies, and as in May, did a great job. Of course, they were all rewarded for their effort with a fun pizza dinner afterwards, which is always a big hit.
For the au pairs, volunteering has the added benefits of giving them a unique opportunity to see our country in a humanitarian way, as well as helping to shed light on some of the issues that every society, whether local or abroad, must work to overcome. There are so many good causes to help, and once the seed of volunteerism is planted in one person's mind, that spirit can spread to countless more individuals.
As much as Joani gives to her au pairs, she knows that they give her just as much back, and then some. She oversees a wonderful group of caring and intelligent individuals, and says that she loves getting to know each and every one of them. She looks forward to continuing to grow her au pair base in Georgia, and we look forward to her continuing to touch people with her selflessness and caring.
CHI Turns 30! 
From Tom and Lilka Areton - Cultural Homestay International turns 30!
November 1, 2009
Dear Friends,
Today marks a CHI milestone, the first day of our 30 th year!
As with every undertaking, CHI started with an idea. The idea was to form a better student exchange program, to more effectively contribute to friendship and harmony among the young people of the world. The concomitant goal was to show off the best of our country, the USA, to the future leaders of their respective nations: our experiment in democracy, the ideals of volunteering, the willingness of host families to share their hearts and homes with complete strangers, the businesses risking so much to employ or train unknown students from foreign lands, as well as the endless spontaneity, inventiveness, and optimism that is America. The third goal was to educate our own citizens about other countries, cultures and customs, and to experience the commonality of the human experience that unifies all of us.
It is hard to believe today that our "first" students are almost 50. They have careers, families and children in their 20's. Many of the life decisions our students have made were profoundly affected by their homestay experience in the United States. Just as we envisioned, the students Lilka and I hosted have become "better," more involved, citizens of their countries. Their jobs range from doctors, English teachers, overseas travel directors to business leaders and commercial artists. It is a source of joy to visit them and see CHI's pictures, itineraries and even insurance cards hanging on the walls of their apartments and houses as mementos of their life-changing journey.
It makes us truly proud of all of you to see CHI flying so high with endless activities of fun, education, and self-discovery, involving thousands of Americans and our overseas participants. I think Lilka expressed it best, when, after reading the latest issue of CHI Chatter, she wrote to the Directors:
I am looking at this little business we started so many years ago. Today I see such a vast organization for good that I hardly have words. The part I like is that everyone is sort of running his/her own little business. Those who do this open for themselves a huge opportunity for creativity and for positive action. There is no way anyone could do this alone. It is done by hundreds of people who are given some guidelines and then released to be all they can be. I am so utterly moved by all this and I truly believe that each person who follows his/her dream and passion can bring so much goodness to the world. It doesn't seem to take money. It doesn't take authoritarianism. It just takes opening to possibilities, believing in one another, realizing and releasing the genuine humanity we all have within us. I am proud that Tom and I had the courage to start this organization. I am honored to be here among all the participants who do all these incredible deeds. But most of all I am humbled by the beauty and the inspirational generosity of CHI's people. Thank you all, Lilka
The truth is that CHI outgrew both of us long ago; it has a life of its own. From two telephones on the family room table in 1980 to this multi-faceted, global organization, dedicated to making our world a better place. So on this day both Lilka and I salute all our tireless CHI staff, our courageous students, the giving American host families, our work experience program employers, as well as the U.S. Department of State and all our overseas partners, for making this wondrous organization possible.
Let's make this, our 30 th year, the best, most productive and most innovative year in CHI's history.
Happy Founders' Day!
Tom and Lilka
Work and Travel Hiring Tour: Colombia and Peru!
CHI's recent hiring trip to Colombia and Peru was a great success! Chrissy Snow, Teresa Otto fares and Mitzi Aldridge from Boddie Noel participated in this adventure into South America!
In Colombia, CHI partnered up with a new agency GLO - Global International Studies. There we interviewed 7 students with the promise of many more. They were very accommodating and gracious as they learned the CHI way. We also met up with a long time agency STC - Student Travel Center. STC always brings on the numbers as we interviewed over 75 students, a great turn out! Then we met with TRM -Trotamundos, for another job fair containing 23 students. All the students did a wonderful job and the CHI crew enjoyed another wonderful trip to Colombia.
CHI then safely arrived in Lima Peru to meet up with INJ - Intej, one of Peru's oldest and largest agencies, for students. CHI interviewed over 160 students! Well done INJ!
And, of course, we gained another partner in Lima Peru with IEP - International Experience Peru. They did an exceptional job with the orientation. The students did great interviewing with Mitzi, who got the WHOLE group saying "Hi, ya'll!". It was awesome!
Although we were not able to place all the students, we are constantly working with the agencies to make sure the right student is placed in the right job.
AYP Student Joins High School Volleyball Team!
Tokay Tigers welcome CHI newcomer Enrica Bosco to their volleyball team. With Enrica's help they hope to host the playoffs this year!
Read the full article!
Work and Travel Students in Action!
W&T students take a bit of time out from their duties at Johnny Rockets in Myrtle Beach, SC to pose for some fun pictures! They are doing a great job and having a great time!
Travel Abroad for Americans in Spain!
This summer students from J.R. Tucker High School, located in Henrico, VA spent their fourth summer participating in CHI's Travel Abroad for Americans program.
The group's destination this year was Spain. They spent three days in Madrid sightseeing before going to Malaga for their homestay experience.
The students had a wonderful and memorable experience!
"CHI Traveler" Mileage and Referral Program!
Attention Employers! The Work & Travel program is pleased to present you with a new and very exciting program - "CHI Traveler"!
This program was designed with the goal of giving all of you the opportunity of spreading the word about the benefits of the Work & Travel program to other American businesses, and earning CHI miles at the same time. Due to program specifics and limited availability, only the largest employers qualify to participate in our overseas travels and experience firsthand the hiring events in these amazing countries. Now, we are giving this chance to everyone!
How can you participate?
- Refer CHI's Work & Travel Program to other businesses in your area, your industry, or just about anywhere nationwide
- For every business which registers and employs W&T participants, you earn 10,000 CHI miles. You will be able to see your mileage balance in your online profile.
- Once you earn 70,000 CHI miles, you qualify to participate in a CHI hiring tour abroad. We will be happy to place you in the most appropriate tour based on your needs and the various markets' needs.
- You join a team of experienced CHI travelers and get to meet your participants in person
- Once you are back, we are sure you will be on your way towards your new 70,000 miles!!!
If you have any questions, please contact your Employment Services Manager.
Good luck to all present and future CHI Travelers!!!
CHI Work and Travel USA and Citi Field Make a Winning Team!
Ballparks, more so than venues in any other sport, have always captured the imagination of those who walk through the turnstiles. That first
view of the field upon exiting the tunnel, the smell of freshly cut grass, the thrill of catching a foul ball, the sound of a packed house cheering on their favorite team - these are cherished memories that baseball fans of every generation can relate to. This year, the New York Mets have provided fans a chance to create countless more cherished memories with the opening of their beautiful new ballpark, Citi Field, and CHI is lucky enough to be a part of it.
With the help of ARAMARK, the Mets' food, beverage and retail merchandise partner, participants in CHI's Work and Travel program have been welcomed into Citi Field with open arms, and are employed throughout the ballpark this summer. Citi Field is currently home to over thirty CHI staffers from Jamaica, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, and Croatia. There is a good chance that the person who sold your Shake Shack burger, or helped your son play wiffle ball in the 2K Sports FanFest, is one of our W&T participants. These young men and women have been given a unique opportunity to participate in the inaugural season of baseball at Citi Field, and enjoy all it has to offer.
Citi Field represents a link to New York's glorious baseball heritage of the past, while at the same time providing the Mets with a first class home for the future. By opening its doors to our Work and Travel participants, Citi Field continues New York's heritage of being a melting pot 
of cultures. The new ballpark won over Ukrainian Work and Travel participant Andrii Suslenko from the start. He gushes, "I have never seen such a state of the art facility like Citi Field!" Andrii loves his co-workers, and gets a kick out of being able to work with individuals from all around the world - something he would not have been able to do at home. Fellow participant, Jamaican Kerry-Ann Irving, says one of her favorite parts of the job is that ballpark visitors often notice her home country displayed on her nametag, which becomes a wonderful conversation starter. Kerry-Ann is also thrilled to be learning more about baseball. Before her job at Citi Field, Kerry-Ann had never been to a baseball game, but now she's becoming a fan.
ARAMARK Senior Human Resources Manager Kathy Fanning, who oversees the participants, has been impressed by the work ethic and professionalism of her young international employees. "This year for our first season at Citi Field we worked with CHI and we have over 30 international students working at Citi Field serving our guests" Kathy says. "They are exceptional and we couldn't be happier. They are enthusiastic and energetic, and happy to be here and always working with a smile".
The Mets have been an integral part of the fabric of New York since they first emerged from the ashes of the departed Dodgers and Giants in 1962. From the early years as lovable losers, to the Miracle of '69 and an Amazin' '73, right on through a magical '86 and a Subway Series in 2000, the Mets have always provided their fans with memories to last a lifetime. In 2009, Citi Field has added another signature chapter to their ongoing story, and CHI is proud to be partnering with ARAMARK and the Mets organization to give young people from around the world the chance to experience this chapter first hand through our Work and Travel program. We look forward to continuing this relationship, as well as continuing to cheer on the Mets in their new home, in the years to come.
Italian Group Homestay Students Enjoy California!
A group of students from Italy just finished their three week stay in beautiful Northern California. The participants enjoyed wonderful sights and made long lasting friendships during their stay.
Participant Spotlight: Yumiko
Last summer Tokyo native Yumiko Hashikita was just 26 years old, and enjoying the spoils of being a new bride. Soon after getting married 
Yumiko decided it was time to focus on her career. While looking for the best way to improve her skills and get first hand knowledge of her interested profession, Yumiko discovered the CHI Internship Program.
It was Yumiko's love of children and desire to gain first hand experience in a work environment that led her to CHI's Internship Program. After applying, Woodcrest Preschool in Newbury Park, California, seemed like a perfect fit for her skills and interests. She enrolled in the program as a teacher's assistant for six months.
Yumiko greatly enjoyed her time in America. She improved her English speaking skills and learned the ins and outs of how a preschool in America is run. She also gained valuable insight into the day to day responsibilities of the teaching staff. Yumiko thought that California's weather was wonderful and the people were very kind and friendly. She made such a strong 
connection with the students and her fellow staff that on her last day, when she had to go back to Japan, the children and other staff members all sang a special song just for her. Yumiko was moved to tears by this simple but sweet gesture, and it remains one of her most cherished memories from her time with the CHI Internship Program.
Now, six months later Yumiko is back in her homeland and has parlayed her internship experience into a prestigious position at Japan's International Preschool, using the very skills that she acquired last summer at California's Woodcrest Preschool. Her current position even involves speaking English on a regular basis, something she was able to practice extensively during her internship. Yumiko is on cloud nine, enjoying her dream job, and looking forward to all that is to come, and she credits her time with CHI for helping her get started on the fast track to success. Good luck Yumiko! CHI wishes you continued happiness in everything you do!
Host Family Spotlight: Marian & Paul
CHI received a wonderful letter from Marion and Paul Hinds, a host family from Steilacoom, WA. They recently said goodbye to Tatsuya, a Japanese participant in CHI's Academic Year Program, who stayed with them during the school year. They enjoyed having Tatsuya in their home, and wanted to share their experience with us:
Dear CHI,
We have really enjoyed having Tatsuya, our Japanese [AYP] exchange student, with us this year. We have learned much from him, and it will be difficult to have him leave. He will be missed by us and members of our family and friends. We were so pleased at how much he enjoyed being a part of our family and participating in our special family activities.
Tatsuya is a fine, thoughtful and generous young man with good morals, a good mind, and appreciative of being in our home and in the United States. He has made some excellent friends with whom he will continue his friendship when he returns to Japan. He's had a lot of fun with them in many activities, including teaching some of them to dance! He was obviously really touched by being included as a senior and participating in graduation and other senior activities.
We all know that Tatsuya will be back! I told him that his room will be waiting for him, and there will be his friends and our friends eager to see him!
Best wishes and thanks!
Blessings,
Marian and Paul Hinds
If you would like to host an Academic Year Program student please visit www.chinet.org/ayp today!
Work and Travel Students Enjoy Maine!
Work & Travel USA participants from Taiwan, Serbia and Jamaica recently gathered together for a fun outing in Maine. They took a break from their work at Fun 1 Games in Old Orchard Beach, Maine to enjoy a lobster dinner at Clambake and then watch the sunset while eating delicious ice cream.
Welcome Group Homestay Students!
CHI's Group Homestay Program welcomed two new groups of students on July 11th. The pair of groups, consisting of boys and girls ages 14-17, both hail from Chongqing, China, and are staying with host families in the Seattle area communities of Port Orchard and Poulsbo, Washington.
The two groups will each be here for just over three weeks and are looking forward to a fun-filled time in America. Highlights of the planned agenda include trips to Mt. Rainier National Park, a Native American reservation, the Microsoft Museum and the University of Washington. The participants are also excited to see the Pacific Ocean, as back home they live inland, and have never before had the opportunity to see the ocean. Of course they'll also spend some time in downtown Seattle, and will enjoy a grand finale detour to Southern California and Disneyland before heading home.
Everyone at CHI would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to those who made this Group Homestay placement possible, especially all of the wonderful host families who have truly opened their doors to the world. The students have already begun to make great new memories in America.
Expand Your Horizons Video Contest!
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As a member of WYSE Work Abroad, Cultural Homestay International encourages you to showcase your creative talents by joining WYSE Work Abroad's "Expand Your Horizons" Video Contest. Submit a 2-3 minute video about your work abroad, volunteer, work and travel, or internship experience, and you could win US$2,000!
Find out more about this exciting contest by visiting WYSE Work Abroad's website at www.wyseworkabroad.org.
Contest ends on 15 August 2009!
Participant Spotlight: Eugen
Work and Travel participant Eugen from Moldova has been working at Johnny Rockets in Myrtle Beach, SC since May 13th. Eugen is a server at the fun 50's style diner.
Recently a secret shopper came into the restaurant and was waited on by Eugen. Eugen did an excellent job and received 100% on his serving abilities. Adam, the director of operations at Johnny Rockets couldn't be more thrilled.
WAY TO GO EUGEN!
Travel Abroad for Americans in Japan!
CHI's Travel Abroad for Americans program, a part of the Outbound department, arranges exciting trips to a number of international travel destinations every year.
The most recent of these excursions began on June 24th, when a group of seven American high school students and their coordinator Kay Jones, departed from Seattle, WA en route to Narita, Japan.
During their three week visit, the group will travel throughout Japan taking in many of the popular and hisitoric locations. Among the places on their itinerary are Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Himeji Castle and Kyoto.
Coordinator Kay Jones is keeping a wonderful log of the groups activities. Below is an excerpt from their third day.
Day 3 - Group Homestay to Japan
This morning we met at 10:00 in the lobby. The kids hang out there quite a bit since there are computers for them to use there, so it is easy to find them. My friend Shigeo met us; we made a trip to the Tokyo Metropolitan Building (City Hall) because it has an observation deck which is open to the public. Today the weather was hot, but pretty clear for Tokyo, so the kids were able to see a pretty good view of the city.
Participants enjoy a baseball game!
For lunch we ate at a small simple stand right by the entrance to the park. To order each person buys the appropriate ticket from a vending machine. Kids tried ramen, curry rice, soba and udon. They are all working on their chopstick skills and everyone is eating. A couple of them remarked that they spend a lot more money on drinks than they figured. It is much hotter here than in our part of Washington, so the heat is a big change for them. It reminds me of my childhood in Georgia.
Then we discovered the "takeuma" which means bamboo horse, known in English as stilts. I had some when I was a kid, so I had a turn. I was very impressed with how quickly the kids picked it up. They also discovered kakikoori, or shaved ice. While they were eating, I met some very nice Japanese folks who had graduated from high school together many years ago; they were having a reunion. We chatted quite a while, and in good Japanese fashion, we took a photo together. We spent several hours looking at the buildings, then headed back to Shibuya.
Participants trying stilts for the first time!
The kids are getting very good about exploring on their own, which pleases me immensely. I just ask them not to venture out alone. They all have the hotel list with their passports, and we have discussed strategies to take in the unlikely event that something weird happens. They were on the prowl in Shibuya for about three hours; everyone has been really terrific about being back at the designated meeting places on time.
I was able to meet Shigeo, Yukiko and their Italian exchange student for a little while; they also introduced me to a couple of their other friends. We had dinner together, and I tried food from Nepal for the first time. It was tasty but a bit on the spicy side. Their exchange student is leaving on Monday; she has been here for three months.
We returned to the hotel shortly before 10; I didn't hear any complaints about coming in then. Although we take lots of buses and trains, we do a lot of walking. Getting to and from train platforms involves a lot of stairs, so I think they are getting a workout. Today we were on the move from 10am until 10pm. No couch potatoes here!
Tomorrow will be our last full day in Tokyo. We are going to take a look at Meijijingu, Harajuku and Akihabara. More soon!
Atlanta Au Pairs Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House
Recently, a group of au pairs visited the new Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta to help prepare dinner for families staying there. With over 60,000 square feet of space and 50 bedrooms, this wonderful $15.7 million facility provides temporary housing and emotional support to families of ill and injured children in the Atlanta area.
The CHI Au Pair USA program matches au pairs from six continents and over 25 countries with American families. During the yearlong program, au pairs live with their host families and experience US culture from a first hand perspective. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds and most speak a number of languages. All share a love of children, and a desire to learn more about America.
The event at Ronald McDonald House was arranged by CHI's local Atlanta coordinator, Joani McCullough, who was inspired by this year's National Volunteer Week theme of 'Celebrating People in Action'. Brazilian au pair Leticia Francio, who is staying with a local Georgia family, served as one of the cooks for the day. She said "this event gave me an opportunity to help families whose children are sick and in the hospital. I love to cook. It was inspiring to prepare a meal for these families and hear their stories."
The event proved to be a rewarding experience for everyone involved. The families received home cooked meals, the au pairs came away with a better appreciation of community service in America, and the Ronald McDonald House was grateful for the help.
CHI Participates in San Rafael Street Painting Festival!
Just as every year for the past 5 years, CHI again sponsored a "canvass square" at the annual Street Painting Festival in San Rafael, CA, 2 miles from CHI's Main office. The Festival benefits the Youth in Arts Foundation. Robin Braunfeld, our on-again, off-again CHI co-worker and friend, was in charge of the square. "As lead artist for the 3rd year in a row it is fun coming up with something new, original and clever," Robin said yesterday, his T-shirt and face smudged with colorful chalk. "This year I created a composite of 3 impressionist painters and titled it 'Impressionist Soup.' The three artists were van Gogh, Monet, and the lesser known female impressionist, Berthe Morisot. There were many compliments from passers-by, asking about the painting, about Cultural Homestay and our CHI mission. Today I feel tired and sore, but it was well worth it. Many CHI people either stopped by or assisted in the painting."
From Left to Right: Marinella (CHI Work & Travel Dpt.), Lenka's mother (Zorka), Tom's mother (Betka), Robin Braunfeld (the lead painter), Lilka, Lenka's father (Milan), Lenka, Lenka's daughter Jiya (10 mos.), and Davora (Robin's S.O.). Lenka is CHI's accountant. Her parents, Milan and Zorka, arrived from Slovakia just 3 hours before this picture was taken. Tom and Lilka are CHI co-founders.
Our thank you goes to all CHI painters and thank you, Robin!
CHI Founders Tom and Lilka Tour Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan!
Have you ever heard of Almaty, Astana, Karaganda or Tashkent? Frankly, 
we had never heard of these far-away cities either, until we landed on a vast green hillside, cut by rushing rivers off snow-capped Alp-like mountains. It was the great city of Almaty, in southern Kazakhstan, Central Asia. Tom and I went there searching for new partners and new students for our programs. We also visited our existing partners and participated in educational fairs, organized by WYSTC.
Astounded by the spectacular sights surrounding us, we were equally surprised by the laughing, friendly multi-ethnic people we found there. Originally, there were Parthians, Kazakhs, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Mongols, Afghans, Persians, Chinese, Uyghur and others. Over the last century, Stalin deported or moved politically inconvenient populations from various parts of the USSR to this "Godforsaken" region of the earth. So we encountered Volga Germans, Crimean Tatars, European Russians, Jews, Koreans, Romanians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Turks and even Chechens. At that time, they were forbidden to speak their own languages so they all learned to use Russian as their Esperanto. Of course, they began to intermarry and today you have a country with hundreds of ethnic mixtures and combinations. Over the many centuries, these people have traded their goods along the famous Silk Road, sharing their styles, food, stories, languages, clothes, religions, and spices from everywhere, enriching all their lives. During the Soviet times, we did not hear a great deal about these exotic lands but today, under still-delicate democracies, they are revealing themselves to us. It was a source of enormous pride for them to discover how much we appreciated their culture and their way of life.
When we read Marco Polo in our history classes, we may have read about the great Uzbek cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, our next stop. At one time in their histories, they were the centers of civilization; vast trading towns, connected by caravans, crossed by millions of nomads and persons from both the east and the west. Some days, Tom and I would just have to pinch ourselves. Were we really standing here in this unknown and remote part of the world? We delighted in the food, the spices, the camelhair purses, the crochet weavings of gorgeous flowers, fruits, grapes, trees, pomegranates, and yes, the woven silk made from their silk worms which they feed by harvesting thousands of mulberry trees, lining the Silk Road even today. We swooned at their mosques, their exquisite tile work, and their beautiful breathtaking squares.
All the while, we were grateful that these young Central Asian students are finally getting permission to visit the USA. They will work here for a few months, travel a bit, go back home, and apply all that they have absorbed into their own lives. Most of the young people who speak English have been on one of our programs. We could see the excitement in their voices and their eyes when they spoke about their experiences, about what they learned, and, dare I say it, about discovering the secret to America's promise: the idea that they can achieve anything in life if they work hard and keep overcoming obstacles.
Those with whom we will be working as partners are inspired and inspiring. They have all been to the USA at least once and the few that have not, are anticipating coming soon. Tom and I welcome them and we know that our businesses, our host families, and the people of America will enjoy them and embrace them as they embraced us.
-Lilka
CHI's AYP Student Wins $40,000 Scholarship!
The following is an excerpt from The Olympian , published on June 7, 2009.
"Bogdan Milanovic, 18, of Olympia, is a 2009 winner of the prestigious $40,000 Entrepreneurial Scholarship from the McKelvey Foundation, a national nonprofit that fosters teen entrepreneurship, He is one of 73 teens, selected from 1,200 applications nationwide, for the coveted scholarship that recognizes and rewards teens who have started and are successfully running their own businesses. A senior at Olympia High School, Milanovic founded Bogmil Website Consulting ( http://www.bogmil.com/ ), a company that specializes in Web site marketing, Web site brokerage and Internet consulting. Milanovic will attend the University of Washington in the fall and will major in business administration, according to the foundation."
http://www.theolympian.com/education/story/873879.html
CHI Au Pair USA - Summer Special
$1 Host Family Application Fee! For a limited time, CHI Au Pair USA is offering an incredible discount for host families. From now until September 30th, fill out a host family application for just $1! Now is the time to open your doors to the world. Experience the benefits of CHI Au Pair USA today!
CHI understands that the economic downturn is weighing on people throughout the US. CHI continues to offer a program that combines quality and affordability for families. In addition to the $1 application fee, CHI will offer the same 2008 program fees for host families that sign up now.
Visit the Au Pair page for more information: CHI Au Pair USA 
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CHI Students Attend Camp Casey!
Taking students to Camp Casey has become a wonderful tradition for CHI. Back in 1977, CHI Director Jackie Sant-Myerhoff took the first group of CHI students to this beautiful camp located on Whidbey Island, in Puget Sound near Seattle. She was accompanied by CHI APA Jeanette Stanway. This first trip was such a success that a new group of CHI students experience Camp Casey every year.
This year's trip took place in April, as Kathy Lawrence, Taunie Murray, Jennie Fouts and Lucinda Mountifield, all APA's from Oregon and Washington, took a group of 65 students to Camp Casey.
The weather was beautiful and the kids really enjoyed being outdoors. They walked along the beach, played games and also took part in the local Oak Harbor Parade. Students represented their countries with flags. In the evening the students participated in a talent show. Everyone involved had a wonderful time and came away with great friendships from all over the world.
Participant Spotlight: Belle!
Yang Liu (Belle) - Beijing native Belle, 27, is currently participating in CHI's Internship Training Program. Belle is interning at the Briara Trading Company in Pennsylvania. She loves her position in business management and has learned a great deal about business as well as working with others. In her free time she likes to travel and experience US culture.
Employer Spotlight: Scot Evans at Supervalu!
Scot Evans at Supervalu is someone that we should all try to be like. He not only embraces the work and travel program; but he is one of the most caring; respectful employers I have ever met. This year he has had to deal with an CHI intern being hit by a car; he handled this situation as if he were the parent of the intern not just an employer. He had even set up a line for the mother of the student to be able to call in at any time. He found him the best doctors and then had him transported to Salt Lake City.
Scot has one of the highest returnee rates of any employer; this is because he treats his students with respect and gives them value. His trainings are thorough and he has organized every detail to make the students transition into the work place seamless. He has even coordinated a day for the Social Security Administration to come to Supervalu and assist the students with the applications.
Scot has participated in numerous hiring tours
and is well respected amongst his peers and a joy to travel with. He also has a wonderful wife and family and has always offered his home when I am in the area visiting students.
I feel very fortunate to have Scot and Supervalu as one of my employers and it's been a privilege to have partnered with them all these years.
-Deborah McCardle, CHI ESM
Attention CHI Alumni!
The Department of State is encouraging those that are interested in cultural exchange to participate in discussion through an international social network, ExchangesConnect. We hope you will take advantage of this wonderful site the Department of State has created.
topThe Ripple Effect Of Hosting
Have you ever considered hosting a student or an au pair from another country? Someone who will live in your home as a member of your family? Are you aware that this experience will probably change your life and your child's life forever?
Before Tom and I began to host, we found ourselves reluctant. We had two little girls, 4 and 7. We treasured our privacy. We lived in a small house with no extra money. Our curiosity got the better of us and we decided to try hosting in spite of our reluctance. We selected a girl from Japan who seemed to have quite good English. Our children were beside themselves with joy. Suddenly they had a big sister who would play with them. Since her English was not as good as we thought, the girls found they could take care of her like a little sister. On the second day, she began to play cards with them. It was a universal language. Our Japanese girl, Chiharu, who was 23, began to blend with our family. In just three short weeks, she found loving understanding from my children who had never known a person from another country. My husband, yes, Tom Areton, was staying up with our "new daughter" until 1AM asking her all manner of questions about Japan like "How do the Japanese pay their bills?" or "What does your father do for a living?" Our sweet student tried valiantly to answer him. We discovered that the Japanese live very differently from the Americans. This was such a delightful discovery that we found ourselves fascinated. Our children too were utterly intrigued by her unique values. One of them said, "Your mom and dad don't hug or give each other a kiss in front of you in Japan?" Her mother and father showed affection in front of the family. Needless to say, we were all hooked and we were all in love. She had quickly become a family treasure. Our loving relationship has lasted for many years after she returned home.
Thirty two years later we are still hosting students, now from all over the world. I had a third daughter six years after we first started hosting and she grew up with two to three Japanese children, a whole family from Brooklyn who now lived in Japan and hardly spoke English, three Slovak girls, and a Mongolian who went to high school here. There were many other short-term visitors from many countries. Even today, as I write these lines, we are hosting a young Slovak family downstairs in our au pair quarters. It is their 4th year with us and they now have a little two year old girl! Even more amazing, because of our experience with Chiharu and some others, we decided to start CHI.
CHI's 200,000 hosting families, some of whom have had almost a hundred students coming through their welcoming homes, can also attest to international friendships that go on for decades. We know the ripple effect hosting a foreign person can have on our lives. Some of our children have become diplomats. Some work in the travel business. A few have married people from others countries. Many have taken opportunities to travel. A great many visit their students abroad, attend their weddings, and welcome them back on their return visits. Most importantly, families who host begin to see the world through "different" eyes. By becoming more tolerant and understanding of other cultures and by cherishing their world-wide friendships, they become better citizens of our own country.
CHI has many programs that bring young students to our shores. Our Au Pair program allows young people to live with a family, attend classes, and care for the children while the mother is working. Group Homestays bring high school students in the spring and summer for up to 4 weeks. These students study English conversation and interact with their host families in the evenings and on weekends. Some students attend our high schools for 1 or 2 semesters. These young people literally become members of their new American families and of their high schools. Overseas University students come as Interns, training in American businesses. Even some of these stay with a family when they first arrive in order to learn about how we live.
And what happened to our 23 year old Chiharu we hosted 32 years ago? She became an English teacher, married another Japanese student from the same homestay group who became a neurosurgeon and they have two daughters, both studying medicine.
Happy End, indeed!
topCHI is now on Facebook!
CHI is now on Facebook! If you are too - visit the main CHI page or the CHI Au Pair USA page.
topHoliday Message to the Employers
Dear Employers,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from CHI!!! We wish you all the best and hope that this year will bring you success, happiness and love.
CHI believes that each new year will add to the numbers of people all over the world, who are brave enough to explore the world together with us. Right now those people, our Winter WT Participants, are in need for help. Many of them do not have enough hours to support themselves and no matter how hard we try, we cannot assist them on our own. We need your help!
We understand that probably you don't need any additional help this winter season (if you do, please let us know). But maybe, as the member of your community, you may know if there are any needs for businesses around. If you see the note on the door "Help wanted", if you hear anybody talking about getting help - please remember CHI and let us know. Full time job, part time job, couple of hours a week - anything will be a great Christmas Present for the kids, who are far away from home struggling to find the way to earn money and bring some home.
We thank you beforehand.
Warm Regards,
Work & Travel Department
http://www.chinet.org/wt/
topAu Pair doing great
Going into Winter, we are still expanding and receiving more and more Au Pair applications from different countries. We recently placed our first Hungarian, Uzbek and Filipina. We are continuing to receive more and more applicants from exotic countries such as Kazakhstan as well. Our extension rate is increasing and ½ to 2/3 of our Au Pairs are extending for a second year with either a new family or the same family as before. We are also expanding our territories to Santa Fe, NM; West Palm Beach, FL; Hartford, CT; Long Island, NY and Las Vegas, NV.
topRussian Work and Travel participant Liubov Spiridonova excels as a River and Trail Outfitters Rafting Guide
Liubov Spiridonova, 21, from St. Petersburg, Russia, is a wonderful example of someone making the most of their participation in CHI's Work and Travel program. She has been working as a Rafting Guide at River and Trail Outfitters in Knoxville, MD for 3 months, and has quickly begun to excel at her position.
She recently showed off her skills by guiding two CHI employees on a thrilling and informative river rafting adventure. She impressed her passengers with her expansive knowledge of the local area, regaling them with tales of its history, as well as pointing out the many notable landmarks along their path. Her talent for her job was readily apparent, as she safely guided the raft down the river with ease, one time even freeing the raft from rocks it had become tangled in, showing off her skill and strength.
It is apparent that Liubov is a wonderful rafting guide, and passionate about what she does. She is a perfect example of an enthusiastic participant being ideally suited to their workplace, and shows just how rewarding CHI's Work and Travel program can be. We wish Liubov continued success in all of her pursuits, be they on land or in the water.
topFourteen young people from Russia, Moldova and the Ukraine are calling Salamanca home for the summer months, while working at the Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel
International students made welcome by new friends in Salamanca
By Amanda Grabowski
Lifestyles Editor
SALAMANCA "Fourteen young people from Russia, Moldova and the Ukraine are calling Salamanca home for the summer months, while working at the Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel. All are participants in the Work Travel Program, which places international university students, or recent graduates, in US companies to work as seasonal staff during their summer break.
Given an selection of international resort locations to choose from, this particular group decided to pick Salamanca as their destination because the Seneca Allegany Casino made the best job proposal they said. None of them were acquainted with each other until after they arrived in Salamanca.
At the Casino the students work primarily in food service and greet the Casino visitors. All of the international guests are in or near their early 20s and many are studying economics. Most come from large cities and mentioned being a little surprised to see what a small place Salamanca is.
All said they are enjoying their time here, but most miss their families at home and "Mom's cooking." "At home we eat more foods that we cook ourselves, like soups," said Margarita Kirillova from Russia. They said they were impressed with the beauty of the area, the nature and clean air, but sad to discover the lack of public transportation and how difficult it would be for them to get around.
"We were looking for an apartment to rent, since our hotel rooms were to expensive for us. We happened to meet Richie Zurat while we were shopping at the Dollar Store," said Anastasia Bilych. Before the day was over, Zurat had become a champion for the group and had enlisted others to come to their aid. Not only were two rental houses found for the young people, but they were filled with furnishings and necessities to set up house keeping.
Rich and Sue Zurat, Ron and Patty Yehl, Leo and Debbie Maley, the Crist family, Kim and Edd Dry, Kevin and Marsha Hill and George and Allie Emerson, all had a hand in making the students comfortable and feel welcome.
Since they no longer qualified for the shuttle to and from the Casino after moving into their own places, Zurat obtained bicycles for the visitors to ride. This way they can go to and from work and around town. "They really need people to offer them transportation to take them to places such as Niagara Falls, Darrien Lake and to the area shopping malls," said Zurat, who encourages others in Salamanca to make acquaintance with the visitors.
"Stop and talk to them at 45 Central or 509 Wildwood," he said. "Invite them over for family get-togethers," he said.
"We are so thankful to all the people who have been so nice to use, especially Richie Zurat," said Irina Bujor from Moldova.
http://www.salamancapress.com/articles/2008/07/23/news/doc48877eef9f9bd576355700.txt
topStudents working in York, Maine attend a local mixer held by the Chamber of Commerce
WELCOME TO AMERICA. The York Diversity Forum, York Adult and Community Education and Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce hosted a Seasonal Workers International Mixer at the York Senior Center on June 23 in an effort to welcome summer workers from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Poland, Russia and other places from around the world to York and to America.
Pictured in the right is Guillermo Larrea with friends Amina Narembekova (left) and Viktoriya Koval. Both young women are from Kazakhstan while Larrea is part of the Diversity Forum's program to provide assistance to visiting workers, including used bicycles to provide a mode of transportation between jobs and housing locations. Larrea has fixed up all the bicycles that have been donated to the program to date, so that they are in good working order for people to use.
Following the mixer, Selectman Ted Little described the event as "just a glorious time" and added that there is still a need for housing options and bicycles. He urged anyone who might have a bicycle to donate, or ideas on housing options, to contact members of the Diversity Forum at igive@maine.rr.com or 363-4214, Ext. 2113.
http://www.yorkindependent.net/news/2008/2008_06_27/080627_NWS_TT.cfm
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