Cultural Activities

On 7th of June 2013, 20 students visited MetLife Brand Centre located along the busy concrete jungle of 5 Ave. MetLife, one of the respectable Fortune 500 Companies, is also the largest life insurer in United States.

Despite the looming Andrea creating a whooping 4 inches of rain along the streets of Manhattan, students from CCIP were nonetheless enthusiastic about their visit to MetLife. After a concise brief by one of MetLife's personnel, students proceeded to learn about MetLife's advertising history, as well as getting fascinated with their notable ambassador - Snoopy, Charlie and Woodstock!

One of CCIP's interns from NUS, Atlas Ang, spoke to the personnel about the relevancy of Snoopy and gained a deeper understanding behind why it was chosen as their long-running ambassador. Elizabeth Kay, the founder of CCIP, also gave the interns an insight to the interesting stories behind the birth of some of MetLife's noteworthy advertorials.

The fun did not just stop there. Other Singaporean students from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University joined the original group for an engaging dialogue with Deputy Permanent Representative Mark Neo of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore. A warm surprise was when the students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong came along to be part of the dialogue.

During the informative session, students set attentively to learn about the Singapore Mission to the United Nations; the structure of UN, the importance of delivering promises when a resolution is signed and clarifications regarding the authority and mandate of the Mission. Students such as Jerad, Shi Wei and Zeyu volleyed thought-provoking questions with Mr. Neo that kept the conversation alive and reflective. Even Mr. Neo himself praised the question by ZeYu as "one of the most novel question" that he had to give an answer to. Also admirable were the pertinent questions on censorship and power raised by students from CUHK.

Beyond just the refreshments and group photos, the 30 students that attended the dialogue walked away with important lessons which they can share with their classmates back home. CCIP interns attended these two events with little expectations and enthusiasm, but upon the events' conclusion, the interns gained a whole lot of wisdom, food for thought and humility in scholarship. This is one day of the program we hope it did not end so quickly.

After a night (30 May 2013) of merry making with BBQ food and drinks, the students gathered in Flushing YMCA Activity Room for a safety talk organized by NYPD to heighten their vigilance against crimes in New York City.

NYPD Officer Ray Morales, led his team of 3 police officers to give an engaging and animated talk on watching out for tell-tale signs for crimes and ways to react to crimes.

"Nothing is more important than your safety. If they point a gun at your head or a knife at your throat, just give them whatever they want – money, mobile phones, pocketbooks, and wallet – just give it to them," said an officer.

The talk ended with a question-and-answer session for students to voice any safety concerns.

"They gave us many useful safety tips, which are applicable to us. Most of the tips are common sense, but we tend to let safety slip our mind while excitedly exploring a foreign country," said Jacquelyn Soh, a student.

The students were also handed brochures with safety tips in NYC.

The long-awaited day trip to Woodbury Premium Outlet Stores has finally arrived. A group of 32 excited students hopped on a bus and took out the Center map and store listings to plan their shopping route. With 220 outlet stores and impressive savings at Burberry, Coach, Dior, Gucci, Michael Kors, to name but a few, there is definitely a need for some planning.

Upon arrival at Woodbury, many students charged to the Information counter to redeem their VIP coupon booklet, which they had previously registered for. These coupon booklets give additional discounts on top of the sale items.

The students divided themselves into small groups and started raiding the outlet stores. This marked the beginning of a 9-hour shopping spree at Woodbury Premium Outlet Store, which is divided into 5 different areas – Bluebird court, Red Apple court, Marigold court, Evergreen court and Grapevine court.

As time passed, the number of shopping bags hanging on students' arms increased and the heavy weight of their steals left red imprinted marks on their arms. Most students frequented Coach, Kate Spade and Nike as they offered up to fifty percent savings on top of the lowest ticket price.

At 7pm, students boarded the bus back to Flushing YMCA. On the return journey, many students were jaded from their shopping spree and napped on the bus.

Given the large scale of stores, it is impossible to finish shopping in one day. Many students said that they would revisit Woodbury Premium Outlet Stores to visit other unexplored stores and buy more good deals.

As an early celebration for Independence Day, students went down to Citi Field Stadium to experience the struggle between New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks to clinch the trophy in Major League Baseball (MLB).

The downpour heralding the start of the game had the students on tenterhooks as they waited anxiously for the rain to stop. Despite the match being delayed for a whole two hours, the excitement that they had was not only not dampened, but instead heightened as the skies cleared.

As the game proceeded, students learned about the game and its rules, and watched in awe as the baseball players displayed their superb skills in the intense match. The stadium came alive with thunderous roars and cheers from the crowd whenever a team scored. The crowd's enthusiasm was infectious and students began to take sides and cheered wholeheartedly for their supporting team.

"The match was breathtaking. I was fully absorbed into the intense rivalry between the Mets and the Diamondbacks and cheered along with the passionate baseball supporters," exclaimed Poh Jing Han Kelvin, a Nanyang Technological University student.

To end the night on a high note, fireworks rocketed through the night sky and illuminated the dark with bursts of colors.

"I love the fireworks! They are so beautiful with the way they lit up the night sky. There's no better way to celebrate Independence Day," said Fung Yu Yan Mary, a student from Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The night was so enjoyable that CCIP will be has decided to hold its closing ceremony at Citi Field, so that Session B students also can experience the excitement of a baseball match after the ceremony.

The second session of the Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) kicked off with a two-day orientation, starting on the 14th July 2013 at Flushing YMCA.

On the first day, 68 elite individuals from top partner universities in Asia gathered to attend the orientation. Elizabeth Kay, the founder of the CCIP, gave her opening speech and stressed on issues, such as housing and program rules and safety tips. She also urged all the students to actively participate in program events and activities to make the most out of this New York internship.

On the second day, students gathered at the car park of Flushing YMCA for a group photo-taking session. This was symbolic of CCIP's slogan: "We’re all in the same boat." It also marked the days to come as students from various universities come together to create a memorable experience.

WONG, Sin, a student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, exclaimed, "I am so excited to finally arrived in New York City! I look forward to weeks of work and play where I get to learn a lot, make new friends and have a good summer."

The students will be on a 7-week internship stint with 33 participating host companies. These students are from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and City University of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technology University.

On Aug 02, students paid visits to two prestigious organizations in the commercial and governmental sectors respectively - MetLife Brand Center and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO).

Being listed as a Fortune 500 Company as well as earning the title of the largest life insurer in the United States has made it essential for MetLife to project a consistent public image.

At the Brand Center, students learned from two MetLife consultants about its advertising history and how it came to adopt the iconic Snoopy as its ambassador. MetLife has signed on to be a Global Sponsor and the Official Insurance Company of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Students are enthusiastic and ask several questions about the branding of MetLife during the whole visit. Said Yuan Jingting, a student from Macau University of Science and Technology, "This is the first time I have looked at the marketing campaigns of any organization in such depth. The transformation is actually really interesting!"

Students then visited the New York office of HKETO, one of the three offices based in the US. As one of the permanent representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, HKETO (NY) functions primarily to fortify the economical and cultural relations between the two regions by introducing Hong Kong as a potential niche market to US investors.

Over the course of two sessions, Mr. Paul Cheng, Deputy Director of the HKETO (NY) gave a comprehensive account of what working for the department entails. In the first Mandarin Session, he focused on the relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China/the United States. And Then he introduced to Hong Kong students in Cantonese the challenges that an individual keen on a career as an EO and an AO can expect, as well as the sense of satisfaction he gains when he sees the effort of his team comes to fruit.

Luka Fung, a student from The University of Hong Kong, expressed his gratitude at the opportunity to speak with Mr. Cheng. "He was extremely patient even with all the questions we had. You could tell how much thought he puts into his replies."

All in all, the visits were an eye opener for the students and a chance for them to expand their perspectives beyond an academic setting.

Eighteen (18) dragon boat team members attended the first practice session at the Flushing Corona Park on Sat, July 27. Although it was their first time rowing, many of the students managed to keep the boat straight.

"Wow, you guys have a full boat," commented by one of the staff members. "Of course, everyone is excited about the August 3rd and 4th race days," Ben replied.

This year, students are taking part in four races, including the Heritage 250, Education, Media Invitational and Sponsor Challenge, at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (www.hkdbf-ny.org) via FUSIA's sponsorship. FUSIA is the organizer of the Cross Cultural Internship Program and a creative sponsor of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York.

After the practice, Benjamin (Hongze Li), one of the dragon boat team leaders, along with several other participants went to Yankee Stadium for a baseball match of New York Yankees against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"It was my first time watching a baseball game. It was a well played game. I felt great about it," said Fiona (Wanqi Li), a student from the distinguished Hong Kong University of Science & Technology.

Tim (Chenghuai Zheng), one of the other dragon boat leaders, with EK (the organizer) and several others went on a shopping spree at Roosevelt Field which is the largest shopping center in Long Island. Along the way, they stopped for breaks and took beautiful scenic pictures of the Port Washington seashore.

"I would like to thank EK for buying us ice-cream yogurt. Red Mango was fresh and yummy," said Tim.

In the early morning of 3rd and 4th August, the dragon boat team members continued their intensive practice in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York. Comparing with the first practice, the team members significantly made an improvement on their skills. They started to get in hands with the rowing skills that might be involved in different stages of the race.

In that morning, all of the team members sweat very hard due to the sunny weather. Yet their passion remained to be enthusiastically high. After the two practices, they already got in hold of the wind movement and learnt how they should turn it as their opportunity. Team members were trained with the paddling skills when coming across with headwind, downwind and crosswind situations. At the same time, paddlers learnt how they can retain their energy to keep them going till the finishing line of the race.

"Though it was quite tough for the two-hour training, it was so nice to have dragon-boat rowing in such beautiful scenery." Benjamin (Hongze Li), one of the dragon boat team leaders said. Tim (Chenghuai Zheng), another team leader also expressed excitement towards the event.

During the practice, the dragon boat team members started friendly matches with other teams at the end of their practice. And the paddlers still managed to move the boat forward even though they had half the amount compared to opponent team.

"We all believe that we will surely rock the other teams away in the coming match on August 10th!" all team members unanimously yelled.

The Cross-Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.org) has announced the LAST registration window for its summer internship program from May to August in two seven-week sessions. Interested students register www.theccip.com/register and contact the organizer.

Limited space is available. Act by Feb 21!

Step 1. Register a user account (www.theccip.org/register)
Step 2. Login the User Panel and complete Step 1 and Step 3
Step 3. Contact the organizer for a briefing/interview/placement (Skype: fusia_18)

Highlights

- Degree-seeking, full-time UG/PG students of one of CCIP's partner schools
- Students intern at one of the hosts (mainly small medium-sized enterprises)
- Program fee USD 785, visa sponsorship USD 1175 and housing USD 1911 (single room)
- Join either Session A (May 25) or Session B (July 13), seven weeks per session
- For more, visit www.theccip.org, email info@theccip.org or Skype fusia_18

About the Program

CCIP is an internship program taking place in New York during the summer in two, seven-week sessions. Since 2008, the program has provided opportunities for over 500 students to obtain overseas internship experience, a valuable addition to resume and establish professional references.

It was a day of academic forays for CCIP Session A students, as the different groups made their way to the United Nations and Columbia University respectively on that sunny afternoon.

The United Nations Headquarters was located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan. As promised by previous participants, the picturesque view overlooking the East River had many students awestruck.

On the guided tour, students were introduced to the structural overview of the organization and the more prominent facilities. They were able to appreciate the global elements that made UN so distinct, from the sentry of National flags standing at the entrance, to the displayed art pieces reflecting numerous different cultures. At the Q and A session, students also had the chance to understand the workings of the UN through insightful questions and comprehensive responses.

FUNG, Yu Yan (CUHK) said "It was a humbling experience to stand in the General Assembly Hall, where so many momentous decisions that have altered the global fate have been made".

On Columbia University, the group visiting it found the experience no less enriching. As the only Ivy League in the city, the institution at Morningside has produced Nobel Prize winners for every field for which an award is given.

The campus's baroque style architecture was a pleasant contrast to the concrete jungle that is Manhattan. For LU, Binfeng (CUHK), The Low Memorial Library, which was coincidentally the starting point of the tour, struck him as the most memorable. He said “I now understand why this is described as a ‘purely classical architecture’. So much history is housed in just this one place!”

Students also thoroughly enjoyed the guide's animated explanation of the University's history. Founded in 1754 as King's College by the royal charter of King George II of England, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.

All in all, it was truly a fruitful experience for all the attending participants.

Over the weekend of Jun 29and Jun 30, the students from Session A found respite from work with a weekend getaway at the capital of the United States. Students were also fortunate enough to have Mr. Fred Fu, President of the Flushing Chinese Business Association, to personally guide them on the tour.

On the first day, the students alighted at the Chinatown District in Washington DC for a quick lunch before proceeding with the tour.

Students had the opportunity to visit iconic places such as the White House, Capitol Hill and Lincoln Memorial. Luo Yilin, a student from National University of Singapore, said, "I've been looking forward to the DC trip since the start of the program. I can finally see for myself these landmarks that have been featured so often in the movies!"

The itinerary included a tour of Georgetown, a historic neighborhood located in the Northwest of Washington DC and situated along the Potomac River. Aside from the rich history that students learned from Mr. Fu, entertainment and food was also aplenty in the district. Of the many quaint cafes along the street, many students had set their sights on Georgetown Cupcakes, the flagship outlet featured in the popular TV series DC cupcakes.

On Sunday, students were spoilt for choice as they toured the museum district, which had exhibitions appealing to a wide range of interests.

Lu Binfeng, a student from The Chinese University of Hong Kong said, "If I only I had more time! Every museum was just as fascinating and it was a hard choice deciding between the dinosaur exhibits at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Museum or the unique displays at the National Gallery of Art".

While they thoroughly enjoyed this brief visit of the capital, many students expressed common sentiments, wishing that there was more time to accommodate all the sights that DC had to offer. All in all, it was a good weekend away.

Tonight, 12 students made their way excitedly to Cunningham Park for a symphony orchestra performance by New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO), as part of the Converts in the Parks line up.

NYPO has been raved as one of the Big Five American orchestras, and their performance that evening most certainly lived up to its reputation. The orchestra performed two epic summertime classics, which was both received with ear-deafening applause from the audience.

"The symphony orchestra performance was grand and magnificent. It definitely piqued my interest in classical music." said Harsha, a student from National University of Singapore.

Since its beginnings in 1965, the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, have become a notable summer experience. Each year, throes of picnickers gather at the parks in New York to appreciate the best classical music under the stars.

For many of the students, the concert was a good respite after a long work day. Not only did they receive a treat to the ears, the chance to have dinner under the stars and mingle with the local community made the night an especially memorable one.

Like many of the attendees of the concert, the students left Cunningham Park with a lifetime symphony orchestra experience like no other.

On the Friday of Aug 09, CCIP Students from session B were introduced to the workings of United Nations as well as got a glimpse of the prestigious Columbia University.

Columbia University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, as reflected by the classic architecture of the buildings. Since the creation of the Nobel Prize in 1901, Columbians have won a Nobel Prize in every field for which an award is given.

The starting point of the Columbia University Campus Tour, Low Memorial library, already had the students awestruck before the actual tour began. As explained by the student guide, the landmark building was built way back in 1897. Today, it functions as the administrative center of the University and houses the offices of the President and the Provost.

Shawn, a student from The University of Hong Kong said, "At every point of the tour, I had the awareness that great personage, such as President Obama might have treaded this very path that we were taking. Being informed on the accomplishments of this great academic institution made me all the more appreciative of this visit"."

From a history tour, the students moved on to a lesson on modern day politics at the United Nations Headquarters.

The students were given an overview of how the United Nations functions. The guide explained that while the UN attempts to maintain international harmony, it acts more as a mediator rather than a dictator over its members.

On a tour of the facilities, students also had the opportunity to visit the General Assembly Hall. The hall is the only conference room in the entire building that carried the UN emblem and has an impressive seating capacity of 1800.

Said Rosemary, from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, "I knew the UN was important, but I am only just beginning to realize how massive a role UN plays when it comes to preserving international solidarity."

Hugs, laughter, and photo taking were aplenty on the night of Aug 30. Students congregated for one last time on the first-floor lounge area at the Flushing YMCA, where the students spent much of their time interacting over the past seven weeks.

The gathering marked the official end of an important step towards shaping the students in becoming professionals with a global perspective.

The melancholic atmosphere of the room dissipated into excitement when students sang songs, took and exchanged photos and so on.

"We have all come so far, even if the internship lasted only for a brief 7 weeks. Look at how everyone has grown since we first met," commented by Jane from the University of Hong Kong.

The 2013 Cross Cultural Internship Program was a resounding success. It is on that high note that the recruitment for the next batch of students will begin on Monday, October 28.

On 7th of June 2013, 20 students visited MetLife Brand Centre located along the busy concrete jungle of 5 Ave. MetLife, one of the respectable Fortune 500 Companies, is also the largest life insurer in United States.

Despite the looming Andrea creating a whooping 4 inches of rain along the streets of Manhattan, students from CCIP were nonetheless enthusiastic about their visit to MetLife. After a concise brief by one of MetLife's personnel, students proceeded to learn about MetLife's advertising history, as well as getting fascinated with their notable ambassador - Snoopy, Charlie and Woodstock!

One of CCIP's interns from NUS, Atlas Ang, spoke to the personnel about the relevancy of Snoopy and gained a deeper understanding behind why it was chosen as their long-running ambassador. Elizabeth Kay, the founder of CCIP, also gave the interns an insight to the interesting stories behind the birth of some of MetLife's noteworthy advertorials.

The fun did not just stop there. Other Singaporean students from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University joined the original group for an engaging dialogue with Deputy Permanent Representative Mark Neo of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore. A warm surprise was when the students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong came along to be part of the dialogue.

During the informative session, students set attentively to learn about the Singapore Mission to the United Nations; the structure of UN, the importance of delivering promises when a resolution is signed and clarifications regarding the authority and mandate of the Mission. Students such as Jerad, Shi Wei and Zeyu volleyed thought-provoking questions with Mr. Neo that kept the conversation alive and reflective. Even Mr. Neo himself praised the question by ZeYu as "one of the most novel question" that he had to give an answer to. Also admirable were the pertinent questions on censorship and power raised by students from CUHK.

Beyond just the refreshments and group photos, the 30 students that attended the dialogue walked away with important lessons which they can share with their classmates back home. CCIP interns attended these two events with little expectations and enthusiasm, but upon the events' conclusion, the interns gained a whole lot of wisdom, food for thought and humility in scholarship. This is one day of the program we hope it did not end so quickly.

42 CCIP Hong Kong Students were blessed with the opportunity to visit the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York. As one of the permanent representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, HKETO (NY) plays a critical role in preserving the economic and cultural solidarity between Hong Kong and the U.S.A.

The experience allowed students to glean into the workings of such a vital office. From organizing events to introducing the unique business environments and opportunities of Hong Kong to U.S investors, students were made aware that there was more to a position in the government administration sector then what they had previously assumed.

For students keen on a career as an AO, the speaker, Mr. Paul Cheung, Deputy Director of the HKETO (NY), was able to provide much insight through the sharing of his personal experiences. He related the triumphs of when relations were fortified between the two nations, as well as painted a realistic picture of the obstacles to be expected when a considerably smaller economy such as Hong Kong attempts to make its mark on a global giant such as the US.

Said SHEN, Xiangfei (CUHK), "While policy making has always been an area that I am interested in, knowing the possible challenges that comes with the job allows me to better prepare myself for this line of work."

In view of economies worldwide becoming increasingly interconnected, it was indeed a valuable opportunity for the students to hear a firsthand account of an international trade office's operations.

On Saturday, August 17, 14 University of Hong Kong (HKU) students and over 40 alumni members gathered for a dinner hosted by The University of Hong Kong Alumni Association. The dinner took place at the Chatham Square Restaurant located in the Manhattan Chinatown.

The reception lasted almost two and a half hours and kicked off with a warm welcoming speech given by Dr. Raymond Li, President of the association, and a self-introduction given by each alumni member of the association. Dr. Li also went over the meaning of the university's Latin motto Sapientia et Virtus translated into English as "Wisdom and Virtue" with the students.

During the dinner, prominent HKU alumni members with diverse background shared their experience with students and gave them sound advice. The students also grasped the opportunity to interact and learn from them.

"The association is a group of successful professionals with a lot of life experiences who have come together purely out of goodwill. It was a precious opportunity to meet with them," said Jane (Man Kwan) Hui, a student of the University of Hong Kong and the group leader for her fellow schoolmates."

Students were gearing up on that sunny Sunday for a day of all out shopping at the famous Woodbury Commons Premium Outlet, located just outside of the city.

Armed with a VIP coupon booklet on one hand and a map of the Commons in the other, Gabriela Nadia, a student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong said, "While I do enjoy activities that acculturate my mind, a shopping expedition is a perfect addition to the program list!"

Since its opening in 1985, Woodbury Commons now has more than 200 stores and is one of the largest contiguous outlet centers in the world. The impressive savings at high end labels such as Burberry, Coach, Dior, Gucci and Michael Kors have made it a must-include in the itineraries of many visitors to New York City.

By evening, the 9-hour shopping spree had the shopping itches of many students cured and physically exhausted. Despite having to jostle with the throngs of people there, students thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

There however, remained the few determined shoppers who expressed that they would most definitely revisit the Commons again in the near future.

It was a perfect weather to be heading outdoors on 8th June 2013. A group of 32 students were on a Transexpress bus, heading to New Jersey.

Students first alighted at Princeton University -- one of the eight Ivy League universities in the US. The campus had the Orange Key Tour which lasted for approximately an hour. The tour guide brought us to points of interest, such as the chapel, which was catered for their graduation ceremony as it could accommodate up to 5,000 students. Throughout the tour, everyone also got to know more about the history of Princeton University and the life of being a Princeton student.

Another highlight within the campus was the Princeton University Art Museum. The museum was absolutely fascinating. They had collections which ranged from ancient to contemporary art, having over 72,000 works of art.

There was a Princeton University Store, located across the campus. Students bought apparel and gifts which were embedded with the Princeton trademark. There were also many small shops selling all kinds of unique stuffs within Nassau Street. For instance, the Paper Source shop was selling different types of art paper and other craft items.

After spending a few hours within the proximity of the Princeton University, students travelled to the legendary Cheesecake Factory that was located at the Quaker Bridge for dinner. Apart from the famous cheesecake, the food they served was also heavenly. Students had a great time eating and laughing their hearts out.

As there were some spare time, students went to the Quaker Bridge Mall which was beside the Cheesecake Factory for some shopping. Some had a few shopping bags with them at the end of it.

Thereafter, students hopped on the bus again to head back to Flushing YMCA. Along the way back, the bus driver made a detour to the Brooklyn Bridge so that students could take quick snapshots of the Brooklyn Bridge during the sunset. This also marked a beautiful ending to the New Jersey trip. It was a chill out yet fulfilling trip.

CCIP Session B Students joined local volunteers and the NYC Parks & Recreation department to participate in "It's My Park Day!" as part of the requirements of the visa sponsor: CCI Greenheart. The event celebrates New York's public parks and involves thousands of New Yorkers annually, who volunteer their time to clean up these spaces.

Following the briefing, the students in their full gear of gloves and sunscreen lotion got down to gardening with much gusto. They were accompanied by CCI Greenheart's staff members who themselves were active volunteers to numerous causes.

Despite the relentless heat though the whole morning, the student found themselves enjoying the time outdoors, especially in a location as scenic as the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park which happened to be the site of two twentieth century World's Fairs.

For Miley, a student from Macau University of Science and Technology, the whole experience turned out to be the exact opposite of her initial expectation. "I was dreading it at first, having to spend the whole morning sweating in the hot sun and knee deep in mud. But knowing that I played a part in maintaining the wonderful environment of this park, not to mention how much fun I had while doing it, I actually had an amazing time!"

Other than getting the chance to learn the value of volunteering and appreciating how much effort goes into maintaining public spaces, the students also got to interact with the NYC Parks Stuff. A lively conversation soon ensued as the conversation shifted from environmentalism to American culture, from the rich history of the park to general must sees in New York.

Students were delightfully surprised when they were treated to a sumptuous lunch sponsored by CCI in appreciation of them taking time off to contribute to caring for the environment.

It was unanimous amongst all participating students that the sunny Saturday morning was definitely well spent.

The 2013 Cross Cultural Internship Program Cumulating Activity was held at CitiField, home of the New York Mets, this year. The event took place in two parts-the closing ceremony and of course a baseball game sponsored by the program organizer.

Almost 170 guests, including students, government representatives, partners and host representatives attended the event.

Gracing the event were esteemed personage such as Councilman Peter Koo; Ms. Joanne Choi, representing Office of Congresswoman Grace Meng; Mr. Morgan Jones, Director of Queens External Affairs; Ms. Yen Chou, representing Assemblyman David Weprin; Ms. Irene Cheung, representing Councilman Mark Weprin; Mr. David Ng, representing Office of Assembly Member Nily Rozic; Consul for Information and Cultural Affairs Rina F. Wahyuningsih from the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia in New York; Ms. Cecilia Kwok, Director of City University of Hong Kong.

Manhattan Borough President, Scott M. Stringer declared August 26, 2013 as "Cross Cultural Internship Program Appreciation Day" in the Borough of Manhattan.

It was a rare networking opportunity for the students, and it was in an exemplary manner that each and every one of them carried themselves for the night.

Ms. Elizabeth Kay, the founder of CCIP and principal of FUSIA Communications, was presented with greatest honor the Met's Spirit Award in recognition of her contributions to cultural exchange between Asia and North America.

Marc Haken, Chair, Youth, Education and Library Committee of the Community Board 8 in Queens (CB 8Q) and honorary advisor of the program opened the ceremony with a few choice words thanking the participants, program organizer, hosts, as well as the various associates that had contributed immensely to the resounding success of CCIP.

This was followed by speeches from some of the government officials, who also presented letters recognizing the contributions of the program in shaping youths. Two of the hosts spoke on behalf of the other host organizations, sharing their experiences working with the CCIP program and the interns. To top it all off a representative from City University was able to attend the ceremony to present her perspective as one of the eight partner universities of CCIP.

As a form of gratitude to each host organizations for having spared no effort in steering CCIP towards success, souvenirs were presented to every one of them. A photo op towards the end of the ceremony was the perfect way to capture the strong tie formed among the program, the hosts and the students.

The event concluded with awards presentation and recognition ceremony. It was a stirring moment with the enthused cheering and applause by the students, who have developed a personal attachment to the program in these 7 weeks.

The impeccable evening was rounded off with a baseball game between two well known rivals, the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. To say that it was an exhilarating match would be an understatement, and students got to experience for themselves the hype behind American baseball and why it was such an influential part of the American Culture

The spirit of CCIP was tangible that night, and it was most definitely a night that would be imprinted in the minds of students for a long time to come.

The Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) takes place in New York City every summer from May to August in two seven-week sessions. CCIP stresses East-West cultural exchange. It is aimed at individuals and organizations that share a global vision and it is committed to fostering mutually beneficial cultural exchange.

CCIP 2014 summer program registration will begin in October. For more information about CCIP, visit www.theccip.com or call the +1 (718) 643-0311 ext. 12 Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm US Eastern Standard Time.

On the evening of Jul 26, a group of students had the opportunity to attend the Annual Music Recitals of Joe's Music and Dance Academy, hosted by the Major Music International Corporation.

The students had been eagerly anticipating the event for many reasons; it was their first chance to see for themselves one of the finest music halls in the metropolitan area, as well as to enjoy a night of various art forms.

The aesthetically pleasant surroundings of Le Frak Concert Hall's gave off a warm and welcoming feeling. Coupled with state of the art and cutting edge music equipment, it was evident that these instruments truly enhanced every piece of music performed by the students of Joe's Music and Dance Academy.

Chenghuai Zheng (Tim) of the Macau University of Science and Technology said, "Some of the students that were performing were very young, some of them were even younger than me. The talent they had was clear for all to see through the heart moving performance tonight." Since Tim is from overseas, during the performances, he noticed many cultural differences between his home country and America. Tim was surprised when everyone clapped even if the musical performance wasn’t perfect. “In China, people would only clap if every note was performed correctly, tonight people clapped after every performance, this was very interesting to me”, Tim exclaimed.

Tim was not the only one expressing those sentiments. Throughout the evening, the students applauded with much enthusiasm and agreed unanimously that it was an impressive showcase.

It was an evening of audio and visual delights for the students of Session B, and the music is sure to echo in their minds for a long time to come.

It is easy to forget the dangers with the hype of travelling to a foreign country, but students of Session B were fortunate enough to attend a safety talk by Sergeant Ray Morales and his colleagues of the NYPD 109th Precinct.

The officers were lively and engaging as they related past incidents and precautions to adopt to avoid becoming a victim of crime. They also took special care to stress on aspects that students were likely to overlook, such as how opportunities for crime are created when students are too focused on their phones to observe their surroundings.

Demonstrations and a Question-and-Answer session after the talk, whereby the officers provided detailed clarifications to any doubts that the students might have, helped to drive these vital points across.

LIM, Jun Cheng, a student from Nanyang Technological University said, "The tips given by the officers are really useful. They can be applied to places other than New York. I'll be sure to always keep them in mind!"

Towards the end of the talk, students gathered for a photo taking session with the officers who had imparted valuable advice to them.

The annual Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) successfully organized two consecutive days of orientation on 26th and 27th May 2013. Sixty-nine Hong Kong and Singapore elite students from Session A met the representative of program organizer, Fusia Communications, at Flushing YMCA to celebrate this significant moment.

On the first day, students were split into two groups to attend the Post-Arrival Orientation and revised important issues through discussions and a question-and-answer session. Issues revised include host company guidelines, hostel and internship regulations, and safety guidelines.

The organizer of CCIP, Elizabeth Kay, said that this program is an opportunity for interaction between a student and his or her host company and other participating students. She appealed to everyone to actively participate and adopt a positive attitude in order to make this program a success.

Students are looking forward to experiencing their internship and challenges. Steven Wong, a student from City University of Hong Kong, said that the fundamental purpose of university is to apply the knowledge acquired, and overseas internship is a rare opportunity for one to do so. The knowledge and experience gained from this program will equip him to be a more capable student with global vision.

Thirty-three internship host companies participated in CCIP 2013, and 1759 students applied for the program, out of which only 137 students were selected. There will be 69 students in Session A of the program and 68 students in Session B. These students are from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and City University of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technology University.

On the second day of orientation, students took group photos in YMCA carpark to capture the memory of their upcoming internships and transnational friendships built.

It was with mixed feelings that the 69 students from Session A entered the YMCA Assembly Room for the End session gathering. Throughout the whole evening, the room resonated with much laughter and chatter, an affirmation of the friendships forged.

At the Certificate Presentation Ceremony, each student was presented with their Certificate of Participation, the culmination of their efforts for the past 7 weeks as interns. Students shared their trials and tribulations with each other and it was a unanimous sentiment that the added element of cultural exchange made the CCIP experience one like no other.

The highlight of the evening was when the Star Award Winners were announced. Students cheered generously for their friends and shared the pride with the deserving recipients. June Yeo, a third year student from National University of Singapore and one of the winners said, "I signed up for the program hoping to learn the ropes in a real corporate setting. I walk away with that and more. I learnt how to be an effective leader".

Towards the end of the gathering, students eagerly crowded around for a group photo to capture the final moments. It was truly heartwarming to see all inhibitions, be it nationality or school, removed between all 69 of them.

After 7 weeks of living, working and playing together, lasting friendships had been forged over shared memories. Many students expressed a deep regret over the fact that this was to be their final week together.

The 23rd annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival kicked off Saturday at Flushing-Corona Meadows Park, the site of the 1964 World’s Fair. Over the weekend of Aug 10 and Aug 11, the students from the Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) Session B participated in the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, an annual sporting event where colourful multicultural tradition paddles back into town for a weekend in celebration of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.

Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park was ablaze with life as the event drew over 170 dragon boat teams from around the world who come to race through the Queens park's lake, making it one of the largest dragon boat festivals in the United States.

This year, students were involved in the event in two primary ways - as volunteers or paddlers. Students involved in the volunteering aspect spared no efforts in fundraising for YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, the annual fundraiser which aimed to ensure that no child or family is turned away from life-enhancing YMCA programs. Through this festival, students also had the opportunity to mingle with the Asian Community and partake in a long established Chinese culture.

Enthusiasm was also brimming on the end of the paddlers, having committed a few of their precious weekends to train. It was the first time for most of the team members to step into a Dragonboat but that certainly did not affect their morale. In fact, it was their resolute determination and perseverance that put them in a distinguishable ground to perform and push all the way to the finishing line. It was a heartening scene as the team went out of their comfort zone and showed overwhelming improvement especially throughout the 3 races on the second day, clinching 3rd place (overall) in the 30th HKETO Educational Invitational & 2nd place (group) in the Sponsor's Challenge.

Benjamin, a leader of the paddling team and a student of the Macau University of Science and Technology said, "The camaraderie with my teammates, the encouragement from everyone else in CCIP; that was the biggest trophy of all. This team is the true champion in my heart!"

A cloudless sky, a united community and a shared memory; for many of the students, the weekend outdoors could not have been better spent.

Last but not least, there could not have been a better quote to describe the fighting spirit displayed by the team: ‘It is not the size of the dog in a fight but the amount of fight in a dog.’

The night of Flushing YMCA was filled with fun and laughter yesterday (Thursday, May 30) as 69 elite Hong Kong and Singapore students, participating schools and host companies from Cross-Cultural Internship Program 2013 had the whale of their time at a welcoming BBQ fiesta.

Attendees include representative from the Congresswoman Grace Meng's office, Hong Kong CUHK United College Alumni Association of Greater New York and Hong Kong Poly University Alumni Association.

The delicious smell of barbequed sausages, sweet potatoes, corns, chickens and fish wafted through the air as everyone gathered around the pit to make merry, while munching on the endless supply of food and drinks.

"I got to network with several companies and important personnel, and made many new friends through this barbeque dinner! The food was delicious too," said Cui Can, a student from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Harsha Narayan, a student from National University of School, commented, "I enjoyed mingling with my newly-made friends and getting to know one another better. I'm looking forward to the remaining weeks in New York!"

The presence of dedicated host companies, supporters and friends made this night a huge success.

The first few days of CCIP have been exciting and refreshing for students. They are eagerly looking forward to more fulfilling and fun days in New York throughout their 7 weeks internship.

It was the perfect Friday morning to visit Princeton University located in New Jersey, as the sun illuminated the historic campus to its full beauty.

Students were introduced to the history and various architectural facts regarding the Ivy League university by an animated student guide, as they embarked on the Orange Key Campus tour. The guide also related little known facts such as the names of the twin tigers flanking the main entrance of Nassau Hall, "Woodrow" and "Wilson", as well as provided a sneak preview of life as a student there.

Un Ian Hui, a student of the Hong Kong University, said "The sprawling lawns and stone buildings at Princeton is miles apart from the concrete and glass jungle that is my university. It must be an amazing experience attending classes in such a breathtaking environment".

Students also got to visit notable sites such as the Princeton University Art Museum, which housed collections ranging from ancient to contemporary art, from China antiquities to Roman mosaics. To make the experience lasting, many bought apparels from the Princeton University Store as keepsake or gifts.

Other than visiting Princeton, the trip to New Jersey was also a smorgasbord. A few of the students got to sample PJ's pancakes, a joint often visited by the college students and cited as one of the best pancakes around. Students also had the chance to have dinner at the much raved about Cheesecake Factory when the bus made a stopover there on the way home.

It was agreed amongst all the students that it was a most satisfying trip, both to the mind and the stomach.

Students from Session B had a wonderful time at Washington DC over the weekend of Aug 24 and Aug 25.

Boarding the bus in the early morning, it was another 4 hours before the students arrived at the destination. The White House was the first stop on the list of iconic sites that was part of the itinerary. While students were unable to tour the interior of the building, the façade still left many of them sufficiently impressed.

Capitol Hill and Lincoln Memorial were up next on the tour. The Capitol's distinct rotunda and the statue of the late President Abraham Lincoln, both national monuments, were a hit amongst students too as they gathered in front of each building for group shots.

Gong Xiaohan, a student of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, exclaimed "DC is really a history buff's paradise!"

At Georgetown, students were eager to explore the shopping Mecca of Washington. Many were thrilled to find that alongside historic landmarks such as the the Old Stone House, which has the honor of being the oldest unchanged building in Washington, there were many big brand names such as Zara and Urban Outfitters as well.

On Sunday, students had a whirlwind tour of renowned museums including Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Museum, National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. For every diverse interest that the students had, the even wider range of museums was able to leave everyone satisfied.

On the way home, Yeung Yee Ling, a student of the The University of Hong Kong, said "I never thought I'd be learning this much about American history on an internship. This is amazing!"

On July 26, fortunate students had the opportunity to visit the office of Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand which was located on 780 3rd Avenue.

Ms. Arelis Hernandez, the Director of Outreach, was a delightful host at the session as she related information about the structure and electoral process of the American government, as well as provided an insight into the work that Senator Gillibrand is involved with.

Senator Gillibrand's commitment to her promise of 'transparency' when she was sworn in has been admirable. She was the first Member of Congress to post her official public schedule, personal financial disclosure, and federal earmark requests on her website.

Sze Man Siu, a student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong expressed, "Politics is often thought of as underhanded and complex but Senator Gillibrand is an example proving otherwise. She really is an inspiration."

The visit was an eye opener for many of the students as they were provided with a clear idea of the distinction between the American political system from that of their own country. The understanding was further enhanced during the exchange between the staff working at the office and the students during the QnA session. Thoughtful questions posed by the students were responded with equally comprehensive answers provided by the staff.

To commemorate the meaningful visit, students had the honor of taking a group photo with Ms Hernandez herself and some interns there.

Where many students had expected a session of dry factual exchange, the visit turned out to be an enriching and enthralling experience, an afternoon more than well spent.