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Participant Experiences

Will Takes His CBYX Language Training Beyond Germany

Hey! I’m Will Thomas, a current Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals participant in Germany. Read my first impressions from the program here.

Hallo zusammen, and hey to all y’all!

My name is Will Thomas. I am a current 2019-2020 program participant with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals, a yearlong  fellowship in Germany funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Department of State. This is my second post providing on-the-ground perspectives on the program. If you don’t know much about CBYX yet, make sure to read my first impressions from the program here.

In this post, I wanted to share my experiences from the U.S. orientation that prepared us CBYX-ers to go to Germany as well as my experiences at language school in Radolfzell am Bodensee and how I was able to use my German language skills to my advantage.

If you enjoy reading about my experience, consider applying for the next program! The next CBYX program application deadline is December 1.

Learn More About Applying to CBYX

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Posted on:

November 19 2019

Author:

Will Thomas

Participant Experiences

Korea WEST Intern Brings Late Korean Artist Don Ahn’s Legacy to Life

When Korea WEST intern HoWon Kim came to New York City to intern at American Corporate Benefits, he had not envisioned discovering a new passion and career path.

HoWon spent his time in United States researching the life of late Korean artist Don Ahn and bringing his legacy to life. Not only did he play an instrumental role in bringing Ahn’s work to public attention during his internship, but the professional experience proved to be life-changing for him.

HoWon with Richard Allen, Supervisor at Art on Paper, New York.

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Posted on:

November 13 2019

Author:

Hafsah Sarfraz

Alumni Spotlight

How My Muskie Internship Helped Revive My Hope in Journalism

The Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program is now accepting applications for its 2020 class. Visit culturalvistas.org/muskie to learn more and apply.

Fake news and disinformation are the direct results of media outlets racing to be the first to report the news.

At the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (aka Wisconsin Watch) where I interned as a media fellow this summer—quality over quantity is the only answer.

My internship as a participant of the Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program gave me insight into possible solutions to some of the industry’s biggest challenges.

The Wisconsin Watch team during the summer of 2019. I’m pictured second from left in the front row.

Read more of “How My Muskie Internship Helped Revive My Hope in Journalism”

Posted on:

October 25 2019

Author:

Alisa Ivanitskaya

Participant Experiences

An Opportunity of a Lifetime

In the days leading up to December 20, 2018—I was a nervous wreck eager to hear news about whether I would be awarded the 2019 Cultural Vistas Fellowship to go to Hong Kong and spend a summer interning at Carbon Care InnoLab.

Though I had nothing to lose, I had so much to gain. And when the good news finally came—it changed my life forever.

Hands shaking with excitement, I dialed my Shimá to tell her the best news I had ever been able to give her.

“Mom, I’m going to Hong Kong!”

For Malia, a first-generation college student and the first from her family to travel outside the United States, the opportunity to be a Cultural Vistas Fellow has been life-changing.

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Posted on:

October 14 2019

Author:

Malia Simon