InterExplorer 2016-2017 Winter Winners
3 minute read
What does it mean to be an InterExplorer? Our biannual contest challenges our J-1 exchange visitors to explore the United States more deeply, and then share their photos, videos, and experiences with us and with each other through our InterExplorer Facebook group. Activities can include parades, volunteering, festivals, food, national parks, and sports, and our participants have shown us there’s no one way to immerse yourself in American culture!
We loved perusing photos of our contestants exploring famous American landmarks and destinations and taking part in classic American pastimes like picnics, basketball games, and New Year’s Eve celebrations! So who across the U.S. emerged victorious in this competition? We’re excited to introduce the winners of Winter 2016-2017 InterExplorer:
Laura from Colombia First Place
Laura was an au pair in beautiful Coronado, California! Laura successfully completed her program and recently returned home to Colombia, but while she was here, she had the chance to explore many amazing outdoor destinations around the United States, both with friends and with her host family. Laura even made it to sunny Hawaii!
Visiting Cowles Mountaint Trail
Laura made it to Disneyland!
Beautiful views of the Grand Canyon
Lots of fun in beautiful Hawaii
Visiting Palm Springs
A unique attraction: Salvation Mountain
Visiting Thunderbird Mountain
Viva Las Vegas!
Yosemite National Park
Krunal from India Second Place
Krunal is an architecture intern in New York City. Krunal has shared a number of highlights from the Big Apple, and has dazzled us with his sketching ability throughout the contest!
A sketch of inside Sugar Hill Cafe, in Uptown Manhattan
Ice skating at Rockefeller Center
Krunal's view of the Financial District!
A snowy day in Central Park
A sketch from Manhattan's biggest park: Central Park!
A New Year's Eve sketch of the Brooklyn Bridge
Josine from the Netherlands Third Place
Josine is an au pair to a family in Seattle, Washington. Josine shared adventures with her host family and her au pair cluster, visiting places like the Santa Monica, Washington, D.C., and New York City!
Having fun and showing love at Union Market
Enjoying a beautiful beach view!
Visiting the Santa Monica Pier
Having fun in Ocean Beach
At Harpers Ferry with friends
Bubbles at the Seattle gum wall!
Visiting the Griffith Observatory
A lovely view of Coronado
At Balboa Park
Jennifer from Germany Forth Place
Jennifer is an au pair to three young children, and lives close to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She enjoyed visiting parks, museums, sporting events, and more with her host children and friends!
Enjoying a basketball game!
Visiting the Museum of Natural History
Ice Skating Fun
Feeling the Love in Philadelphia
Michaela from the Czech Republic
Michaela is an au pair to two children in Bellmore, Long Island! She enjoyed cluster meetings in Central Park, experienced New Years’ Eve in Times Square, and took in some of New York’s most famous museums and landmarks. She had the opportunity to sample delicious food, meet new people, and see all there is to see along the East Coast!
Enjoying art at the MOMA
Visiting the beautiful Hudson River Park
Seeing Manhattan from atop the Empire State Building
Enjoying a cluster meeting at Central Park
Congratulations to all five winners, and to everyone who participated in this winter’s contest. Keep exploring!
By Stephanie WillhideStephanie started her career working for a cultural exchange program that supports English language learning in Chilean public schools. She came to InterExchange's Au Pair USA program in 2013, and now works as the Web Developer.
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