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Since the end of April, the U.S. Department of State and World Link has welcomed small groups of international students to the U.S. as part of a short-term exchange program. These students were originally selected to come for the 2020-2021 academic year but because of the pandemic, their in-person exchange was canceled and replaced with the virtual program. We are excited to be able to finally welcome these students to U.S. soil and to personally meet many of the students who participated in our virtual program.
So far, World Link has hosted students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and most recently Georgia. We're looking forward to welcoming students from Armenia, Bahrain, Czechia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mongolia, and Romania throughout the summer and into the fall.
When ALEX Program students first arrive, they land in Washington D.C. During their one-week stay, they visit iconic places such as the National Museum of American History, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the White House. They also participate in various workshops.
In the second week of the program, students stay with host families throughout central California, eastern and central Iowa, or near St. Louis. Each day is filled with new cultural experiences. Some groups meet with local police and fire departments. Other groups tour capital buildings and meet government representatives. They tour American high schools and college campuses. They attend baseball games and try bowling or go fishing for the first time. As part of the leadership training, students share their culture, volunteer, and learn how to plan their own projects.
While it's not a full program year, we are confident our World Link ALEX Program students have gotten the most out of their short-term exchange. They have experienced American culture, bonded with their host families, and gained new leadership skills to return home with during this whirlwind of two weeks.
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