Spirit Representatives Caryn and Susie traveled to South Dakota this July to visit Spirit participants in the region. During the trip, they visited participants and Host Employers in Rapid City, Deadwood, Spearfish and Keystone and met a total of 15 Host Employers and 46 participants.
Why South Dakota Is a Top Work and Travel Destination
South Dakota is home to beautiful scenic views and popular tourist attractions such as the Black Hills and the historical Mount Rushmore. It is a popular location for the BridgeUSA Work and Travel program as it sees tourists from all over the US and world during the summer season. For the Work and Travel program especially, South Dakota offers a variety of cultural activities as well making it a must-see destination.
Making Friends and Sharing Experiences
Throughout the trip, Caryn and Susie got to meet many happy participants who were enjoying their exchange programs. Many of them were taking advantage of close proximity to Mount Rushmore and exploring their communities. In Deadwood, Spirit spoke with participants who had come together and created a group chat for J-1 participants so that they can stay connected. One of our participants in Deadwood had described her program as ‘the best summer of her life’.
Cultural Exchange at ‘Live on the Lawn’
On the final day of the trip, Caryn and Susie hosted a cultural activity during Rapid City’s ‘Live on the Lawn’ event with live music, food and drinks with a total of 15 participants attending the event. It was nice speaking with participants in a more relaxed environment and got to learn more about them and their reasons for participating in the program. At the end of the event, a participant gifted Caryn and Susie bracelets that she had brought from home country of China that represented good luck.
Looking Ahead to Future Visits
Overall, it was a fun and exciting trip and a great chance to visit participants in the area! Spirit enjoys experiencing cultural exchange in South Dakota as we place over one hundred participants in the state. Host Employers are always grateful for the opportunity to host participants from all over the world and greatly value the global perspective participants bring. South Dakota is a beautiful state full of history and fun cultural activities, and we are already looking forward to our next visit!
