Laura knows hospitality, she grew up with it. As a little girl in Johannesburg, South Africa, she often heard her grandmother quote the bible verse “Do not neglect to show hospitality, because through it others dined with angels.” She also knows education, both of her parents were academics. Yet Laura found herself drawn to the hospitality industry.
Sometimes it’s the chef that comes out perfectly prepared
It was a job she never imagined taking in the first place, in a country that wasn’t her own. On her last day, she couldn’t imagine ever leaving. The idea of working abroad had never entered Maria Sanchez’ mind not so very long ago. She had grown up in a traditional household in Mexico, where a love of cooking was …
Exchange Day: The Journey of Cultural Exchange through Community
What connects us to one another; brings us together? The question of ‘how communities come together,’ and more importantly, ‘how communities stay together’ has always been a relevant facet of the human experience. However, with growing tensions between communities of all forms and types, colors and religions, I find the question is more pressing now than it has been in …
Korea West Selects a Model Student
Yuna Kang is a model student. We’re not making that claim because she also happens to be a model intern at Alliance Abroad; the South Korean Education Ministry and OSIT selected her as the very best student from the second round of 70 students participating in the WEST program. Yuna will become an example for other South Korean students hoping to …
An Intern Exchange Visitor Reflects on her Experience
It’s almost time to wrap up my experience as a Exchange Visitor Intern and to say goodbye to the United States. Time flies! I’ve been trying my best to check everything I wanted to see and do off my list, and realized that there was still one thing I needed to do before leaving: go to an American Football game, …
Summer Businesses Are In Trouble
An End to Summer Work Travel Programs Could End Seasonal and Summer Businesses Summer is here and you’ve probably got fun-filled vacation plans. Maybe you’re looking forward to going to the beach, vacationing at your favorite resort, dining out at great restaurants, taking the kids to water or amusement parks? So are thousands of American vacationers who are expecting fun, …
Happy Independence Day!
Enjoy Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness! Every red-blooded, flag-waving, country-loving American knows that The Fourth of July is a day of great historic and national significance. Independence Day is a federal holiday marked by joyful celebrations in rural towns and sprawling cities across the nation. Americans show their patriotism by adorning their homes with our national flag and …
Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead Goes Above and Beyond to Recruit the Very Best
Running a luxury hospitality brand isn’t easy. People are what make the experience, but finding the type of people who truly care about delivering a unique customer experience can be challenging. That’s why at Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, they search for people with a “heart for hospitality.” In an industry plagued by fierce competition and high employee turnover, recruiting …
Land of the Free Because of the Brave
Memorial Day is a revered American holiday that honors the memory, patriotism, courage and ultimate sacrifice of American soldiers. In 1971, the last Monday in May was declared the official day for observing the memories of the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the United States military. In the years after the American Civil War, a …
Inspiring and Teaching Using Robotics
Wilmar Lee is a robotics fanatic and she’s passing her infectious passion to middle school students in Houston, Texas. Wilmar is not from Texas, in fact, she’s not an American. She’s a Filipino citizen participating in a teacher exchange program. Back home, on the other side of the world, Wilmar taught math, computer and MAPEH (Music, Art, PE, & Health) …