Xiaowen Niu

China → Door County, WI

“The J-1 Summer Work Travel Program has been the best life experience I‘ve ever had.

"During the summer of 2014, I worked at an ice cream and candy store in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin in scenic Door County. It was the first job that I had ever held in my life. Everything seemed so challenging, especially communicating with customers in English. At the beginning, I had trouble understanding my supervisor’s instructions and customer orders. My boss noticed that I was struggling and gave me a lot of training to help. She also knew I was interested in early childhood education, so she helped me find a volunteer opportunity once a week at a nearby day care center.

“An American couple came in one day while I was working with a friend, and we had a great conversation. And guess what, this kind American couple became our host family (and still are even to this day)! My host parents explained that there is a program in Door County called BRIDGES, which helps international students establish friendships with Americans and learn more about United States culture, and provides helpful services to exchange visitors.

“Life is amazing; you never know what will happen, how the choices of today will influence the direction of your life in the future. When I look back, the three month experience I had living and working in the United States as a J-1 changed my life. I became more confident to face the difficulty that was in front of me, and I am more open and willing to learn about different cultures. My career goal for the future is to work with international students and advise them on how to study and live well in a different country. I look forward to graduating this May and starting a new journey in life!”

What sHe's up to now:

Studying at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.