Blog

By Qindan Nie, Development Intern  This year marks the 75th anniversary of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which is characterized by the U.S Department of State as the first recognized exchange initiative of its kind. This flagship exchange program invites emerging foreign leaders working in the political, economic, educational, media, religious and civil society sectors to experience U.S. society and values and to build abiding connections with American peers. These programs have provided opportunities for domestic and international emerging leaders to exchange ideas and collaborate on common challenges in order to build a more peaceful and prosperous world.
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By Kelly Sexton, Relocations Intern This past semester I have been blessed with the opportunity to work in the relocation department here at The International Center. Through phone calls, e-mails, welcome packages, and orientation tours, we assist international employees who are moving from their home country to Indianapolis on a business assignment. At first it seemed relatively easy, clear-cut, and laid back. But let me assure you, it is quite the opposite. There is never a dull moment in the relocation office whether it be a client’s security alarm going off at 4 in the morning (and not knowing
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By Yin Li, China Project Intern   As an international student majoring in Communication, I am very interested in working in the diverse cultural environment, in which I can use my personal experience and improve my knowledge in communication. When I found this internship position from The Center’s website, I felt it would be a great opportunity for me. At The International Center, I work as an intern at the China Project Office, which aims to enhance the relationships between China and Indiana in the field of business, culture and education. As a student from China, I am very excited to
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By Kelli Duncan, Protocol intern At the beginning of my semester-long internship when my Office of Protocol supervisor, Peter Kirkwood, told me (with much enthusiasm) about the importance of our flag collection here at The International Center, I was pretty sure he was overselling it. I mean, flags are just flags right? I was fairly certain that they existed in order to look nice in pictures and to prompt the removal of hats during the national anthem at baseball games before scarfing down the rest of a hot dog. But with the passing years our world has become a
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By Billie Fouts, VP Marketing & Development A year ago next month I boarded a plane bound for Washington, D.C. to rendezvous with a top International Center volunteer, Betty Bledsoe, along with 10 of her 11 adopted children. The occasion: They, not just SHE, were to be presented with the Lorinne Emery Volunteer of the Year award from Global Ties U.S. Global Ties U.S. is the organization under the purview of the U.S. Department of State that administers the nation’s premiere citizen diplomacy program for visits to the U.S. by delegations of emerging leaders from around the world.The Award
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By Rachel O’Heran, IVLP intern Part of what drew me into my internship with the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) at The International Center were the ample opportunities to work with the international community. Through my studies, I have worked with individuals from African and Asian cultures. Although I thoroughly enjoy my work with both of these regions, I wanted to broaden my experience and to work hand in hand with individuals from all a variety of cultures. Over the past four years, I have been exposed to many cultures that call Indianapolis home, and it has been amazing
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Indiana’s relationship with Japan    Over the years Indiana has maintained and developed a strong relationship with Japan. In 1999, the Hoosier state established a sister-state relationship with Tochigi Prefecture. Since then, many Indiana cities have followed the state’s lead by establishing sister-city relationships throughout Japan. Hoosier-Japanese relations are enhanced further by the many business relationships and university partnerships that exist in our community. Indiana is the only state with all of the big three Japanese auto manufactures (Toyota, Honda, and Subaru). Cultural Insight – Honorifics In Japanese society, showing respect at all times is of critical importance. This
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By Kimberly Collins, Global Competency Intern Friday evening the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation honored best-selling author Khaled Hosseini with the Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Literature Award. Because of our involvements with the library, The International Center was given two tickets to the lecture and backstage reception. And as an avid proponent of the mantra “read a zillion books,” and especially as one of the many who has poured over The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed time and again, I snagged them right up. Khaled Hosseini and Kimberly Dr. Khaled Hosseini was remarkably personable and
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At The International Center we strive to facilitate international exchange. One of our core programs is the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), managed by Beth Barich. The program helps bringing leaders from all around the world to the United States in order to improve international diplomacy. It was first introduced in 1940 and was solely created for Latin American leaders but quickly evolved into what it is known as today. That is, bringing leaders from all around the world to US communities. In its first 75 years, the IVLP served 200,000 emerging leaders in diverse fields. Today, the IVLP
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By Kimberly Collins, Global Competency Intern In an age where I can read live tweets from Gaza and watch YouTube videos fresh from Syria, I have the ability to filter my news with scrutiny. With constant increases in technology, I have the luxury of video chatting for free directly with a friend in France. My company could send me on a three year assignment to the UAE and, while doubtlessly challenging in ways, I would be overall fine, even elated. All this to say, the world is getting flatter, and we are getting more connected in it. Recently we
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