InterExchange

From fermentation engineering to biotechnology breakthroughs, Benjamin’s 12-month internship in New Jersey helped him master the specialized skills needed to grow the industry back home in Chile. His journey proves how stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to high-level professional growth and an unforgettable international perspective.

Here's what Benjamin had to say about interning at his U.S. host company:

"Excellent company to work in, very good experience for a career in fermentation engineering, with multiple areas open to be explored and developed within biotechnology. It is a very welcoming place that has people from multiple cultural backgrounds and it is also very considerate with its employees. They also have the perfect scale to learn about pilot-scale and industrial scale fermentation engineering. It allowed me to develop techniques and skills that are key in my area of study. This are going to be necessary to allow for the development of biotechnology in my country, or to search for education and job opportunities that are highly specialized in this area."

What specialized skills are you looking to develop on your own global exchange?

The adventure starts before you even board the plane. ✈️

Last week, our team visited the Dominican Republic for a participant orientation hosted by our longtime partner Alliance International Recruiting. The energy in the room was electrifying.

✨ Over 100 Work & Travel USA participants, ready to spend their summer in the U.S.
✨ Staff dressed as pilots and flight attendants
✨ Giveaways of luggage, cash, flight vouchers, eSIM cards, and more
✨ And a whole lot of excitement for what's ahead

This is why we do what we do. Shoutout to Maria Chekmeneva and Ozden Gul for representing InterExchange so beautifully and to Alliance International Recruiting for another incredible event. 🙌

To everyone heading to the U.S. this summer: we can't wait to welcome you. Your adventure is just getting started.

Brothers Franco and Joaquin recently traded Argentina for Nebraska to level up their careers and their English. Between mastering new skills at their electronics engineering internship and enjoying home-cooked dinners with local families, they discovered that the best part of the U.S. is the welcoming sense of community.

Franco's favorite memory:
"What I liked most about U.S. culture is how welcoming and friendly people are. I really appreciated the sense of community and how much they enjoy sharing time, experiences, and traditions together. A memorable experience I had in the U.S. was sharing mate with my American friends for the first time. It was special because mate is meant to be enjoyed together, and they were very open to learning about my culture. We spent a great time talking, laughing, and sharing traditions."

Joaquin’s takeaway:
"I learned a lot about working in a large international company, had an excellent experience working with electronic devices, and improved my English. I also met a wonderful family who started inviting me over for dinner, and we took a few trips together to explore Nebraska and Kansas. Since they are school teachers, they love talking about a wide variety of topics. Meeting them was honestly the best thing that happened to me."




💙What is Career Training USA?
Career Training USA provides J-1 Visa sponsorship for internships & professional training in the U.S., helping you gain hands-on experience, grow your skills, and explore new opportunities!

In March, nearly 100 BridgeUSA alumni gathered in Sofia, Bulgaria to reconnect and celebrate what their time in the U.S. meant to them.

As America marks 250 years, moments like this are a reminder of what exchange programs have always done: build real, lasting connections between people and nations.

🌍🇺🇸 Read the highlights in our latest blog post: https://www.interexchange.org/blog/international-participants/bridge-usa-alumni-sofia/

What does a year of building bridges look like? Swipe through some highlights from our 2025 Impact Report to see! 🧡

14,000+ participants. 102+ countries. Connections that go far beyond a summer or a semester.
From Capitol Hill advocacy to Cultural Quest creators, from record Christianson Fellowship grants to life-changing stories like Paola's, this was a year of showing up for exchange, in every sense.
Read the full report → link in bio