This document provides an orientation for participants in a US-Turkey exchange program organized by World Learning. It outlines the program schedule, including topics of discussion and activities in Washington DC, Columbus, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, and New York. It also covers logistical details like travel, accommodations, expenses, health insurance, and cultural expectations. The orientation emphasizes building understanding and cooperation between Turkish and American participants through open dialogue and teamwork.

1. Pre-Departure Orientation

2.  Program Introduction
› Program Sponsors
› World Learning
› Program Description
 Travel Basics
› Budgeting
› Preparing for Departure
› Health
› Home stays
 City / Program Details
› New York, New York
› Boston , Massachusetts
› Columbus, Ohio
› Atlanta, Georgia
› Chicago, Illinois
 Contact Us

4.  Each year over 1,500 professionals from more than 140 countries
participate in short term exchange programs in the United States
arranged by World Learning and under grants provided by the US
Department of State and USAID. Through site visits, office meetings,
panel discussions, internships, volunteering, and other experiential
activities, our visitors discover the dimensions and context of their own
professions in the US, make lasting contact with their colleagues here, and
share insight about their activities at home.
All of World Learning's programs also include extensive opportunities
for participants to experience America through cultural and outdoor
activities, sporting events, home stays and home hospitality.
As Citizen Diplomats, these visiting professionals and
the Americans they meet create bridges of intercultural
understanding that enhance the capacity and commitment of
individuals, institutions, and communities to create a more peaceful
and just world.

5.  This program is an exchange program between politically and civically
active Turkish undergraduate students and American young people to
build capacity in participants to be agents for peaceful and effective
social change in their countries. The exchange will think beyond the
revolutions of the Arab Spring and look at shaping a new political
climate in which young people are engaged and their interests
represented.
 To maximize the value of this exchange, the program will take place in
late summer 2012, prior to the presidential elections in the U.S.
Through the lens of the 2012 elections, 17 Turkish students will
observe grassroots politics in the U.S. and study how political and
social goals could be served through political organizing and peaceful
means.

6. You will not need a lot of money during your stay. The
program will pay for accommodations and program
transportation.
 You will be given a small per diem stipend per day.
This is to cover your meals during your stay in The
United States.
 You may want to bring a small amount of cash with
you while you are traveling to the United States. This
will cover souvenirs or other items you may purchase;
transportation outside the program, phone calls
overseas, and other personal needs.

7. International Travel
 Baggage Fees:
› United Airlines
› 1st bag is free
 Up to 62.0 linear inches (157cm)
L + W + H and 50.0 lbs (23 kg) per bag
› Second Checked Baggage is 100$
› INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Please keep receipts for any luggage charge and present them to the World
Learning team upon arrival to be reimbursed. The program will cover the luggage fee for up to two
pieces of checked luggage. The program CANNOT cover fees for overweight luggage.

8.  You have medical emergency health insurance.
This will cover any accidents or illnesses that may happen on the program.
However, the medical coverage does not include pre-existing
illnesses, prescriptions or dental work.
 Important Information: If there are any medical conditions that you
know about, please inform Vlad Spencer as soon as possible.
 Please make sure that all prescription medications are in their labeled
bottle that you receive from the doctor.
 If you don’t feel well, please contact the program organizers first, they can
help you find the best way to get the care that you need with your
insurance.

9.  You will need your passport, which has your visa, to enter the U.S. A picture
of you and fingerprint will be taken when you enter the U.S. You may also be
asked why you are coming to the U.S. (Answer: for a State Department
sponsored US-Turkey Exchange Program).

10.  Where are you coming from?
 What is your purpose for coming to the U.S.?
 Is this your first visit to the U.S.?
 Which cities will you be visiting in the U.S.?
 How long will you be in the country?
 Are you traveling with anyone?
 Be patient and calm. Please understand that stricter
security measures are applied to all foreign visitors in
the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They are
neither specific to you nor do we have any control over
them even though your visit is sponsored by the U.S.
Government.

11.  It is important to understand that your J-I Visa has the “two year” rule
attached to it:
 Participants in U.S. Government-funded exchange programs must
return to their home countries and live (be physically present in
your country) for a total of two years before they are eligible to
receive the kind of visa that enables them to reside permanently in
the United States (as an immigrant or refugee, for example) or to
work in the United States.
 This “two-year rule” does not prevent persons from returning to the U.S.
for business, tourism, study, and other purposes that involve a temporary
stay, although a U.S. Consulate abroad may institute a more restricted
policy in response to the situation in that country.

12. While on the airplane, you will be
asked to fill out an I-94 customs form.
The form will require a local address
in the United States; here you should
put the World Learning address:
World Learning
Visitor Exchange Program
1015 15th Street NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
+1-202-408-5420

13.  Gratuities
 Gratuities are not optional in the US. Wait staff, hotel-room attendants, valet
parkers and bellhops receive the minimum wage or less and depend on
tips for their livelihoods. In restaurants tipping 15% of the total bill is the
accepted minimum. If service is good, 20% is a decent tip, while it is
appropriate to tip more if service is exceptional. Hotel-room attendants
should get $1 per guest per day, taxi drivers about 10% of your fare. Airport
baggage handlers get about $1 per bag.
 Good items to bring:
 Contact phone numbers for program organizers
 Adapters for electronic equipment
 Comfortable shoes
 Rain jacket
 A smaller tote bag for extra items
 Clothing appropriate for weather in DC, and your partner city
 Calling home from the U.S.
 At the opening session for the program, we will discuss possibilities for
calling cards and/or personal cell phones that are available in the cities
where you will be.

14.  You will have home stays during your stay in your
partners’ cities. At that time, you will be living with
American families.
 Your family will be excited to have you in their home
and they want to make you feel comfortable. Please
feel free to communicate with them openly when you
are at home. You will learn a great deal from them,
and they will learn a great deal from you.
 Home stay hosts are not paid for hosting you. They
are doing it as a contribution to international
understanding and to their communities. Please treat
them with courtesy and respect.

16.  Topics Covered:
 Foreign policy framework and mechanisms
 U.S.-Turkey relations
 Governmental and non-governmental perspectives
on international affairs
 Skill training workshops on topics such as conflict
management and resolution and civil society
capacity building in a global environment
Weather
 In late August the avg. temperature in D.C is 87
degrees F/30 degrees C
 Bring Dresses, skirts, shorts, short sleeves, pants.
 Weather is Hot and Humid in August!!
Hotel: The Normandy 2118
Wyoming Avenue N.W.
Washington D.C.20008, USA
Tel: +1 (202) 483 1350

17.  Topics Covered:
 Meetings with both Democratic and
Republican representatives
 Republican Party, Democratic
Party, Political Campaign.
 Turkish American Cultural relations.
 Party Elected officials
August 30th-September 3rd
Weather Residence Inn Columbus
 Avg. Temperature in Columbus:65 -75 Downtown
 Bring: Umbrella, T-shirts, Long Sleeve 36 East Gay Street
shirts, Light Jacket. Columbus, OH 43215-3108
Phone: (614) 222-2610
Fax: (614) 222-2611

18.  Topics Covered
 Atlanta Cit y Politics
 The role of citizens in city, state,
 and federal government
 The role of women in Georgia politics.
 Lake Oconee , Labor Day Cook Out
Hotel:
Weather: Country Inn and Suites
 Humid, subtropical climate; days can be hot 800 Sidney Marcus Boulevard,
and humid summers with cooler nights Atlanta GA, 30324
 Avg. Temperature in August 75-80 degrees +1 (404) 949-4000
 Bring: light jacket, umbrella, shorts, t-shirts.

19. Weather
 65-75 degrees, Warm to hot
Bring: An umbrella, light
 Topics Covered 
jacket, pants, shorts, t-shirts (
 U.S.-Turkey relations nights may tend to be cooler)
 Governmental and non-
governmental perspectives on
international affairs.
 Chicago City Politics
Hotel:
The Crowne Plaza Chicago
Metro Hotel
733 West Madison
Chicago, IL 60661
Telephone: (312) 829-5000
Fax: (312) 602-2199

20.  Topics Covered:
Youth Political Engagement
Media and Political Engagement
Tufts University Visit
College Immersion
September 3rd- 6th
Weather
 Avg. Temp 65 – 75 degrees
Hotel:  Bring: Umbrella, pants, T-shirts,
The Boston Park Plaza Sweatshirts/ light jacket.
Hotel & Towers
50 Park Plaza at Arlington
Street
Boston, MA 02116-3912
Contact:
617.654.1912

21.  Topics Covered
 Conflict resolution dialogues aimed
 at fostering a new generation of peace builders.
 Discussion with International Students September 6th-
 Cultural Night September 8th
Weather
 Avg. 71 degree F, Warm to Hot weather Hotel:
 Bring a light jacket, umbrella, Colonial Motel
889 Putney Rd
 tends to be cooler at night.
Brattleboro, VT
05301
(802) 257-7733

22.  Topics Covered:
Civic participation and human
rights in the international arena
Perspectives on protests in the
U.S.
Participating in community
events and festivals
Hotel:
Weather: Holiday Inn Express, Madison
Avg. 70-80 degrees, can be hot and Square Garden, 232 West 29th
humid in August, cooler nights. Street. New York City, New
Bring: Light Jacket, pants ,shorts. York 10001

23.  The most important thing to remember is that, from now on, for the
rest of the year and , hopefully, for many years to come, we are a
team! !
The key to our program’s success is a team-oriented, tolerant,
and open-minded approach to dialogue and joint action!

24. Question?! Please email us!
› vladimir.spencer@worldlearning.org
› amanda.bischoping@worldlearning.org
› eleanor.fitzgerald@worldlearning.org
› laura.horsting@worldlearning.org