One of the most surprising things about Blue Ridge Conference Center to new visitors is the international students that staff many of the facilities. Young people from around the world come here to the Blue Ridge Conference Center to work for the YMCA. The countries represented at this conference as staff are: Belarus, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Russia, Rwanda, Slovenia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, United States of America, and Vietnam. They fill a variety of roles, usually in food service and housekeeping. Coming from all over the world, the international employees bring their own unique perspectives and backgrounds, but they are all happy to be here and experience and different country and culture.
One of the newest workers here is Jelena Roksandic, a native of Slovenia who arrived just last week. Unlike many of the other workers, who are in their teens, Jelena is older, coming here after college through Camp Counselors USA, an agency that has placed many of the workers at Blue Ridge. “I think I joined the program a little late,” Roksandic said. “I’m 23.” Still she is enjoying the experience of being in America. “Everything is so big! It still shocks you,” Roksandic said.
Also hailing from Europe is 18-year-old Cynthia Willemse. Willemse arrived five weeks ago from the Netherlands, and she works in the Blue Ridge Center in the food service. “Sometimes it gets boring, because every time it is the same thing”, Willemse said. They pay less in the Netherlands, though. She has been impressed by the people she has met. People are more open here. Willemse is staying here at Blue Ridge until August.
Edward Munyeshuli is working for his second summer at Blue Ridge from the country of Rwanda. Munyeshuli described that his favorite part of The United States of America is the beautiful environment and the group of people. Unlike most other international staffers, Munyeshuli works at Blue Ridge through his school. He is currently attending Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and he has worked here for the past two summers in order to gain work experience and improve his English.
Vicky Hsu is a second year employee this summer from Taiwan. She was an employee here in 2006, and when she got the opportunity to come back through Camp Counselors USA, she took it. Blue Ridge is very convenient because the meals, dorms, and internet are all provided for the international employees.
Jhon Giraldo is from Colombia as a first year employee hired through the International Camp Counselor Program, run by the YMCA. Giraldo did not choose Blue Ridge as his employer, but his program placed him here. However, he loves meeting the diverse group of people working here. Giraldo indicated that some things in the culture are very different, but others not so different. One thing difference is the weather because it is warmer and more humid here. Also, for many of the Colombians as well as Giraldo the custom of saying hello is different. They hug and kiss on the cheek, but here a simple hand shake works.
Lisamel Tapia is a third year employee from the Dominican Republic. During her first year Tapia came through Camp Counselors USA, but for her second and third year she has come through the YMCA. She said she loves the staff that comes from everywhere. Tapia enjoys meeting new people and this job gives her that opportunity. She also likes that others teach her their own customs and languages on breaks and after work.
Igor Pogorelo is a first year from Ukraine. He has been here since June and plans to stay through the end of the summer. He came to the USA to improve his English and learn more. Porgorelo said that it is very different here but he enjoys it. He came through Camp Counselors USA to this job.
Anna Kandiuk is also a first year on the Mountain from Ukraine. She enjoys having fellow Ukrainians working on the Blue Ridge staff. She also said that the people here are friendlier and more willing to help the ones from out of the country. Kandiuk is studying to become an English teacher in Ukraine, so she is using this experience to help her improve her speaking skills. Her main obstacle was the different food because in Ukraine they eat soup almost every day, but in the United States she has only had soup once.
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