Engaged Employer: Fountainhead Hotels
In the spring and summer seasons, LifeTRAVELED Thai exchange visitors travel to Fairbanks to explore the natural wonders of Alaska, share their Thai culture with Americans, and grow professionally as part of the seasonal workforce serving excellent hospitality to tourists.
The environment in Fairbanks made me so happy in every day and I’m gonna miss this place while I’m go back home. - Thanaporn
I am impressed by working in a hotel full of people of different nationalities. I learn languages and adapt to different ways of working. We constantly exchange and communicate, so we can practice our language and learn all the time. - Suphawadee
I enjoy interacting with the guests from different countries and guests who come from different states who stay at the hotel. - Jada
[What I enjoy most about my employment is ] meeting an employer who welcomes you and takes good care of you, supports you in every aspect, meets new friends, and experiences new things. - Phukijnat
What I enjoy most about my employment in housekeeping is the camaraderie with my co-workers. Working together to keep spaces clean and organized creates a strong sense of teamwork and mutual support. - Tachpol
I met many local Alaskans. I’m happy to know their stories. - Namtip
[The cultural activities I did this month were] learn about native Alaskan history, teaching Thai words to American, eating American food, go to hiking with American friends. - Chatworada
{What has impacted me most this past month is] living in the unique weather found in the upper north of Alaska. Seeing sunset to sunrise in the blink of an eye was a one of a kind experience that I can honestly say I haven’t seen before. - Siripas
As a host of BridgeUSA exchange visitors, host employers are part of a Department of State foreign policy initiative imperative to creating and maintaining positive global relations. As a stakeholder in the BridgeUSA program, host employers must invest in the exchange visitor’s experience to support the cultural exchange goals of the program.
Fountainhead Hotels, a group of three all inclusive hotels in Fairbanks, employ Thai university students on their hospitality team through the BridgeUSA Summer Work and Travel program. Valuing the exchange visitor experience and committed to sharing the unique culture of Alaska, Fountainhead Hotel arranges activities throughout their programs.
Breabach Concert - Exchange visitors attended a Celtic folk music concert at a local venue, Hering Auditorium. Following the concert, the exchange visitors met local bagpipe musicians and discussed the connections between Celtic folk and American folk music.
Adonis Rose Concert - Jazz music, the soundtrack of the Roaring ‘20s and influential to the popular styles of today, originated from African Americans in New Orleans, Louisiana in the early 17th century. Exchange visitors attended a performance by Adonis Rose - a grammy winning artist and Artistic Director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Foreign at first, during intermission the exchange visitors had many questions about the music and ended the performance with enthusiastic appreciation.
Baseball Game - Exchange visitors learned about America’s past time, baseball, while cheering on a local team.
Baseball game that supervisor bring us to baseball field and watch the game, we are excited because in Thailand we don’t have kind of this game to watch a lot. - Natthanicha
I am so glad I decided to go to the baseball game. At first the rules were a bit difficult for me to understand but I understood more and had more fun!! - Sutthita
Citywide Appreciation Event - Local businesses and Explore Fairbanks collaborated on a citywide appreciation event to celebrate the exchange visitors and their impact on the community. Hosted at the Morris Thompson Cultural Visitors Center, a center for Native Alaskan culture, exchange visitors gathered to learn Inupiaq dance, participate in World Eskimo Indian Olympic events (the World Eskimo Indian Olympics are held in Fairbanks), and sing and dance to international karaoke.
There’s party of all J1 operated by the city of Fairbanks. I have a lot of fun there. They provided foods, Photo Booth, karaoke, as well as the show of local sing/dance of the city. I have met so many people which from each different country. It was fun and warm our heart too!. - Pantila
