In 2006, I left my corporate job at HP France to move to Los Angeles as an international student. I wanted to improve my English language skills, learn about the American way of doing business and eventually start my own. More importantly, I was in search of making meaningful changes in my life in order to add value to my own existence while possibly making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Not only was coming to the U.S. difficult, but once I arrived, I experienced a wide variety of both encouraging and negative feelings, such as excitement, surprise, happiness, loss of identity, anxiety, disorientation and confusion, while facing language, academic and integration challenges. I sometimes felt like a child.

Thankfully, some great people both from my university, UCLA, and off campus taught me the skills that I needed, showed me around, helped me adjust to the American culture, and inspired me. Some also provided me knowledge and methods for a better understanding of the ins- and- outs of running a business in this country, encouraged me to challenge the conventional thinking, and helped me discover and articulate my greater purpose.

I believe that the majority of international students and foreign exchange visitors to the United States face the same challenges. However, not all of them are lucky enough to receive the same attention, care and consideration — helping them to improve their experience, develops a better understanding of people of different backgrounds, or even get the tools needed to realize their dreams. For those people, I founded “U in the USA”.

In brief, our mission is to simplify international students’ and foreign exchange visitors’ lives, to help them interact more effectively with Americans, and to assist them in achieving their goals.  We also try to encourage them to take advantage of this program to create connections and even make lifelong friends.

To learn more about what we do, and how we do it, please visit us  www.uintheusa.com or contact us at contact@uintheusa.com

Jean-Marc Dedeyne

President and Founder of U in the USA

Tel : 1-800-464-7681

This Disney-made video on the origin of the California Institute of the Arts was made when the Music Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art were still being talked about and designed. Narrated by Sebastian Cabot, it includes rare footage of the Chouinard Art Institute near MacArthur Park and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music, which were merged to form CalArts in 1961, under the guidance of Walt and Roy Disney. (The new school didn’t move to Valencia until 1971.) It was posted to Vimeo by Christine Ziemba.

Source : LA Observed

The CalArts Story from Christine Ziemba (CalArts) on Vimeo.

Visit CalArts here

Today, American Mosaic in VOA Special English shares with us some new music from the West Coast band Wavves.

They also talk about a colorful bridge in Northern California, The Golden Gate Bridge.

And a mystery from the Old West concerning empty graves, a faraway homeland and long-forgotten papers. Continue reading here

Listen to the story here

Source : VOA Special English

Photo: T. Banse

Baker City Chinese Cemetery

In this Princeton University graduation address, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos makes the case that our character is reflected not in the gifts we’re endowed with at birth, but by the choices we make over the course of a lifetime. Watch this talk below:

]]> http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/2010/07/what-matters-more-than-your-talents/feed/ 0 http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/2010/07/social-media-get-your-foot-in-the-virtual-door/ http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/2010/07/social-media-get-your-foot-in-the-virtual-door/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:44:07 +0000 Jean-Marc http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/?p=4059

The key to getting a job is getting in front of a decision-maker, which isn’t as impossible as it may seem.

If you’re savvy, social media can get you and your resume through the virtual front door to the person doing the hiring.

The key is to shift your emphasis from looking at positions to finding people. It starts by having comprehensive profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Without fully complete profiles, which includes uploading all of your contacts and connections, none of these sites are effective for jobseekers.

Tory Johnson explains how to use Facebook and Twitter to get a new job.

USA TODAY, Voices, asked tourists in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., What is the American Dream? This great video will you their answers.

Source : USA TODAY

If you’re headed to college in the fall, it might be the last thing on your mind in July. But summer’s the perfect time to explore the world of smartphone apps, particularly those designed with college students and MBAs in mind. Even the best ones are free and they offer functionality that includes everything from increasing the size of your Facebook following to boosting your vocabulary. We’ve compiled a list of 10 useful applications—most available on iTunes—that cover both prepping for school and succeeding once you’re there. Take a look, explore your favorites, and begin downloading. Continue here

By Sommer Saadi

Source : Business Week

This week, SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English looks at how people train to be medical doctors in the United States.

It is not easy to become a doctor in the United States. The first step is getting into a medical college. More than one hundred twenty American schools offer study programs for people wanting to be doctors.

People can get advice about medical schools from many resources. One of these is a publication, the Princeton Review. It provides information about colleges, study programs and jobs.

The Princeton Review says competition to enter medical schools is strong. American medical schools have only about sixteen thousand openings for students. However, more than two times this many seek entry. Many of those seeking admittance are women.

Read more here or Listen to the story here

Source: VOA News

Hello Fans,

I hope you had a great weekend.

I wanted to take some time to thank you for your positive interest, constructive comments and continuing support.

Because we want you feel more comfortable, have a superior experience and more importantly achieve your goals in the United States, I added a new member to our International Team.

It’s now my pleasure to introduce to you our new member, Bethiël.

Bethiël Tekle Mariam is an Eritrean lady, born and raised in the Netherlands. She moved to the sunny California 6 months ago to pursue her American Dream. Currently, she is enrolled in an International Management & Operations Certificate program at the University of California, Irvine, and she plans on starting off her professional career this fall within the field of International Marketing & Communication. This 26 year-old has a passion for travelling, and she is fortunate to have seen all the major cities in Europe and the USA. While studying abroad in St. Louis, Missouri and Valencia, Spain she understood how much cultural differences can make someone not feel at home. In St. Louis, Missouri, she was involved in the International Business Club and the International Student Organization. During her recent experience in the United States, she learned how to overcome and adjust herself to any obstacles she ran into.

Bethiel joined U in the USA to share her experience, help you feel more at home within the American culture and more importantly help you live your dreams. In the days to come, she will personally connect with each of you to discuss your interests, questions and ways to reach your own goals.

I will appreciate your help in making Bethiël feel welcome in our community.

Thank you.

Jean-Marc Dedeyne
U in the USA
“International Students & Visitors. Life Simplified!”

Want to know more about Bethiël click here

]]> http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/2010/07/to-help-you-live-your-dreams-we-added-a-new-member/feed/ 0 http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/2010/07/how-to-mix-with-people-at-parties/ http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/2010/07/how-to-mix-with-people-at-parties/#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:46:55 +0000 Jean-Marc http://www.uintheusa.com/blog/?p=3992

This week on Wordmaster, Avi Arditti, Rosanne Skirble and Jeanne Martinet give us some tips about mixing with people– what works?”Jeanne Martinet offers some help in an updated edition of her popular book “The Art of Mingling.”

“Well, what doesn’t work is that you should never walk up to somebody and ask them right away what they do for a living. It’s not only sort of rude, and it’s sort of like ‘who are you, are you worth my time?’ But it’s also bringing up a conversation that you don’t know what you’re bringing up.Read more here

Listen to the story here

Source : VOA News

The Art of Mingling: Proven Techniques for Mastering Any Room

Want more?

The Art of Mingling : Lear How to Be a Party here