Category Archives: Updates and News

J1 Summer Work Travel, spontaneous, Student Activities, Updates and News

Free Activities Tonight (7/27) in NYC

Visiting NYC this weekend and want to hang where the locals do?  Check out these free movie screenings around the city tonight:

1.  HUGO playing at pier 46 on the upper west side at 8:30pm:  http://www.riverflicks.com/07.27.12.html

2.  MUPPETs at the Intrepid.  Bring your lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets. Guests are encouraged to bring  their ownSummer Movie Seriesfood, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, however no outside alcohol is permitted.  Doors open at 7:30PM, film begins at sunset, weather permitting. Space is limited. Seating is on a first come first serve basis, and there is no admission after 8:30pm.     http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/Summer-Movie-Series.aspx

Not up for a movie?  Well it is summer in NYC which means something for everyone.

3.  The MET summer Recital Series – The Met’s annual concert series in New York City parks is one of the most beloved summer traditions in the city. This year, the Summer Recital Series returns with six performances in the parks of all five boroughs.  TONIGHT:  The Metropolitan Opera from 7pm-9pm on the Harbor View Lawn at the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn.  http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/events/calendar/metropolitan-opera

Have fun and travel safe!

The LifExchange Team

www.LifExchangellc.com

Updates and News

What’s new this September

LifExchange Campus announced two new programs this month, Alternate Spring Break to Jamaica and our Campus Rep program.

Campus Reps –

Are Individuals and Student Organizations

  • Earn a free trip
  • Earn Cash
  • Fundraise for your organization
  • Build your resume

Whether you want to organize a trip for your group of friends or the entire school, LifExchange can help you make it a reality. Campus Reps sell one of our two programs:

For more information or to APPLY NOW click here

We want to help you reach your personal goals while you learn valuable skills to help prepare you for your future. The LifExchange Campus Rep program is challenging, rewarding and most of all, fun.

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Alternate Spring Break in Jamaica

Jamaica is an incredible island, idyllic in all its indigenous beauty but astonishingly poor beyond beachy tourist paradises. LifExchange and Volunteer Jamaica team up to provide you an opportunity to explore a new country, visit the beaches and hike the Dunn’s river waterfalls as well as make a difference in the life of a child. Volunteer teaching english, reading, math or sports in the primary school or help with homework and recreational activities at the SOS children’s orphanage.

Find more information here.

Student Activities, Thoughts and Words, Updates and News

Free and low cost Events in NYC this weekend 9/16-9/18

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Exploring the world in our own backyard

1.  120 artists and galleries present works in individual rooms at the 4th annual 4 heads art fair at governors island.  http://www.4heads.org/

2.  Movie Screenings:  dusk: free outdoor movies 9/17 women on the verge of a nervous breakdown (big screen plaza, 6th ave bet. 29th + 30th), 9/18 the good, the bad and the ugly (habana outpost), 9/20 2001: a space odyssey (big screen plaza, 6th ave bet. 29th + 30th), 9/21 the devil wears prada (stuyvesant town oval)

3.  Apple picking an hour or less from nyc: http://alturl.com/jc9mx

4.  Thru 9/18: get $20 tickets to off-broadway shows 20 minutes before curtain during ‘20at20’:  http://www.20at20.com/

5.  Value Deal:  Good till end of day 9/14.  Two movie tickets and a large popcorn at cinema village for $12 ($27 value, limit 3/person)  http://alturl.com/fj4x2

6.  Sunday, September 18th – The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary event in New York City presenting an array of literary stars and emerging authors who represent the exciting world of literature today. One of America’s premier book festivals, this hip, smart, diverse gathering attracts thousands of book lovers of all ages.  http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org/BBF/Home

J1 Summer Work Travel, Thoughts and Words, Updates and News

Tips to NYC travel

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Once you have completed your Work and Travel program successfully you may choose to travel in the US before returning home to University.  For many LifExchange participants NYC is on your list of places to visit.

Here are some tips to assist you with your planning

The Basics:

Buying a metro card:  We recommend you but an unlimited 7 day pass for $29.00.  This allows you to travel 24 hours per day for 7 days anywhere I the city for one cost.  Find out more at the MTA.  Taxis are not cheap – with the heavy New York traffic and the compulsory tip, expect to pay $10 for even a short cab ride.
Accommodations:  For cheap accommodations look up http://AirBnB.com for in home stays, or for a little less visit http://Hostelworld.com.  Both of these options are cheaper than a hotel unless you are traveling in a group and willing to share a hotel room.  Depending on the dates, Hostels can be found for around $30 – $45 a night, depending on whether you want a private or shared room. Book your accommodation before you travel, especially in peak season.
Food: Most hostels don’t serve breakfast, so a diner breakfast will set you back about $10 – not including the tip. New Yorkers don’t do things by halves – and this includes their food portions.  Try the street vendors, there are a lot of great meals you will find for less then $5.00.  China town and the East village are also great neighborhoods for great finds.  Want to splurge and treat yourself to something great?  Visit Open Table for suggestions and reservations.

Things to do:

The Statue of Liberty – (http://www.statueoflibertytickets.com/) ferries for the Statue leave every 25 minutes from 8.30am-4.30pm from Battery Park. Perhaps the most recognizable icon of the USA, expect a long wait with queuing and security checks before boarding the ferry.  The ferry continues on to Ellis Island, where you might find a long lost family member on the Immigrant Wall of Honour.
The Staten Island Ferry is free- and while there is not much to see on Staten Island you will get stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline. This ferry runs 24 hours a day.
Central Park – Probably the only place in the city you’ll find some peace and quiet. It would take a week to view the whole of this park, but try and fit in a few of the highlights during your stay. Strawberry Fields, dedicated to the late John Lennon, is worth a visit and the Jackie Onassis Reservoir is beautiful on a sunny day.
New York Public Library – Worth a visit if only to view the two famous stone lions sitting outside – said to represent Patience and Fortitude. Oh, and it’s free.
Ground Zero- For decades, the World Trade Centre was the most visible tourist attraction in Lower Manhattan. Post 9/11, the site is surrounded by a Viewing Wall, that allows visitors to see the rebuilding that is now underway. The names of the 9/11 victims are included within the wall.

Cheap Stuff

Although New York is an expensive city, there are plenty of things you can do for free or cheap. The city is best seen on foot. In addition to the most current cheap options listed below, check out The Skint for day to day activities and options for great stuff to do in NY.

Among the free things to do are Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, the Staten Island Ferry, most national park sites many of the museums, some guided tours, and all TV show tapings.
 Studio tickets for SNL, Daily Show, Letterman and more
Tickets to other shows taped in NYC are easier to snag and usually for free. Here’s an updated list of shows that tape with a live audience in NYC:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Colbert Report
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Show with David Letterman
Good Morning America
The Early Show
The View
Live! with Regis and Kelly
The Martha Stewart Show
The Rachel Ray Show
The Dr. Oz Show
The Wendy Williams Show
MTV studio audience
Who Wants to be a Millionaire
The Marriage Ref
The Tyra Banks Show
Comedy Central Presents
Other resources:
On Friday mornings during the summer both Today Show and Good Morning America offer free outdoor concerts. Usually no tickets are required.
The automated Twitter feed @DailyTix tweets when new tickets are available for the John Stewart or Stephen Colbert shows.
Free hours at NYC museums, zoos and gardens
Museums with free or pay-what-you-wish hours in 2011
Mondays
Museum at Eldridge Street – Free 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (normally $10)
Yeshiva University Museum – Free 5 to 8 p.m. (normally $8)
Tuesdays
McKim rooms of the Morgan Library & Museum – free 3 to 5 p.m. (full museum access is $15)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Free all day (normally $10)
China Institute Gallery – Free 6 to 8 p.m. (normally $7)
Staten Island Museum – Free noon to 2 p.m. (normally $3)
Wednesdays
Bronx Zoo – Pay-what-you-wish donation all day (normally $16)
Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust – Free 4 to 8 p.m. (normally $12)
El Museo del Barrio – Free 6 to 9 p.m. (normally a suggested $9)
Staten Island Zoo – Free 2 to 4:45 p.m. (normally $8)
Yeshiva University Museum – Free 5 to 8 p.m. (normally $8)
NY Botanical Garden – Free grounds access all day, but excludes the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Rock and Native Plant gardens and tram tour (grounds-only access normally $6)
Van Cortlandt House Museum – Free all day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (normally $5)
Queens Botanical Garden – Free from 3 to 6 p.m. (normally $4)
J1 Summer Work Travel, Student Activities, Thoughts and Words, Updates and News

4th of July Celebrations

Why do we celebrate the 4th of July? 

Imagine how you would feel if someone older than you (maybe an older sister or brother) kept telling you what to do all the time and kept taking more and more of your allowance. That is how the colonists felt in the years leading up to 1776. Great Britain kept trying to make the colonists follow more rules and pay higher taxes. People started getting mad and began making plans to be able to make their own rules. They no longer wanted Great Britain to be able to tell them what to do, so they decided to tell Great Britain that they were becoming an independent country. (To be independent means to take care of yourself, making your own rules and providing for your own needs.)

The Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and they appointed a committee (a group of people working together to do a specific job) to write a formal document that would tell Great Britain that the Americans had decided to govern themselves. The committee asked Thomas Jefferson to write a draft (first try) of the document, so he worked for days, in absolute secret, until he had written a document that he thought said everything important that the committee had discussed. On June 28, 1776, the committee met to read Jefferson’s “fair” copy (he put his best ideas together and wrote them neatly.) They revised (made some changes) the document and declared their independence on July 2, 1776. They officially adopted it (made it theirs) on July 4, 1776. That is why we call it “Independence Day.”

Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings.  Please find below a list of locations near where you may work that you can view fireworks, join a picnic or create your own.

OCEAN CITY MARYLAND North

Enjoy a free concert at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. uptown at 127th Street at Northside Park. For more information, please call 1-800-626-2326 or the Ocean City Department of Recreation & Parks at 410-250-0125.

OCEAN CITY MARYLAND South

Enjoy a free concert at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. downtown on the beach at North Division Street. For more information, please call 1-800-626-2326 or the Ocean City Department of Recreation & Parks at 410-250-0125.

COROLLA, NC – Outer Banks

The Corolla Annual Independence Day Festival of Fireworks will begin at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Whalehead Club.  Fireworks begin at dusk but arrive early to enjoy food, fun activities, fabulous music and find a place for your blankets and chairs to settle in for the best fireworks on the Outer Banks! Admission and Parking are free. For more information visit www.whaleheadclub.com or call (252) 453-9040.

NAGS HEAD and KILL DEVIL HILL AREA, NC – Outer Banks

Town of Manteo – Outdoor Pavilion at Roanoke Island Festival Park. 8 p.m. Featuring the North Carolina National Guard’s 440th Army Band. The performance is free and open to the public. (252) 475-1500 or roanokeisland.com

DUCK, NC – Outer Banks

9 a.m. Duck’s seventh annual Fourth of July Parade will be held on Monday, July 4, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., with an after-event following at the Duck Town Park featuring community fun, music, watermelon, and the awarding of parade trophies. The one-mile parade route is the same annually and begins at the crest of the hill on Scarborough Lane and continues down Ocean Way and then Christopher Drive. Please plan to arrive at least 1/2 hour early to get the best parade viewing spot! (252) 255-1234, info@townofduck.com, townofduck.com

WELLFLEET, MASS – Cape Cod

9 a.m. Parade (starts at the Town Pier)  This year’s theme is ‘HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY TO THE NATIONAL SEASHORE’  (chosen by children at the Wellfleet Elementary School). Fireworks are in Provincetown at 9:00pm

NEW YORK CITY

The 2011 Macy’s will begin at approximately 9:20 pm on July 4th, the 26-minute display will be set off from six barges positioned between 20th and 55th Streets on the Hudson River. That’s two full miles of sky, providing for greater visibility of the show for millions more spectators. On the West Side of Manhattan.

LifExchange wishes you a safe and happy holiday!!!!

J1 Summer Work Travel, Student Activities, Updates and News

Ocean City, Maryland upcoming Events

Looking for new and fun activities in your community?  Check out these upcoming events:

Ocean City Shark Tournament

6/15/2011 – 6/19/2011
Phone:  410-213-2442
Address:  12940 Inlet Isle Lane Ocean City MD 21842
Website:  http://www.ocsharktournament.com.
Ocean City’s largest shark fishing tournament. Registration begins 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 15th.  Bring the kids and come watch the fish weigh-ins Thursday through Saturday, 3:30 -7 p.m. at the Ocean City Fishing Center located at the west side of Route 50 bridge. Spectators see weigh-ins free of charge. Contact Mark Sampson at 410-213-2442 or visit www.ocsharktournament.com.

Arts on the Dock

6/16/2011 – 9/22/2011
Phone: 410-213-1121
Address: Route 50 & Inlet Isle Lane, West Ocean City
Local artists and crafters showcasing their work on the docks of the Ocean City Fishing Center Marina. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Jennifer Blunt, 410-213-1121 www.ocfishing.com, ocfc@ocfishing.com

OC 5 Mile Boardwalk Run

6/18/2011 – 6/18/2011
Address: Atlantic Ave
Website: http://www.octrirunning.com
 All 5 miles of this course runs the famous Ocean City Boardwalk. This event if perfect for the whole family. After a 5 mile trot, you and your family or friends can spend the rest of the day enjoying the Ocean City Boardwalk and Beach!
Start time is 7:00 a.m. and race begins at the Boardwalk Arch at the end of N.Division St.  Registration fee. www.octrirunning.com.
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION – Monday, July 4, 2011
Time:  8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Phone: 800-OC-OCEAN (800-626-2326).
Address: Beachfront (downtown) or Northside Park, 127th St (uptown)
Website:
http://oceancitymd.gov/Recreation_and_Parks/specialevents.html
Enjoy a free concert at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. downtown on the beach at North Division Street and simultaneously, uptown at 127th Street at Northside Park. For more information, please call 1-800-626-2326 or the Ocean City Department of Recreation & Parks at 410-250-0125.

Movies on the Beach Thursdays

7/07/2011 – 8/26/2011
Address:  Beach at 92nd Street
Free movies on the beach for the family every Thursday night (July 7-August 25) at 8:30 p.m. at the Princess Royale Hotel, 91st Street Oceanfront.
Additionally, every Monday and Friday evening (June 27-August 12)  a movie on the beach with our 16-foot projector at 27th Street. Each week a general audience movie is presented free of charge. Bring a blanket and enjoy the night beside the ocean.  Movie starts around 8:30 p.m. On Wednesday evenings (June 15-August 24) you may enjoy movies on the beach at the Carousel Resort Hotel at 118th Street. Movie starts around 8:30 p.m.

 

J1 Summer Work Travel, Student Activities, Updates and News

Dinner with LifExchange/YMCA in Kill Devil Hills Wednesday, May 25th at 5:00pm

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Dear current LifExchange LLC / YMCA students in the outer banks.  Please come join us for a community dinner at 5:00pm located at 203 Arch Street across from Dunkin Donuts.  Meet with your managers, local reps and your summer local support team as we welcome you to your new Outer Banks Community.  Call or text at 203-984-2575 to take part in dinner.  And thank you to Alina Vara for helping to coördinate.
After dinner we will move students from Kill Devils Housing to Corolla.

Updates and News

Be on the look out for updates and news for the week of 5/2:

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 1.  Are you looking for a new adventure?  Want to travel and visit a different part of the  world while earning some money?  Ever want to know what it is like to live in another country?  Visit our Work and Holiday Australia page for more information.

2.  We are proud to announce that the CEO and Co-Founder of LifExchange is the featured member of the week on Ladies Who Launch – NYC .  Shari Lamont works to make a difference in the world and change the conversation on humanity through work exchange programs.  Contact  LifExchange to see how you can contribute or participate on these programs. 

3.  The Spring 2011 Work and Travel USA essay winner will be announced at the end of the week.  Be sure to check back to read the winning story.

4.  LifExchange is excited to welcome our students for the Summer 2011 Work and Travel program from China, Serbia, Ukraine and Tajikistan joining us this May to the U.S.