Host Organization Expectations
As a participant on this program you have accepted a position with a host organization. You should make an effort to adjust to the environment and do your very best to complete the tasks assigned to you.

You should maintain open communication with your supervisor and colleagues at your host organization. If you simply ask, your supervisor will be happy to let you know what goals you should be striving for.  Not only that, but your supervisor will appreciate your willingness to communicate about your program.

You Will Be Expected To:

• Be a Team Player.   You will find interning, training and working in the U.S. is all about teamwork!  Do your best to work well with your colleagues.

• Come to work on time. Punctuality is very important and repeated lateness can lead to program termination.  

• Smile and be positive. Americans are prone to smiling; it is required in the hospitality industry. 

• Treat customers and co-workers with respect.

• Work quickly and efficiently. You will be expected to have a strong work ethic and to manage your time wisely.

• Be willing to try new things: new foods, sights and activities.

• Be willing to meet new people. Americans are generally friendly and outgoing and will be curious about your culture and home country.

• Take care of personal hygiene. Americans tend to be very concerned about cleanliness. Bathe and wash and brush your hair daily and use deodorant.  Adhere to appearance standards.

• Communicate frequently with your manager. Many misunderstandings are simply due to a lack of communication.

• Be patient. You may feel that the American culture and language are overwhelming at first, but with time, you will learn and understand more.

• Practice your English as often as possible

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U.S. Workplace Characteristics - Below are some characteristics typical to the U.S. workplace.  Remember that everyone and every business are different and that learning the dynamics of your particular host property is simply part of the cultural exchange process.

• Do not be surprised if your manager is younger than you or if your coworkers are a different race, sex or religion. The U.S. is amazingly diverse and this is one of its strengths.

• It is important to emphasize that workplace relations between men and women may be slightly different than in your home country, and flirting or physical contact is frowned upon. Generally, a professional, mature, responsible and respectful attitude is expected at work.

• Privacy is thought to be the right of every individual. A coworker may be unwilling to share certain information with you or spend time with you. Often, this is not out of rudeness but out of a desire to maintain one’s privacy.

• Americans can be blunt and honest.

• Ignorance about life outside the U.S. is common. Part of your U.S. experience is to teach Americans about your culture and country. Share information with your coworkers, and those who are interested will ask questions—this is a great opportunity for cultural exchange!

• Americans like to joke, smile, laugh and talk. They will try to fill up the conversation with small talk.

• Americans like direct eye contact, but they often do not like to be touched or to stand too close to one another while talking.

• Americans are very concerned about personal hygiene and cleanliness. It is not unusual to take one or even two showers a day and wear a different outfit each day of the week. Wash clothes regularly.

• Many Americans you meet are informal. They greet each other with a “Hi” or “How are you?” In some cases, “How are you?” is simply meant to be a greeting. Do not be offended if someone says, “How are you?” and keeps walking!

• Most Americans are friendly and sociable, even with strangers. You should feel free to introduce yourself in social circumstances.  People that you see in elevators or on the street, particularly outside of larger cities, will often say “Hello,” even though they do not know you.