Spirit representatives Rachel and Sarah recently enjoyed a summer Kohler and Door County Work and Travel trip! They visited a Host Employer in Kohler, saw employee housing, and explored the picturesque town of Kohler and downtown Sheboygan.
After Kohler, they traveled further north all the way to the peninsula of Door County! Spirit was able to visit all of Spirit’s Host Employers in the area and meet most of our Door County Work and Travel participants, many of whom were working.
Exploring Door County
It was lovely to witness the natural beauty and warm hospitality of Door County firsthand, and it is no wonder participants have great programs there! Rachel and Sarah explored Sister Bay’s lovely beachfront and downtown street of shops and restaurants, one of which, called Al Johnson’s, even had goats on the roof!
Participants were invited for a pizza party at Sister Bay Park, where several participants learned how to play the game of bags (or cornhole) for the first time. It was wonderful to talk with participants about their experiences and comparisons of their experiences in the United States to their home cultures.
Two of our participants discovered they go to school only 1 hour away from each other back home in the Dominican Republic, so it can be a small world indeed!
Door County Work and Travel hospitality
It was also wonderful to witness the dedication and care that Spirit’s Door County Host Employers put into their placements, and participants attested to the fact that it was a great community. Most participants mentioned their American moms and dads, which are the local American volunteers with BRIDGES that provide a warm welcome and many planned activities for international students in Door County.
The Door County Bridges of Friendship to International Students (BRIDGES) offers wonderful, personal support for participants in Door County, who raved about the dinners they shared at their American families’ homes or the BRIDGES-planned activities, such as kayaking, where they got to meet other international students outside of work.
Whether it’s the truly kind people, the peaceful wooded and beachfront nature, or the delicious food, Door County really is a treat!