“In the immediate sense, these internship opportunities are going to have a life-changing impact on the participants and help strengthen SIFE Teams and their projects around the world. In the big picture, it's about peace and prosperity. Any time you get two people together from two cultures and those two people begin to understand each other, you have made a significant step toward improving peace between those two cultures”

–Alvin Rohrs, President and CEO, SIFE World Headquarters

“SIFE is perfectly suited to this mission [BII exchange program]. SIFE has established a model for explaining the great benefits of a free enterprise society.”

–Roy Blunt, Majority Whip, US House of Representatives

“This experience has given me so much more confidence in myself. I can talk to anyone, handle my self in tough situations and I have also made friends for life. Though I may not settle in the U S, I know that I will definitely be visiting again.”

–Heer Vinit Ganjwala, Indian intern at Owens Community College

“I am working with ‘Children's Miracle Network'…They are all quite fascinated by the stories they hear from me because they have hardly been exposed to Indian culture, while we in India are bombarded with so much of American culture. (The Director) claims its like an exchange programme for her too!

–Apoorva Talwalkar, Indian intern at Drury University

“My interaction with the other students at the university is helping me gain a better understanding on my misconceptions about other countries and their views when compared to my own views. In fact, while at a discussion forum two weeks ago, the students asked us questions as far as how we view them as Muslims, our opinions on the U.S., and their relationships with other countries, if we felt that the U.S. is contributing their fair share to aid with the victims of the Tsunami, and how we feel about outsourcing etc. This forum really helped me to understand how similar our views and opinions really are, and where their view may be distorted by what they hear and what they see on television. We are helping them to understand how students and Americans really are. I hope that we gave them a more adequate view how people are in America, just as they've given us a better understanding of them and their culture and why they feel the way they do towards the U.S. and our government.”

–Raquel Moore, U.S. Intern in Malaysia

“I went to church with Kent the other day, just to see how different people worship in different places. I thought it was kind of cool because the girl leading the hymns played guitar and had a really beautiful voice. The mass was cool... I don't understand why some people are so scared of going to another religion's prayers... all religions preach the same thing, I think. Hopefully by the end of this internship, the interns will have a more open mind on these sorts of issues and not take everything just at surface value.”

–Faizah Zainal, Malaysian Intern in USA

“The colleges here are very interesting and I for one, am impressed with their perseverance and hard work. Most of the students are at the graduate level, so that may make a difference, but I can say that it is inspirational. There are many ideas and methods that I plan on taking back with me to share with my peers in Alaska. On Saturday we traveled outside of Mumbai to visit a village school, the children were amazing and shy. I felt empathetic to their plight, it instilled a deeper appreciation for the upward mobility extended to Americans. I would really like to improve our international relations, I notice many anti-American rhetoric and I feel sad. And it shines light on the many biases that every nation has, even America, and our mindset that we are the best. It's not that I don't have pride in my country, but I am wary of being nationally conceited.”

–Tonia Burrow, US Intern in India

“It is crazy how the group dynamics are. We are spread out all over the country. With an African-American Muslim, a Jew, a Catholic by birth, a Christian I think, and someone who is searching. I must admit that it is tough sometimes, but I really respect them for what they have done..... It is amazing how parochial and ethnocentric Americans are. We think sometimes that everything evolves around us. Being here I have really had a chance to evaluate my relationships with people. I can see that I also need to make changes that before I could not see. I am really learning that it is not what happens in life, but rather my attitude and reaction to them. Getting out of the rigorous life of America I have a better insight on things.”

–Sultan Abdullah, US Intern in India

”We were told countless times by our host university that you will not understand the SIFE world cup unless you yourself experience it… It was such a powerful experience just to know that you are part of something so big. All those students there might think they are just normal students but they are so much more than that. With 45 countries there I thought I would feel out of place or something. That was such a strange feeling to know how alike we all were. I could just walk around and everybody would just give out that same vibe- we were all one world at that time. There really is hope for the world and I am so glad I am part of it.”

–Edlyn D'Souza, Indian intern at Centenary College

“The people here are the same as in India. We think the same thoughts. We do the same things. We have similar problems.”

–Krupa Vora, Indian intern at Drury University

“Sometimes I wish I could just stop time for a while and enjoy this experience some more.”

–Andrea Quadros, Indian intern at Missouri State University

“Let me start with the people of America first. For the past 8 weeks I've been staying here, I have been trying to go out a lot and socialize, to get to know the Americans. From my point of view, I think the Americans are really warm. They can greet you just like that while walking down the streets even if they don't even know you. Basically, they are a bunch of nice people-even if they are kind of ignorant. I find that the Americans are very vocal. If they are not satisfied with something, they will tell you right away, straight to your face. It was hard for me but I'm trying to adapt to this culture. I really am.”

–Aza Azizun, Malaysian intern in at Drury University

“Throughout the stint, I've learnt so many things about starting up a business in the States and the challenges that lies ahead. It's different here in the States than home. They (Kwik Pantry franchise owners) started by collecting assets throughout the States such as lands, investments, houses, cars and then they liquidated it into capital to start their own business. They opened up the store on Benton in 2003 and expanded with another store on Division eight months ago. They remind me of my parents, Ray and Mona. Not getting any financial loan from the government is a big issue back where I come from, but here, the government would only approve of such loans two years after the business operates, and with competition looming, I find it admirable that my employers took some bold approaches, to ensure that they have the cutting edge, the attraction that would lure the customer to them instead of Conoco next door. I learnt all these and many more on how to run a self-owned business in the States by engaging myself in conversations with the owners and the customers. I have a better idea on what customer satisfaction is all about and why it's really important. Why do we neglect it back in Malaysia? Personally, I have no idea.”

–Iskander Hadi, Malaysian intern at Drury University

“One thing I did not mention … was how fascinating it was to see the differences and progression throughout Malaysia, going from Kuala Lumpur and seeing an amazing architectural sight like the Petronas Towers and an hour later being in a village in the middle of a jungle. I think the towers are a very strong symbol for what can be accomplished in this country and what can be expected from this country once fully developed.”

–Mary Ellen Rinaldi, U.S. intern in Malaysia