Happy New Year! Want to help prepare meals for those in need during winter break? At this event, you will be working alongside locals in a commercial kitchen to help assemble high-quality meals for people unable to do so themselves. You will experience the efficiency of the assembly line and the power of working with a common goal in mind! For those available afterwards, we’ll stop buy a local shop for some coffee or tea to connect further.

 

God’s Love We Deliver cooks and home-delivers nutritious, medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves. All of their services are provided free and full of love to people in need. Volunteers will be in the kitchen helping on-staff chefs with a variety of projects. You will receive instructions from the staff member for the project of the day. Tasks may include packaging meals, chopping onions, making meatballs, ladling soup, peeling potatoes, scooping baked goods or preparing fresh herbs.

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable

Second opportunity to experience the spirit of the holiday season through kindness and community. Join fellow international students for an evening dedicated to supporting New York City’s homeless population. In partnership with the non-profit organization Midnight Run, we’ll distribute food, clothing, and personal care items to those in need. The evening begins at the One To World office, where we’ll come together to prepare bagged meals. From there, we’ll head into the city to meet Midnight Run staff and share these essentials.

 

This is a unique opportunity to connect with and learn about NYC’s homeless residents in a safe and supportive setting.

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable

Experience the spirit of the holiday season through kindness and community. Join fellow international students for an evening dedicated to supporting New York City’s homeless population. In partnership with the non-profit organization Midnight Run, we’ll distribute food, clothing, and personal care items to those in need. The evening begins at the One To World office, where we’ll come together to prepare bagged meals. From there, we’ll head into the city to meet Midnight Run staff and share these essentials.

 

This is a unique opportunity to connect with and learn about NYC’s homeless residents in a safe and supportive setting.

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable

Celebrate the holiday spirit and make a difference in the lives of others! We’re partnering up with Wreath It To Us, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy and holiday cheer to families facing illness or hardship. This initiative delivers handmade wreaths to brighten homes and hearts in the local community.

 

Bring your creativity and kindness to help us craft beautiful wreaths that will spread holiday magic to those who need it most. This is open to all skill levels, and materials are provided! Together, we can share the joy of the season and create meaningful connections through service.

 

Spots are limited, so register now to reserve your place!

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable

Did you know that the average number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving is 4,500? Learn more fun facts, and experience this traditional feast for yourself while meeting a local family in the suburbs of New York!

 

You’ll take a day trip to Westchester County, where you’ll be paired with a host family and join their Thanksgiving Dinner. Enjoy turkey (or a vegetarian alternative), all the accompanied sides and some tasty dessert! Spend a memorable day in this beautiful suburban community. This an unmissable opportunity to experience a holiday centered around gratitude and to immerse yourself in a welcoming community. Space is limited for this popular program, so sign up today!

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable

Are you excited for a classy day out at the opera? We’re taking a group to enjoy the famous Die Zauberflöte during this holiday season! Join a group of international students and friends for this visit to Lincoln Center. More about the opera below:

A treasured holiday tradition, Mozart’s heartwarming fairy tale takes the stage in the Met’s abridged, English-language production by Julie Taymor—the Tony Award–winning director of Broadway’s The Lion King. Featuring some of opera’s most popular melodies and brought to life with colorful sets and costumes and dazzling puppetry, it’s perfect for audiences of all ages.

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable

Join us for an immersive walking tour through Union Square and Madison Square Parks as we uncover how New York’s iconic 1811 Commissioners’ Plan created the city’s famous grid—and why it was developed to bring order to a rapidly growing metropolis. You’ll also discover why these neighborhoods break the mold with their quirky angles and irregular blocks.

Along the way, we’ll see how public spaces like Union Square and Madison Square were intentionally carved into the city’s fabric, offering New Yorkers vital gathering places amidst the grid. We’ll trace how architecture and urban design evolved from the early 19th century through today, revealing the logic (and the surprising exceptions) behind Manhattan’s unique layout.
Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply curious about how New York came to look the way it does, this tour offers a fresh perspective on the city’s design, history, and hidden stories.

 

Our guide, William Singer, AIA, is a Code and Zoning Specialist for The City of New York Department of Buildings Development and Technical Affairs. He is an expert in the design and construction of large-scale public facilities. His major projects have included justice centers, transportation hubs, and cultural centers. Before joining the Department of Buildings he was a partner at Gruzen Samton, a NYC & Virginia-based architecture, planning, interior design and systems engineering firm. A Fulbright fellow (Slovenia, 1993-94), he holds a Master of Architecture degree from the School of Design at North Carolina State University, as well as a Master of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2004, Singer received a City of New York Arts Commission Excellence in Design for the renovation design of El Museo Del Barrio.

 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see Manhattan from a fresh historical perspective! Thanks to William’s generous sponsorship, the first five students to register will receive a FREE ticket — so sign up fast! Sponsored tickets are limited to one per order.

 

Whether or not you attend any of the virtual sessions this summer, we’re organizing another virtual event with Amazon this September for an opportunity to connect with different employees from this multi-national company!

 

This interactive workshop taking place on Zoom and is designed to offer a space for international students to connect in breakout rooms with Amazon employees and learn about their career trajectories, get advice on how to stand out in the job search, and other questions you may have about thriving in your professional career.

 

Whether you’re exploring opportunities in business, e-commerce, technology, entertainment, logistics, or another industry, this event will provide you with practical tools to stand out in a competitive job market.

 

Thanksgiving is one of the United States’ most cherished traditions—a holiday centered on gratitude, food, and time with family and friends.
Now you can experience it for yourself! Sign up to participate in a special day trip to Fairfield County, Connecticut, where you’ll be welcomed into the home of a local host family. Share in their Thanksgiving Dinner, complete with turkey (or a vegetarian alternative), all the classic side dishes, and delicious desserts, and enjoy the warmth of a true American holiday gathering.

This program offers more than just a meal: it’s a unique opportunity for cross-cultural exchange, where you’ll share your own traditions and stories while learning firsthand about American customs in a welcoming, family setting. You’ll also get to spend time in a beautiful suburban community just outside of New York City.

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable

Skip the tourist traps and dive into the real New York! In this day-long adventure, you’ll be paired with a NYC resident (friend of OTW, recent student alumni, etc.) and at least one other international student to explore the city through a local’s eyes.

 

Your host might welcome you into their home, share a favorite neighborhood spot for lunch, stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, wander through an art gallery, or uncover hidden gems you’d never find in a guidebook. Every experience is unique, but all offer something special: an authentic connection to the culture, rhythms, and spirit of the city.

 

This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s your chance to discover the secrets of New York, gain cultural insights, and create memories you’ll carry with you long after the day is over while making some new connections!

 

Your ticket includes a light breakfast in the morning before the event.

 

Please note that all program fees are nonrefundable.