2022

Summer Work Travel Exchange Visitor

PROGRAM INFORMATION GUIDE

SPECIAL EVENTS ATTENDANT

/ RUNNER GENERAL
Marriott Gaylord Opryland Resort
2800 Opryland Dr
Nashville, TN 37214

Global Educational Concepts • 2451 Atrium Way • Nashville, TN 37214

Phone: 615-391-2924 • Emergency Only Phone: 1-888-789-5178
Email: info@gecexchanges.com

www.gecexchanges.com rev. 11.14.22 (Winter)

This guide will provide specific important information regarding your arrival instructions &
employer as well as offer general information that you will need in order to know what you
can expect in the local area where you will be living and working. Be sure to reference
your GEC Participant Handbook for information regarding your J-1 program rules and
regulations.

FEE DISCLOSURE & EXPENSES

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS TO U.S.

EMPLOYMENT
• Employer name, address and contact information
• Job description and duties
• Wages and Compensation
• Work Hours
• Duration of program and general employment information
including conditions and terms

HOUSING
• Information and Conditions of Housing Arrangement
• Costs
• Check-In and Check-Out Procedures

TRANSPORTATION
• Information and Conditions of Transportation
• Costs

CULTURAL AND LOCAL AREA INFORMATION

• Local Community Resources
• Cultural Activities and Information

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Note: Please understand that this guide represents the good faith information at
the time of production. Things do change from time to time. GEC will make every
effort to update you with any changes that might take place between your
acceptance of this guide and your arrival for your program. While we never
anticipate any changes to pre-arranged housing, please know 2 | Pwe
a gwill
e
communicate with you in the event there are any changes to this guide.
 ONE
GEC PROGRAM FEE DISCLOSURE

PROGRAM COSTS: SUMMER WORK TRAVEL

PROGRAM COSTS
Please see your Program Fee Disclosure Form for GEC and Agency Fees, including Cancellation and Denial Fees.

HOUSING & TRANSPORTATION FEES:

Housing & Transportation USD Amount What is Included
Personal funds needed upon $478.66 Arrival amount (based on 2-person occupancy) includes first 2
arrival and other costs to weeks of rent ($34.19 x 14 days) and is due upon arrival and paid
expect for duration of program to Front Desk using CASH before checking into your housing.

$239.33 per Housing cost per week (based on 2 occupants) paid weekly to the
week front desk using a Credit Card. Host Organization is also providing
up to 3 meals per day during open STAR café hours. See housing
section for other occupancy information.

Varies Job site is approximately 0.5 miles from housing location and
transportation is not included. Various methods of transportation
are included in Guide and cost varies per person.

FUNDS NEEDED UPON ARRIVAL:

Arrival Funds Needed USD Amt. Description
Minimum Funds $1,000 In addition to the above, a minimum of $1000 is required upon arrival into the
U.S. Be sure to review your Program Information Guide to ensure you have
enough funds to cover initial housing and transportation costs, setup fees,
rent, deposits, meals and spending money.

While the work component of your program will provide some funds throughout your program, your wages earned in the
U.S. may not cover all of your living expenses or the costs associated with expenses to come to the U.S. Use the budget
section in your Participant Handbook to ensure you have enough funds.

Host Organization: Marriott Gaylord Opryland Resort – Special Events Attendant / Runner General

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 TWO
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS TO THE U.S.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS TO THE US

For your reference during arrival:

Airport Arrival Destination: GEC phone # 615-391-2924

GEC email – info@gecexchanges.com
For this placement, your final airport destination
needs to be Nashville Int’l Airport (BNA) in
Nashville, Tennessee. From the airport, you will go to your Pre-Arranged
Housing at:
This airport is only about 15 minutes (8.5 miles)
away from your placement housing address. Housing Name: The Inn at Opryland,
A Gaylord Hotel
Do NOT fly into any other airport to save money, Housing Address: 2401 Music Valley Dr
because in reality you will not save money and it is City, State, Zip: Nashville, TN 37214
often dangerous and more expensive to try and
find “cheaper” ways to get to your final Contact: Kristin Cruise
destination. Email: kristin.cruise@marriott.com
Phone: 615-458-1824
Transportation from airport to living address:

From the airport, you will need to secure your own

transportation to your GEC pre-arranged housing
address. Go to the ground transportation area of the
airport and secure and pay for a taxi, shuttle or ride
share service from the airport to your housing
address. There may be a shuttle available from the
airport to your site of activity, depending on your
schedule. Check with your Host Organization for
more details.
For more information, visit the airport’s website
Ground transportation:
https://www.flynashville.com/ground-
transportation/Pages/default.aspx
Special Arrival Information: You must let GEC, your
Host Employer, and your home country agency
know the date you will arrive in the U.S. This must
be done at least two weeks before your arrival. If
you experience a flight delay, you must let GEC
know in case you will arrive past office hours or in
the middle of the night. In that case, you may have
to make alternate housing arrangements for the
first night and then check-in to your housing the
next day. Just be prepared and keep all informed.

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 THREE
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYER NAME, ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION:

Marriott Gaylord Opryland Resort

2800 Opryland Dr
Nashville, TN 37214

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnago-gaylord-opryland/

Primary On-Site Supervisor: Kristin Cruise (Sr. HR Mgr., Talent Acquisition)

Supervisor’s phone number: 615-458-1824
Supervisor’s email: kristin.cruise@gaylordhotels.com

Alternate Contact: Jennifer Bracken (Director or Human Resources)

Alternate Contact Phone: 615-458-6243
Alternate Contact Email: jennifer.bracken@gaylordhotels.com
Job Description and Duties:
Note: This position starts out as SPECIAL EVENTS
ATTENDANT until approximately Jan 2nd or 3rd, and
then transitions into RUNNER GENERAL for the
remainder of your program.
SPECIAL EVENTS ATTENDANT
Provide customer service in the areas of operations
for various exhibits and shows. Operate
attraction/event by assisting guests to safely enjoy
their experience. Sell tickets to attraction/event by
providing accurate information in a suggestive
selling manner. Sell retail merchandise utilizing
suggestive selling methods and maintaining displays
as needed. Operate cash register and POS system to
sell tickets or merchandise. Responsible for cash
bank and deposits following established cash
control procedures. Answer guest inquiries via
phone, personally or electronically in a prompt,
courteous manner. Direct guests to proper location
with clear instructions.
Follow all company policies and procedures; report
accidents, injuries, and unsafe work conditions to
manager; verify uniform and personal appearance
are clean and professional; maintain confidentiality
of proprietary information; protect company assets.
Welcome and acknowledge all guests according to
company standards; anticipate and address guests’
service needs; thank guests with genuine
appreciation. Speak with others using clear and
professional language; answer telephones using
appropriate etiquette. Develop and maintain
positive working relationships with others; support
team to reach common goals. Comply with quality
assurance expectations and standards. Identify and
recommend new ideas, technologies, or processes
to increase organizational efficiency, productivity,
quality, safety, and/or cost-savings. Stand, sit, or
walk for an extended period of time or for an entire
work shift. Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place
objects weighing less than or equal to 25 pounds
without assistance. Perform other reasonable job
duties as requested.
RUNNER GENERAL
Our jobs aren’t just about moving items from one
place to another. Instead, we want to build an
experience that is memorable and unique – and
each position contributes to making that possible
for our guests. At our hotels, Runners work across
departments to ensure that guests and associates
have what they need at the point in time when they
need it. Whether delivering items directly to guests
in their room or providing support to housekeeping,
assisting with assuring the cleanliness of the hotel,
engineering, banquets, restaurants, the front office,
or other areas that need assistance, our Runners
move about their space to get the job done. They
are critical to ensure smooth operations throughout
the entire hotel.
No matter what position you are in, there are a few
things that are critical to success – ensuring a safe
workplace, following company policies and
procedures, maintaining confidentiality, upholding
quality standards, and ensuring your uniform,
personal appearance, and communications are
professional. Runners will be on their feet and
moving around (stand, sit, or walk for an extended
time; move through narrow, confined, or elevated
spaces as well as up and down stairs and/or service
ramps), ensure they have what they need to do their
work (read and visually verify information in a
variety of formats, including small print; visually
inspect tools, equipment, or machines), and taking
a hands-on approach to work (move, lift, carry,
push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or
equal to 55 pounds without assistance; reach
overhead and below the knees, including bending,
twisting, pulling, and stooping). Doing all of these
things well, and other reasonable job duties as
requested, is critical for Runners – to get it right for
our guests and our business each and every time.
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Wages and Compensation:
Dress Code: YES, Please refer to the attached
Pay Rate: “Dress for Success Standards”.

$17.00 per hour Grooming Requirements: YES, Please refer to

the attached “Dress for Success Standards”.
Tipped position: NO
Free or Subsidized Meals: YES, Participants
receive up to 3 meals per day during open STAR café
Overtime available: Overtime might be hours.
available based on business needs but is not
guaranteed. Does employer allow participant to start work
without a Social Security Number? YES
Pay is received: Weekly
Make sure to take all your important documents
Work Hours: (passport, DS 2019 form, and work agreement) with
you when you meet with the employer for the first
Hours Per week: 32 – 40 time as the employer will need to make copies of
these for their employee records.
Training period required: YES
The employer will have you complete new
Length of Training Period: 2 weeks employee paperwork and other procedures so they
can get you set up as an employee.
Hours during training: 32 hours

Reduced hours at end of season: NO

Duration of Program and general employment

information including conditions and terms:

Program extensions are not granted even if you

have a new job offer that allows you to work longer
than what was offered to you in your original work
agreement. This means you may have a shorter J-
1 Work and Travel program than the 4 months
allowed by law.

Drug test required: YES

Application Required: YES

Uniform Required: YES, Uniforms are provided at

no cost by the Host Organization. Please refer to the
attached “Dress for Success Standards”.

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 FOUR
HOUSING
Your Host Organization assists with your housing arrangement.

Housing Name: The Inn at Opryland, A Gaylord Hotel

Housing Address: 2401 Music Valley Dr
City, State, Zip: Nashville, TN 37214

Website: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnagi-the-inn-at-opryland-a-gaylord-hotel/

Contact: Kristin Cruise

Contact email: kristin.cruise@marriott.com
Contact phone: 615-458-1824
INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF HOUSING of the Housing Section and ask your housing contact
ARRANGEMENT: any questions before you arrive.

Is this housing required for the job placement? GEC HOUSING COSTS:
requires this housing for your placement.
RENT: Your reservation is for the duration of
Is there a penalty if you move out early? No Program. ALL U.S. properties require that you “pay
to stay.” In other words, if you pay by the week,
Type of Housing: Hotel you will pay rent for that week AT THE BEGINNING
OF THAT WEEK.
Number of occupants per Housing Unit: 2
Occupancy: 2 $34.19 nightly per person
Number of bedrooms: 1 TOTAL $239.33 weekly per person

Types of beds: 2 Double Beds Occupancy: 1 $68.68 nightly per person

Number of baths: 1
Does each person have their own bed? Yes
Amenities provided by property: Basic amenities will
be provided for you. These amenities are subject to
change at the hotel’s discretion. GEC aims to
provide all the amenities disclosed to you however,
we cannot guarantee it. 2 double beds, bed linens,
nightstand, dresser, chair, TV, desk, towels.
Utilities provided by property: ALL – Electric, water,
Trash Pickup, Cable TV & Wi-Fi
TOTAL $480.76 weekly per person
(We provide 2-person occupancy figures, but if your
occupancy is 1, you will be required to pay more.)
2-Person Occupancy Breakdown of cost: $27.50 per
day for room + $6.69 taxes.
To whom do you make rental payments? Directly to
Housing location front desk.
How do you make your rent payments? Pay weekly
using Credit Card (preferred) or Debit Card.
Additional occupancy notes:

Furnishings and items supplied by GEC participants:
Personal Toiletries (toothpaste, soap, deodorant
etc.), cleaning supplies & consumables.
A NOTE ABOUT PRE-ARRANGED HOUSING:
Your Host Organization wants you to have a safe and
affordable housing experience. The best way you
can prepare yourself for your housing is to read all
Hotels and apartments have specific occupancy
rules and regulations that are illegal for them to
break. If you break these rules, your hotel and/or
apartment complex can ask you to leave. GEC must
pre-approve any housing including moving to
another unit/room number BEFORE you move. Your
GEC account must reflect a complete and accurate
housing address including room/unit number at all
times.

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ARRIVAL HOUSING COSTS:
Your arrival Housing Costs are due UPON your
arrival and paid in CASH to the Front Desk before
checking into your housing.
ARRIVAL AMOUNT = (First 2 Weeks)
$478.66 ($34.19 x 14 days)
*Based on 2-person occupancy.
To whom do you give your arrival housing payment,
and when is it due? Due upon arrival, and paid
directly to housing.
Method of arrival payment if not paid directly to
home country agent: Paid in CASH
WHEN TO ARRIVE AT YOUR HOUSING? WHEN TO
CHECKOUT OF YOUR HOUSING? You are required to
pay rent for the duration of your program. If you
choose to leave your program early, you are still
responsible to pay rent until your program end date.
You will also forfeit your refundable security
deposit, if applicable. GEC reserves the right to
terminate you from your program if you do not pay
rent for your housing.
CHECK-IN PROCEDURE:
You must notify GEC directly or through your local
home country agency of the date and time you will
be arriving to the airport. Your arrival information
must be received at least two weeks prior to your
arrival date. When you arrive at your housing
location, you will need to contact GEC Housing to
inform them of your arrival.
Your room and roommates will be preassigned. You
are required to follow these room assignments. No
changes can be made without special permission
from GEC.
* If your flight is delayed, you must let GEC know
this and contact us by phone or email at:
GEC’s office phone number: (615) 391-2924
GEC’s email address: gec@gecexchanges.com
Before your arrival, you will receive a pre-arrival
email from GEC. In the email, you will receive
further check-in and arrival details including your
official check-in date. Please follow all of the
instructions and wait to book flights until you have
an approval from GEC.
If you arrive before your official GEC check-in date,
you will be responsible to find your own
accommodation until you can check-in. If you
arrive after your GEC check-in date your pre- arrival
housing costs will be charged from this date to hold
your place at the housing.
CHECKOUT PROCEDURE:
You are required to checkout by your program end
date. You need to let GEC know your finalized
departure date at least seven days before you
intend to leave the housing. Before you checkout,
you must remove ALL personal items and trash from
the room. Make sure you leave the room in
excellent condition. This will give you a better
chance of receiving back your security deposit.
Before you leave be sure to contact GEC and inform
them of your departure.
HOUSING AGREEMENT:
Are YOU required to sign a housing agreement? Yes
Is agreement attached? See below
When you sign the Program Guide
Acknowledgement page, you are also agreeing to
ALL LEASES AND HOUSING AGREEMENTS
CONTAINED IN THIS GUIDE between GEC, you,
and/or your housing location. Read carefully and
please feel free to send any questions to our housing
department at gec@gecexchanges.com so anything
can be explained to you before you sign.
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 FIVE
TRANSPORTATION
Information and Conditions of Transportation:
Your job site of activity is approximately 0.5 miles
from your housing, and you are responsible for
your own transportation.
The approved methods of transportation in your
area include: Public Transportation, Taxi Service,
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft).
Please note: GEC does not approve of participants
riding bikes as a method of transportation in the U.S.
Most areas in the U.S. do not provide designated or
safe bike lanes. Drivers in the U.S. may not be used
to bikes on the road which may be different from
your home country. Should you decide to ride a bike
anyways, review the Safe Transportation video in
your GEC account dashboard. GEC requires all
participants in the U.S. who decide to ride a bike
anyway, to wear a helmet and reflective gear at all
times regardless if the law requires it in your state.
Failure to adhere to this GEC requirement can result
in the termination of your GEC program. The bike
should be in good condition and you are responsible
for knowing the local bike laws in your area and
following them. If you need assistance with where
to buy reflective gear or a helmet before you ride a
bike, contact GEC at any time.
GEC recommends using public transportation, taxi,
or rideshare as the safest mode of transportation
during your program. Please remember if you
choose to walk in the area, use common sense for
your safety.
 Don’t ever walk alone.
 Don’t walk at dark.
 Don’t walk through people’s yard or
grass.
 Be aware of your surroundings (cars,
people, etc.).
 Do not hitch-hike.
 Do not accept offers to ride with
strangers.
 Always verbally ID your Uber/Lyft
driver, check the license plate, and
make sure it matches your Uber/Lyft
record. Also make sure the driver IDs
the passengers correctly, as well,
during the exchange.
Transportation options in the area for other trips
are as follows:
LOCAL TAXI & SHUTTLE SERVICES:
Taxi Service – For a location that is not within
walking distance, you and several other participants
could plan a local trip together and split the cost of
a taxi ride. Cost will be typical for the area and will
depend on the distance you wish to travel.
Taxi Fare Finder:
https://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Na
shville-TN&lang=en
 RIDE SHARING:

NOTE: Rideshare Services REQUIRE a valid Credit

Card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Wallet account.
Checker Cab
221 Largo Dr From: The Inn at Opryland
Nashville, TN 37211 2401 Music Valley Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
615-331-7951
To: Gaylord Opryland Resort
https://www.facebook.com/nashvillecheckercab/ 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214

www.uber.com
American Music City Taxi
729 Calhoun Ave Fare Estimate per Uber website calculator on
Nashville, TN 37210 4/20/22:
615-865-4100
UberX $ 7.84
https://www.musiccitycab.com/ UberXL $ 9.80

www.lyft.com

Magic Taxi Cost Estimate per Lyft website calculator on

325 Plus Park Blvd., Suite 204C 4/20/22:
Nashville, TN 37217
615-500-5000 Lyft $8.00 - $10.00
XL $10.00 - $12.00
http://www.magictaxicabnashville.com/

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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Take a fare based public bus transit near your housing. (Most bus routes have their last pickup of the day
between 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. You will need to review the specific route schedule on WeGo Public Transit’s website
to find out the last pickup times of the day for your specific route.)

WeGo Public Transit

430 Myatt Dr
Nashville TN 37115
615-862-5950

www.wegotransit.com

Adult
Local & Express Service $ 2.00
All-Day Pass $ 4.00
7-Day Pass $ 20.00
20-Ride Local & Express $ 40.00
31-Day Pass $ 65.00

Youth (Ages 19 and younger)

Age 4 and Younger No Charge
Local & Express Service $ 1.00
All-Day Pass $ 2.00
7-Day Pass $ 10.00
31-Day Pass $ 33.00

Senior (Ages 65 and older) & People with Disabilities

Local & Express Service $ 1.00
All-Day Pass $ 2.00
20-Ride Discounted Pass $ 20.00
31-Day Discounted Pass $ 33.00

AccessRide
Single Ride $ 3.70
Purchase tickets online: https://www.nashvillemta.org/Nashville-MTA-Choose-Ticket-Type.asp

Please note: The fare box accepts $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20 bills as well as U.S. coins, including $1 coins. If you
insert more than the price of the fare, the fare box will issue a change card with your balance. Bus operators do
not give change. For more information, please call Customer Care.

You can use the Trip Planner to enter your starting location and desired location to get information on what bus
stop to board the bus and how long your route will take.

http://ride.nashvillemta.org/

This feature allows you to plan your bus route by entering the date and time that you would like to arrive at
your destination or begin your trip. The trip planner will provide three options with the travel time and number
of transfers.

Simply put your starting location in the start field and your arrival destination in the end field. Add your
destination or arrival time and click Get Directions. If you do not receive directions, you may need to list
Nashville, TN within the option fields to narrow the search.

Google Maps also provides walking directions to assist you in reaching your destination once you get off a bus
and has street views to help you find the closest transit stop and become familiar with your destination before
you get there.

Download System Map here:

https://www.nashvillemta.org/maps/route6.pdf
https://www.nashvillemta.org/maps/route34.pdf

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 SIX
LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
LOCAL AREA INFORMATION

Healthcare Providers:
(IMG Network Providers as of 2/15/22)

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

East Precinct URGENT CARE FACILITIES:
936 E Trinity Ln
Nashville, TN 37207 Jj and R Emergency Medical Group of TN – Urgent
Non-Emergency: 615-862-7600 Care Center
500 Hospital Dr
Emergency – Dial 911 Madison, TN 37115
615-865-0300

https://www.nashville.gov/departments/police/co Carenow – Urgent Care Center

mmunity-services/precincts/east-precinct 1214 Gallatin Ave, Ste 101
Nashville, TN 37206
615-998-1620

*HOSPITAL / EMERGENCY ROOM:

Skyline Medical Center - Hospital

500 Hospital Dr
Madison, TN 37115
FIRE DEPARTMENT 615-769-5000

Nashville Metropolitan Fire Department Station 22

2781 Pennington Bend Rd *NOTE: Please remember that your out-of-pocket
Nashville, TN 37214 expenses will be higher if you visit an Emergency
Non-Emergency: 615-862-5421 Room instead of an Urgent Care Center.

Emergency – Dial 911

Please refer to your Insurance Card, and your
Insurance information packet for more detailed
www.nashfire.org instructions on searching for an in-network
provider.

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Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
500 11th Ave. N. Ste. 200
Nashville, TN 37203
615-743-3000

http://www.nashvillechamber.com/ SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE

140 CUDE LANE
MADISON, TN 37115

PHONE: 1-866-964-6302

www.ssa.gov
Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp NOTE: due to recent pandemic, hours may differ
150 4th Avenue North Suite G-250 from what is listed – please check with the social
Nashville, TN 37219 security office to confirm hours of operation.
1-800-657-6910
HOURS:
http://www.visitmusiccity.com/
MONDAY 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

TUESDAY 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

WEDNESDAY 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

PUBLIC LIBRARY
THURSDAY 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Nashville Public Library
FRIDAY 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
615 Church St
Nashville, TN 37219
SATURDAY CLOSED
615-862-5800
SUNDAY CLOSED
https://www.library.nashville.org/locations/main-
library
Your will be responsible for your own transportation
to the Social Security office when it is time for you
Monday – Friday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
to apply for your social Security Number. Please
Saturday - Sunday Closed
refer to your Handbook and program materials for
more details and instructions.

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LOCAL PHARMACIES: LOCAL GROCERY STORES:

Kroger Pharmacy Kroger

143 McGavock Pike 143 McGavock Pike
Nashville, TN 37214 Nashville, TN 37214
615-889-0105 615-883-0121

www.kroger.com www.kroger.com

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

CVS Pharmacy #6427 Publix Super Market (The Crossings)

2500 Lebanon Pike 2324 Lebanon Pike
Nashville, TN 37214 Nashville, TN 37214
615-889-6300 615-884-2665

www.cvs.com www.publix.com

Monday - Friday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Walgreens Dollar General Store #6680

518 Donelson Pike 2403 Lebanon Pike
Nashville, TN 37214 Nashville, TN 37214
615-885-5108 615-866-2905

www.walgreens.com www.dollargeneral.com

Monday – Sunday Open 24 Hours

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LOCAL RESTAURANTS (Economical): LOCAL RESTAURANTS (Moderately Priced):

Panda Express Opry Backstage Grill

455 Opry Mills Dr, Ste 455 2401 Music Valley Dr
Nashville, TN 37214 Nashville, TN 37214
615-649-0426 615-231-8854

www.pandaexpress.com https://modules.marriott.com/hotel-
restaurants/bnagi-the-inn-at-opryland-a-gaylord-
hotel/opry-backstage-grill/5472435/home-page

McDonald’s
201 Rudy Cir
Nashville, TN 37214 Caney Fork River Valley Grille
615-391-3246 2400 Music Valley Dr
Nashville, TN 37214
www.mcdonalds.com 615-724-1200

www.caneyforkrestaurant.com

Subway
526 Opry Mills Dr
Nashville, TN 37214 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
615-823-3189 2406 Music Valley Dr
Nashville, TN 37214
www.subway.com 615-883-5440

www.crackerbarrel.com

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LOCAL BANKS LOCAL CHURCHES:

Bank of America
2720 Lebanon Rd
Nashville, TN 37214
615-291-2860
Donelson Presbyterian Church
www.bankofamerica.com 2305 Lebanon Rd
Nashville, TN 37214
Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm 615-883-3248
Saturday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday Closed www.donelsonpres.org

Regions Bank
2409 Lebanon Rd
Nashville, TN 37214
615-365-5900
Pennington United Methodist Church
www.regions.com 2745 Pennington Bend Rd
Nashville, TN 37214
Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 615-883-3074
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm www.pennumc.org
Sunday Closed

Grace Church of the Nazarene

Truist Bank 2620 Pennington Bend Rd
2503 Lebanon Pike Nashville, TN 37214
Nashville, TN 37214 615-889-7462
615-750-0040
http://www.welcometograce.church/www.welcomet
www.truist.com ograce.church

Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday Closed

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MAIL/SHIPPING Nearby:
SHOPPING:

United States Post Office

525 Royal Pkwy, #9715
Nashville, TN 37229
615-872-5749

www.usps.com

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm

Saturday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Opry Mills Mall
433 Opry Mills Dr
Nashville, TN 37214
615-514-1000
The UPS Store
4636 Lebanon Pike http://www.simon.com/mall/opry-mills
Hermitage, TN 37076
615-871-4627 Located in Nashville, Opry Mills® is Tennessee’s
largest outlet and value retail destination. Situated
https://locations.theupsstore.com/tn/hermitage/4 between I-40 and I-65 on Briley Parkway – we offer
636-lebanon-pike quick and convenient access to Downtown Nashville
and Nashville International Airport.
Monday – Wednesday 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Our beautiful indoor mall boasts 200 + stores:
Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Forever 21, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Bath & Body
Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Works, Vera Bradley Outlet, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor
Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm World, and more. Enjoy the Opry Mills® experience
with retailers ranging from jewelry to women’s
apparel to sporting goods. We have full-service
dining options: Aquarium Restaurant, Rainforest
Cafe, and Chuy’s Mexican Food, as well as quick and
FedEx Office Print & Ship Center – Gaylord fast options such as Johnny Rockets, Subway and
Opryland Resort Panda Express.
2800 Opryland Dr
Nashville, TN 37214 To top it off, Opry Mills® offers entertainment
615-391-0381 options with Regal Cinema 20 and IMAX Theater,
and Dave & Buster’s! From the entire team at Opry
https://local.fedex.com/tn/nashville/office-5520/ Mills®, we hope that you enjoy your shopping
experience and look forward to seeing you soon!
Monday – Thursday 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday – Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

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Dollar General Store #6680
2403 Lebanon Pk
Nashville, TN 37214 Shoppes on Fatherland
615-866-2905 1006 Fatherland St
Nashville, TN 37206
www.dollargeneral.com 615-227-8646. ext. 101

https://www.fatherlanddistrict.com/

Experience East Nashville through the local business

that call this hip and growing neighborhood home.
Located on Fatherland Street between 10th and
11th St. and close to the trendy 5 Points area, the
Hip Zipper Vintage Fatherland District is made up of the Shoppes on
1008 Forrest Ave Fatherland, 1100 Fatherland, and the new
Nashville, TN 37206 Fatherland Corner. Featuring shopping, dining and
615-288-1942 entertainment options for the whole family.

https://www.hipzipper.com/

Walmart Supercenter Target

4424 Lebanon Pike 3171 Lebanon Pk
Hermitage, TN 37076 Nashville, TN 37214
615-883-0201 615-889-4734

https://www.walmart.com/store/710-hermitage-tn www.target.com

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CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION

Facts about Nashville, Tennessee:

Nashville, known as Music City USA or Athens of the South. The city has architectural attractions like The
Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the Greek temple and the only one in the world. The city has a long tradition
of influencing the development of country music in America and this is seen in sites such as Music Row, the
Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and others. The city is home to Belle Meade
Plantation, which is known as the cradle of the American Thoroughbred racehorse. The home of Andrew
Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, is located in Nashville. Today, Nashville is still the center of
country music and its growing economy attracts tourists, travelers, and business executives.

Any night of the week, the Nashville music scene is alive and happening. Other types of performances are
common as well. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center presents Broadway shows. The theatre presents
independent, foreign, and classic films, two theatre troupes, and cultural events. The Country Music Hall of
Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville honors the cultural significance of country music.

Sports are big in Nashville too, and it hosts professional sports teams - the NHL Nashville Predators (Hockey)
and the NFL Tennessee Titans (Football).
WEATHER:

Nashville is blessed with four distinct but mild seasons and an abundance
of warmth and sunshine.

Spring is a delightful time in Middle Tennessee as the rolling hills are a lush,
vibrant green. Because of the mild climate found here, many plants are
well suited for the area including tulips, azaleas, irises, magnolias and
dogwoods. Days are warm while evenings can be chilly.

Summer is ablaze with many concert festivals in Music City. Several nights during the week have live outdoor
concerts scattered around town. Midday can be very warm, as the humidity tends to be higher in the summer
months. Light clothing and sunscreen is recommended for the full season.

Fall is a celebrated time throughout Tennessee. Visitors come from all over to see the annual changing of the
leaves in mid-October. Days are warm and pleasant. Evenings require a sweater or light jacket. Since the weather
is changeable, layered clothing is a good idea to accommodate sunny days and cooler nights.

Winter is a great time to visit the city's many attractions decked out in their holiday finery as Nashville truly
shines throughout the winter with millions of twinkling lights. Although the climate is mild, winter temperatures
do range from cool to cold. If a snowfall occurs, it is usually in January or February and is seldom heavy.

Monthly Averages & Records - °F | °C

Average Average Record Record Average Average
Date
Low High Low High Precipitation Snow
January 28° 47° -17° (1985) 78° (1972) 3.75" 2.6"
February 32° 52° -13° (1951) 84° (1962) 4.08" 2.3"
March 39° 61° 2° (1980) 89° (1907) 4.11" 0.9"
April 48° 71° 23° (2007) 91° (1989) 4" 0.1"
May 57° 78° 34° (1976) 96° (1937) 5.5" 0"
June 65° 86° 42° (1966) 106° (1952) 4.14" 0"
July 70° 89° 51° (1947) 107° (1952) 3.64" 0"
August 68° 89° 47° (1946) 106° (2007) 3.17" 0"
September 61° 82° 36° (1983) 105° (1954) 3.41" 0"
October 49° 72° 26° (1987) 94° (1953) 3.04" 0"
November 39° 60° -1° (1950) 85° (1935) 4.31" 0"
December 31° 50° -10° (1989) 79° (1982) 4.24" 0.5"

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INSECTS, BUGS AND OTHER “CREATURES”:
With the wonderful tropic temperatures in the
southern states, you can expect to encounter plenty
of the “creatures” that come along with these
climates.
Here is some useful information, taken from an
article by Mark Renz, who guides people on day-
trips into the Everglades:
http://abfla.com/1tocf/wildlife/pests.html
Mosquitoes. Summers are the worst time for
mosquitoes. Don't put on just any old spray; make
sure you have something with a heavy diethyl
content, such as Deep Woods Off or Sportsmen
Formula Repel.
Fire ants. They're red and called fire ants for a
reason. Their bite is like someone touched your skin
with a lighted match. I've never tried it personally,
but some of my old timer friends tell me that if they
do bite you, rub citrus peeling on the spot and it will
ease the pain and prevent the sore from bubbling up
like a burn.
Cow ants. Look for a beautiful black and red, velvet-
coated ant about 3/4 of an inch long. You won't find
them in a mound and they wander around cow
pastures, mostly as loners. Observe them from a
distance and you'll be fine.
Palmetto Bug or Cucaracha (cockroach). They've
got to be the ugliest, most despicable-looking
creature alive, but I'm sure their mothers love them.
Palmettos appear to be roughly the size of a Buick -
up to two inches for the American cockroach or 5/8
of an inch for the German cockroach, they usually
come out in the middle of the night. Keep all food
tightly sealed or locked in the refrigerator to keep
their numbers down.
Wolf Spider. Next to a cat, it's your best defense
against cockroaches, other insects, or in-laws who
tend to stay too long. They're big and brown with up
to a five-inch leg span, non-poisonous, and patrol
your house at night for other creepy crawlers to
munch on. Give them their space.
Love Bugs. These are
harmless black flying insects
that often fly united, living
for about 24 hours, which is
plenty long enough to make
a thorough mess of your windshield. For some
reason they are attracted to hot highway pavement.
Tolerance is your best weapon. That and lots of
soapy water to keep your car clean.
Geckos. These little 1 - 2 inch salamander-like
lizards are actually our allies, because they dine on
mosquitoes and other annoying pests. They
scamper around on the walls, on plants - you'll find
them just about anywhere of you look hard enough.
Some like to show off a brightly colored neckwear to
let you know they're available.
Snakes. The southern states have about as many
types of snakes as there are letters in the alphabet.
And while six are venomous, consider
that--like the alligator--they play more
defense than offense. If an area looks
like it might have snakes, it probably
does. Be loud, carry a big stick and poke in the tall
grass in front of you as you walk. But again, don't let
them keep you from having fun. If you do get bitten,
try to remember what the snake looked like and
describe it to your physician for treatment. And
don't kill them just because they scare you. Unlike
us, they're an important part of the food chain.
More snakes equals fewer rats.
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Cultural Things to Do in Nashville and the
surrounding areas:

Recommended websites that list daily and weekly

events going on in the area:

http://www.visitmusiccity.com/Visitors/events/fea Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

turedevents 600 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
http://www.nowplayingnashville.com/ 615-741-5280

Recommended Attractions: http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/bicentennial-

mall

The Ryman Auditorium

116 5th Ave North
Nashville, TN 37219
615-889-3060
http://ryman.com/about
Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live-performance
venue located at 116 5th Avenue North, in Nashville,
Tennessee. Known as the home of the Grand Ole
Opry from 1943 to 1974. When you walk through
the doors of the historic Ryman Auditorium, one
thing becomes clear right away: this is not just
another nightly music venue, and it is so much more
than a daytime tourist stop. This place is hallowed
ground. This is the exact spot where bluegrass was
born, where Johnny Cash met June Carter, where
souls are saved and a slice of history was nearly lost.
It was right here that country music found an
audience beyond its own back porch, and countless
careers took off as deals were signed on napkins and
paper scraps backstage. This is a building where
anything is possible. A soul can find redemption, a
crumbling building can find salvation, and an
unknown kid with a guitar can find their name in
lights.
Wildhorse Saloon
120 2nd Ave., N
Nashville, TN 37201
615-902-8200
www.wildhorsesaloon.com
The World-Famous Wildhorse Saloon is a 66,000
square foot live music and dance destination
offering event space for parties, corporate outings
and special events. If you cannot do it here - it
cannot be done in Nashville, where we have three
floors of action-packed fun, internal capacities
reaching over 2,400 and the capability to extend out
to Riverfront Park right in our own backyard. We are
a restaurant, catering, bar, concert site, dance
venue and TV studio—all under one roof.

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 The Hermitage (home of President Andrew
Jackson)
4580 Rachels Lane
Tennessee State Museum Nashville, TN 37076
1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd 615-889-2941
Nashville, TN 37208
615-741-2692 Born a slave on The Hermitage plantation and
800-407-4324 known simply as Alfred, this now-legendary man
assisted with the horses and maintained the wagons
http://www.tnmuseum.org/ and the farm equipment. After emancipation, he
chose to remain on the plantation as a tenant
FREE ADMISSION farmer and lived at The Hermitage longer than
anyone else, white or black. Additionally, when The
Monday Closed Hermitage was opened to the public as a
Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm presidential home, Alfred was the first tour guide
Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm telling visitors authentic stories about President
Andrew Jackson. When Alfred died in 1901, his
Closed: Mondays and four holidays: New Year's funeral was held in the center hall of the mansion,
Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day and he was buried in the family garden next to the
President himself. Alfred was the only non-family
member buried in Rachel’s garden.

www.thehermitage.com

Monday, Thursday – Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday Closed

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 http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-
Recreation/Parthenon.aspx

The Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of

Centennial Park, Nashville's premier urban park. The
re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus
of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece.
The Grand Ole Opry The building and the Athena statue are both full-
2804 Opryland Drive scale replicas of the Athenian originals.
Nashville, TN 37214
615-871-6779 The Parthenon also serves as the city of Nashville's
art museum. The focus of the Parthenon's
www.opry.com permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by
19th and 20th century American
February – October@The Grand Ole Opry House
November – January@The Ryman Auditorium

It is a live show. What began as a simple radio

broadcast in 1925 is today a live entertainment
phenomenon. Dedicated to honoring country
music’s rich history and dynamic present, the Grand
Ole Opry highlights a mix of country legends and the
contemporary chart-toppers who have followed in
their footsteps. The Opry, an American icon and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Nashville, Tennessee’s number-one attraction, is 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S
world-famous for creating one-of-a-kind Nashville, TN 37203
entertainment experiences for audiences of all ages. 615-416-2001

Sunday – Friday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Monday – Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
https://countrymusichalloffame.org/

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum adds

a strikingly modern touch to the Nashville skyline
and is situated at the epicenter of the city’s rapidly
growing core, a block from the popular honky-tonks
of Broadway, across the street from Bridgestone
The Parthenon Arena and Music City Center, and adjacent to the
2500 West End Avenue Omni Hotel. The museum, called the “Smithsonian
Nashville, TN 37203 of country music” because of its unrivaled
615-862-8431 collection, recently unveiled a $100 million
expansion, doubling its size to 350,000 square feet
Monday Closed of dynamic state-of-the-art galleries, archival
Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 am - 4:30 pm storage, education classrooms, retail stores, and
Sunday 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm special event space boasting stunning downtown
views.

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SEVEN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

I have received the Program Information Guide disclosure materials regarding my upcoming
Summer Work Travel placement.

This Program Information Guide along with the GEC Participant Handbook covers important
information about my program that I understand and agree to including:

Purpose of program
Cultural component requirement
Travel and entry information
Fee Disclosure
SEVIS instructions including program validation and updating my address
Insurance information
Housing and Transportation
Work Agreement

I have read and understood the information presented to me in this document. I will participate in
the GEC online orientation and read my additional program materials found in my GEC record
thoroughly before I enter the U.S. If I have questions or need assistance I will contact GEC.

I understand that once this document is returned to GEC, cancellation or visa denial fees will apply
should I cancel or be denied a visa as outlined in the fee agreement from my sending Foreign
Partner.

Printed Name _______________________________________________________

Signature ___________________________________________________________

Placement: Marriott Gaylord Opryland Resort – SPECIAL EVENTS ATTENDANT / RUNNER GENERAL
(Winter)

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