More than 50 visiting professionals and students from around the globe discovered apple cider and other fall traditions Saturday at the Country Mill in Charlotte.

Its exciting because we usually get apples from the grocery store, said Cheng Hong, a participant in the Visiting International Professional Program (VIPP) at Michigan State University. Coming from China, Hong was especially excited to see fresh fruit grown in the local community.

International visitors picked apples, explored a corn maze, survived a haunted house and enjoyed roasted marshmallows around a bonfire as part of a cultural experience organized by VIPP, an experience that helped a local business while allowing internationals to experience various fall traditions.

Its a very important part of visiting America, said Steve Tenes, owner of Country Mill in Charlotte. Visiting a cider mill where you can pick apples, go on a hayride and experience fall is crucial to understanding American traditions, he said.

And in this economy, local businesses like Country Mill appreciate the opportunity to expand their market. Participants were greeted by the smell of fresh apple cider, cinnamon donuts and the promise of a truly cultural experience with various activities around the property.

This was my first time on a farm and at an orchard, said Jinxia Guo, a VIPP participant from Beijing, China. Its quite different from the city.

Even the apples are different from those in Beijing; there, they are all larger and yellow. It was very surprising to see different sizes and colors, she said.

In addition to the apples, Guo and other participants were astounded at the way pumpkins were grown, which they learned about on a hayride around the property.

This is absolutely new for me, she said. Its fantastic.

After dark, some took part in a haunted corn maze and cider mill while others gathered around the bonfire to learn about the business of running an apple orchard.

While obtaining professional knowledge in the classroom through VIPP programs and academic courses at MSU, participating in cultural activities is crucial to the full experience that our international visitors seek, said Michael Miller, Director of VIPP.

Being able to actually get out and experience the different ways in which Americans enjoy the fall, and at the same time seeing how local businesses operate is an excellent way to enhance that experience, he said.

If you are interested in learning more about VIPP, or volunteering to help with cultural activities, please contact the VIPP offices at 517.432.3663 or email vipp@msu.edu.