Cherry Republic hires a signifi cant number of J1 visa, migrant, and other types of workers to help with their summer rush. Hear about their stories and experiences traveling and living in Leelanau County is an experience these students and workers dream for.
Cherry Republic owner Bob Sutherland says the local business could not operate the way they do without foreign help.
“They make our work more rewarding and enjoyable for every staff member. These fresh faces and this international energy, it makes us all better people,” Sutherland said. “We’re lucky to have the best of the best right here.”
Kafhief Barnswell is in his second year working at Cherry Republic in the hot food line. Barnswell is from Clarendon, Jamaica, located in the middle of the island country.
“It’s been easier this year because I have experience from last year, so it’s been good,” he said.
Barnswell is currently studying computer science and security back in Jamaica. One of his favorite activities of the area is getting the chance to float down the Crystal River in a kayak.
“I’ve met people from a lot of different countries coming on the program. I’ve heard stuff about their countries. I’ve been able to connect with them. I’m still friends with some of them. So I think the best part is just the people and learning about the different cultures,” Barnswell said. “I’ve met people on the program, and we still talk about (soccer) matches. If there’s a game going on, we’re talking about it. We’ll call each other and watch it together. So the best part is the people and exchanging the similarities and differences.”
Freda Fan comes to Glen Arbor from Guangzhou, China, as she prepares to study abroad in the future. She heard about the J1 visa program through a friend and jumped at the opportunity to see if she is suitable for life abroad.
“It’s a good chance for me ... I also want to see what America is like,” Fan said. “I’m from a really busy city. When I came here, I felt like I had a holiday because of the environment here and the people here are also nice. I can see wildlife, that’s amazing. I can only see them in the zoo in my city.”
Freda is busy working in the cold line while making delicious sandwiches and wraps. One of her favorite things is living with people from different countries and learning about different languages while teaching them Chinese. “When I teach them Chinese, they pronounce it so funny. They will teach me some words in other languages. I can feel the point of this program ... it makes me really enjoy it,” Fan said.
The immersive experience helps Fan develop her English skills outside of a classroom setting. Fan is also studying computer science.
Mustafa Yesilay of Turkey is excited to spend his second summer stateside after living last year in Minneapolis. His favorite thing is learning a new culture while earning money for college and life. Yesilay is studying culinary arts, and this fits perfectly with his career goals.
“That’s why I love to be in a restaurant. Especially a restaurant famous with cherry, here has special things. It’s interesting for me, I’m here as a server, I’m talking with people,” Yesilay said.
Yesilay is working as a server and has improved his English dramatically from last year to this year.
“Not only just for English ... you are coming here and trying to speak with people, you cannot speak with your own language or the other language,” he said. “I have learned English two years ago. Last year I was here, I was trying to improve my English level, but I was working in the kitchen.”
Sherika Powell of Goshen (St. Elizabeth), Jamaica, comes to Leelanau after spending her summer in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last year. “There would be a lot of people on the boardwalk, I would have a more crowded place than here. (Glen Arbor) is very peaceful, that’s what I can see. And the people here are very different and welcoming.” Powell said.
Powell, a proud mother of two and college student, is studying to be a math and science teacher back in her home country of Jamaica. In the meantime, she will be working as a line cook at Cherry Republic. Her favorite task is making a delicious Parmesan sandwich and grilled cheese ever since she arrived on May 28. Powell hopes this experience gives her a wealth of knowledge and helps her find success in the working world. “I want to find a sense of responsibility where you are balancing your personal life and balancing work,” she said.
Powell, 26, is one of the older J1 workers in the program.
“We are in a household, but we try to come together as one, try to be clean, try to have unity between all of us, trying to accept that you are not me and I am not you,” she said.
Antic Polat-Atinc was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. He is in his second summer stateside after spending time in Duluth, Minnesota, last year.
“I just want to meet new people and culture. We were always watching Hollywood movies when I was young,” Antic said.
Antic arrived last week and is still finding his footing at Cherry Republic. He is currently studying to be a mechanical engineer with aspirations of working in logistics and shipping. “It feels so good to me when I explain myself in another language ... When I go first time in here, United States, I am worse than this,” he said.
Sutherland went on to compliment Cherry Republic’s J1 workers further.
“It’s rewarding to see the personal growth of every one of these employees who come across the world to work for us.
They are taking a huge risk. They know nothing about Cherry Republic, about who their roommates are going to be, about their co-workers, and it’s fun to see that risk taken and then to give them their reward,” Sutherland said.
Migrant workers
Another avenue Cherry Republic uses for workers is migrant workers in the kitchen and dishwashing stations.
Roberto Hernandez and Omar Cruz are some of the hardest workers Sutherland has ever seen.
“These guys do the work before we even see it … Their work ethic is an inspiration to every employee here,” Sutherland said.
Hernandez has lived in the United States for 40 years and is a citizen coming from Guanajuato, Mexico. He’s bounced around all over, spending 30 years in Florida and six years in the Indianapolis area. This is his first year in Michigan and helping out at Cherry Republic.
“I like working in Michigan, I’ve worked in many different places,” Hernandez said.
Cruz is in his first summer stateside as he comes from Chiapas.
Hernandez and Cruz both provide for their families back in Mexico with money earned at Cherry Republic.
Hernandez has two daughters and one son at three, 16 and 17-year-old. Cruz has six children ranging from 12 to 22.
“I will try to get papers to my family (to come to U.S.). We started paying a lawyer and started putting papers together. Its hard.”
Without foreign workers, at least for Cherry Republic and other businesses around, it would be hard to imagine howthe Leelanau Peninsula would operate without them.
