On November 14, 2012, Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) students placed in Salem, Oregon met to tour the state's capital city. Students originated from Turkey, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan and Pakistan.

In Salem, students had the opportunity to tour the State Capitol. Additionally, students explored Willamette University, Hallie Ford Museum, and the River Front Carousel Park. The tour provided students with a deep understanding of the state's history, as well as, an important social and political context of their host state. 

After a full tour, students visited the Eco Earth Globe located in the southern portion of the Salem Riverfront Park. The globe is the creation of local artists and students who converted a large pressurized tank in the shape of a ball into a popular local work of art that reflects the world's diversity on land and water.