A Lithuanian student working in the US on a J-1 cultural exchange visa has spoken out about a terrible experience under a troubling boss. Ugne Duncyte, 27, came to Colorado to work two summers in Estes Park through the J-1 programme, which is designed to promote cultural exchange. However, she said her time at a local diner left her emotionally distressed. "I was crying a lot back then," she said. Duncyte's manager, David Morales, often spoke about her behind her back and almost fired her without clear reasons. Court records show Morales, a man in his 40s, is a convicted sex offender who served prison time for second-degree assault and attempted sexual assault. "I felt so disappointed," Duncyte said. She felt helpless and alone during the ordeal: "I never had a similar situation in my life. I'm just a girl from Lithuania. Nobody can protect me, nobody can explain what's happening. I was very lost." Morales was arrested in August by police in Estes Park for giving alcohol to minors at a closed restaurant and for failing to register as a sex offender. His legal cases are ongoing, according to the Denver Post. Duncyte's story is not unique. Interviews with over a dozen J-1 participants reveal reports of verbal abuse, sexual harassment, overcrowded housing, and jobs that differed from what was promised. One Turkish participant said managers shouted and humiliated staff, with female workers facing sexual harassment. Housing was cramped, sometimes with up to 14 people sharing a space and four in one room. Several J-1 workers have filed lawsuits accusing employers of exploiting cheap foreign labor without providing true cultural exchange. Last year, more than 9,000 people came to Colorado on J-1 visas, working in restaurants, ski resorts, and even research. Many were placed in tourist towns suffering seasonal labor shortages near national parks. The J-1 programme started in 1961 to foster mutual understanding between countries. But a 1990 US Government Accountability Office report warned parts of the programme no longer serve this goal. Recent investigations by the Associated Press and The New York Times document ongoing abuse and exploitation of J-1 workers nationwide.