Bryan's Five Reasons to Visit Portland, Oregon

Hi guys,
Welcome back from the Thanksgiving break! I hope you all enjoyed a nice time off and spent some times with your families and friends. This is Bryan, and I went to Portland, Oregon, to spent my Thanksgiving vacation. 
I am sure most of you have heard about Portland. But here are my five reasons to visit Portland.

1. It's TAX FREE!

Currently, the Oregon sales tax rate is 0%. This means that you don't have to pay the 10% sales tax when you buy anything! Think like you get a 10% off for everything you buy. 
Besides, there are couple big outlets around Portland, like Woodburn Premium Outlet and Columbia Gorge Outlet. Or if you are not a hardcore shopper who is willing to stay up all night shopping, you can also choose to shop at downtown Portland like I did. You can find most of the brands you need just by walking in downtown Portland. And there are a lot of good foods. 

2. It's within driving distance (2.5 hours drive, if there is no traffic)

2.5 hours of drive is not that bad. Really... If you compare it with driving to other nearby cities:
Vancouver, BC -- 4 Hours drive, if you don't get stopped by the custom
Leavenworth, WA -- 3 Hours, if the snow doesn't bother you
Yellowstone, WY -- 13 Hours, yeah.. you probably won't drive there during thanksgiving
However, things can get rough if you are caught in a traffic jam, like we did. We first drove to Seattle to pick up my friend, and it took us two hours to drive back to Tacoma, because of two accidents near federal way. Then, the two hours drive to Portland took us over four hours, due to three more accidents around Olympia. Driving for six hours literally killed me both physically and mentally. 
So trust me, leave in the early morning when nobody is driving like they are in bumper cars.

3. Sunshine

Some people do whatever it takes to get away from the Rain in Washington. And I am probably one of them. 

Portland has always shown me her good side whenever I went there. It's sunny, dry, cool, and windy when I was where during thanksgiving. 

And if the weather is not enough to impress you, you should try exploring around Historic Columbia River Highway.

4. Great place for hiking - Historic Columbia River Highway

Historic Columbia River Highway is 20 minutes drive to the east of downtown Portland. It has many attractions along the way, like Vista house (photo ↙) and 5 waterfalls. The highway is built on the mountain, so you can get a good view of the Columbia River. There are also hiking trails built around the waterfalls. The one I recommend to go to is the Multnomah Falls (photo ↓). 

It takes around 1 hour to hike up to the top of the waterfall. It's not very tiring, which makes it ideal for all kinds of people. Also, the views along the way are gorgeous. 

Look at the view! Cr: Claire Huang

Multnomah Falls

5. GOOD FOOD

Try some "rainbow" poached egg

Portland has some serious good foods in the city. 

Five things I would advise to try are:

1. Petite Province for Brunch

2. Voodoo Doughnuts for Snacks 

3. Pok Pok for Thai dinner

4. Salt & Straw for Ice cream

5. Food trucks for some street foods

There are many many food trucks in Portland. And they are famous for being delicious! It's one of the special thing in the city that you should definitely try in Portland!

Unfortunately, I did get to try the food trucks this time, because most of them were closed due to thanksgiving break. 

But if you go to Portland someday, try it and let me know whether you like it or not!

Bryan Yuan

12/3/2019

Top 5 Job Interview Tips

Hello everyone, it’s Megan!

As my last fall semester comes to an end, I’ve naturally started to think about the future and what it holds - especially as an international student! Graduating college can definitely be scary in and of itself, but the thought of having to get a job right after college makes it all the more terrifying. One of the most common concerns for seniors in college in terms of graduation is having a job lined up for when you’re done with school. Relatedly, going to job interviews is a nerve-wrecking experience for pretty much everyone, and all of these stress factors related to job searching inspired this week’s blogpost: Interview tips! 

So, without further ado, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when the time comes for you to interview for your future job!

1. Research the company and your interviewer(s)

Let’s start things off with the basics - do your research! Before you go into a job interview, it is important to show that you are familiar with the company you would like to work at. By communicating to your interviewer that you’ve done your homework prior to meeting with them, it lets them know that you are serious about your interest in working there, as opposed to it being “just another job interview”. The company’s website, social media posts, and recent press releases are all good sources to provide you with a solid understanding of what the company is about, and how your skillset fits into the equation. For a more detailed guide on how to research a company effectively, here is a helpful website!

Now, keep in mind that researching your interviewers can come across as creepy if you don’t do it right. There is a fine line between coming across as knowledgeable about the company, and being borderline creepy. You don’t want them to feel like you have invaded their privacy, so stick to looking for information that relates to their career persona. You can also try to find some commonalities between you and your interviewer, as this could make them remember your interview favorably over other applicants. At the same time, be sure to not give away any suggestion that you actively looked up information about the interviewer themselves.

2. Practice answers to common interview questions

Most job interviews will include some standard questions that are common across the board. These are usually questions like “tell me why you would be a good fit for our company”, or “tell me about a time when you faced a challenge, and how did you deal with it?”. These sorts of questions are commonly used by interviewers, and practicing some of the most predictable questions will give you an edge if you have already prepared yourself on what to answer. Giving well-rounded answers to these questions illustrate that you are able to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses. If you are not familiar with common interview questions, you can visit this website for a helpful guide.

3. Prepare questions for your interviewers

A lot of times we forget that a job interview is a two-way street, however, you should ask some questions, too! When you’re reading the job description of the position you’re applying for, think about what questions come to mind and what you would like answered. 

For me, I am always curious about what a hiring manager has to say about the office culture, meaning, what the “overall vibe” is amongst the employees. For you, this might not be a relevant question at all, so make sure that you find a couple of things to inquire about when you are given the chance to ask questions. Not only does it show that you have seriously thought about working there, it also gives the hiring manager an idea about which aspects of the job matter to you.

4. Make a great first impression

We usually spend more effort preparing for the actual content of the interview, including the points mentioned above. What is arguably just as important however, is to prepare your external presentation as well. Don’t forget to pay attention to the little things! If this is a high-stake interview, put some extra thought into the details of your appearance; like doing your hair nicely, making sure your nails are kept, ironing or steaming the outfit you’ve chosen. Essentially, you wan’t to show your interviewers that you care about this position, and spending time on your appearance and making sure that you look presentable is an obvious way to show that you’ve put effort into your meeting with the hiring manager. Most importantly, looking good will make you feel more confident, which will show through as well!

5. Send a personalized thank you letter after the interview

You should practice the habit of sending personalized thank you notes to each interviewer. When you are meeting with them, ask for their business card during the interview, and if you have multiple interviewers you should ask them individually. This allows you to follow up with them individually, as well. This note (or email) should be sent the same day, or the following morning depending on when you had your interview. If you interviewed in the morning, try to send out an email within the end of the workday. If your meeting was later in the afternoon, waiting until the next morning should be fine. Make sure that the emails are personalized though, and incorporate some of the notes you took during the interview to show them that the email is meant specifically for them.

Alright, so these are some of the best interviewing tips I have come across over the past few years, and now - I pass them on to you. The most important part is come across as authentic, meaning: just be yourself! Regardless of whether you choose to follow the tips in this post, I wish you the best of luck with your job-hunt moving forward. You can do it!!!

— Megan 

Inspiration taken from Indeed.com. 

Commonly Used OTC Medicines (Ⅰ): allergy, cold, fever

   Hey Guys! This is Bryan. 

   For this week's blog post, I want to talk about something different. As a nursing student, I am currently taking N330 Pharmacology, the study of medicines. In that class, I learned about all kinds of different medicines and their effects on human body. I realized that many people are taking medicines without knowing enough about it. Especially for international students, we are not familiar with the commonly used medicines, and we don't know what to use when we really get sick. Therefore, I will introduce to you some of the commonly used medicines that you can get easily in Walgreen or Target. I understand this is a lot of information, and you will not read it all today. But please come back to it if you are sick or decide to take one of the medicines. 

   And please remember you can always consult with the school's Health Center!

   What are OTC medicines

o   OTC medicines stands for OVER-THE-COUNTER medicines. It means you don’t need a prescription to buy these medicines at the pharmacy. These meds are OTC (over-the-counter) because they have milder side effects (unwanted body reaction to drug) and less contraindications. Yet, people who take them are still under the risk of overdosing, developing side effects, and having drug to drug interactions if used with other medicines or recreational drugs. Hence, you should always look at the instruction book before taking a new medicine.

o   Drug to drug interactions: Though OTC drugs have less lethal side effects (unwanted body reaction to drug), taking multiple drugs at the same time will increase the risk of having side effects. Unless prescribed by a healthcare provider, you should only take one med at a time. Alcohols and recreational drugs should be stopped when taking OTC meds.

o   Common Precautions: Many of the medicines require liver and kidney to excrete out of your body, and some of them interfere with your blood vessels or heart to change your blood pressure. Thus, before you take these medicines, you should consult health care professionals if you have been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetics, liver or renal disease.

o   Overdose: overdose happens when you take too much of one med. Follow the dosing instructions when taking meds, and call 911 if severe symptoms happen. 

o   Pregnancy Warning: most of the drugs have unknown or bad reaction to baby. If you are pregnant, plan to be pregnant, or breast feeding, please consult with healthcare professionals before taking any of the OTC meds.

   Allergy

o   Pseudoephedrine: nasal decongestants; relief running nose and helps your breath easier)

§  Common drug name: Sudafed 12 Hour

§  Picture:

§  How many to take: 1 caplet as needed for every 12 hour (120 mg/12 hr)

·       Warning: Please check with the instruction book before use

§  What you should know about it:

·       Do not use with Antidepressant.

·       STOP and ASK: if nervousness, too slow or fast heart rate, breathing difficulties, hallucination (seeing things that are not there), or seizure as these symptoms indicate drug overdose.

o   Diphenhydramine: Antihistamine, decrease allergy symptoms, including sneezing, running nose, itchy etc.

§  Common drug name: Benadryl

§  Other usage: cold, insomnia (Hard time falling asleep), motion sickness

§  Picture:

§  How many to take: 1-2 tablets as needed for every 4-6 hours

·       Warning: Please check with the instruction book before use

§  What you should know about it:

·       Do not drink alcohol or taking recreational drugs while taking this med.

·       It makes you feel sleepy; avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness after taking this med.

·       Should not be used routinely for sleeping aid.

·       Do not use with antidepressant.

   Common Cold

o   Acetaminophen + Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine

§  Common drug name: Comtrex Day and Night (Any of the "Day and Night")

§  Picture:

§  How many to take: 2 caplets as needed every 4 hours

·       No more than 10 caplets every 24 hours

·       Warning: Please check with the instruction book before use

§  What you should know about it:

·       This medicine will not “treat” your cold, but only decrease the symptoms to allow better rests and recovery. So please ensure proper diet, enough sleep, and avoid heavy workloads while taking this med.

·       Day pill and night pill have different function. Night pill will make you feel sleepy and have more effects to help you fall asleep. Day pill have fewer effects, but cause less sleepiness to help you get through the day. Do not drive if taking night pill; recommended not to drive if taking day pill. 

·       Do not drink alcohol or taking recreational drugs while taking this med.

·       Do not use with Antidepressant.

·       STOP and ASK: if original symptoms (cough, nasal congestion) gets worse for more than a week; if fever gets worse for more than 3 days; if nervousness, dizziness, or sleepless.

o   Diphenhydramine

§  Benadryl: since allergy and cold have similar symptoms (running nose, sneezing…), Benadryl can also be used for common cold. The side effect of drowsiness (ability to make you feel sleepy) can help you better fall asleep if you take it 30 mins before going to bed.

   Fever:

o   Acetaminophen

§  Common drug name: Tylenol

§  Other usage: pain relief

§  Picture:

§  How many to take: 2 tablets as needed for every 4-6 hours

·       No more than 10 tablets every 24 hours

·       Warning: Please check with the instruction book before use

§  What you should know about it:

·       Do not drink alcohol or taking recreational drugs while taking this med.

·       Tylenol comes in many different forms. Note that "extra strength", "nighttime", "rapid release" indicates different effects and different dosing requirement. Please check with the instruction book!

·       Do not use with NSAIDs, like Aspirin and Ibuprofen

·       STOP and ASK: if you still have fever after three days of use; if you have skin rash (red and itchy patch of skin), headache, redness, or swelling; if your symptom gets worth and new symptom (like nausea, stomach pain, dark urine) develops. 

As my instructor Dr. Robinson has always said: "Like your mama taught you, don't put anything in your mouth if you don't know what it is!" You should really understand these medicines well before putting them into your mouth.

Lastly, remember that the best way of recovery is always healthy lifestyle! 

(I will continue this topic with my next blog post about pain relief, insomnia, and diarrhea)

Guest Blog: Risa's Summary of PLU Experience

Hi, this is Risa.
I'm a transfer student from Japan. I used to go to a university in North Carolina.
I'm going to talk about what I experienced here and how I liked PLU.

Sweet Professors, Students, and Environment in PLU🎓

First of all, I love PLU's classes!

They are a small size, less than 40 people. One of the reasons I came to PLU was to take small-size classes close to a large city.

It is easy to give their opinions and the professors always try to remember students' names. International students sometimes take time to understand a class because of their culture or language. They are willing to help us when we need help.

In addition, in the class there are many students having different backgrounds-- sex, age, color, beliefs... All of them are open to something different from themselves. I'm comfortable in the environment as a minority. Since I came to PLU, I appreciate all of them and the time of studying without any problems.

Fun Events Provided by ISS🎉

I attended some events by International Student Services (ISS).

Football game at University of Washington

We went to the match between UW and Arizona State. My friend and I were not familiar with the rules of football. I still remember we searched on phone and discussed what happened in the game at that time. After the trip, I began understanding the rules and finally enjoying it!

Seattle Chocolate Factory tour

We went to a factory of Seattle Chocolate. We saw how to make chocolates, and tried several kinds of chocolates. Seattle Chocolate is one of the most famous companies in Seattle. We were able to have an experience related to here. In exchange for it, we couldn't stop buying souvenirs though...

Precious Treasures I Got at PLU❤️

Sometimes I'm stressed out for some reasons. The reason why I'm enjoying the college life is because I have met many friends.

They sometimes show me around the city, sometimes help me with my homework, and sometimes drink together 😂

I can't be much happier to meet special, precious friends in my life.

That's all what I have here so far. I still have a year till graduation.

Can't wait to see more fun events then!!

Your friend,
Risa

Fun Things to Do for Fall!

Hey all – Megan here!

We’re getting well into the fall semester, and although most PLU students are currently drowning in homework and upcoming exams, we should still make time for play in the midst of all the stress! In this blogpost, I will be listing some of my favorite fall activities in the general Tacoma area, and hopefully you’ll come across some things you’d like to try this fall or even next year. So, without further ado – let’s check out some fun fall activities!

1. Spooner Farms Pumpkin Patch

Starting things off with perhaps the most notable fall activity – going to a pumpkin patch! I remember when I first moved here two years ago, I was so confused as to why people wanted to dress all cute and look at pumpkins, but it turns out that it’s pretty fun! Spooner Farms, which is located in Puyallup, puts together a harvest festival every year, and has been in session since September 28^th, and will last until October 31^st. 

The farm is available for your enjoyment, with fun things to do for people of all ages, including the actual pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and more.

Bring some friends along with you and get ready for amazing photo ops, but make sure to wear some boots – things can get a little muddy!

2. Maris Farms: The Haunted Corn Maze

If just a regular ‘ole corn maze doesn’t do it for ya, try it with a spooky twist! Maris Farms is located in Buckley, which is about 40-minute drive from PLU. How a corn maze works is that you walk through a field of corn with trails carved in a maze design, and you solve the maze with the help of clue cards. Because it’s more of a nighttime activity, the corn maze takes place from 8-9pm. The maze itself can take up to 45 minutes to solve, and the “haunted” part of the challenge comes from characters inside the maze who are essentially trying to spook you (don’t worry, they are not allowed to touch you). Now, I know this might not sound super appealing – but if you’re not afraid of getting a little spooked, this is definitely an activity you should try with some friends! Again, rain + dirt = mud, so come prepared by wearing shoes you can get dirty, and warm clothing.

I am actually going there tonight, and this will be my first time experiencing a haunted corn maze. I really enjoy watching horror movies, and going to haunted houses, so this should be right up my alley!

3. Go to a PLU Football Game!

I’ll be the first to say it: sports are not my thing. I don’t actually understand what goes on during a football game, which I think a lot of international students can relate to. However, PLU Football games are pretty much the only sports games I go to – because they’re super fun! Because we don’t have our own stadium, home games are played at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup (apparently all fall things take place in Puyallup), which is a little inconvenient, but it makes the trip down there an event in itself. Our games usually take place at 1pm on Saturdays, and you’ll most likely find me in the stands, not paying attention to the game, but rather chatting with the friends I have convinced to go with me J Sometimes we’ll go out to eat after, and I think I like going to the games because it gives me something to do on Saturday afternoons.

4. Christmas Tree Hunting

Granted, Christmas trees aren’t necessarily associated with fall, but I usually end up getting a Christmas tree towards the tail end of the season. There is something about walking around a Christmas tree farm, looking for the perfect tree, that is just super festive! I always enjoy going to get a Christmas tree, and will usually go with my boyfriend and his family. My favorite part is drinking apple cider and cuddling with the animals at the farm (read: the farm dog). So, if you’re in the need of a Christmas tree this year – check out the local options and make a day of it!

5. The Washington State Fair/Puyallup Fair

Last, but certainly not least: The Fair! Sadly, the fair is over for the year, but this is a definite must if you haven’t been yet. The Washington State fair takes place at the beginning of fall each year, and is located in downtown Puyallup. 

                           

This is the place to be for amazing food, fun rides, and cuddles with farm animals! Local farmers bring things to the fair for display, so there are a lot of fun things to look at. To be honest, I usually just walk around and eat – I haven’t ever been on any of the rides there! The fair is equally as fun at night as it is during the day, and there are concerts available throughout the month of September, so keep an eye out for which day is the best to go.

Alright, that concludes my list of festive fall activities. I hope you guys decide to check out some of the options listed above, and make time for some fun in between all the studying. I sure am going to!

-       - Megan