FAQ: Studying abroad in the U.S.

Hey everyone - it's Megan!
Over the past two years, I have received many questions from friends, family and strangers about what it is like to study in the U.S. A couple weeks back, I got an email from two Norwegian girls who had a lot of questions about this topic for a school project, asking me if I’d be willing to answer them. After reading through their questions, I found myself thinking that these are questions a lot of prospective students might ask. So, for my blogpost this week, I figured I would share some of my answers as well other frequently asked questions I receive. Hopefully this can be of help for some of our incoming and prospective international students!

 

Traveling

Have you ever been unsure about traveling to and studying in the U.S. ?

The last photo I took before moving!

Surprisingly, no! My mother studied in the U.S. back in the day, so she was always an inspiration for me to study outside of Norway. The only real concern I've had comes from comparing finances between studying abroad vs. studying in Norway.  

Did you travel alone?

My mother came with me to help get me moved in, but I came to PLU "alone" in the sense that I didn't know anyone before coming here. I'm very glad I traveled alone! Studying abroad is one of the few opportunities you get to start from scratch -- nobody knows who you are and it's nice to have a clean slate when meeting new people. 

Did you miss your family and friends? Were you homesick?

I do miss them from time to time. It's hard to explain, but I rarely feel homesick due to the fact that I've created a new home for myself over here. I have my own friend group, two jobs, classes, and all these things that keep me occupied from feeling homesick. That being said, I love coming home to visit my friends and family, and we still have very close relationships. I think feeling homesick is a very personal thing, though. Some of my international friends here feel homesick a lot, so it just depends on you and how you deal with distance.

Culture & Communication

Did you notice any difference from your home country? Etiquette, manners and customs? 

Americans are a lot more open and social! Norwegians are known for being reserved and more anti-social, unless a situation calls for it. Despite being an extroverted person, I definitely still struggle with social interactions from time to time simply because I've grown up in a "stranger danger" culture. Studying abroad has taught me how much culture plays into who you are as a person, and you can tell which students on campus have an international background. That's the beauty of difference, and (most) Americans love to learn about different cultures and experiences. 

Did anything surprise you?

I was shocked by the academic level of American universities. If you have a decent English proficiency, you will find that the course load and structure of higher education here is a lot less strenuous than back home. Basically, I find it easier to get good grades here than I did back home. This might also have something to do with me having better time-management skills than I did when I was in high school, but comparing the work I have to do with what my friends in Norway are doing, I think American universities provide an easier learning process and a more wholesome education. 

When you first got to America, did you have any problems with communication?

Not for me, as I've grown up speaking English. I do have some other friends from Norway studying at PLU, that didn't grow up speaking English. I think most Norwegians will be surprised to find out that our English is very good when compared to other international students, so communication is rarely an issue over here. I do still "think" in Norwegian though, so sometimes it's hard to think of the English word of something I have in mind.

Housing

How and where did you live? Roommate? Distance to campus?

I lived in a dorm on campus. For prospective students, I highly recommend living in dorms as it is an important part of the "college experience" over here. I shared my room with a roommate for the first half of my freshman year, but we ended up not being a good match so I lived in a single room for the remainder the year. Regardless, having a roommate was a valuable experience, and most people end up having good relationships with their roommates! If you would like to see an overview of the different dorms on campus, check out this blogpost I wrote!

My dorm room freshman year - this is in Tinglestad Hall! 

Do you have to live on campus?

No! PLU requires that all freshmen and sophomore students live on campus, or all students under the age of 20. Once you turn 20 (or you will turn 20 during that academic year) or have junior standing, you are able to move off campus. I moved off campus last spring, and have since lived in a house with four other girls! The house itself is barely a minutes walk from campus, so I would almost say that it still feels like living on campus.

Academics

Keep in mind, some of these questions are based on the Norwegian school system.

Which grade did you get in English in VGS (High School)?

Not always easy, as you can see!

I've grown up with an American dad where English was my native tongue, so I ended up with a grade 6. That being said, you do NOT have to have perfect English to study in the US! Studying abroad is a great way to learn how to speak and write in another language, so don't feel like you need to have it all down before you go. If you're a grade 4 or above in English, I wouldn't be worried at all. If you're under a grade 4, I would put in some extra effort to improve my English skills before earning your undergraduate degree in the language!

Did you have English in VG2 and VG3?

I chose English as an elective in VG2, and I wish I chose it for VG3 as well! From my understanding, VG3 introduces you more to English (American) literature, and includes a lot of readings that my American peers read throughout their years in school. I learned how to write a research paper in English from my VG2 course, which has been very useful for my undergrad degree! American universities require a lot more paper writing than Norwegian universities, so getting your written English skills down before studying in the US is great practice!

Were the admission requirements strict?

I don’t think the admissions requirements were very strict. For example, Scandinavians don't need to take the TOEFL test, or the SAT/ACT, and PLU doesn't have a minimum GPA requirement. I think the acceptance rate at PLU is 74%, so it's not the hardest school to get into.

Are the studies difficult?

Like I mentioned, I think the studies here are easier than they seem in Norway! American universities function a lot more like high school, in the sense that you have to take general education courses in addition to your preferred major/minor combination. I really enjoy this aspect of the studies, because it allows me to broaden my education and gain different insights rather than studying the same field throughout all three years. At PLU we also have multiple "exams" (read: tests) throughout the semester, instead of having one cumulative exam at the end. 

Which minors and majors did you choose?

I am majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, and I'm also taking a minor in Communications. 

Miscellaneous

Is there any possibility to work in addition to your studies? Can you only work on campus?

Absolutely! Unless you have American citizenship, you will only be permitted to work on campus. I have two on-campus jobs as a barista and an internship position at the International Admissions office. 

Did you at any point regret your decision about studying in the U.S.?

Never!

Do you recommend studying abroad?

Yes! Yes! Yes! I cannot recommend it enough - if you're thinking about it, do it!

Do you want to return to Norway when done studying or do you want to live in the U.S.?

Again, unless you have U.S. citizenship, you will most likely have to return to Norway at some point. I'm American because of my dad, so I have the option to stay if I want. Based on how my life is going right now, I'm planning on staying in the Pacific Northwest for some time!

I hope these answers are able to give you more insight into what moving to the States is like. Leave us a comment below if you have questions in particular you would like to know!

Until next time,
- Megan 

Harald's Taiwanese Summer Experience

Hello again! This week, we're doing something new and exciting. We're having a special edition of blog posts and we're bringing in a guest blogger! Our ex-ISS staff member, Harald Overa, has just returned to PLU after spending 7 months in Taiwan! Harald recalls his experiences and journey below:

Isla Formosa - The Beautiful Island

Where do I begin describing this amazing journey I had, together with my girlfriend Martine, in Taiwan from February until the end of August? Like this picture above, the adventure on the isla formosa was colorful, exotic, local and full of life.

Prior to departure in early February, neither me, nor Martine really knew what we had set out to do: live in another part of the world for 7 months without really knowing the language, the culture or anyone in the place we were visiting. If was frightening, but equally exciting.

Sitting at about 4000 feet is Jiufen, the city shown in the photo above. Jiufen is a picturesque city in the mountains north of Taipei. It is a very popular tourist destination as it is a unique representation of Chinese-style architecture combined with the extraordinary nature that gives Taiwan the nickname “The Beautiful Island”. 

One of the thing that surprised me was the big presence of buddhist religion and culture on the island. Seen by the photo below from Dharma Drum Mountain Monastery and National Park, there any many Buddha statues around Taiwan and the religion has a very big presence among the local inhabitants of the island.

It was very neat to be able to visit some temples around Taipei and the island. We really got a local sense of the culture and emerge ourselves with the local traditions and cultures. The photo taken below is from a famous temple on the west-side of the island in the town of Lukang (鹿港鎮). This is among the most famous temples in Taiwan and it has a very vivid historical aura about it when you visit. It really gave me a new perspective about what the buddhist culture and tradition was about.

The architecture of buildings around Taiwan was completely new to me, as I am used to wooden houses and a more maritime style from home in Norway. Below is the Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial hall, it is a landmark in Taipei and a must visit spot for tourist visiting the island.

Needless to say, cold Norway does not have palm trees. It was very fascinating to live in a place that was very tropical, as seen by the trees at our campus, National Chengchi University below. The school had 18000 students and is the 2nd best university in all of Taiwan. It is located in the southeastern part of Taipei that has 5 million people. To say that going from 500 people in a Norwegian village to Taipei is a contrast is a massive understatement.

The photo below shows downtown Taipei and the famous Taipei 101. To live in a city that was so vibrant, full of time and a constant huzzle and buzzle was for me a very neat experience. There was always 24hrs restaurants, endless shops to find things and a lot of stuff to do. Compared to Norway, Taiwan had very cheap prices on food and drinks, as well as activities and shopping, at least the local souvenirs. The international brands had similar prices to the states and Norway,

One of the definite highlights from the trip has to be the food. Taiwan is a melting pot of Chinese cultures and the food was mind boggling in its variety, flavors and tastes. Needless to say, most meals contained rice or noodles, together with some small dishes like pork, chicken, beef or fish together with mixed vegetables. Thought it took some time, I am an avid user of chopsticks and I was quite successful in using them by the end of the trip.

To be able to go out of your comfort zone and experience loving somewhere where everything is foreign was equally challenging as it was rewarding. Looking back, I feel very fortunate that I was able to have this journey and I find it more rewarding when I know I came here through PLU`s study away programs. I would strongly recommend everything to travel or live abroad, it is a great experience and it really puts things into perspective. You will end up looking at your own culture in a whole new light and have a very unique outside-looking-in perspective about your culture and your values you have learned to know.

My Spain Story

So there is always that 'one' story from study abroad.  You know the one I am talking about.  That story that just defines the rest of your trip.

My story begins on the last Sunday of Semana Santa (Holy Week)  This is the week before Easter and basically functions like a giant spring break for the entire country.

On a side note there are also a bunch of holy people running around in these outfits, which can darn near give an American like me a heart attack

This of course is not Spain paying homage to the Ku Klux Klan.  These robes are actually from a much older tradition that symbolizes the mourning process while respecting the anniversary of Jesus' passing.

But I digress.  On this last Sunday of Semana Santa I found myself in the Malaga airport, or better put, I found myself stuck at the Malaga airport.  

A highland cow with better hair than me

 Allow me to explain.  I had spent the better part of this break in Scotland visiting a friend.  It was very fun, lots of green spaces, cows and good food.  Unfortunately, my return trip to Spain was delayed by more than an hour and as a result I missed my bus back to Granada.  So there I was, stuck in a city two hours away from home with no hopes of catching a ride until the next morning. To make matters worse there was nothing but a metal bench to sleep on and my stuffed cow (whose name is cow) to keep me company.

Let's just say I did not get much sleep, but fortunately I did not pass the entire night in the airport.  THIS is when the story gets interesting.

     It's about 2am and the airport was then empty save me.  I had been dozing for the past hour or so when something sent me bolting awake.  I didn't have my glasses on, so what I saw was horror movie worthy: a dark shape looming just a couple feet away.  

     A tense moment passed between me and this shadow that I assumed was a person.  I finally broke down and muttered an 'Hola'.  It all went smoothly from that point.  I was able to get my glasses on and the 'O so scary' shadow turned out to be a taxi driver who had come in to see if anyone wanted a lift back to central Malaga.  

     I obviously did not need that and he couldn't leave until his shift was done so I asked him to pop a squat and chat with me since we were both stuck.   I found out his name was Juanma (a shortened version of Juan Manuel) and that he had 3 kids and a beautiful wife who was an amazing preschool teacher.  We talked for hours about life, the universe and whatever, and before we knew it his shift was up.  He thanked me for asking him to sit down and chat, and said it was the nicest thing anyone had done for him.  He then left to go home, but my story doesn't end there.

 

      About 10 minutes later he came walking back into the airport.  He told me he just couldn't leave me here and that we had to haggle.  I didn't mention this before, but the entire time Juanma and I were talking it was in Spanish.  This being said, I began to wonder if I was translating wrong as I had no clue what he meant by haggle.  Apparently he could see my confusion because he began to explain.  He began by saying it would cost about $400 euros to take me in his taxi from Malaga to Granada.  At this point I was just flabbergasted, because (A) I had not expected this in the slightest and (B) $400 Euros was my budget for 2 months and I could not imagine blowing that much money in one night.  I told him I could not possible pay that sum, that I only had $60 euros on me.  He smiled and said he couldn't take all my money.  A few minutes later he was packing my suitcase into his taxi and my wallet was $20 euros lighter.

     I spent the next two hours helping to improve his English, looking at the Spanish country side and singing along to the radio.  By the time we reached Granada it was 5am and Jaunma still had to drive two hours back to Malaga.

 The only thing I have left of him is this grainy picture and the hope for humanity he instilled in me.

 
-Shanna