Summer Shopping Guide for International Students Near PLU 🛍️☀️

Hi everyone! I’m Luna, an intern at PLU’s International Student Services (ISS) and a fellow international student from Korea 🇰🇷. While many students are traveling or visiting home this summer, some of us are staying around campus — and that’s okay! There’s actually a lot to explore nearby, especially if you’re in the mood for shopping or just want to get out and walk around indoors with AC!

Here are some great malls near PLU that you can visit during the summer:

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1. Tacoma Mall

📍 4502 S Steele St, Tacoma, WA 98409
🚌 15–20 minutes by car or bus from PLU
This is the biggest shopping mall near PLU! It has popular stores like H&M, Zara, Apple, Sephora, and more. There are also places to eat like Chipotle and Panda Express. Great for both fashion and food!

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2. South Hill Mall

📍 3500 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98373
🚌 About 25 minutes by car
South Hill Mall is perfect if you're looking for more variety. It includes stores like Macy’s, Daiso, and Old Navy. It’s usually a bit less crowded than Tacoma Mall and has lots of parking if you're going with friends.

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3. Lakewood Towne Center

📍 5821 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
🚌 10–15 minutes by car
Closer to campus, this shopping area includes Target, Ross, Best Buy, and several restaurants and cafes. It’s great for casual shopping, grocery runs, or just grabbing boba and chilling.

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4. Outlet Collection Seattle (Auburn)

📍 1101 Outlet Collection Way, Auburn, WA 98001
🚌 About 35–40 minutes by car
If you’re looking for deals, this is a full outlet mall with stores like Nike, Levi’s, Adidas, and more. It’s a bit of a drive but a fun weekend trip if you want to shop on a budget.

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Tips for Summer Shopping:

👜 Bring your student ID – some stores offer discounts!
💳 Don’t forget your debit/credit card (many places don’t take cash).
🌞 Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen if you’re walking outside.
🚗 If you don’t have a car, ask a friend or check the Pierce Transit bus schedule.

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Even if you're staying near campus this summer, there are plenty of places to explore and enjoy. Shopping can be a fun way to get to know the local area, pick up essentials, or just treat yourself!

Stay safe, stay cool, and happy shopping! 🛒✨
— Luna
PLU ISS Intern 💛

My experience in Boston Career Forum 2023!

Hey guys! This is Rei, it has been chilly and foggy these days but I hope you are all staying healthy and enjoying the crisp air. In today's blog, I would like to share my experiences in Boston which I went last week for one of the biggest job career events for Japanese-English bilinguals that are looking for their post graduation positions. 

Exterior of Hynes Convention Center 

The Boston Career Forum, also knows as "Boscari," is a job seeking event held in Boston, for three days in November each year, and it was held in Hynes Convention Center this year! In fact, it is a large-scale career event with over 5,500 students participating each year from all over the world. With over 170 companies from around the world are expected to participate, positions available range from full-time to internships, entry-level to management level for working professionals. 

The biggest difference from a regular company information session is that you can get a job offer from a well-known company during the event. At Boscari, you will not only hear about the companies at their booths, but you will also have the opportunity to interview with them on the spot. If you successfully appeal to them, you may even receive a job offer during the event. Some companies invite their preferred students to dinner on the night of the event, and some say that if a student is invited to dinner by a company, he or she will almost receive a job offer from them. 

After three days of this year's Boscari 2023, I was able to receive full-time offers from two companies! This is a kind of special and exclusive event for Japanese-English bilinguals, but I am sure that there are other events similar to this one. To give you some ideas of one way to find a job, I would like to share a little bit about my three days in Boston! 

Day 0: Thursday, November 16th - Arrival at Boston 

Most students arrive in Boston the day before the event to prepare for the day. I was one of them, and I checked into my hotel and prepared for my interviews the following days. A few students have already been invited to dinner by the companies and the event has already started one step ahead of other students. 

Booths in the venue

Day 1: Friday, November 17th - The day that differentiates the results of the three days

Day 1 is probably the most crowded day of the three-day event. This is possibly due to the fact that two types of students, pre-applications and walk-ins, gather on the first day of the event. Pre-applicants submit resumes, documents, tests, etc. to companies about 2-3 months prior to these three days, and have first- and second-round interviews online in advance. Whereas walk-in students submit their resumes and other documents to company booths on the day of the event and wait for responses from the companies. The quickness of the responses from the company depends on the company. Some students will be contacted by the end of the day, while others will be contacted after the event. Popular companies may close their booths as soon as they receive a certain number of walk-ins, so for walk-in students, the first day is extremely important as it determines whether or not they will receive an offer. I, myself, had applied to several companies in advance, so the first day was the form of second and final interviews throughout the day. I received a phone call that evening from one of the companies where I had a final interview, informing me of the job offer!

Food I had at dinner!

Day 2: Saturday, November 18th - Continued Interviews Day 

It is one of those memorable days that I will never forget! In the morning, I had a final interview with my first-choice company. I remember my hands were shaking a little from nerves. The interview went well and I received an offer from the company by phone, a few minutes after the interview! I was actually invited by the company over the phone to dinner that night, along with an offer. The dinner with the company associates was really good and fun! The steak shown in the photo on the right was excellent, and it was great to chat with the associates in a casual setting. One of the unique features of the Boston Career Forum may be this opportunity to enjoy a meal with a company at Boston! After dinner, I reunited with friends who are also studying at universities abroad and we chatted about job applications and everyday life. It was a valuable opportunity to reconnect with students who are also studying abroad around the world, and even to meet new people! 

View of the Boston

Day 3: Sunday, November 19th - Last day of the event!

On the third and final day of the event, there will be fewer students and the corporate booths will be taken down around noon. Some students come to the venue for interviews with companies that are still in the hiring process, or for casual meeting and greetings after passing interviews. I visited the companies' booths that had made offers to me to greet them and to thank them for their offers. After that, I explored the city of Boston until my flight back to Tacoma. After arriving in Boston, my mind was occupied with interviews, but walking around the city after all things done, I was able to enjoy the historical buildings, autumn leaves, and fashionable streetscapes that are a part of Boston. After exploring Boston, I took an afternoon flight back to Tacoma! Looking back before this event, since I had been preparing for this event for about three months and had been working hard with weekly interviews, regular classes, and work, I remember feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief when I returned to my apartment in Tacoma.

This concludes my three-day Boston Career Forum 2023 experience! My biggest takeaway from this event was that "advance preparation and pre-event application leads to a better end result." I actually participated in last year's Boston Career Forum 2022, but did not receive any offers, as I applied on a walk-in basis for all of the companies I applied. I feel that the key to the success of this year's Boscari was that I had started preparing early, taking advantage of that last year's lesson. I think this applies not only to Boscari applicants, but to all students looking for positions after graduation. Choosing a company and finding a position will greatly affect your future. I know that we are all busy with our college life, but it might be a good idea to think a little bit about what you want to do in the future and where you want to work when you have a little time. 

I hope this experience will be of some help! I know that it is time for important assignments such as finals and presentations, but take a break from time to time and keep up the good work! Go Lutes! 

-Rei 

Navigating Cultural Differences: Stories and Advice from International Students

In the beginning of Fall, we welcomed several international students. So today we want to dedicate this blog to new international students. In this blog, we explore and talk about challenges international students face and how to also overcome these challenges. 

Your blog writer, Biruktawit Tesfaye, am myself an international student with three years of experience living in the US.

As exciting as moving abroad seems, it can also become a nerve-raking thing to do. At least I can speak to myself and writing about this makes me go back in time and reminisce about my very first time in the US as an international student. Especially moving abroad to study by oneself can require a leap of faith to take that first step. Nevertheless, you are finally here with a mission. 

Today's blog will explore stories and advice from international students who have successfully embraced and overcome these challenges. 

1. Embrace the unknown 

One of the hurdles for international students is adjusting to the unknown. Stepping out of your comfort zone and immersing yourself in a new culture can be both thrilling and intimating. Navigating unfamiliar territory can indeed be daunting, but it's also an opportunity for personal growth and cultural enrichment. Embrace the adventure with an open heart and a curious mind, and don't be afraid to reach out for support when needed. Building connections with fellow international students, participating in cultural exchange programs, and exploring your new surroundings can help ease the transition and make the experience more fulfilling. Remember that it's okay to feel a bit overwhelmed at times; take things one step at a time, be patient with yourself, and trust that with each challenge overcome, you're expanding your horizons and becoming more resilient.

2. Language and communication 

Language barriers often pose significant challenges for international students. From understanding lectures to making new friends, effective communication is crucial. Sharing personal experiences of how international students navigated language barriers and improved their communication skills can provide valuable insights and strategies for others. 

3. Building relationships 

Making friends and building relationships is an essential part of the international student experience. However, cultural differences can sometimes create barriers. Exploring stories of how international students formed meaningful connections with local and fellow international students can shed light on effective strategies for building relationships across cultures. 

 4. Seeking support and community 

Navigating cultural differences can be overwhelming at times and seeking support is important for students like you and me who are new to these experiences. One of the way you can seek support is by asking current international students about their experience and listening to their stories. This way you can build a community who shares your feelings and thus build strong network.

5. Adapting Academic Expectations 

As an international student, you need to understand that the academic expectations and curriculum can vary from where you have come from. Due to inadequate awareness, some international students often face the challenge of adapting to the grading system and teaching methods. It's important to approach this transition with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Seek out resources such as academic advisors, tutoring services, and peer support groups to help navigate any challenges you may encounter. Remember that asking questions and seeking clarification are signs of strength, not weakness. With time and effort, you can adapt to the new academic environment and thrive in your studies. YOU GOT THIS!

I hope the tips shared above was helpful in making your transition smooth at PLU. If you have anything you'd like to share or talk about, the international office welcomes you with open arms.

 

 

Instruction of Lute Telehealth - TimelyCare

Hey all - it's Rei! It is finally almost the end of this semester, and I would like to congratulate everyone on a well-done semester. School work can be excessively hard and you all know how stressful these moments are. I am sure that all of you have looked for a therapist or doctor who can see you immediately due to mental instability or other sudden physical abnormalities or anxiety during such school life. Contacting and making appointments with health care providers other than the PLU Health Center can be challenging and tough, especially for international students. So today, I would like to share the information about PLU's online health care services to everyone who is looking for medical and mental support without stressing out about making those challenging steps. 

Lute Telehealth / TimelyCare

"When it's not an emergency but you need medical or mental health support, just visit anytime, from anywhere."

Lute Telehealth is a resource for PLU students that expands access to mental health and medical care by providing HIPAA compliant access to online or phone-based services 24/7/365. 

Key Features: 

- It provides free, on-demand access to licensed mental health providers, nurse practitioners, and related services from your cell phone or computer at a location of your choice. 

- You may meet with the same counselor up to 12 times per year (counseling appointments).

- Unlimited 24/7 on-demand access to medical care and mental health support (via TalkNow).

- Fees may be incurred if a prescription is needed or if you are referred to another medical provider from outside the campus. 

- Psychiatric (by referral only) and health coaching visits are also available with no charge.

It is important to make an account for this service as soon as possible because you never when the things will happen! Please follow these steps that I will mention below to successfully make an appointment with this service anytime when you need medical/mental help. 

Step 1: Go to this link to get started! 

Once you click the link above, you should be seeing the TimelyCare's website like this, when set up your account and get it started, make sure you put your PLU email address that ends with plu.edu. 

Step 2: Input your General Information

The information you will be putting should be the general information of yourself such as your name, date of birth, graduation year, etc. 

*As for the Physical Address section, if you are living on-campus, your address would be 12180 Park Ave S. Tacoma, WA 98447, which is the general physical address of PLU. You could also put 1010 122nd St S, Tacoma, WA 98447, as the address if that's easier for you!

Step 3: Add your Medical Information

After putting all of your general information, your next step will be inputting your medical information. You could also skip this part if you want to complete this at a later time. 

Step 4: Make an appointment! 

All done with setting up your account! Your home page should look like this. In order to make an appointment with your choice of provider, Click "Get Care," and select each section that is applicable to you to find the best provider to meet with virtually. 

After you click the provider, you can see the person's open date/time and check their availability, you can finally make an appointment with them! 

And that is all you have to do in order to use this service! I hope this information helps and please let us know at iss@plu.edu if you have any questions or concerns regarding this Lute Telehealth. I wish you the best luck on your finals if you have and have a wonderful summer! 

-Rei 

Living in PLU Residence Halls: Tips and Tricks from International Students

Which residence

hall

are you

planning to live in?

 

Living in residence halls is what completes the college experience, and for international students, it offers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture while navigating the challenges of communal living. It's also such a stress reliever. In today's blog post, valuable tips and tricks from international student perspective will be discussed. The blog we aim to provide insights that will help both current and new international students to make the most out of their living arrangements and create a comfortable and enriching home away from home.

At PLU, you have varieties of residence halls to choose from. The following residence

halls are what is available:

• Harstad Hall

• Hinderlie Hall

• Kreidler Hall 

• Ordal Hall 

• Stuen Hall 

• Pflueger Hall 

• Tingelstad 

• South Hall 

My favorites are South Hall and Ordal Hall. Each Hall has its own rules and regulations

so make sure to check out this link .

What I love about residence halls is the activities that are organized to bring the

community together. Just last week, we had a get together gathering where we had fun

activities, barbecue and ice cream treats. In addition, you also have access to facilities

such as the gym, swimming pool and many more free of charge.

Below I will share some tips that helped me transition into residence halls smoothly:

1. Getting to know roommates

International students have the opportunity to live with students from various cultural backgrounds. Sharing stories and advice on how to foster positive relationships, establish boundaries and communicate effectively with roommates can help students create a harmonious living environment.

2. Navigating dining hall options

You may be overwhelmed by the variety of food options available for your specific residence hall. Offering advice on meal plans, exploring diverse food choices, and finding ways to accommodate dietary restriction can help international students make the most of their dining hall experience.

3. Managing homesickness

When living away from families and home country, homesickness is a common experience you may go through. Sharing stories of how other international students coped with homesickness and tips on staying connected with family and friends back home, engaging in campus activities, and seeking support from peers and university resources can help international students navigate this emotional challenge.

4. Exploring campus resources

Your residence hall is not just a place to sleep but also a place to get access to a range of campus resources and support services. Highlighting resources such as academic support centers, counseling services, multicultural student organizations and recreational facilities can help international students make the most of their time on campus and thrive both academically and socially.

5. Adapting to dorm culture

Every residence hall has its own unique culture and set of unwritten rules. Adjusting to dormitory life can be challenging for international students. By sharing experiences and tips on integrating into the dorm culture, such as participating in floor activities, attending hall meetings, and respecting quiet hours, you can feel more comfortable and connected to your living community.

See you soon, 

Biruktawit Tesfaye

My experience playing Lacrosse!

Hi all, Silje here! 

I haven't talked to you guys in a while! A lot has happened since Thanksgiving when I last wrote, including going home to Norway over Christmas, a hectic J-term, preparing at the office for our new international students that arrived in February and Spring semester. But, good news; spring semester also means lacrosse season! For those of you that might not know, I played lacrosse during my high school exchange year in Colorado and fell in love with the sport. The second I decided to go to PLU, I knew that I wanted to pick up my lacrosse stick again and play during my three years here. This is my second season with PLU and I am having such a great time with the team at practice and games. Since lacrosse season is, unfortunately, coming to an end in a couple weeks, I am gonna tell you a little bit about my experience with playing sports in college and I'm gonna include some sports and club sports that you can look into playing here at PLU as well! 

Headed to Idaho for a tournament against University
of Idaho and Portland State! (6+ hour road trip)

As I said earlier, I played lacrosse for the first time ever during my senior year of high school as an exchange student. They don't have lacrosse in Norway, so I think that is why I was so interested in trying it, and I am glad I did. I was terrified for my first practice last year because I hadn't played in so long but it went well! I remembered more than I thought I would and most of my skills came back rather quickly. Lacrosse practices are 4 times a week for 2 hours in the evening, and weekends are off unless we have a game. During our off-weekends, we sometimes do team bondings: before Christmas, we had a Christmas party together where we did Secret Santa, we have gotten together to watch other schools play and we also had a Halloween party! 

Idaho tournament

We have played multiple universities this season, including the University of Idaho and Montana State University. This means that we got to travel! Traveling with the team is really fun and you really get to know each other better on a 6-hour road trip + overnight stays in a hotel. At first, I was worried that participating in a sport would be really expensive because of the trips but we had fundraisers before the season where we worked at the Harry Styles Concert and the Seahawks football game (a lot of fun) so that we could raise money to cover our travel expenses for our games out of state. The season is coming to an end in about two weeks, but we still have three more games coming up that we are really excited for; one game in Portland, and two home games here at PLU - Wish us luck! 

After the game against Montana State University
(Notice the snow...)

At PLU, lacrosse is a club sport, which means that there are no official try-outs and a lot of the players might be brand new to the sport. There are also varsity sports teams at PLU, for example soccer or basketball, where they require you to have experience and where you need to try out before the coaches decide if you will make the team or not. If you aren't too familiar with sports, want to try out a completely new sport, or have something a little lower time commitment then a club sport is the way to go. Currently, the club sports at PLU are: Men's wrestling, women's wrestling, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse (highly recommend), men's rowing (women's rowing is a varsity sports team here), men's ultimate frisbee, and women's ultimate frisbee. 

In addition to club sports, PLU offers a variety of interest clubs for example business clubs, investing clubs, or even a Rubik's cube club. I always tell new students to look into the different sports and clubs and to join any that sounds interesting because it is a great way to meet new people and make friends with similar interests as you. 

Delayed at Bozeman Airport, Montana

I hope this sparked some interest in checking out the different clubs and maybe trying out a new sport or hobby! 

Until next time, 

~ Silje

Guest Blogger: Meet Tina from Norway!

Hi everyone! 

My name is Tina and I'm from Lørenskog, Norway. I study business with a concentration in management and HR here at PLU. Choosing the right school for your major isn't always easy and it definitely wasn’t for me. Some of the reasons why I chose PLU was because it is a small school and has small class sizes, amazing people as well as all the wonderful places that Washington state has to offer. I've always known that I wanted to study in the states, and PLU is ranked one of the best business schools in the Pacific North West. I noticed right away that our professors are very eager for us to succeed and do everything they can for us to learn both in and outside the classroom. They want to prepare us for the market in 10-20 years, not only what is happening in the world right now. The business curriculum is mostly designed around soft skills, meaning how we build insight inquiries, how we're able to connect the dots.

I had never been to Washington state before, so I was surprised to see how much it felt like home. The nature is very similar and there are lots of Scandinavian stores around the state! My school is located in Tacoma, which is only 30-40 minutes from both Seattle and Bellevue and only 3 hours from Canada. We have beautiful mountains here, like Mt. Rainier. Here you can go skiing, walk in gorgeous nature or walk around the national park. A little over 3 hours northeast is a small place called Leavenworth. This place is a Bavarian-styled village built in the Cascade mountains. On the west coast we have a well known beach called La Push, this is where several movies have been made but the most known one would be the Twilight movies. I've been to most of these places already, and they are all places I would love to show my family when they come to visit me! 

For me studying in the states has been amazing! I have gotten so many new friends from both all over the country and the world. I celebrated thanksgiving for the first time and that was so much fun! I went with one of my friends to their hometown in Nebraska and I got to experience a D1 football game for the first time and see a whole new and very different state! D
uring Christmas I got to see a good friend in New York, and during summer break I went home with one of the girls to her home in Hawaii. So the experiences and memories we create here are so much bigger than just the state your school is located in! PLU also has many Scandinavian students, the school is founded by Norwegian immigrants and we have some professors who speak Norwegian. This is always fun and it helps you stay connected to home. Some advice I would give to you who might think of coming to PLU, just do it! I'm so happy I did and so will you!

~ Tina

Thanksgiving Recap

 Hi everyone! 

Happy first week of December! This semester just flew by, didn't it? 

Maddie and I on Thanksgiving 

First week of December means that thanksgiving just ended, and finals are approaching really quickly. As a little break from thinking about finals, I wanted to give you guys a little recap of my thanksgiving break. 

This year, I was fortunate enough to be invited to my friend Maddie's home in Colorado, and celebrate thanksgiving with her and her family. I have known Maddie for about 4 years now, and seeing her family again is always a good time. We flew from Seattle to Denver, Colorado on Wednesday and the festivities began bright and early on Thursday! 

Our charcuterie board appetizer

We started the day by getting desserts, dinner and appetizers made. As most of you probably know already, thanksgiving is famous for turkey dinner with all the best side dishes; mashed potatoes, green-bean casserole, deviled eggs, gravy, bread rolls, corn, fruit salad and more! And we can of course not forget about the desserts; the famous pumpkin pie, apple pie, cherry pie, all kinds of pie really. For appetizers, me and Maddie put together a charcuterie board with all different kinds of cheese and meats, paired with crackers, veggies, fruits and dips. Yum! 

When Thanksgiving was over, we had another very important holiday coming up the following day; Black Friday! We all went shopping together at a couple different malls, and snatched a couple good deals. During the black-Friday craziness, we stopped for lunch to celebrate Maddie's grandma's 80th birthday before the shopping continued. On our last full day in Colorado I stopped by my host-family's house (I was an exchange student in high school in Colorado and lived with a host family) to say hi and catch up, before we celebrated Maddie's mom's birthday. The festivities ended on Saturday night, as we had to get up at 3AM on Sunday morning to catch our flight back to Seattle. 

Flying over Seattle with Mt. Rainier in the Distance

All in all, I had a great time celebrating thanksgiving and birthdays in Colorado (thanks for bringing me, Maddie!) and I appreciated getting a little breather from classes and assignments. It was a much needed energy-boost before finals week. And speaking of finals week; remember to sleep, hydrate, eat and take breaks between study sessions. No-one works efficiently when they are sleep-deprived, dehydrated and hungry. 

Good luck everyone!

    -Silje 

Let's make more friends and have more fun!!!

 Hello everyone! Chau is here!

I hope everyone has a great start for your semester.  👏👏

I don't know if anyone feels like me, but I kind of have a mixed feeling when we are back IN-PERSON! I was so excited to be back in the classroom. I even pictured myself interacting with people, making friends, joining clubs, and having so much fun that I have missed for 2 years during the pandemic. BUT, I am not really feeling that when I am back to class 😕😕😵

I personally have a hard time to make friends💔💔.  Does anybody feel me???

BUT!!! I do not want to be alone forever hahaha, so I find out there are many ways for me to find a friend.

Let me show you how:

            Step 1. Finding your interest: it will be more fun when you do something that you enjoy, right? 

For me, I like body movement (most activities required moving, I know 😅).  SO Be specific!!! It's important! 

            Step 2. Willing to be open: relationship is complicated, so prepare for it.

            Step 3. You can ignore 1 & 2, but you have to see my collection of resources on campus where you might find your soulmate 👻👻

 ➤ The CAVE:   

The CAVE is a great place to hang out, meet other students, catch up with friends, study, enjoy lunch, or rest between classes. Though it is called “The CAVE” the physical space is vibrant and the diverse community members create a warm and welcoming space for all. After 5pm and on the weekends, The CAVE hosts concerts, performances, and club meetings.

Hours: Monday- Thursday 9am-5pm & Friday 9am -2:30 pm

Location: The basement of Anderson University Center

➤ Clubs and Group activities: I strongly recommend you to have at least 1 experience with the clubs and group activities at PLU. I was a shy and “lazy” student who did not like to join any big event or crowded activities.  BUT I am in love with these clubs.  

👉Group X: (X for exercise😁 ) where you find some fun activities, classes such as Yoga, Zumba, and Boot Camp.  The BEST part is you don’t have to commit with it UNLESS you are in love with it. 

I have the link HERE, so check it out and you might see me in those classes.

    👉Outdoor Rec trips (like KAYAKING, HIKING, CAMPING) is more than a trip-  it is a wholesome experience.  Each weekend,  they come together and go off campus for a outdoors journey.  It's whether hiking in the cascades, kayaking on the Puget Sound, or exploring states near and far. That will be a unique experience for you! I promise👌

Outdoor Rec Trip

            👉Like sport??? Let me introduce you to Intramurals. Pacific Lutheran University Intramural programs provide students with positive social opportunities and are an outlet for good clean fun (well sometimes it’s muddy fun), exercise and relaxation, while encouraging team spirit and good sportsmanship.

If you like a little friendly competition you’ll love the PLU Intramural program. Whether it’s team sports, individual competitions, or live action role playing, intramurals are open to all current PLU students, faculty and staff regardless of athletic ability.  These programs are designed as a way for students to get out, have fun and stay fit! 

💪💪💪To register for intramural sports, you need to create an account on https://www.imleagues.com/ and select Pacific Lutheran University as your school. You should then be able to register for the sports under the Intramurals section.  

            👉Last but not least, MAKERSPACE.  This is the place that I just got introduced to.   MAKERSPACE is an awesome place for people who are interested in crafting, or being creative with different projects. 

Creativity in the Makerspace

Creativity in the Makerspace

During 2021-2022, our Makerspace is open again in the ground floor of Hinderlie Hall on upper campus. Please drop anytime (9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) to use the materials. We also have open Makerspace hours on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in which the space is curated by Innovation Studies intern Maddie Lamwers. Maddie can help you find a project to do and she’ll provide access to any locked equipment (such as sewing machines, electronics, paints, and so on). (Here is the link) ✋👋 Come and have some fun!

💞💕💞 Thank you for reading my post. I hope you will find some things that might be helpful and interesting to you. Stay warm and stay connected!!! 🍁🍂🍁🍀

See you soon!💋

Meet Amandine - Our first guest blogger!

 Hi everyone, this is Silje! 

Long time, no see - Things have been super stressful with moving into a house off-campus, being a student leader at the New International Student Orientation and the beginning of classes (which are finally in-person again!). But, we are back on track to our regular blog schedule, and this week is our guest blogger week! This is a new concept that we are introducing to our blog, which will either feature interviews with the guest or a blog-takeover. 

Amandine at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum

For our first guest blog, we have Amandine Barban (22), who came to PLU during our current semester, Fall of 2021, and is doing a semester exchange for her MBA program! Amandine is from the Auvergne region in France, which she describes as a beautiful, green region with a lot of volcanos (that are thankfully inactive), but she was born in Montpellier in the south of France. Amandine is a student at NEOMA Business School in Rouen, which is located in the north of France, and we are really excited that she is spending a semester of her education here with us at PLU! I asked Amandine a few questions about what she has experienced during her first 3 weeks in Washington. 

You came to PLU for fall semester 2021. Why did you want to do an exchange year from France, and what made you choose PLU as opposed to other colleges in the US?
    I had already had the awesome opportunity to do an exchange program six years ago in Ontario, Canada for 3 months, from which I have met wonderful people and made several great memories. I really wanted to re-live an international experience because I love to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone! I think it is a very fulfilling and enriching experience and I would recommend it to anyone. Also this time is different because I am not living with a family but I am more " on my own '', since I am living on campus and I didn't know anyone before coming here. And the main reason I chose PLU as opposed to other colleges in the US is mainly its location: I didn't want to end up in a state in the middle of nowhere haha! I liked that the Washington state was on the West coast and not too far away from Seattle and other great cities that I wanted to discover.

 What has been the biggest culture shock that you have experienced since coming here?
    There have already been several: first of all, living on a huge campus like this is really something that we don't get to experience in France. Also, I was surprised at the beginning that everybody would ask me how I was doing, at any time: when passing someone on the street, when ordering food, when going to a store... But I have to admit that the biggest culture shock I have experienced here is with the food: even if I love fast food, I really miss eating actual cooked meals. I never thought I would have said that but I miss vegetables and healthy food hahaha! 

Is there anything you noticed were more similar to France than you thought, or anything that you did not expect to be different but were? Anything new that you have learned in the last month of being in Washington? 
    I have learnt to always be careful when looking at prices, since here the tax is not included and also you have to tip almost everywhere! In France, tips are like a bonus for waiters and waitresses, contrary to here where it is the way they actually get paid. Also I did not expect food to be so expensive, I feel like you pay the same amount for fast food here than for actual "restaurant" food in France. Eventually I didn't expect Americans to eat dinner so early, that required some adaptation from me in the beginning.

If your family or friends came to visit you in Washington, what is something that you would really like to show them?

    First I would want to show them the campus and its accommodations; but apart from that, I would take them to Seattle and visit Pike Place Market, as well as show them Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures.

Do you have anything on your bucket list of what you'd like to see or do during your time? Any bucket list experiences that you have already crossed off?

    As said above, I have already had the opportunity to go to Seattle (4 times already!), which was something I was really looking forward to. I have also been to Tacoma several times, and done a hike in Mount Rainier! Next locations on my bucket list would be Portland, the Olympic National Park, Vancouver and New York. I would also like to experience life on campus and I am really looking forward to attending on-campus events such as PLU's Theatre and Dance musical.

You're currently doing an MBA program, which for someone who might not know, stands for Masters in Business Administration. To provide a slight insight on Amandine's masters, she is enrolled in "Organizations, Leadership and Change Management", "Quantitative and Managerial Decision Analysis", "Marketing Management" and "Project Management". How has the first couple weeks of classes been? What are your favorite classes, and why?

    The first couple weeks of classes have been good! I already have a lot of projects and presentations, which is a bit stressful but also stimulating. Also the teachers are very understanding and have a close relationship to their students, which is something that I really appreciate. One of my favorite classes so far is the Marketing class because our teacher is very "entertaining", by that I mean that his course is very dynamic, which is important to me since all my classes are in the evening. I also appreciate that the class is not presented as a lecture but rather as interactive presentations made by students themselves.

What are some advice that you would give future international students wanting to come to PLU?

    I would advise to bring some snacks from home because food will be the second thing you miss the most after your friends and family ahaha! And other than that, just be open to any opportunity that is given to you and to live your exchange year/semester 100% - time flies and you don't get to live this kind of experience everyday, so make sure to take advantage of it as much as possible. This way you will meet amazing people and make wonderful memories! 

And that concludes the interview with our first guest blogger! I want to thank Amandine for her time, and wish her good luck with the rest of her exchange program. 

Until next time, 

    - Silje