Pacific Index

The Office of International Programs and past study abroad students share their perspective on studying abroad as International Education Week (IEW) approaches

“Studying abroad doesn’t require you to be exceptionally extroverted or adventurous,” says Logan Miyasaki, a Junior who studied abroad in Ireland in the spring of 2024. With Pacific University’s International Student Week (IEW) approaching, Miyasaki highlights what was important to her during her study abroad process.

“Having support during the study abroad process is extremely important,” she adds. “Before I studied abroad, it was really helpful to have people who could help me with all the questions I had about going to Ireland and also about how my credits would transfer back as well.” 

In preparation for her travel abroad, Miyasaki explains that she received advising sessions with the faculty and met with other study abroad returnees—and, she says, she also took a deeper dive to prepare for her international endeavors. “I also took a series of courses called Global Skills which is taught by Jann Purdy. In her classes, I was able to learn more about culture and how my own can relate with and conflict with parts of Irish culture. It was extremely helpful as I was able to think deeper about the values I and those around me had when I was having a difficult time adjusting,” she shares. “Having these resources to refer to during the process was wonderful because it allowed me to feel more prepared before I went abroad, both logistically speaking and emotionally speaking as well.”

What often makes exchange programs a difficult challenge for students is the ability to adjust. New cultures can call for new lifestyles. But just as Pacific students may land in foreign countries and new environments, many students may not realize how many students are experiencing that right here in Forest Grove, as Pacific currently holds a number of exchange students from Australia, England, Japan, and Canada. These students are experiencing living in a completely different environment than the one they did before their exchange. 

“The most difficult part of the process was being okay with being uncomfortable,” expressed Miyasaki. “I found it challenging most of the time because I am someone who hates making mistakes,” she adds. “Everytime I felt lost or like I was the only one not understanding something, I would really try to give myself grace because I couldn’t expect myself to have a perfect integration into Irish life without first learning through doing. I felt defeated at times or just really tired of constantly having to make an effort to grow as a person, but the reward was most definitely worth it.” 

Additionally, students who have never studied abroad tend to have expectations of meeting a swarm of people instantly. But that may not be the case for everyone. “I think it is hard to go to a new place and expect to meet a lot of people from the country you are going to. A lot of people made it seem like I would have a lot of Irish friends, and that ended up not being my experience. I love the friends I’ve made, but most of them were also international students as we were all only there for a semester. I do know some people who did spend a lot of time with people who were from their host countries. However, it would have been nice to have a little more understanding around that,” Miyasaki emphasizes.

At Pacific, diversity is one of the five pillars of the university’s mission. Recognizing the international community and programs offered on campus bring opportunities specific to each student. “A strong focus on international education brings more students to Pacific who contribute to the cultural diversity of the university community,” says Shpresa Halimi, one of Pacific’s Study Abroad and Global Scholars Coordinators. 

International Student Week (IEW) starts in the fourth week of November, and it will highlight the transformative impact of international education on students and the institution. “IEW matters because it enhances global competency. They encourage students to explore international opportunities that develop essential skills in today’s job market, like cross-cultural communication, global awareness, diverse perspectives, adaptability, and collaboration to name just a few,” Halimi says. “It also promotes internationalization at home by bringing global perspectives and experiences to those who may not have the opportunity to study abroad. IEW makes global learning accessible to everyone through on-campus events, discussions, and intercultural experiences.”

To celebrate IEW, the Office of International Programs will organize a range of events during IEW to promote global engagement and cultural diversity. The 2024 IEW celebrations will kick off on November 19 with the Hospitality Internship Program (HIP) Certificate Ceremony. Then, on November 20, Prof. Yasutaka Maruki will present about the first exchange students from Japan in March Hall 216 (Auditorium) at noon. Finally, the week concludes with a roundtable discussion on “international student recruitment during a time of change and uncertainty.” This will be held at the Hillsboro Campus, but can also be attended through Zoom starting at 1:30 pm.