Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

International Week has Korean flavor

Photos and story by James Hill

Chang-Yu Hong is the activities assistant for the International Education program. He is also helping to organize the Fourth Annual International Education Week that will run from Nov. 13-17. Hong is an international student from Korea and has been here since last winter studying real estate.

“He has been quite a helping hand with activities as well as translating back and forth for the increasing number of Korean students at PCC this fall, and he is the student leader in charge of the International Clubs district wide,” said Marcio Lemos, PCC International Education program specialist.

The Korean influence is strong as PCC has partnerships with two universities in South Korea where its Minister of Education pays for 18 students to come to PCC for a term to study and complete an internship. Some of the students have worked at the Marriott, OMSI, Hilton or even the college’s Multimedia program. To help get them acclimated to Portland, Hong helps translate for them.

“If I didn’t have him here I’d be lost in translation if you will,” said Lemos. “It has been comforting to have him here. As far as the cultural difference, Chang-Yu has taken to American culture and understands it already in a way that he can easily convey it to the newcomers.”

Hong is excited about his new role. He says the biggest question Korean students have isn’t about school but on a more social level.

“They ask me how they can make American friends,” he said. “Usually, I tell them that if you have an open mind you can make a lot of American friends. People here are kind to foreigners and have an open mind.”

Hong should make even more friends at International Week. At each of the three comprehensive campuses around the Portland metro area, PCC will host fairs and speakers who will discuss what life is like abroad.

In conjunction to the faculty presentations, each campus will host an International Student Showcase where students and community can celebrate the international community of PCC. The showcases will be from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 in Building 3 mall at the Rock Creek Campus; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 in the Student Center cafeteria at the Cascade Campus; and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 in the CC Building at the Sylvania Campus.

“The International program here is better than other colleges,” Hong said. “We have a lot of activities and experiences for international students and the local communities. I will create a table that shows Korean food, and traditional culture themes for the showcases. Sharing cultures is the most important thing.”

His aunt and uncle, who live in Portland, recommended PCC to Hong when he was searching for a college to attend in the United States. Eventually, he’d like to go back to Korea to be an international real estate specialist. But right now, he’s busy helping PCC become more internationally aware.

“Chang Yu is the first in a new program called international student ambassadors,” said Lemos. “He does reach outs to clubs and the community by promoting awareness and the activities at PCC. When I was an international student at PCC five years ago we didn’t have this. But now, people are much more aware thanks to people like Chang-Yu.”

For more information about International Education Week, visit the Office of International Education website.

Related Pages:

Rock Creek campus, Study Abroad Programs