Photo taken from Oregonstate.edu

I returned from my two consecutive years in Lyon, France, in the summer of 2011 in order to complete the remaining credits needed to graduate from Oregon State University (OSU) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French Language and Literature.

When I arrived in Corvallis, Oregon, I was struck with reverse culture shock and a hunger to further pursue my International interests. I found a job opening for an International Ambassador for OSU’s IDEA (International Degree and Education Abroad) department. I submitted my resume and interviewed with the director of IDEA, Padma Akkaraju, who told me during my interview that she thought I would be a great addition to the department; she was able to find funds to hire me even though I was not granted work study for the year.

My job as International Ambassador was to promote international learning opportunities around campus through class visits, informational fairs, etc. I also lead informational sessions for interested students several times a week, and helped students throughout the application process. With another ambassador I helped form a club called SAGL (Study Abroad and Global Learning) which has now been modified to become EAGL (Education Abroad and Global Learning) The club is targeted towards international students and Americans interested in exploring new cultures and/or sharing about their experiences abroad. I also worked with past participant surveys and spreadsheets to make student feedback accessible.