Education Abroad in the Philippines?? Say What?!

Let me start off by first introducing myself...

Hi! My name is Bemigrace Pascual, but most people call me "Bemi." It's very nice to meet you, you being whoever is reading this blog! :D

Last semester, Fall of 2009, I went on an exchange program through Pacific with Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. Mr. David Schmidt, our IPS Director, was actually the one who opened up this amazing opportunity to me last February. I was a bit reluctant and unsure initially, but I knew I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by, especially since a deadline was given in asking my parents for permission. (lol)
I was only 17 years old when this proposal was offered to me. I was fortunate enough to have my parents agree and to also have my airfare and housing/dorm paid for. I am still forever grateful for that!

This was my first time being away from home and away from my parents for a long period of time. One semester may not sound long to you, but it was to me. I've been sheltered and overly protected for 17 years of my life. This was a MAJOR step for me and my parents as well, of course.
With that said, it was a bit hard for me adjusting in Ateneo at first, especially when our orientation was canceled due to the H1N1 Virus scare, but no students were affected and I gradually got used to the swing of things in Ateneo. It wasn't as bad as I had initially thought. I took the initiative of making friends on the first day and being actively involved in various organizations on campus in the second week. One organization that I truly recommend joining, if you do plan on studying abroad to the Philippines, is Tugon (which means "reaching out" in Tagalog). It is an organization that addresses the plight of children who are survivors of sexual abuse and abandonment. This organization was where I met most of my close friends, who I still keep in contact with today. By the way, the campus is beautiful!! The school campus is a bit elevated, built on a hill, overlooking the rest of the city. The campus is also huge, but very manageable in getting around. Surprisingly enough, they do have tricycles to get you around in, both on and off campus. =]

The classroom settings were a bit similar to that here at Pacific. The student teacher ratio was nice. There were no more than 30 students in the classrooms I was in. I sensed that most teachers I had truly cared about the education of their students. They were easy going and very easy to talk to. I especially enjoyed my Psychology 101 class.

One major thing that I encountered and I knew that I would, was me being Filipino American. I'm full Filipino, but I was born and raised here in the U.S. What was interesting was that most students didn't think I was an "exchange student" because I pretty much blended in (being brown of course). It wasn't until I started speaking with my "American accent" that they did believe and conclude I was from the U.S, but most of them were pretty friendly and welcoming regardless. They did ask a lot of questions regarding the United States, and I did try my best to answer all of them. But I couldn't give a wholesome answer, since I live in California, which is only a PART of the U.S. Other than that, there were a lot of other international students from Korea, China, Japan, France, Germany, and numerous others. Most of which I was able to meet through their Office of International Programs, which is very similar to our IPS Office here at Pacific.

Besides the great education, the nice learning environment, and CHEAP textbooks! I also had fun in: going out with friends, trying different kinds of food that I know I wouldn't be able to back in the States, having the opportunity in being absorbed in a beautiful culture (my native roots), learning about the history of the Philippines first hand, and the list can go on and on.

As a former exchange student, I know first hand how scary it can be going to a whole different country and a different school, but the pros totally outweigh the cons. You really have to learn to get over your fears of making new friends. Once you get through that, it will mostly be smooth sailing from there. Don't let language be a barrier as well. Take the initiative to be-friend someone. It will be worth it in the long run. Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's a big one. Other than that, just be yourself and have fun! :)

I recently returned to good ol' California about two months ago. I'm glad to be back home, but I have to say, my greatest regret is not choosing to stay in Ateneo for a year. I wish I could have chosen a year to study abroad in the Philippines, but I know everything happens for a reason. So, I am still wholeheartedly grateful for the amazing opportunity given to me. I know this experience has opened my eyes in more than one way. From a national catastrophe as the worst typhoon hitting Manila in over 43 years to helping out in relief efforts that whole following week, that is one experience I will never forget.
We get so caught up in living busy lives that we forget to appreciate the little things in life that matter most. I know I'm going off on a different point here, but again, I learned a lot of things through studying abroad, beyond the classroom and textbooks.

Well, I shall end it here now. If you have any questions about anything or just want to talk, just let me know. I'll be more than happy to have a conversation with you! :)

Love, peace, and LOL!
-Bemi

(Btw, pictures will be uploaded soon!)
Thanks for reading!

Third Week of Spring Semester!!!

Hi Everyone!!!

My name is Marish and I am a senior at Pacific! I have lived in Stockton my whole life and I love it. There are ups and downs, but overall I don't think Stockton is a bad place to live.

So it is the beginning of our third week into spring semester. All I can tell you, it is getting crazy busy! I am majoring in biochemistry, so that can explain it all. I have chemistry and biology classes with lab, and that adds up! So far, this is our first week of lab which is not too bad, since we have so many events going on as well I can't concentrate. :) I actually am not in the school mode yet, since I had three weeks off!

Not only is it already bad to get into the school mode, the weather is making it worse. It has been raining for the past week or so and I just feel like staying home. Usually the weather here in Stockton is really nice and warm, but not at the moment. Everyone is out with umbrellas and their rain boots!

So that's what is happening so far in the third week!

Take care :)

Marish

SNOW in Stockton?!

Hey guys!
I just finished my last class here at Pacific (well...except for the FINAL exams.. EEK!) and I've been living here in Stockton for a good 3 and a half years ...and in all of the time that I spent here, I've seen the sunny hot California weather, the cloudy gloomy skies, the dark scary thunder/lightning storms, but I've NEVER ever seen SNOW here. I never thought it would snow so it was GREAT when there was news of a light snowdown last Monday! I don't know if you like playing in snow but I absolutely LOVE snowboarding and skiing! Usually, there are some good ski/snowboarding resorts near Lake Tahoe (like 2 hours+ away) and it's a great if you want to explore some new adventures during your winter break!

GRAR!

Here's some really cool links to check out:

• Snowboarders/Skiers competing in Stockton! (This took place at the Lincoln Center which is down Pacific Avenue and is not too far from our campus!)
• Winter Wonderland Article!
  
• Best of Snowboarding (You guys should definitely try it! But please don't try to do these tricks the first time ;)
• Guide for Snowboarding/Ski resorts in California!
  

Here is an astonished person recording the snow! (Anything is possible in Stockton!)


How to Snowboard! It's not too bad guys!


And I can't forget the skiing stuff!


I will stay in Stockton for another 3 years for grad school and I am looking forward to more snow adventures. I am by far not a pro at snowboarding or skiing but I love the adrenaline rush. Don't forget, it's also fun to just throw snowballs at each other or make pretty snowmen (like the life-size one at the top!)

Hope you have fun thrill-seeking!!

<3 Jenny

PS: the pictures were from my last snow adventure in Lake Tahoe! :D

Major Major Issues

In high school I thought I knew exaaactly what I wanted to do and what I wanted as a career. I called it my dream. In all my career aptitude tests my dream would come up. In my personality tests it told me I was a perfect candidate for that job. I wanted to report news.

So I declared my major as communication. (That sounds so cool by the way: "DECLARED my major." Like I went to a mountain and shouted "I WANT TO STUDY COMMUNICATION!!!"). I figured I would get my BA to squeeze my way into the media sector and I'd be smooth sailing. I was SO sure I wasn't going to change my major or my career trajectory.

WRONG. Here's a bit of advice: don't let your pride get in the way of your career or education. It's not worth it. I debated with myself countless times: "No, you told everyone this is what you wanted. Stick with it."

I am still studying communications. That is still my major. But after a class called Media and Society, I learned that the media is one huge monster I do not want to deal with. I'm grateful to be in the Pacific Legal Scholars program so I had that alternative ready for me to dive into. So that's what I'm doing now: pre-law minor, communications major.

Talk to me a few semesters later. Who knows, maybe I'll be a biology major or something.
-Joanne

Winter

Winter is just around the corner!! You know what that means...

1. The nasty flu bug.
You must know by now, but there is some bug flying around Pacific's campus. It's in the dorms, the classrooms, and even just in the air. Once you catch the flu bug, you may be feeling sick for a little while. If you've already caught it, I'm sorry. Here are some ways to treat your symptoms when you find yourself under the weather without any over the counter drugs:
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/9-tips-to-treat-colds-and-flu-the-natural-way

2. The Holidays
The holidays during an economic crunch may not be the most pleasant things. But we can all find ways to work.
a) Shop early. When times are tough stores are less likely to buy in bulk, which means once they're sold out, they're really sold out.
b) Shop smart. Look for coupon codes online when ordering. Look for community events. Stockton has one! Magical Night of Giving where for a $5 entrance fee you are open to exclusive savings, door prizes and even giveaways. This is going on at the Weberstown Mall on Sunday, November 22 from 6:30-9 PM. If not, there is always Black Friday Shopping. Plan to stand in line early in the morning after waking up from the Thanksgiving dinner food coma to save!
c) Party creatively. If you're throwing a holiday party or a get together, be creative with your party planning. Don't focus on decorations or matching china. People are going to be in a good mood anyway just by enjoying good company. Have a fire going or go for the minimalist look. Try mixing cocktails with cheaper alcohol to avoid spending big on that juicy juice.

3) Travel
If you haven't started buying your airplane, bus, or train tickets, DO THEM NOW!! Airplane ticket prices just sky rocket upwards over the holiday season. Also, look at their weekly schedules to see the difference in price per day. Tickets tend to be cheaper for travel on Tuesdays-Thursdays. Buses love people who book early. I know the Greyhound has a 21-day advanced savings which will save you close to $20! They also have a 7-day advance, and an online discount. If you're taking the train, you call and see if your route tends to have snow or ice near the season. Trains do not go if there is snow or ice. Good thing for safety; bad thing for convenience.

I hope you guys have a great time planning for the holidays--whatever you celebrate this season. There's so much diversity and love during that time, I hope thinking about winter early will help figure out some ways to make things work for you. Until then, happy midterm-ing!

Best,
Joanne

November is National Scholarship Month

Finding a way to fund for close to US$50,000 per year is an overwhelming task, no doubt. Not to mention, travel fees, living costs, spending money... the list just goes on. Finances may be the reason you are not considering moving to the States for your college degree anymore. It's not always the easiest thing to talk about money, but you know what is easy? Talking about scholarships.

It is to my understanding that international students have a difficult time with scholarships because of their visa status. Pacific, however, has available for freshmen and transfer students the International Student Merit Scholarship. You are automatically entered for consideration granted that you meet the 3.5 minimum GPA requirement and have completely filled out and sent in an application for admission for our undergraduate schools. Guess how much the award money is? US$10, 000. That is NOT a small sum.

If the International Student Merit Scholarship is not for you, I encourage you to search for scholarships within your own country. There may be grants and scholarships available for students who are willing to devote 4 years at a foreign country. I believe this travel and education experience is invaluable and creates a well-exposed and well-adjusted student--I'm sure there are other organizations who believe that too.

Don't settle for fronting the cash. You may be able to get free money for writing just one great convincing essay. There's nothing to lose. When it comes to things dealing with finances, you don't want to risk being left out of information. Search search search!

Happy searching,
Joanne

Apply Yourself

Application season!! STRESS.

I feel you! I remember applying to colleges and universities two years ago. As the first person in my family to apply for college you can imagine I was pretty lost. Maybe you're the first person to apply for college too. Or maybe the first person to apply for an international school. Maybe not. Well, you know what, no matter the circumstance, it's tough getting through this application season. So here are my two cents on ways to minimize the stress.

1.) Order your colleges according to preference
The top of your list should be colleges you would die for and at the bottom would be schools that you don't feel as attached to; or you can order them according to deadlines. Do this early so that you don't get all emotionally attached to all the colleges the same when the deadlines are drawing near.
2) Mark your dates
Mark everything: when you want to be finished with a draft, when you are going to give your teachers the letters of recommendation forms, when they're all due.
3) Keep everything in a folder
Applying online makes everything easy, but it also gives you a lot of confirmation pages to keep on hand for those JUST IN CASE scenarios. Unless a"just in case" happens you most likely won't need to review the papers. Just keep all those stored away in a folder and don't worry about them.
4) Designate a "college working day" once a week
Balancing senior year school work and activities with college applications is tough no doubt. What worked for me is designating one day out of the week where my college applications come first. Only once I was done with what I had planned to complete would I start my homework. Plan this day well and don't hesitate to switch off days. It shouldn't be the day or two before a test, or when you need to be working on an assignment that's worth a lot of points. This worked for me because then I didn't have to be worried every single day of the week. Just got it done and over with.
5) BE YOURSELF.
You will reduce stress significantly knowing that you're a perfect candidate for the school you are meant for JUST the way you are. Let yourself come through in your application through everything--the major you declare (if you really don't know what you want to major, just really put undecided. not that big of a deal.), the personal statements you write, what you say in your interview. What is important to you should come through naturally. Yes, practice and write often, but don't make up a new you. Also, be real to yourself. Constantly be in self-reflection during this time. Keep a journal. Relieve stress.

I hope this helped you plan and relieve some stress. If you have any questions don't hesitate to leave comments on the post. Don't worry. Someone loves you already and would love to have you attend.

Best wishes,
Joanne