Emrakeb Woldearegay
(she/her/hers)
--
Major: Ph.D. in Communications & Media Studies
Home Country: Ethiopia
What was your experience moving from your home country to Eugene?
I moved to Eugene with my family, my husband and two children. It takes a lot to move an entire family! I had many opportunities to travel the world before coming to Eugene. As a result, my experience moving from my home country to Eugene went smoothly for the most part. But finding housing was one of the most challenging aspects of settling in the USA. It is good to contact your graduate coordinator, advisor, and other students in your program early to access information about housing opportunities. Some programs circulate lists for students looking for roommates and host virtual meetups to get to know people. These contacts helped make the move a little easier.
What were the most helpful resources to you during your transition?
To find scholars and advisors that align with my research interests and get me excited for my studies, I used “Find People” on the UO website and the faculty research database as useful resources. Also, the orientation programs for incoming new students were particularly useful. Taking the Graduate Employees (GE) training is necessary to acclimatize well with your GE responsibilities, and the websites of the Division of Graduate Studies (DGS) and International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) provide valuable information and useful resources for graduate and international students. Joining the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF) is also essential as a GE. Also, funding opportunities and the events organized by the Division of Graduate Studies for graduate students with families are extremely helpful.
What advice or resources do you have for grads with families who are preparing to come to the University of Oregon?
It is good to be in touch with your department and ask them to furnish you with contact details of other graduate students who have families. That way you can talk to them directly about their own experiences at the UO. Also, do talk to anyone who is studying in the graduate program at universities in the US about their experiences. Finally, make sure to thoroughly go through these following resources:
- Resources for graduate students with families
- Resources for international graduate students
- Sign up for the graduate student with families listserv: gradstudentfamilies-join@lists.uoregon.edu
- Stay in contact through the graduate student with families Facebook and ask questions or learn about information, resources and events that are geared toward graduate students with children at the UO.
Who did you contact when you were feeling overwhelmed by the relocation process?
I was fortunate to know people who were from the same country I am who were doing their PhD study at the UO. They provided me with all the necessary information about the relocation process, including helping me find a roommate at the Spencer View Apartments.