Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1992)
FEATURE January22,1992 THE CLACKAMASi PRINT\ ^'7^ ^1Page3 U.S.’just like a dream' to Clackamas student from Micronesia by Melissa Free Is StaffWriter “When I came out here it was like a dream,” said CCC stu dent Gloria Ilemangbug, 22, who moved to the United States ap proximately 3 years ago. Ilemangbug had lived on the island Woleai of Atoll Micro nesia, which is located in the Caro line Islands (near New Guinea), for her entire life. For years she had been exposed to American culture through television and saw many of the things that American culture and society offered. Ilemangbug was given the chance to “really try some things that I saw on TV” she said, when her uncle and aunt, John and Patri cia Taflelig, invited her to come to the U.S. and live with them. Once she arrived in Amer ica, Ilemangbug began to notice the cultural differences between America and her home on Woleai. Last winter was the first time Ilemangbug had ever been around snow. “I was really sur prised. I felt really cold,” she said. She was also surprised at Oregon’s cold rain. “We have rain (on Woleai), but ours is warm,” Ile mangbug said. Despite the coldness of the snow, however, Ilemangbug found that it was a great way to learn how to ski—a sport that is not possible in Woleai’s warm climate. She took skiing lessons, but she said, “I’m still not good at it” Will she ever attempt to ski again? “I said forget it... maybe I will try again,” she said with hesitation. Ice skating also sparked an interest “I watched and said T want to try that,’’’Ilemangbug said. Like skiing, however, she found that ice skating isn’t as easy as it looks. Over the past few years Ilemangbug has had to adjust to American food-which she believes it the most difficult adaptation she has had to make. “It’s really differ ent from the food I eat back at home,” she said. Woleai cuisine primarily consists of seafood. Although students in the Caroline Islands speak a language called Carolilian, they also study the English language. When Ile mangbug first arrived in the U.S. she felt like “I was talking and they (Americans) were laughing,” she said. After three years, however, she has become more confident when speaking; Woleai culture is “really different (than American) because ladies don’t wear pants or shorts,” Ilemangbug said. Through a proc ess called “lava lava,” the women on Woleai weave their own skirts. Many men wear material wrapped around them, Ilemangbug explained. Today, however, Woleai society has begun wearing clothes similar to those of American society. Ilemangbug has found many things in America that she enjoys. “I like tennis and I like reading books,” she said. These are two hobbies that she picked up after she moved to the U.S. She also enjoys listening to music. On Woleai, “We have our own music and we have American music,” Ilemangbug said. Ilemangbug describes the Caroline Islands as, “really small and really friendly”-everyone knows each other. “When I came out here I thought some people were rude to each other,” she said. Many of the islands are very close to each other and the islanders spend much of their time on the other islands. “We always go on a canoe to go island to is land,” Ilemangbug said. Ilemangbug’s schooling on Woleai is similar to that of most I Photo hy VM m Johnson Americans. Shewenttokindergar- Gloria Ilemangbug moved to the United States 3 years ago. ten and elementary school, but chose . She is now attending CCC to Study for her GED. not to finish high school. The is- working at the Roundtree, which is her best friend, Mi wa Suzuki, who land of Woleai does not have a high a home for handicapped people, in is from Japan. Neither of the girls school, so students must live in a Oregon City. It is her first job and drive so they have become accus- dormitory on one of the larger is she has only been working for four tomed to riding the bus when they lands where there is a high school. months, so Ilemangbug often finds go out Ilemangbug has also trav Ilemangbug explained that she that it is difficult to balance wak “didn’t want to go to a different ing and going to school. Ilemang eled to Tacoma, Wash, where her island” so she stayed with her family bug also spends much time taking sister, Margret, lives. Ilemangbug does not know care of her uncle’s children. and chose not to finish school. She has also found that how many more years she will be Currently Ilemangbug is taking courses at Clackamas in order spending time with other interna in America. When she does return to earn her GED. Eventually she tional students is very helpful. They home to Woleai, she plans to live have meeting s and parties for birth with her family and to get a job as would like to major in English. In addition to school, Ile days and holidays. She enjoys going a secretary or someone who works mangbug spends much of her time shopping and to the movies with with computers. International Orientation class started to assist foreign students Scott Morris * ‘ ' StaffWriter Clackamas Community College is offering a new course entitled Intercultural Orientation, that has been started to assist stu dents who are new to our country adjust to our college and our cul ture. The course, taught by Coun selor Ellen Burbridge, started Win ter term. “We have students from all over the world at CCC, sone adjust to being here very well, some not as well.” According to Burbridge, this course “gives the students a place to come with prob lems and questions.” Intercultural Orientation was designed to help the students deal with a number of problems that new people in our culture usu ally have, including how to deal more effectively with issues and problems in the U.S.; how to de velop skills to be successful while living in the U J.; and to help gain an appreciation for individual and cultural differences. “Many of the students had problems that were too big to man age on their own,” said Burbridge, when asked why CCC decided to add this class. “It gives the stu dents a support group, a place to come help and teach each other. It takes a lot of strength and courage to start a new life in a new culture. I think most people don’t realize how hard it is.” Intercultural Orientation is only open to international students at this time but B urbridg e hopes to start an International Communica tion class in the future that would be open to everyone. One-act plays feature 'hellish'point of view by Ginger Land StaffWriter How do you picture hell? This is the question that Director Ryan S. Hull had to ask himself while di recting the play “Final Exit," an existentialistic view of hell, writ ten by Jean-Paul Sartre. This is just one of the three one-acts put on by the Clackamas Community Col- lege Theater Department this term. Dennis Corwin, a familiar sight to both the Clackamas Theater and many local Portland companies, has chosen to direct a play called TAKE THE NEXT STEP Complete your Bachelor's Degree at the "Chinamen." Corwin, who was just in SRO’s Production of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” felt that this would be a challenge because of the timing involved. "Chinamen," written by Michael Frayn, is a fast-paced comedy about a dinner party. The catch is that there are only two actors to play the five characters. The final play is written by a Clackamas alumnus, David Bemett Jr., and is called ‘The Calliope Played at Midnight” Bemett is now a student at Western Oregon working on a major in Theater. This is not the first play Bemett has written but the director. Lichen June, thinks it will be a challenging piece of work. The concept of the play is about insecurity, the main character being a clown. This, being the premiere of Bemett’s show, will be a definite "don’t miss.” The one-act plays will be per formed on March 8, 9, and 10, during the lunch hour with one evening performance on March 10, at 8:00 pan. All performances of the one-act plays are FREE to Stu dents, Faculty and the general public. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Suggested mailing date for financial aid application to meet priority deadline is: February 1 Scholarship Deadline: February 1 siim Transfer application Deadline: May 15 To request an application, or more information, call 1-800-BE-A-DUCK (inEugene call 346-3201) Photo by VMan Johnaon The play "The Calliope Played at Midnight” was written by Clackamas alumni David Burett Jr. The one act will be performed by CCC students at the end of the term. -.-
