A Leap Across the Atlantic

Ine Brudevik Eitrheim ’27 arrived in Oregon with a simple goal: to push herself. The education major from Oslo, Norway, had her pick of study‑abroad destinations: Hawaii, California or Oregon. But she chose the Pacific Northwest because it was unfamiliar.

“Fewer Norwegians and Scandinavians are studying abroad there,” she said. “I wanted the full experience without having a safety network around me.”

That leap into the unknown became one of the most defining experiences of her college years.

Ine, who is now back at Oslo Metropolitan University, found her time at Linfield to be very beneficial for her future career in education.

“Since I'm going to be an English teacher, it was a great opportunity for me to be in the U.S. to work on my accent,” she said.

But what she found in McMinnville went far beyond language practice.

A community that made Oregon feel like home

From her first days on campus, Ine felt supported by the International Programs Office.

“For me, it was the overall experience I had with all those people working in that office,” she said. “If I ever needed something or wanted to talk to someone, they were there.”

That warmth extended across campus.

“People were very sweet and outgoing,” she said. “It wasn’t hard for me to stop anyone to ask questions if I needed help. Norwegians are very shy and tend to keep to themselves, while Americans are more outgoing and can talk to anyone it seems like.”

Those interactions helped her settle in quickly.

Discovering a new academic culture

One of Ine’s biggest surprises came in the classroom.

“The amount of schoolwork students have in the U.S. compared to Norway was a culture shock,” she said. At Linfield, she found herself reading more, taking more notes and participating more actively than she was used to.

The grading system was another major difference.

“Showing up to classes, doing your assignments, being active in class and doing well on quizzes had an impact on my grades in the U.S. In Norway, what I get on an exam is the final grade, so if I choose not come to any of my classes, that would not have an effect on my grades.” she said. “I found the grading system in the U.S. a lot better.”

Her time assisting at Sue Buel Elementary gave her a firsthand look at American education. Meeting students, observing classroom routines and comparing systems broadened her perspective and gave her ideas she hopes to bring into her own classroom someday.

Growing more independent

Living thousands of miles from home changed Ine in ways she didn’t expect.

“It made me more comfortable doing stuff alone and being comfortable in my own company,” she said.

She also discovered how adaptable she could be.

“I was pretty confident speaking English when I first arrived, but the nerves and stress of trying to fit in could sometimes take over, which made it a bit hard to finish my sentence without having to translate certain words,” she said. “Now, I feel very comfortable speaking in a language other than my mother tongue.”

The moments she’ll never forget

Some of Ine’s favorite memories were the simplest ones: getting to know her roommates, hanging out in the living room or going to events together like Wildstock.

“Wildstock was such a nice day,” she said. “Being able to meet more people, watch the artists that performed and just living!”

She also laughs about the quirks of Oregon life.

“People never used an umbrella when it rained,” she laughed.

Friendships that lasted beyond the semester

Ine made close friends during her time at Linfield, including one roommate she now considers one of her best friends in the United States. She also formed a strong connection with an international student from Japan.

Those relationships are a big part of why she misses Linfield so much.

“The people, for sure,” she said. “I think about my friends and everyone I had the opportunity to meet every day.”

She’s already planning her return.

“I plan to come back in May so I can see my roommates graduate,” she said.

A place she’ll always return to

For Ine, Linfield is more than a campus she once studied on — it’s a place that changed her.

“Linfield is a place I will always come back to whenever I get the chance to travel to the U.S.,” she said. “Long term, I really want to move to the U.S. and work there. I would have never thought about that before coming to Linfield.”