Located above California and below Washington, Oregon is a natural beauty that tries to stay a little bit of a secret. You might not have known where Oregon was before you were chosen for this program, but we promise that you will never forget it. Oregon (also known as the state above California) is rich in natural beauty from wild ocean beaches to snow covered mountains, from deep blue lakes and fast flowing rivers to high desert landscapes, from farmland to forests. http://traveloregon.com/

Eugene is a mid-sized city (200,000 people) located in the Willamette Valley, surrounded by farms, close to the mountains, the ocean and many outdoor adventures.

Visitors to Eugene often remark how friendly, informal and laid back residents are. The people who call Eugene home are influenced by three main forces: nature, the University of Oregon, the 1960s hippy culture. Because of this, Eugene tends to attract outdoor lovers, intellectuals and activists.

The University of Oregon

Call me a Duck

One of the unique features of US university culture is the school mascot, usually associated with the universities’ sports teams but also a source of pride for the whole school and community. The University of Oregon’s mascot, designed by Walt Disney, is no exception. Instead of saying, “I go to the University of Oregon,” students will often say, “I’m a Duck.” In the state of Oregon, people are often divided between “Duck fans,” wearing green and yellow, and “Beaver fans” (Oregon State University’s mascot), in orange and black. No matter where you go around the world, there is a very good chance you will meet someone who is proud to call themselves a Duck.