Located in Hilsboro, suburb of Portland, Oregon, Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology (OGI) was a small and independent school specializing in educating master and doctor students in science and engineering field. In 2001, OGI was acquired by Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU).

20 years ago, in 1997, I was admitted into OGI to start my graduate study at age 23. From Beijing to Portland, Oregon, USA was my first international flight trip. Portland is proud to have headquarter of Nike, the biggest site of Intel, and other high-tech firms, called “Silicon Forest”.

Days @ OGI was hectic and exciting. To finish programming coursework I once stayed in the OGI computer lab for 3 consecutive days without going back home. Walking was my primary way of commuting from OGI to home back and forth. Almost all Chinese students could get free furniture from Church nearby. Deli sandwiches in OGI cafeteria were so delicious that I haven’t found their matches since leaving OGI. Searching for discounts and shopping in Albertsons, Target, and Safeway was interesting experience. Skiing on Mountain Hood, a world famous ski site, was unforgettable memory. On the Christmas Eve of 1998, a sleepless night, I stayed in the computer lab to do job search myself. The whole lab was empty but me. Even today, I still can feel the pressure of job search that night from time to time. With only 15 months, I got my MSEE degree in Jan 1999. By the day I got my OGI diploma, I had got a job from Silicon Valley.

Xuefei(Michael) Peng