This study aimed to uncover the attitudinal factors impacting a group of 1st-year Japanese university students’ (N = 89) self-perceived intercultural competence (IC) prior to a 6-week US-based study-abroad program. Thematic analysis from reaction papers following an interactive lecture-workshop orientation revealed that: 1) participants typically perceived their IC through either an individual lens and/or a collective lens, and 2) they then adopted either a passive or proactive mindset towards their impending study abroad experience.