University of Michigan International Center

Japan, I came here on the 13 th of May 2015 and every day I have been here has led me to experiences I would not have been able to obtain anywhere else. The contrasts between the foods, transportation, people and culture between Japan and the U.S. is astonishing to say the least. Almost everyone has heard of the humongous portion size offered at American restaurants. In comparison, Japanese food is always tailored to satiate a person only until the next meal of the day. The presence of “Combinis” (Convenience Stores) literally on every street and major intersection truly makes these shops live up to their name. Although there are supermarkets similar to those in the U.S., the convenience stores really take it up a notch by allowing a person to pay his rent, buy a bus ticket and get a readymade hot meal. In the academic setting, there is a stark difference in the student-professor interaction. Methods of communicating with professors in the U.S is, in general, much more conversati...

Being a student can be one of the most gratifying times in a person’s life. Of course, a student is expected to perform well in her coursework and show up to classes from time to time, but she is mostly in charge of her own time and she only needs to be concerned about herself. On the other hand, getting a grown-up job is quite another matter. Once a student graduates from the leisurely world of theory and education, she must face and live up to the no-nonsense demands of the “real world.” An adult professional often does not control her own time because of her work engagements, and she has to take responsibility for people other than herself. It is no surprise then that the transition from being a student to getting a grown-up job presents a significant challenge. One makes the jump from roaming around campus freely and worrying about getting a B- to being stuck to a work post 9 to 5 and panicking about a telephone call to a difficult client. Doing a summer internship w...

During the semester, I try my very best to be a morning person. Before the 9 a.m. class, I find contentment in sitting at the back of Espresso Royale on State St. for an hour or two. While sipping hot black coffee and witnessing the last hint of darkness ebbing away, it gives me the chance to go through class materials, or simply clear my mind. By the time people start to line up at the counter, I am ready for the day. Being a college town, Ann Arbor values its coffee culture. You may wonder why people here seem to be constantly high-powered, part of the reason is that they do enjoy a caffeine buzz. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, in another word, a psychoactive drug. This heterocyclic aromatic organic molecule is structurally similar to adenine and guanine that are contained in our deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Due to its structural similarity to adenine, caffeine is able to compete with adenosine, block adenosine receptors, and subsequen...

When I first heard Greyhound was from my aunt. She always used Greyhound to travel all over US. Then I know more clearly in a workshop held by International Center last year that Greyhound is actually a kind of transportation in North America. I hadn’t had the chance to try until my friend in Cleveland invited me to come over staying for weekend. Logging in website and buying tickets is super easy. All you need to prepare is credit card to pay online. I always bought the cheaper tickets because I have clear travel plans. If you are not sure you can buy refundable ones which cost much more. After purchasing online tickets Greyhound website may require a printer to print at home or print on the day of departure. I chose to save as a PDF form and when I was in library or somewhere having a printer, I’ll print them out then. The reason for doing so is that I felt a bit rush if I didn’t prepare my tickets in advance. Sometimes there may be more than one ticket because some tran...