University of Michigan International Center

Top Things You Need to Survive Fall in Michigan by Tochi Nwogu Michigan weather is incredibly indecisive about what season it wants to be – especially between fall and winter. You could be faced with anything from a slight flurry when you walk out of your dorm room at 8:00 a.m. to a heat wave when you make that walk back to your room. There are some essentials things to have in order to stay ahead of the weather and beat it at its own game. 1. Layers. It is best to leave your room either wearing a sweater/jacket or have one packed in your bag. Another option is to wear flannels. They are very comfortable and can be worn in so many ways. In colder weather, button them up or for warmer days tie them around your waist. You can also pack a pair of athletic shorts to change into if it becomes too hot for jeans. 2. Scarves. Great for layering, and can switch up any outfit. They can add a little warmth on a chilly day or a vibrant color to a plain t-shirt and jeans loo...

How to develop a great relationship with your professors by Pradeep Moon Gunasekaran, PhD, Chemical Biology In the 1999 David Fincher movie ‘Fight Club’, Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden said “The first rule of fight club is: You do not talk about Fight Club”. A quote so famous that people who have never seen the movie are still familiar with it. Similar to Mr Durden’s simplistic directive, in my opinion graduate school too has one main rule: Always try talking to your professors. I have been a graduate student at the University of Michigan for well over a year now. Apart from the initial culture shock, change in time zone and acclimatizing to the weather, I found it was very easy to adjust to living in the United States of America. But as far as graduate school itself is concerned, I initially struggled. I come from a part of the world where you do not speak to your professors unless they address you first or unless you have to pass some information onto them. Being from...

Getting a Driver’s License in the U.S. by Sahil Chhabra Getting a Driver’s License (DL) in the U.S. may not be on the top of everyone’s priority list just after arriving here, but it was mine as I love travelling and needed a DL to travel within states. Nonetheless after reading this, you will have an idea of the process and documents required to obtain a driver’s license in the US, so that you can keep an eye out for them. Luckily, I had my DL from India, which was valid for 1 year in the U.S., but it is always advisable to get the local state’s DL. A word of caution - your home country DL might not be valid in the U.S., you can check with the secretary of state’s office. I do know of another way, which I will mention later in this blog. Also if the DL is not in English, you will need a translation of the same. The general process of getting a DL is as follows. Normally one needs to apply for a learning permit first, and then after a month of practice, one is eligibl...

Three Tips to Eat Healthy as a Busy Student By Yiwei Yin Many new students sneeze at the weight gain rumor at the very beginning of their college lives. However, the “freshman 15”, which refers to the approximate 15 pounds’ weight gain after students’ first year of college, turns out to be a real situation that almost everyone has to face. Healthy eating habits are important especially for international students, who may need dietary habits change when they move to a brand new country. Here are three tips to help you find a balance between busy school life and healthy eating habits. 1. Cook for yourself If you have a kitchen in your apartment, you could stay with your traditional eating habits when you cook for yourself. Raw material for cooking could be accessed easily in Ann Arbor. Big supermarkets like Kroger and Meijer provide tremendous food choices as well as daily necessities for their customers. Food markets like whole food, trader joes and plum market are also e...