University of Michigan International Center

Thanksgiving and winter breaks are coming up and while many people are going home for the holiday, it may be a little far for international students to go home. But, now international students get the chance to explore the U.S! There are many fun and exciting places to travel to around the states. One of the popular break places for University of Michigan students is Chicago! Chicago, the windy city, is full of diverse culture and food. A 5 hour drive away, many people drive there or take the Greyhound bus. Flying would take only an hour, but it is a bit pricier. Once you arrive at the city there are many attractions to go see! The most famous site, I think, is “The Bean” or Cloud Gate. It is a public sculpture of bean that is mirrored on all sides. Chicago also has many tall skyscrapers. You can enjoy the view from the Willis Tower or the John Hancock Center. The John Hancock Center also sports an outward leaning glass panel that has you facing down to the ground from aroun...

My name is Haley Phillips and I am a first year Higher Education Administration masters student at the University of Michigan with an interest in international education. Upon completing my master’s coursework, I hope to work on university-based ethical global engagement programs that promote positive relationships between international volunteers and the host communities they serve. Voluntourism is an emerging phenomenon among privileged travelers. Essentially it unites volunteering and traveling. Despite being founded on good intentions, the effectiveness of, and motivations behind, such trips overseas must be examined in-depth in order to avoid the trap of moral imperialism – aka going abroad and acting like you know everything about said country. Before you sign up for a volunteer trip anywhere in the world this summer, consider whether you possess the skill set necessary for that trip to be successful. If yes, awesome!  If not, it might be a good idea to reconsider your tr...