University of Michigan International Center

I was born and raised in a small city in Sichuan, China. In Sichuan, the brown sugar glutinous rice cake is very popular. Everybody loves it. When I was young, I still remember an older man with a white beard selling glutinous rice cakes at the gate of my primary school. I can not help but want to buy it every time after school. But my mother would not let me buy it because she thought the cakes selling on the street had too much sugar in them, and the sugar would cause my tooth decay. But during the summer vacation, my mom will make me some brown sugar glutinous rice cakes at home as a reward for completing a semester's study. But after I came to the United States, I cannot find any restaurant in Ann Arbor that has rice cakes on its menu. So, I asked for a recipe from my mom and cooked it myself. The recipe here is the one my mom gave me, and it is pretty simple, but the cake is delicious! Ingredients ( for 1-2 people): 150g Glutinous rice flour 120g Hot water 40g Brown sugar 200g...

It was a cloudy day in the month of March 2020. I was staying with my grandparents in my native place - a small town near the tip of South India. It seemed like it was going to be just like any other day during that time, with the gloomy news of Covid-19 cases being on the rise and extensions of lockdowns all over the newspapers. Little did I know that it’d actually turn out to be one of the best days I’d ever have. At 6:30 pm, I got an email from U-M. I opened it with bated breath and the moment I saw the word “Congratulations!”, my heart skipped a beat. Studying at U-M has been a dream of mine ever since I started thinking about higher studies, and it was a surreal feeling to know I’d made it. I was super excited when I got my acceptance letter, and I’m sure you are pumped about being here too. Out of the many things which make studying at U-M special, here are a few reasons which stand out to me personally and some key takeaways for you. Academic resources U-M is one of the best ran...

The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor has three major campuses: Central, North, and South Campus. Central Campus is the busiest and the most compact campus because part of it is located in downtown Ann Arbor with all the main streets such as State Street and E. Liberty Street. The other part includes many academic buildings and residential halls. There are a lot of “hidden gems” on Central Campus and I am going to introduce some of my favourite places to go to whether by myself or with friends.  Kerrytown The Kerrytown market and shops are only 5-10 minutes away from North Quad residence hall. It is a distinctive neighborhood with local produce and vintage shops. If you live off-campus on Central Campus and want to get groceries from local farms and businesses, the Kerrytown market is definitely one of your first choices. It offers international food and great personal service to satisfy all your needs about food. Also, if you are an art person, Kerrytown is also known for its ar...

You are attending a school event, and all around you is an unfamiliar crowd. The official activities have not yet begun, but folks in the crowd are sharing smiles, small laughter, slightly exaggerated gestures, and subtle nods. What do you do? You could bury your head in your phone, but you do not want to come off as aloof, disconnected, or rude. All of a sudden, a vaguely familiar face starts to walk towards you with a smile. You suddenly recognize them. You had shared a short conversation during orientation week. “Hi there!”, they say. And with those words, you realize it’s time to make small talk, but how do you do it?  “Small talk” is an immensely cultural activity, but you do not need to know a million cultural references to engage in small talk in the US. Here are a few general tips.  Quickly find commonalities:  The easiest way to do this is to draw up the experience you are sharing with your conversation partner in that moment. For example, in the scenario I descr...

You may be surprised by the countless dairy products in grocery stores. In the US, you will see/consume them quite often. In this blog, I’m going to introduce common dairy products before you get dazzled by their variety. Milk If you are a milk or coffee lover, then you may be familiar with these milk products. In the US, depends on the fat content, people have different options:  Whole milk Reduced-fat milk (either 1% or 2%) Skimmed milk (non-fat milk)   Half and Half: half whole milk, half heavy cream. Usually thicker than milk and lighter than cream. Heavy cream: contains heavy fat and can be used in baking or cooking, such as Japanese Curry. Cream Sour cream: contains 10-20 percent of fat, made of cream with a lactic acid culture. Usually, it is used on hot dishes or used at cold or room temperature. Cream cheese: contains 33-55 percent of fat. It’s soft, smooth, and mild. You can spread it on crackers/bread with jams or stir it into your scrambled eggs. Cheese Parmes...

I just finished my first year of online college here at the University of Michigan. I am hoping to give you some good tips to have a successful transition into college life. Online classes actually made me be more responsible for my own education and I gained a lot more than previous semesters.  Go to office hours Many people may not know what office hours are: It is a time the professor reserved specifically for students to come to talk to them. During that time, you can introduce yourself, get your questions about academics answered, or also talk to them about your career path and future plan, listen to their advice, or some of your special circumstances. And remember they want you to go there, because a lot of students don't go.  I would familiarize myself with all my professors and GSIs during office hours. Knowing what they think and say about your homework/projects can give you a chance to make changes and secure a good grade.  In the beginning of the last semester,...