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...

Ann Arbor’s grocery scene may not be as vibrant and diverse as those in bustling cities like New York, or Singapore (where I’m from), but it is more than sufficient to meet a university student’s basic needs. Most people I know depend primarily on Kroger as an economical supply of food but there are various other supermarkets worth visiting too. In my opinion, Kroger and Meijer have the best prices around for the meats and produce you’d typically find in an American grocery store. The quality of items there is middling but they offer a good variety and will suffice if you prefer to get all of your groceries and other household necessities in a single place – without burning a huge hole in your pocket. However, do note that their ethnic offerings are exceedingly limited and slightly overpriced. If price is your main concern, or if you are feeling adventurous and keen to try new foods, you may want to check out the various ethnic supermarkets in Ann Arbor. Way One Market is ...

About a month ago I went to LeaderShape as a participant. I signed up for it pretty early, but I was worried sick for what I might run into in an activity that was totally new for me. Everyone who had experience told me to relax, “Just go, it’s great.” Carrying my worries and excitement, there I went. I met a friend in one info session of LeaderShape so we agreed to “stick together” during that week. However, we got split up on step one—we were not in same dorm. I was afraid I didn’t have much to say or share with my roommates so my friend and I went to staff Sarah and asking for exchange. Sarah said to us this “random” assignment of roommates was actually strategic so there was no room for negotiation. That was when I realized this was time for me to step out of my comfort zone. The first day was very tiring because I can’t go to sleep so I ended up getting up early. When I lay on bed I couldn’t get rid of the thought that this could be my milestone of life, which turned out ...

While winter in Ann Arbor and Michigan in general can be a harsh, horrendous time that will encourage you to never leave your house or apartment to traverse the long or short route to work or class, the spring and summers here at Ann Arbor are surprisingly pleasant and beautiful. Granted, there is the occasional light snowfall (gasps!) or chilly days that occur throughout the spring and summer, so don’t stow away your jackets just yet, and always, always be prepared for the weather in Ann Arbor! Other than that, experiencing spring/summertime in Ann Arbor feels like you’ve been transported to a different state/country altogether, and you’ll be blessed with warm, sunny days most of the time. In this article, I attempt to discuss and share with you several activities and fun things to do during the spring and summer that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of. 1. Outdoor sports! One of the most exciting experiences I had during my first spring at Ann Arbor was kayaking...

Congratulations on getting into the University of Michigan, one of the top public universities in world! Whether you were a high school graduate who had to spend countless hours studying for the SAT and TOEFL/IELTS while simultaneously finishing your school exams, or you were an undergraduate who had to give the GRE/GMAT (and TOEFL/IELTS as well) to get into graduate school. For what it's worth, your hard work and determination brought you into this fine institution and now you will get to work with the Leaders and Best . Since I mentioned TOEFL/IELTS, I would like to take this chance to enlighten my fellow incoming students that the speaking portion of those tests is not a true reflection of how people speak in the United States. Just like other languages, English is filled with various idioms and phrases that do not follow the usual definition of the word itself. For example, during my first year here, people used the word ‘steal’ when they wanted to borrow something. S...

Finding the right place to live is not always easy as there are so many factors that need to be considered. Some of the things that need to be considered are rent, location, convenience, etc. Certain homes satisfy most of your needs but may be higher in price. Certain homes may be budget friendly but may make your commute to school a terrible experience. It is important that you balance out all these factors in making your decision. Here are a few steps I took in my decision making process. 1.  Living on-campus vs. Living off-campus First things first, you may want to decide whether you want to live in a dorm on campus, or live somewhere off campus. The dorms are located in various locations around North and Central Campus and function as small accessible communities within the university. About 97% of the incoming freshmen decide to live in the dorms because it allows a smooth transition from high school to college. Also, as the meal plans are included in the housing price,...