Thursday, April 24, 2014

Featured Travel Apps: Jet Lag Cures

Anyone who’s ever gone from Ann Arbor to Chicago knows that a time zone change of any size can be challenging to adjust to. When traveling overseas, chances are the time change will impact you more than you anticipate, not only because the sun may come up when you’re accustomed to going to bed, but also because the farther you go, the more time you spend trekking through airports, counting down the seconds until your layover is over, and losing sleep while crammed between the passenger next to you and the reclined seat in front of you.

Regardless of how long your commute is, there are plenty of apps that claim to eradicate jet lag, each with divergent reviews from travelers who have tried them. 

Here are a few of the highlights we’ve found at varying prices and with unique features and approaches to suit your personal needs (all information courtesy of item descriptions in iTunes and Google Play).

Jet Lag Rooster (FREE through iTunes and Google Play) boasts “scientific research” behind its customized jet lag plans that focus on when to seek and avoid sunlight to optimize your jet lag adjustment. No internet or data connection required to operate.


Jet Lag Rooster allows you to select when you would like to start adjusting to your new time zone, and it provides daily schedules for your anticipated adjustment period.

StopJetLag (FREE through iTunes and Google Play) allows you to set your own travel plan and takes into account your flight schedule. This app reminds you of when you seek bright light exposure, food, sleep, exercise, and optional melatonin supplements. No internet or data connection required to operate.

JetLag Genie ($2.99 on iTunes) allows you to customize your departure and arrival locations, the usual times when you go to sleep and wake up, and your personal flight schedule. JetLag Genie generates suggestions for when you should seek and avoid light, sleep, and darkness before, during, and after you travel. It includes a Melatonin guide.

Jet-Lag Rescue ($3.99 on iTunes) utilizes individual pressure points in an acupuncture-esque approach to recalibrate your internal clock after you’ve traveled.

Jet Lag Rx ($9.99 on iTunes) offers suggestions for when to seek and avoid light, sleep, and food, but as of February 2013, a majority of consumers reported that it crashed frequently.


This post was written by an International Center peer adviser. It is in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Share your abroad experiences: @MGoAbroad


We've reached that time of year when U-M students in Ann Arbor and around the globe are wrapping up for the semester in anticipation of a change of pace.

Whether you're preparing to return home (wherever home may be) from a thrilling semester overseas, or getting excited to embark on a new international journey in the coming months, remember to share your experiences with us! We love to see the adventures that U-M students have all over the world.

Follow us on Instagram (@mgoabroad) and tag and hashtag us (#MGoAbroad) when you're seeing your greatest sites and representing the leaders and the best across the globe. Whether you're sharing a shot of an impressive landscape, checking in at an infamous landmark, or find yourself in the company of a handful of others proudly boasting maize and blue HAIL t-shirts, keep us posted on the visual perspectives that are changing your worldviews. 

Who knows? Yours could be the next post that's featured on our page.


The Taj Mahal (Agra, India), taken in 2009 by Aubrey

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Featured Travel App: Vocre Translate

Traveling this summer? 

Nervous about your language skills? 

Be prepared before you go, wherever you go.

Vocre Translate (pronounced VOO-RAY) helps you communicate flawlessly in and between over 60 languages, and it’s easy to use. Simply select the language you are speaking (i.e. English) and the language you want to translate to (i.e. Czech), hold your phone or tablet between you and the other person, and Vocre will take care of the rest. It offers immediate language translation in both written and verbal form, and it makes conversing back and forth virtually effortless. Although we can't guarantee perfection in its every translation, it may be a better alternative to relying on pointing and pantomiming. (And admit it: you’re super stoked to be able to use words to enlighten everyone you encounter on the glory that is Snapchat while you’re taking shameless selfies across the globe.)



Vocre lets you choose the language and male-female gender of both speakers. 


(#TravelTip: All jokes aside, we suggest trying local venues for your coffees/teas/beverages of choice before automatically deferring to chains you know and love. We assure that you won't regret it.)

A free version of Vocre Translate is available for Apple products, and it includes Mandarin Chinese, English (UK and US), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish (Spain and Mexico).

Get Vocre Translate through the Apple App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad (free version; full version: $4.99) or through Google Play for Android (full version: $0.99). See product details for data requirements.


This post was written by an International Center peer adviser, and this post and app are in no way endorsed by the University of Michigan.

#TravelTechThursday

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Teach Spanish in Ann Arbor through the Ann Arbor Language Partnership

*Ann Arbor Language Partnership*

Do you want to teach Spanish next year in Ann Arbor?

Some of you may have heard about the Ann Arbor Languages Partnership (A2LP) through friends or in your previous Spanish classes. You teach twice a week in 1-3 classes of either 3rd or 4th graders and you don't need to be an education student. It is a year long commitment with exceptions for those that wish to study abroad. Only requirement is that you have either passed 277 or are a native speaker.

This counts as a 3-credit class, so there is a discussion component one night a week. A2LP is a great opportunity to hone your Spanish speaking skills, participate in community leadership, and gain teaching skills. If you have any questions e-mail the Director at mariajc@umich.edu for more information.

For more information about the program, as well as the application process, please see http://a2lp.com/.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Going Abroad this Spring or Summer? Apply for the LSA Global Ambassador Program Pilot



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 GET PAID TO ENGAGE WITH U-M ALUMNI WHILE ABROAD
Be the first to participate in the LSA College Connections Abroad Program this summer!

The aim of the College Connections Abroad Program is to connect current undergraduates participating in a global experience with alumni who live abroad.

Prior to their departure on a Spring or Summer term program, student alumni ambassadors will be given the tools to reach out to and interview local overseas alumni, and then report alumni stories and feedback to the College of LSA. The information gathered from alumni interviews will be extremely valuable in helping the College continue to improve its academic offerings, student initiatives, programs, funding priorities, communications and more. 

This is your chance not only to represent U of M, but to also gain a valuable-on-the-ground resource and ultimately enhance your global experience. How many other times will you get to talk about the Cube, seek college/career advice, and ask for some local tips and secrets from a fellow Wolverine, sitting in a cafe in the middle of London, Paris, Beijing, Rome, Mumbai?
We are currently seeking LSA students studying abroad during May-Aug. 2014 to pilot the program.  If selected, student alumni ambassadors will also be paid for each alumni interview completed. To learn more contact Christina at cpechett@umich.edu.

Christina E. Pechette College Connections Coordinator
------------------------------------------------------------
  
Development, Marketing, and Communications
LSA Building, Suite 5000
500 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382

Monday, April 7, 2014

Friday, April 11 @ 12 PM | Peace Corps Information Session

Get a jump start on next year's job hunt!
Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your post-graduation plans, whether you graduate in one month, are a rising senior, or still have a few years. If you're interested in service work, foreign languages, life abroad, a government career or applying the theory of your coursework to real world problems in health, education, the environment, agriculture, community development and entrepreneurship, consider international work with Peace Corps!

INFORMATION SESSION THIS FRIDAY!
Friday, April 11 from 12-1:30 pm

Location: School of Social Work Building, Room B770
NOTE: We've changed locations from West Quad!

Learn about the University of Michigan's long history of international service with Peace Corps, hear about the international work of local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and learn about the application process, what PCVs do, where they go and how Peace Corps service opens diverse career pathways for RPCVs. Get your questions answered and even learn about grad school partnerships between Peace Corps and universities across the country, including nine with U of M.

Also, check out the map of Peace Corps placement openings to see where adventure and the foundation for your international career awaits!

You can also stop by our campus office to chat with us today! Please see below for our semester office hours and like us on Facebook to stay updated on all things Peace Corps!

WINTER 2014 OFFICE HOURS
Monday 10 am - 2 pm
Tuesday 11 am - 1 pm
Wednesday 10 am - 2 pm
Thursday 11 am - 1 pm2:30 pm - 5 pm
Friday 11 am - 3 pm

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Please note our new location in the Student Activities Building (by the cube!)

Brian Smyser + Katie Collins
University of Michigan Peace Corps OfficeInternational Center
1500 Student Activities Building
515 E. Jefferson Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316
peace.corps@umich.edu | 734.647.2182

For more information...

Online:

Office Hours:
Monday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am - 1:00 pm 
Wednesday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am - 1:00 pm + 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

International Center Moving to SAB | Closed for moving on 4/4, Re-Opening on 4/7


International Center Moving

On April 4, 2014 the Central Campus office of the International Center will move from its current location in the South Wing of the Michigan Union to 1500 Student Activities Building (SAB). As a result, the Central Campus IC will be closed all day on April 4 and reopen at 8:00 a.m. in its new location in SAB on April 7, 2014.

The IC’s new address will be as follows.

International Center 
1500 Student Activities Building 
515 E. Jefferson Street 
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316

The phone and FAX numbers for the IC in SAB will remain the same as they are now for the Central Campus IC. As a reminder, the phone number is: 764-9310, and the FAX number is 647-2181.

International Center History
It is interesting to note that the IC has been in its current location in the Michigan Union for its entire 75 year history. The University is justifiably proud of the fact that the IC has been at the forefront of international educational exchange in U.S. higher education since its inception in 1938. A noteworthy example is that IC leaders played an instrumental role in the founding of the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) in 1948. Currently, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest international education association in the world with 10,000+ members from over 60 countries. To learn more about the history and impact of the IC, please click on the link below to view an annotated time line.

http://internationalcenter.umich.edu/about/history.html

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we move into our new space in early April. We in the IC look forward to welcoming and serving our diverse clientele and all of our campus colleagues in our new location starting on April 7, 2014.

John E. Greisberger, Director

March 31, 2014