New Student Org @ U-M | Interested in China? Check out Project Pengyou

Did you enjoy your study abroad experience in China? Would you like to connect with other Americans across the U.S. who have also traveled/studied/worked in China? Are you interested in positive U.S.- China relations? If so,join the Project 朋友 movement! A chapter is being started here at U-M, and we want YOU to become involved. If interested, please email Kelicia Hollis krhollis@umich.edu for more details on becoming involved. 

MORE ABOUT PROJECT 朋友

ProjectPengyou.org and the Leadership Fellows Program are implemented by
the Golden Bridges Foundation (www.goldenbridges.org). Established in 2007,
Golden Bridges is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to build
bridges to China that strengthen the sustainability and capacity of community-
based nonprofits and individuals to serve, inspire and transform lives.

Project Pengyou was conceived as the alumni network of President Obama’s
100,000 Strong Initiative, and seeks to build a global community of China
bridge-builders.  Project Pengyou is seeded by a multi-year grant from the
Ford Foundation and has been endorsed by Gary Locke and Hillary Clinton.

Kelicia Hollis

Graduate Assistant, Michigan Research Community (MRC)

Higher Education M.A. 

University of Michigan 

Creative Writing B.A. 

Columbia University

Featured Travel App: Airport Transportation

The airport is most likely the first stop on your travel agenda, but it shouldn't be the most stressful. Save the stress of figuring out your surroundings when you get to your final destination and make your trip to the airport stress-free with the Airports by TravelNerd app. This app is perfect for on-the-go travelers who want comprehensive airport information in one easy to use app.


Worried about missing your connecting flight by trying to navigate the terminal when you land? TravelNerd allows you to check airport terminals even when offline. Know where you are going with their convenient terminal maps before you even land. 

Not sure how you're going to get to your hotel once you have picked up your bags? TravelNerd can help you find a variety of different ground transportation methods and can further connect you to websites or provide phone numbers for various options. 

This app has multiple features that will be beneficial to you in all aspects of your airport travel, including: 

•Real-time flight tracking - view flight status, delays and cancellations
•Offline mode enabled - use airport guides without mobile network or internet access
•Over 250 customized terminal maps
•Airport information for over 70 of the most popular airports 
•Coupons for airport parking lots, airport shuttles and car service
•Wi-Fi availability and pricing
•Customized directions to popular destinations for 20 airports (e.g., SFO to Union Square or JFK to Manhattan)
•Airport restaurant, shop and lounge hours and locations
•Nurseries and other family-friendly amenities

Download this app for free in the Apple Apps Store and navigate your next airport trip swiftly with Airports by TravelNerd. 


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

Featured Travel Apps: Dividing the Bill

"I don't have any cash, can you get this and I'll pay you back later?"
"I paid for the hostel last night, can you get these bus tickets and we'll be even?"
"If you owe me $20, and I pay for this, then you'll only owe me $10, right?"

Traveling with a friend or a group of friends will inevitably lead to conversations such as these. Figuring out who is going to pay for the cab you just took or the drinks you just had can cause an unnecessary headache while traveling. Making sure that you are all evenly paid back can be problematic as well, and can cause stress when adventuring on a tight budget.

Having TripSplitter handy can save you the stress of the "I owe you what?" conversations that can consume a good amount of a meal time chat. TripSplitter allows you to breezily split expenses with travel companions. When you split a bill, enter each person's costs, and the IOU's are calculated and stored. This way, if you pay for the hostel, and they pay for the bus, the app can total what you still owe or are owed, so you equally split the costs.


Some of the main features include:
- Unlimited number of participants
- Create even or uneven splits
- Categorize expenses with the touch of an icon
- Convert currencies if your trip spans countries
- Turn device sideways at any time to see the IOUS
- Email participants a detailed list of spendings

This app was featured on ABC News Technology Review's App of the Week.

Save yourself the stress when traveling with your friends and download TripSplitter from the Apple App Store for only $1.99. Simplify your trip and split the bill evenly!


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

Featured Travel App: MetrO made easy

While we often like to think we can conquer a city on foot, it is usually much faster and less tiring to use public transportation. Yet, navigating a new city by metro or bus can be confusing.


That's what MetrO is here for. MetrO can help you find your way in the public transportation system in more than 400 cities around the world.

 MetrO allows you to find the best route from your current location to your final destination via metro, bus, or railway system within a major city. Once you download the cities you need, no network connection is needed to use the app.

For example, if I needed to get from my apartment in La Latina to the airport, MetrO could provide me with a route, saving me time trying to decipher the map or having to ask someone. It can displays various routes as well - including the shortest route or the route with least stops/transfers.

Best of all, this app is FREE! So before your next adventure, make sure to download MetrO to help you easily navigate the big city that awaits you.




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

In Ann Arbor this summer? Sign up to be a Conversation Circle Leader!

Are you looking for a way to be a part of the university's global outreach? 
Take advantage of the opportunity to become a Conversation Circles Leader.

Conversation Circles is a program offered through the English Language Institute (ELI), designed to connect non-native and native English speakers in small groups for a weekly hour of cross-cultural conversations.

Leading a group is a great way to

  -- fulfill a community service requirement
  -- broaden your cross-cultural experience
  -- strengthen your resume
  -- explore language learning issues
  -- have some "no-homework" fun chilling out with a small group of international students at your favorite Ann Arbor hangout

To learn more about the program and sign up to be a leader, check out our website at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/conversation/

If you know anyone else who might be interested in being either a group leader or a group member, by all means pass the URL on to them. Undergraduates, graduate students and staff are all eligible.
Registration is open now! (Participant sign-up will begin on May 14, so register your group soon!)

We will be holding an orientation session for first-time leaders on Thursday, May 15, from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Please RSVP either way; if you have a schedule conflict, we'll work out an alternative.

If you have any questions, please e-mail CircleUp-Questions@umich.edu

Thank you!

Featured Travel Apps: HTH Health Care Simplified

Getting sick is one of the last things you want to occur on your trip abroad. But, it is often something that is out of your control. For those who have ever experienced being sick abroad, it can be a stressful and unpleasant experience. Not only are you far from home and the usual chicken noodle soup, but you also have to navigate your host country's medical system, which can be tricky to do, especially if you don't know the language very well.

But, our trusty travel abroad health insurance provider, HTH, has a handy app that can help you with your medical or dental woes while abroad. They make handling the situation much more convenient and less stressful with their mPassport app.

 

mPassport allows you to:

- Search, map and choose among carefully selected doctors, dentists, hospitals, and pharmacies
- Schedule an appointment on short notice
- Find equivalent medication brand names and translate important medical terms and phrases, as well as hear them spoken in the local language

This app is free to you when you purchase the highly recommended U of M Travel Abroad Health Insurance (available for educational and leisure travel - only a $1.10 per day).

Also, this app does not require an internet connection and can connect with Google Maps to get directions from your current location.

Get MPassport through the Apple App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.


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

Attn Graduating Seniors - Apply by May 19 | Interested in a fully-funded teaching opportunity the Marshall Islands, American Samoa, or Micronesia?

WorldTeach is currently accepting applications for college graduates to serve as volunteer English teachers in their yearlong, funded programs in the Pacific Islands of American Samoa, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia.

Applications will be accepted until May 19th, 2014. Volunteers will depart mid July, 2014, and return July 2015.

Volunteers are full time teachers of varying subjects (based on their experience and preference) at different age levels (primary, high school): English as Foreign Language, Math, Science, or Business Courses. In some programs, volunteers have the opportunity to earn a TEFL certificate during their term of service. 

 

Note: Micronesia has a few placements at the College of Micronesia for volunteers with experience in vocational training, or a master’s degree in a science, math, or art related field. 

The American Samoa, Marshall Islands, and Micronesia programs are funded by each country's Ministry of Education, including round-trip international airfare from a designated U.S. departure city, in addition to the following: 

Yearlong volunteers receive:

- WorldTeach pre-departure literature and preparation

- Comprehensive visa sponsorship and assistance in securing necessary work permits

- Health & emergency evacuation insurance 

- Training comprising 3-4 week Orientation upon arrival, Mid Service Conference, and End of Service Conference

- Meals and housing during orientation and conferences 

- Transportation between training and placement sites 

- Housing 

- Monthly stipend 

- Option for TEFL certification in some programs 

- Professional development through Teacher Quality Program, including mentorship by remote Teacher Quality Coordinator 

- Support from full time, in-country field staff 

Qualifications: Applicants must be native English speakers and be between the ages of 21-73. A Bachelor's degree is required at the time of departure. No teaching experience is necessary, but an interest in teaching, and a flexible, mature attitude, are attributes of a successful volunteer. 

To Apply: Year program applications require a resume, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a college/university transcript. Start your application on our website here, or email admissions@worldteach.org.

About WorldTeach

WorldTeach was founded in 1986 by a group of Harvard students who were motivated by the desire to promote local education initiatives in places where teachers and resources were lacking. Today, we continue to provide opportunities for individuals to serve as volunteer teachers around the world, working to educate under-served students in countries that would otherwise be unable to afford or locate qualified teachers. Each year, we send about 400 volunteers to local schools and host communities in countries around the world that have specifically requested our support through their Ministries of Education. WorldTeach is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit and Charity Navigator 4-star charity.

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