What kind of orientation will we be getting?
Although we are proposing that the bulk of the orientation can occur
in China (see below), a pre-program session is planned. Prior
to the trip, we will hold a luncheon where you will meet with UM
students who were recently first-time travellers to China as a
part of other UM programs. Staff and/or faculty members who help
organize programs in China will also be there, from the Center
for Chinese Studies, the Office of International Programs, and
from the Provost's Office.
Because UM and PKU have cooperated to form a Joint Institute (which
is located all of 2 minutes from the Chemistry Building at PKU, by
the way), you will be assisted with all of the "on
the ground" issues
that might concern you (having a sure contact, housing, transportation,
etc.) because we have contracted with the Institute to be your
"UM away from home" as you get familiar and learn to function
more independently in China. They will cooperating with the PKU Chemistry
Department to oversee your program of activities throughout the summer.
University of Michigan-Peking University Joint Institute
Room 245, Building 2
Leo KoGuan Complex of Peking University
Zhongguancun North Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing, China 100086
Office Phone: 86-10-6276-6210
Fax: 86-10-6276-7623
Our contact: Ms. Helen Shi
Helenshi@michigan.ccast.ac.cn
Mail to the Joint Institute should be directed to the Office of
International Relations:
UM-PKU Joint Institute
Office of International Relations
Yi He Yuan Lu 5#
Peking University
Beijing, China 100871
Our contact: Ms Manli Zhou
Deputy Division Chief
Division for Exchange Programs
Tel: 8610-62751242/43/46/47 ext. 211
Fax: 8610-62751240
Email: mlzhou@pku.edu.cn
Like UM, PKU also hosts many thousands of foreign students on its
campus every year, so there will be many other students like you who
are on campus for the first time, as well as others who are more experienced.
Some of these students will be participating in programs offered by
the Joint Institute, so there are a number of activities planned that
will bring these various groups of US students together.
In addition, in 2007, both Professors Coppola and Penner-Hahn will
not only be accompanying you on the trip over, but they will also be
participating in the two-week on-site orientation program we are tongue-in-cheek
calling the "boot camp."
“Boot camp” – We are in a uniquely strong position
with respect to Peking University because of the UM-PKU Joint Institute.
We have arranged for a unique and exciting two week program for you
before you start your research.
| May 31 (Thu) |
Depart from US |
| Jun 1 (Fri) |
Arrive to PKU (late evening) |
| Jun 2 (Sat) |
AM: Settle into residence
PM: welcome dinner with Joint Institute Director and Staff |
| Jun 3 (Sun) |
AM: Trip to the Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City/Imperial
Palace (with Language Instructor)
Lunch: Palace Area
PM: Yanbeiyuan area tour
Dinner: Yanbeiyuan area
|
| Jun 4 (Mon) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: with some of the UMPKU students from PKU & Tour of PKU
campus
PM: Culture Class - Higher Education in China
Eve: Food shopping and dinner at Zhongguancun Plaza |
| Jun 5 (Tues) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: meet all Chemistry faculty & students from UMPKU program
PM: All UMPKU students tour of Chemistry building and labs
Eve: Dinner with PKU students |
| Jun 6 (Wed) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch & PM: Hongqiao Pearl market & Yaxiu clothing market
Eve: Dinner with Joint Institute Staff |
| Jun 7 (Thurs) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: weekly lunch with JI staff and professors
PM: Culture Class - Change in China in the 20th Century
Eve: On campus dinner at Yaoshan Restaurant |
| Jun 8 (Fri) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: with JI staff
PM: Culture Class - Rural to Urban Migration
Eve: Dinner in Wudaokou area; concert at Tsing Hua University |
| Jun 9 (Sat) |
Visit cultural & historic sites: Lama Temple
and Confucius Temple
(with Language Instructor) |
| Jun 10 (Sun) |
Visit cultural & historic
sites: Jinshanling & Simatai areas of the Great Wall |
| Jun 11 (Mon) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: with PKU students
PM: Culture Class on Religion in China
Eve: Dinner at local restaurant with guests |
| Jun 12 (Tues) |
AMAM: Language Class
Lunch: with PKU students
PM: Culture Class on Minorities
Eve: Dinner at local restaurant with guests |
| Jun 13 (Wed) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: with PKU students
PM: Culture Class on Social Changes
Eve: Dinner at local restaurant with guests |
| Jun 14 (Thurs) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: with JI staff and professors
PM: Culture Class on Gender: Marriage, Love and Sex in China
Eve: Dinner at local restaurant with guests |
| Jun 15 (Fri) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: with UM delegation
PM: UMPKU reception
Eve: UMPKU dinner |
| Jun 16 (Sat) |
Visit to Mutianyu section
of Great Wall with UM Alum and Delegation group
UM Alum reception in Downtown Beijiing
|
| Jun 17 (Sun) |
Visit to Summer Palace, HouHai section of Old
Beijing |
| Jun 18 (Mon) |
Students join research groups |
| Thursdays |
Lunch: with JI staff and professors |
| Aug 9 (Thu) |
Joint poster session with PKU students in US |
How will I get around?
The PKU campus and its environs are quite walkable. There is a good
bus service, and taxis are inexpensive once you can learn to say where
you need to go. Some students invest in really inexpensive bicycles...
which are everywhere. For planned events and shopping excursions, we
have a driver we can contract through the Joint Institute. There is
a train station that connects PKU with the rest of China about a km
to the west of campus, and in a year or so, there will (finally) be
a PKU subway stop (conveniently enough, right next to both the chemistry
department and the Joint Institute).
What is the weather like in Beijing?
The temperature in Beijing is nearly the same as Ann Arbor, all year
round, so the summer will be hot. The air quality is variable. The
summer rainfall can be significantly higher, however, so be prepared
with good walking shoes and lightweight rain gear.
What is the typical work week for research students at PKU?
Research, of course, knows few time limits! However, the typical work
week is a full day on M-F and usually at least a partial day on Saturday.
What about housing, and what I need to bring?
For 2007, you will be sharing a
newly remodelled apartment that is
about a 5 minute bus ride (15 minute walk) from PKU. The apartment
is fully furnished and will be initially stocked with provisions for
you by the Joint Institute; you will not need to bring/rent any normal
household materials. The apartment will have pillows and linens
already, so these are not needed. The apartment has a washer but
not a dryer. People in China seldom use dryers and, instead, as any
visitor can tell you pretty quickly, they hang up the clothes on open
balconies to dry naturally. The apartment will be equipped with with
internet service. The apartment is a 6th floor walk-up:
Room 111, Danyuan 1, Building 305
Peking University Yanbeiyuan
Saoziying, Haidian District
Beijing, China 100091
Pre-trip check-list
(1) PASSPORT: Make sure your passport is up to date and you have not
been told you are in need of extra pages for obtaining visas.
(2) VISA: When the dates are confirmed, the program will
make travel reservations for you, including transportation to the airport,
from Ann Arbor or anywhere nearby, on the day of departure. Once the
plane reservations are made, the program will contact you about obtaining
the proper visa. You will need one valid passport photo to include
with the visa application.
(3) MEDICAL: Please check with your health care provider
for whatever provisions are needed to extend your health care coverage
to China. Be sure to stock up on whatever prescriptions you might need
to cover the time period of the summer program. Although you will have
lots of contact information and support while in China, another good
idea for peace-of-mind insurance is a credit card with a reasonably
high limit on it for any anticipated 'just in case' situations. This
is only a common sense recommendation. You should rarely, if ever,
be own your own and out of contact with the other students, the staff
of the Joint institute and/or International Center, or other contacts
you make while in Beijing.
(4) EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: You will provide us with
contact information. You will also have a list of contact names, places,
and addresses that you can give to your families. In addition, we will
have some sturdy, laminated cards made up for you to carry while you
are in China that will let anyone know who you are, where you live,
and whom to contact. If you have any allergies or other health-related
restrictions, we will also include these on those cards.
(5) BUSINESS CARDS & GIFTS: The program will provide you with some
two-sides (English/Chinese) business cards to use while you are in
China. It is extremely customary for people to present cards to each
other on various occasions. We will also provide some modest gifts
that you can share with others, as needed. Again, it is customary to
have tokens of appreciation and respect on hand when needed.
(6) PRE-TRIP ORIENTATION: As mentioned above, you will be meeting
with UM students and staff prior to your trip in order to hear about
their experiences and to be able to ask any questions you might have
about living in China. In the future, you will be the students with
whom others will meet prior to their trips!
(7) MOBILE PHONE: If you have a mobile phone and a provider
that allows you to use your service in China, you are obviously free
to do what is necessary to adapt your service. As it turns out, the
rental fees of mobile phones for 10 weeks is higher than just buying
them. Therefore, one way is to bring your GSM mobile from the US to
China, and then unlock it and buy a SIM card in China (around 30 yuan
or cheaper); if you do not have GSM mobiles, you can even just buy
new mobiles in China (a cheap one can be only 500-800 RMB, or
even lower). Just a note, here: "RMB" stands for rénmínbì,
which is the currency of China ( ¥), the principle unit of which
is the yuán (元). The exchange rate is about 8 RMB to the dollar.
(8) MONEY: You will receive your stipend and a modest meal
allowance prior to your trip. You should bring a small amount
of cash with you as an emergency back-up, and probably some traveler's
checks as a second back-up, but by-and-large you can operate the way
you do in the US. ATM machines are plentiful and convenient, and most
major establishments take the usual array of credit cards.
