Includes the 2008-10 International NSF-REU
Site for Chemistry in China
What kind of orientation will we be getting?
Although the bulk of the orientation will occur
in China (see below), it will actually begin in Ann Arbor. We think
there are three distinct goals to keep in mind: for the group
of US students (a) to get to know each other and bond, as a group,
prior to leaving for China, (b) to become acquainted with living
in China prior to starting the research program, and (c) to adjust
to carrying out research in a foreign setting.
Because UM and PKU have cooperated to form a Joint Institute (which
is located about 2 minutes from the Chemistry Building at PKU), 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
"University home away from home" as you get familiar and
learn to function more independently in China. THe Joint Institute
will cooperate with the PKU Chemistry Department to oversee your program
of activities throughout the summer. In addition, the PKU Co-Director,
Professor Li Zi-Chen, is always available to the UM-PKU students.
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. Julia Feng
juliafeng@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
You will not be the only foreign nationals. PKU 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.
In addition, Program Co-Director Professor Brian Coppola be accompanying
you on the trip over, and he will be participating in the two-week
on-site orientation program we call 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 18 (Sun) |
All US students (no exceptions)
begin on-campus orientation in Ann Arbor
Dinner with Justin |
| May 19 (Mon) |
US Orientation program (Day 1)
AM: welcome, Q/A, updates
Lunch: with former UM/PKU students
PM: Getting to know each other (Program on Intergroup Relations I)
Dinner with Justin
|
| May 20 (Tues) |
US Orientation program (Day
2)
AM: Language
Lunch: Chinese food
PM: Language
Dinner on own |
| May 21 (Wed) |
US Orientation program (Day 3)
AM: Getting to know each other (Program on Intergroup Relations
II)
Lunch & PM: Youth Culture in China (Center for Chinese Studies)
Dinner with Justin |
| May 22 (Thu) |
US Orientation program
(Day 4)
AM: Blogging with Justin
Lunch & Last minute needs, shopping, etc. with Justin
Dinner on own
|
| May 23 (Fri) |
AM: Rest and prepare
PM: Depart for PKU (3 PM) |
| May 24 (Sat) |
PM: Arrive at Wanliu Apartments
- check in - collapse :) |
| May 25 (Sun) |
AM: Sleep in; breakfast around Wanliu area (on
own)
11 AM: Pick-up at Wanliu by UM/PKU bus
Lunch: Wanliu cafe
PM: Trip to the Forbidden City/Imperial
Palace (with Language Instructor)
Dinner: Tiananmen area
Eve: National Flag lowering ceremony at Tiananmen Square/ |
| May 26 (Mon) |
AM: Pick-up by UM/PKU bus &
Language Class
Lunch: with the 2007 UM/PKU students at Shao Yuan& Tour
of PKU campus
PM: Culture Class - Higher Education in China (Prof. James Lee)
Eve: Shopping for phones (and other); dinner at Wanliu |
| May 27 (Tues) |
AM: Meet at Wanliu for learning the bus schedule
& then Language Class
Lunch: meet all Chemistry faculty & students from UM/PKU program at Chemistry
PM: Culture Class: Rebellions (Prof. James Lee)
Eve: Dinner at the Kro's Nest with Justin - then learn about getting the Wanliu
shuttle |
| May 28 (Wed) |
AM: Travel to campus on your
own, and Language Class
Lunch: lunch with Chemistry - introduction to some of the research
groups
PM: Culture Class - Change in China in the 20th Century
Eve: Dinner |
| May 29 (Thurs) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: lunch with Chemistry - introduction to some of the research
groups
Lunch & PM: Learning the subway - Hongqiao Pearl market
Eve: Dinner on your own - return to campus on your own |
| May 30 (Fri) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: on your own
PM: Culture Class - Rural to Urban Migration
Eve: Dinner on your own |
| May 31 (Sat) |
Visit cultural & historic sites: Lama Temple
and Confucius Temple
(with Language Instructor)
Lunch at a local restaurant
Hutong Tour & Drum Tower performance
Lao Tse Tea House - dinner and performance
|
| Jun 1 (Sun) |
Visit cultural & historic
sites: Jinshanling & Simatai areas of the Great Wall
Lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner on your own
|
| Jun 2 (Mon) |
AM: UM Group Breakfast meeting with UM Delegation
Everyone else: relaxing morning
PM: Language Class
Eve: Dinner on your own |
| Jun 3 (Tues) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: Meet with PKU professors and mentors
PM: Culture Class on Minorities
Eve: Dinner reception for UM Alumni Association |
| Jun 4 (Wed) |
AM: Move to Building 4 residence
PM: Language Class
Eve: Dinner at Leo KoGuan restaurant & Chinese Acrobats show |
| Jun 5 (Thurs) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: on your own
PM: Culture Class on Gender: Marriage, Love and Sex in China
Eve: Outing with Language Instructor |
| Jun 6 (Fri) |
AM: Language Class
Lunch: Meet with PKU professors and mentors
PM: Culture Class on caligraphy and paper-cutting & visit LiuLiChang
Eve: Peking Duck & Peking Opera |
| Jun 7 (Sat) |
Some go for 2-day trip to
Xi'an; Others: Temple of Heaven
|
| Jun 8 (Sun) |
Some go for 2-day trip to Xi'an; Others: Summer
Palace Tour |
| Jun 9 (Mon) |
Students join research groups |
| Jul 31 (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 slightly warmer than Ann Arbor, so
the summer will be generally hot. The air quality is variable. The
summer rainfall can be high at times, 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 2008, you will be sharing an
efficiency apartment that is
on the bus route from PKU. The apartment
is fully furnished; 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 complex has a gymnasium,
a cafeteria, and washing machines. 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.
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, 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. We also recommend that you bring a normal
"medicine cabinet" of materials purchased in the US (antiseptics, band-aids,
alcohol wipes, Imodium, and plenty of small packs of Kleenex).
(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-sided (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. You should probably also bring
a small stock of modest gifts that you can share with others, as needed.
Again, it is customary to have tokens of appreciation and respect on
hand.
(6) 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 7 RMB to the dollar.
(7) 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.
