Fear Factor – study abroad version

One of the best videos taken during the trip to Taiwan was the one taken by Sean….when the group visited the night market near NTNU in Taipei. How stinky is stinky tofu? Find out here:

Another news release regarding an university visit

NTNU College of Management sent me another link regarding our visit in May: http://www.mgt.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnu-m-news-detail.php?id=33

2011 Taiwan Study Abroad Review Video

Thanks all of our partners who made this program a success!

2011 Study Abroad in Taiwan Activities Roundup (3) – Lectures

Brief Introduction of Taiwan and Survival Mandarin by Prof. Peng (University of Michigan-Flint)

Foreign Trade Risk Management by Prof. Chia (Tamkang University)

Taiwan’s Culture by Prof. Huang (Tamkang University)

Intel Inside-The Case of Intel Inside by Prof. Hsiao (National Taiwan Normal University)

How Asus Manages Global Market by Ms. Cecilia Huang Fu (ASUS Computer)

Illustrated History of Taiwan by Prof. Shufelt (Tunghai University)

Random Talk of Taiwan Macro Economy by Prof. Wang (Tunghai University)

2011 Study Abroad in Taiwan Activities Roundup (2) – Company Visits

Company visits in this trip:

Meining Workshop

KPMG Taipei

Giant Manufacturing Co.

Tung’s Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital

Central Taiwan Science Park Administration

King Car Group Ka Va Lan Whisky Distillery

American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei

Jade Yachts Inc.

Taiwan Tsing Beer Long Chuan Brewery

2011 Study Abroad in Taiwan Activities Roundup (1) – University Visits

Tamkang University

National Taiwan Normal University

Asia University

Tunghai University

National Taiwan Normal University Visit

Here is a report issued by NTNU regarding our visit on 5/3: http://pr.ntnu.edu.tw/news2.php?no=9886

Visit Aisa University

A news release posted by Asia University about our visit:

http://www.asia.edu.tw/Main_pages/hot_news/news_11_05_05.htm

Student blogs

As part of the study abroad program requirements, students need to maintain and update a dedicated blog on things big and small when they travel to Taiwan. Here is a list of all student bolgs so far:

Co@st 2 Co@st by Dion Boose

Adventures in Taiwan by Jaylen Etefia

2011 7535+ Miles Club by Pat Harrold

Planes, trains, and automobiles by Ed Joss

Taiwan blog by Diane Martin

Jmorningstar by Joshua Moningstar

Here and there by Sean O’Morrow

Taiwan2011- Study Abroad by Gannon O’Reilly

My Amazing Trip by Arieanna Potter

Taiwan by Vanessa Smith

Taiwan 2011 by Monica Thomas

Program update due to the disaster in Japan

On Wednesday morning Professor Mehdian and I met with Dean Lofti to discuss our travel arrangements in Japan. He shared the travel warning issued by the Ann Arbor main campus and other university officials. They strongly advise not to travel to Japan at this time. Although there are still weeks before our planned travel to Japan, the safety of all students and faculty is the number 1 priority of the university. As a result, Dean Lofti decided to cancel the trip to Japan and we agreed with the decision. The School of Management will pay for the canceling charges for travel arrangements in Japan that were already paid.

I am personally very upset about this situation because that means my work in the past 10 months has been in vain – but I understand the need to do that.

Because of this decision we have decided to change our program to study abroad in Taiwan only. We will extend our stay in Taiwan for one extra week – so you will still travel to Taipei on 4/28 and leave on 5/15. If you already purchased your flight and you wish to continue participate in this program you don’t need to change your travel arrangement. I will work very hard in the next 6 weeks to prepare an exciting plan for this extra week. My tentative plan, at this point, is to visit more cities, more sister universities and more businesses (you will get more free time on top of that) – but please be assured that you will still participate in an unique and  well-planned study abroad program.

Since this is a significant change to the program we are offering a one-time opportunity to withdraw from the program without penalty and any financial burden (except the deposit if you did not withdraw before 2/26 deadline).  We will also reduce the program fee from $2,800 to $2,300 – which means you will receive a $500 refund from the university if you already paid the program fee in full. Your scholarship amount remains the same.

Again this is definitely not what we (or anybody) expected – but we are doing the best we can to make sure you gain invaluable experiences by participating in study abroad!

Finally FYI that Mr. Tanoue, the presenter in the second orientation class, provides a list of sources where you can help with victims of the earthquake in Japan – you can consider helping our friends there through following organizations:

The American Red Cross (http://american.redcross.org)

The Japan American Society of West Michigan (www.jaswm.org)

The Japan Business Society of Detroit (http://www.jbsd.org/ja/events/news.aspx?contentid=29)

The Japanese-American Citizens League of Dayton, Ohio. Donations can be sent to: Japan Earthquake Relief Fund c/o Chase Bank, 40 N. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45243

Michigan-Shiga Sister State Board. Make checks payable to “Michigan –Shiga Sister State Board” and note that this is a donation for the Japan Disaster Relief Fund. Please send checks to: Michigan-Shiga Sister State Board, P.O. Box 4715, East Lansing MI 48823-9998