12B - The Michigan Daily Weekend Magazine - Thursday, September 4, 1997
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The Michigan Daily Weekend I e-Thursday, September 4, 1997 - 9B
Books offer advice on study abroad, time off from school
By Jessica Eaton
Daily Books Editor
Do you really want to be in school
right now?
If you are nodding your head and
shouting "YES!", wondering how any-
one could possibly ask such an inane
question, then move on to the next arti-
cle. This isn't for you, atleast not at this
point in your life. If, however, you have
to pause and think about that question,
then maybe now is a good time to con-
sider some alternatives.
Whether you dream about earning
money for school, working as a volun-
teer in a foreign country, or hiking
across the United States, it's necessary
to do some research first. "Taking Time
Off: Inspiring Stories of Students who
Enjoyed Successful Breaks from
College and How You Can Plan Your
Own" is an excellent place to start.
Colin Hall and Ron Lieber, recent
graduates of Amherst College, have
collected the various experiences of 33
First-year student Masha Dulbic talks with Senior Aide Borka Tomlenovic in the
International Center on Tuesday about studying abroad.
WVVhat's New at the
Office of Financial Aid?
V North Campus Satellite Office Now Open:
Where: 1212 Pierpont Commons
(in the same location as the Office of the Registrar
and the Entree Office)
What: Offering a range of services (including advising
and application material drop-off and pick-up)
When: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday:
9 a.m.--12 noon & 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Thursday: 1 pm.-5 p.m.
Telephone: 763-6600 (same as the Main Office number)
V Student Employment Job Search Website:
http:/lwww.umich.edu/~finaidlE mploy/
Tap into listings for Work-Study and Non-Work-Study
employment opportunities on and off campus!
Office of Financial Aid
students and combined them with
advice on how, when, and why to take
time off ...oh yeah, and how to con-
vince your parents that it's a good idea.
There are also stories of getting "back
on track" after leaving school and an
extensive appendix with a list of other
resources.
Ted Conover, a 1981 Amherst gradu-
ate, left school after finishing his junior
year to ride freight trains and learn from
the railroad tramps who still travel
across the country. He returned to
school to write of his experiences in his
senior thesis, and later in his book
"Rolling Nowhere." After graduation,
he became a successful magazine
writer and has written two other books.
"Taking Time Off" also recounts the
experiences of Eric Van Dusen, a stu-
dent who chose to study abroad in
Argentina during his schooling at the
University of California at Berkeley.
However, instead of following the tradi-
tional university-sponsored program,
Van Dusen simply traveled to Buenos
Aires and enrolled at the University of
Buenos Aires on his own.
He saved more than $2000 and
received a much more authentic experi-
ence of the culture. He graduated from
Berkeley and, at the time of the book's
publication, was pursuing a Ph.D. in
agricultural economics.
As the authors of "Taking Time Off"
so eloquently state, "The real question
is, do you want to take charge of your
own life or be swept along by everyone
else's expectations for you? There's
nothing wrong with deciding to go to
college; just make sure you're there
because you want to be"'
Once you have decided to take a
break from college, you need to devel-
op a more specific plan to keep yourself
from lying in front of the soaps with a
bag of potato chips. There are many
valuable work and travel guides avail-
able; one of the best is Robert Gilpin's
and Caroline Fitzgibbons' book "Time
Out: Taking a Break from School to
Travel, Work, and Study in the U.S. and
Abroad." It is an ideal resource for gen-
eral information, covering just about
every possibility.
"Study Abroad: A Guide toSemester
& Year Abroad Academic Programs,"
published by Peterson's Guides, and
"Americans Traveling Abroad," by
Gladson I. Nwanna, are useful refer-
ences for students planning to travel.
"Americans Traveling Abroad" contains
information on necessary precautions
and valuable tips, all arranged by coun-
try, and also contains a chapter specifi-
cally for students regarding budget,
lodging and identification problems.
If you desire (or need) to work for a
semester, summer, or entire school year,
"The National Directory of Intern-
ships," by Garrett Martin and Barbara
Baker, and "The Complete Resume &
Job Search Book for College Students,"
by Bob Adams, are recommended.
They will help you find a job to make
your time off worthwhile. "Work Your
Way Around the World," by Susan
Griffith, is a good resource recom-
mended by "Taking Time Off" for stu-
dents looking to travel.
William Nolting, a University faculty
member who works in the International
Office, is one of the contributing edi-
tors of "Work Abroad," recently pub-
lished by Transitions Abroad. In this
book, he has composed a bibliography
of key resources in which he also rates
the best books currently out.
"For people at the University," he
said, "sse have all of the books listed in
the bibliography in our office.
Students considering alternatives to
the traditional classes should come
check us out when beginning their
search." His office also contains
binders of comments from students
working abroad and several peer advi-
sors. Nolting also recommended
Project Serve or the Career Planning
and Placement office for students
looktng for alternatives.
This collection of books is simply a
starting point. Once you begin to look,
there are literally hundreds of people
with a story to tell and a few tips on
how you can do the same.
So if you're beginning to wonder
about your time here in Ann Arbor, pick
up one of these books. Then grab a copy
of Kerouac's "On The Road" or
Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley" and
take some time off. As Steinbeck
writes, "When I was very young and the
urge to be someplace else was on me, I
was assutred by mature people that
maturity swoutd cure this itch." That
may be true. And who wants to be
mature?
P RESEN-TED
Michigan Theater, Thursday, September 4
Blues & Jazz Movies
Michigan Theater, Friday, September 5
BUDDY GUY
Johnnie Bassett & The Blues Insurgents, 8pm
Bird of Paradise, Friday & Saturday, September 5-6
KURT EKLING with
The Laurence Hobgood Trio, 9pm & 11pm
MigaPakeateursday, September
MlesKIazzMATiNesWO
Do Byrona Qatet Big Jac Jhnson & The Oilers,
Miss Lavelle White, Mudpuppy
Lady Sunshine & The X Band, noon-8pm
CThesLaurence HobdgoodseTrion of m &ant1 m
Gallup Park, Sunday, September 7
MARCIA B ALL Beau Jocque & The Zydeco UEA
Hi-Rollers, Honeyboy Edwards, Paul Keller Sextet, 'TEXTURES " CUT& LOOPS " VELVETS " WEAR-DATED
Transmission, 2:00 Jazz Band, noon-8pm " ERBERS PATTERNS *MULTICOLORS * LOOPS& MOREl
Tickets available at all TICKETMAXSTER outlets, Schoolkids
Record., and PJ's Used Records. Chargeby calling 248-645-6666.AG
For more information call 313-747-99:5, or log on to
wwschoolkids.com/a.blues-jazz/
Gallup Park Gates Open At 11:00am. Program subject to change.
" Adds the finishing touch to
" a your home away from home.
MedaWne Aws _ Eegance BeautyComfort
SaiexendseSatsrdaysSeptember 27,1997. New York Carpet World 1997. Airst quaty, shop and compare Pr orders exempt
BOOKSTORES
Continued from Page 5B
ings. "I sold the store two out of about
a dozen. If they have a sales quota, they
just say-no to you."
"The rush is definitely on," said.
Richard, noting that the late opening of
the residence halls this year - five.
days later than last year - has pushed
the main sale period to yesterday, today
and tomorrow.
Jonathon Seddelmeyer, an
Engineering senior, said he lucked out
and spent only 20 minutes shopping.
Well-seasoned in the book hunt,
Seddelmeyer said he knows there aren't
really any discounts.
"I just went to Michigan Book and
Supply because it's closest to my apart-
ment this year. Last year I went to
Ulrich's," he said.
"I didn't buy my books yet this year,"
said LSA senior Johanna Knoch. "It
takes me about a week usually, because
I have to go to a whole bunch of differ-
ent stores to find the books I need.
They're never all in one place:'
"Plus, all the freshmen take up the
lines," she added with a laugh.