12B - The Michigan Daily Weekend Magazine - Thursday, September 4, 1997 9 0 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.