Fall 2014 Graduate and International Student Orientation, August 11-17th Monday, August 11 Tuesday, August 12 Wednesday, August 13 Thursday, August 14 Friday, August 15 *Today’s sessions presented by UMBC’s English Language Institute (ELI) Banking in the US 10:30am – 11:00am Lecture Hall 1 Social Security 10:00am – 11:00am, Lecture Hall 3 Graduate School Orientation 12:30pm – 7:15pm PROMISE Success Institute Service Providers Fair and Lunch 11:00am – 1:00pm The Commons, 2nd Floor, Student Organizations Space. *meet with cell phone Driving in Maryland 11:00am – 12:00pm, Lecture Hall 3 http://www.umbc. edu/gradschool/es sentials/orientatio n.html *Pre-registration is required, see link on Saturday’s schedule US Cultural Differences, Academic Norms and Expectations 10:00am – 11:00am ELI (University Center, 2nd floor) Speaking, Debating and Presenting 11:00am – 12:15pm ELI Lunch Break 12:15pm – 1:00pm (not provided) Academic Vocabulary 1:00pm – 2:00pm ELI Research and Writing Academic Papers 2:00pm – 3:00pm ELI Night Out – Swing Dance in Baltimore! 7:30pm – about 11pm Mobtown Ballroom Meet in Commons Loop for transportation (COST - $10, includes lesson) Limited Space! providers, banks, local apartments, campus and student organizations and more, over lunch UMBC Transit Services 1:00pm – 1:30pm Lecture Hall 1 Night Out“Experience Baltimore” Harbor Trip 1:30pm – 9:30pm Bus leaves from Commons Loop (estimated COST - $7entrance to Fort McHenry)*Limited Space Available, students must register ahead of time at ies@umbc.edu 8:30am -1:00pm Dining Hall Lunch 12:00pm – 2:00pm True Grit’s (COST - $8.05) RAC (gym) Tour 2:00-2:30pm UMBC RAC Library and Resource Scavenger Hunt! 2:30pm-4:00pm Library Atrium Culture EventMaryland Style Crab Feast 4:30pm-6:30pm Flat Tuesdays Patio Tickets are $15 and for sale at IES Office. Limited Space! Saturday, August 16 PROMISE Success Institute 8:30am – 5:00pm Hosted by UMB (University of Maryland, Baltimore) SMC Campus Center 621 W. Lombard St. Baltimore, MD 2120 *Pre-registration is required, see link below Intercultural Training Session 4:30pm-6:00pm Sherman 006 Facilitated by Eva Piera Escriva, INCC Grad student and ISAB member Night Out-Live MusicFrederick Road Fridays 6:30pm-9:00pm Frederick Road, Catonsville Meet at Administration Bus Shelter for transportation. Event is FREE! *More information and registration for PROMISE is at http://my.umbc.edu /groups/promise/ne ws/27031 Shopping TripInternational Grocery Store and Wal-Mart 12:00pm-3:30pm Rt. 40 and Rolling Road Shopping Center Meet at Administration Bus Shelter for transportation. Event is FREE! Event Descriptions Monday, August 11th UMBC’s English Language Institute presents a series of workshops designed to help students prepare for US academic expectations, including classroom and professor expectations, presentation skills, building academic vocabulary, and guidance in writing academic papers. A lunch break is included – you can head over to the Commons for lunch or bring your lunch with you. Night Out - Swing Dance in Baltimore! -Advanced Registration Required, email ies@umbc.edu to register! Join current UMBC students and other Baltimore locals for a night of fun and energetic social dancing! Swing dancing is a traditional American style of partner dance from the 1930’s and 40’s, done to high-energy jazz and big band music. A lesson at 8pm will introduce new dancers to basic moves, and the dance from 9pm – about 12am gives dancers a chance to try out what they’ve learned. This is a very fun, friendly and welcoming environment – you will meet and interact with many different people in a safe and relaxed atmosphere. UMBC will provide transportation from UMBC and back again for new UMBC students. Watch an example of swing dancing here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWR4TdMc7IE COST - $10 with student ID Tuesday, August 12th Banking in the US – Learn the basics of the US Banking System, including an introduction to online banking, ATM usage, banking safety, and how to evaluate and choose different banks. This is a great preparation for the Service Provider’s Fair! Service Providers Fair – Advanced Registration Required, email ies@umbc.edu to register! Meet and evaluate banking services, cell phone providers and nearby apartment complexes; meet and learn about various University Services, and enjoy a pizza lunch with your new friends! Transit Services – Want to get off campus and explore Baltimore and the surrounding areas? Need transportation to your apartment, the airport, the grocery store, and beyond? Learn more in this session about UMBC’s free shuttle system, as well as local forms of public transportation. Night Out – “Experience Baltimore” Harbor Trip - Advanced Registration Required, email ies@umbc.edu to register! Join IES staff and your new friends for an afternoon and evening of Baltimore history and fun! We will start our trip with a guided tour of historical Fort McHenry, which is celebrating the bicentennial of the war of 1812 and the writing of the National Anthem. The Fort played a crucial role in the formation of the US! We will also take a trip on the Charm City Circulator to experience a free public transit option to get around Baltimore City. The Circulator will take us to the Baltimore Welcome Center to pick up more information about the city. Students will then have the rest of the evening free to wander the harbor, enjoying dinner, entertainment, shopping and more as they please. Transportation between UMBC and Baltimore will be provided. COST –$7 for entrance to Fort McHenry. Food and shopping will be additional expenses. Wednesday, August 13th Social Security - This session reviews the process to apply for a Social Security number (SSN), which is required to work and get paid in the US. Graduate Assistants or others that already have jobs lined up on campus are heavily encouraged to attend, as they will need to apply for an SSN. Driving in Maryland – Don’t be confused by the process to get a Maryland Driver’s license – we’ll explain everything you need to know! Dining Hall Lunch – Join IES staff and fellow students for lunch in UMBC’s Dining Hall, True Grit’s. This is a great way to sample a variety of American food, as the Dining Hall is “buffet style,” and very good! Cost - $8 RAC Tour – The RAC (Retriever Activities Center) is UMBC’s gym, which all students have free access to. We’ll tour the facility and learn about different opportunities for students, such as a free group fitness classes, pool usage, weight rooms and more. Library and Resource Scavenger Hunt - A favorite session for new students, this workshop will help you get to know the services UMBC’s Albin O. Kuhn (AOK) Library has to offer in a fun and interactive way. Services of the library include the popular Media Center, the Retriever Learning Center, research librarians, journal collections, and the library’s extensive web services. This session is especially important to new Graduate Students who will be conducting research while at UMBC. IES Maryland Crab Feast!- Advanced Ticket Purchase Required. Purchase your tickets in the IES Office- Administration Building, 2nd Floor. Tickets are $10 (Cash Only) for all you can eat Maryland Crabs! Enjoy a traditional Maryland style Crab Feast with delicious, hot steamed crabs! There will also be potato salad, corn on the cob, and ice cold beverages! Any questions? Contact IES at (410)-4552624 or ies@umbc.edu. Learn a little bit more about crabs in Maryland here: http://baltimore.org/taste-baltimore/maryland-crabs/ Thursday, August 14th Graduate School Orientation – Register in advance through the Graduate School! Graduate students should plan to attend this informative and exciting event, which helps students learn important information about being a Graduate student at UMBC, as well as provides plenty of time for getting to know your colleagues and peers. More information can be found here: http://www.umbc.edu/gradschool/essentials/orientation.html Friday, August 15th PROMISE Success Institute – Register in advance at http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/news/27031 PROMISE is an organization designed to assist Graduate students in completing their degrees. This Success Institute will help you give you opportunities to learn success strategies and networking skills, meet other new students, and prepare for a rewarding and productive year ahead! Intercultural Training Session Join UMBC graduate students and ISAB member, Eva Piera Escriva, for an interactive session that provides academic and social-interactional advice from the perspective of a current graduate international student. This session will introduce you to culture shock and help you prepare for your life at UMBC as an international student. Topics covered will be culture shock, intercultural communication, international student adjustment, and goal setting. Night Out- Live Music- Frederick Road Fridays Join IES staff and, current and new UMBC students for an evening of live music in the local town of Catonsville. The event is FREE but you will need to purchase your own food and beverages from local vendors. Bring your UMBC ID Card for use on the UMBC Transit Shuttle (we will be departing from the Administration Bus Shelter) and also a blanket to sit on so you can watch the show! You can also explore downtown Catonsville where there are shops, restaurants, antiques, and cafés. Join us for this fun evening out in Catonsville! Saturday, August 16th Shopping Trip-International Market and Wal-Mart Are you curious where to get grocery items from your home country? Do you need to furnish your new apartment or room? Join IES staff and current students to go on a Saturday afternoon shopping trip to the local international market and Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has everything from televisions to plants for you to make your new home to your liking! We will be leaving from the Administration Bus Shelter promptly at 12:00pm and using FREE UMBC Transit so don’t forget to bring your UMBC ID card! The shuttle will return to campus at 3:30pm. Watch your email for more events coming during the week of August 18th-24th! We look forward to welcoming you to UMBC! Please contact us with any questions or concerns: UMBC IES Office, Admin 224 ies@umbc.edu 410-455-2624