#ipesummer26

During my first week in Shanghai, you may remember that it all went super fast. Each day was full of many activities and too many new experiences to count. However, that's usually the experience for many tourists in China. The experience that I get to have that is different than the average tourist is that I get to experience life in China more similarly to a local. I get to have the downtime, the daily experience where I get to actually get used to living in a new country.

Something that I've picked up while I've been here is the difference in the quality of the bikes. We are able to use this awesome system called "hello bike" which is essentially the Chinese equivalent of lime or spin bikes, except much cheaper. Something that I've noticed is that there is a wide variation of quality between the bikes. Some don't break very well, some don't have a phone stand, etc. The best bikes are the ones with the phone holder and orange rims. They seem to be the newest ones and are always very smooth.

I then met up with my friend from high school, who attends NYU Shanghai. He showed me around the city and his favorite spots, which included a delicious pecking duck restaurant, which I enjoyed with his Chinese friend and him.

Going on a bike ride around new bund, I explored a lot of the areas that foreigners don't typically visit. The everyday streets of Shanghai.

In the mall, we found a beautiful art shop. However, it also had a lot of AI art, which we found very interesting. It was also being listed for tens of thousands of dollars, which we were confused about why someone would pay 20k for AI art. Also, I somehow ended up paying $20 for a Starbucks cheesecake that was mid at best. Note to other people planning to visit china: make sure that you know how much you are paying, and don't be afraid to say no or 太贵了, which means too expensive.

We learned that the school next to us is a very rich international high school, and some of the kids have Ferraris that they park out front.

To get a small taste of home, we went to an Italian restaurant to get some pasta. It was very expensive compared to other Chinese food, but similar prices to a restaurant in America. It ended up being a pretty small portion, but was very delicious.

The bund is always and continues to be absolutely beautiful at night.

Overall, my second week has been an absolute blast, despite being less active than the first week. I've learned so many new things, including starting to be able to speak a little bit of Mandarin. I know some basic phrases, such as how to say hello, thank you, and ask where the bathroom is.

Unfortunately my posts were delayed for a while for a reason, but you'll have to wait until the next post to hear about that! Fortunately China has an amazing system to retrieve lost items that is unlike anything in the US.

Surviving a Paris Heat Wave

This week was a little different from my previous weeks abroad. Rather than spending every day visiting museums or famous landmarks, much of the week was spent simply trying to survive one of the hottest stretches of weather Paris has experienced this summer.

Coming from North Carolina, I thought I was prepared for hot weather. What I quickly learned, however, is that the heat in Paris feels very different. The best way to describe it is that it is uncomfortable because many buildings don't have air conditioning, so you're constantly hot and have no chance to properly cool down. As a result, I found myself adapting local habits such as keeping shutters closed during the day, opening windows at night, and seeking out shade whenever possible.

The heat wave also made me appreciate how much of daily life in Paris takes place outdoors. Parks, cafés, and public spaces remained busy despite the temperatures, and it was interesting to see how residents adjusted their routines rather than simply staying inside.

Provins Day trip

My visit to Provins provided an opportunity to experience a very different side of France. Located southeast of Paris, Provins is known for its medieval history and remarkably preserved architecture. Walking through the town felt like stepping into another era, with stone buildings, narrow streets, and historic structures that have remained part of the landscape for centuries.

One of the most interesting aspects of the visit was seeing how different life can feel outside of Paris. While Paris is fast-paced, densely populated, and constantly busy, Provins offers a much quieter, slower environment. The town's medieval character remains visible in nearly every street and building, providing a glimpse into France's history that cannot be experienced in the capital alone.

London

One of the reasons I chose Paris for my study abroad experience was its location. Paris is one of the best connected cities in Europe, making it possible to visit other countries and regions with relatively little travel time. From Paris, most major European cities can be reached in under three hours by plane, and many destinations are connected by extensive rail networks. This week, I took advantage of that accessibility by traveling to London.

As an Arsenal supporter, visiting London was a particularly special experience. The trip coincided with the UEFA Champions League Final, creating an atmosphere unlike anything I had experienced before. Throughout the city, football supporters filled the streets, pubs, and public spaces, creating a sense of excitement that could be felt everywhere. Being able to visit the Emirates Stadium and see thousands of Arsenal supporters gathered was one of the highlights of my time abroad so far (even though we lost).

Now that I had settled into life in Shanghai, I began exploring the city. One of the first things I did is go to the largest tourist area in Shanghai—Nanjing Road and the Bund. Nanjing road is a long road with many interesting shops and restaurants, mostly catered to tourists and foreigners. This was reflected in relatively higher prices, unlike most of Shanghai where food is extremely cheap.

One of the coolest things I saw was these silver shops that had dragons in the front. It was surprising how many silver stores there were on the same road.

After Nanjing road (which mostly just consisted of shops and food), we went to the Bund. The Bund is a view of the city skyline which, at night when the city is all lit up, is the most beautiful city view I've ever seen. It definitely is an unforgettable view.

Yuyuan Garden was also a beautiful area, with stunning architecture and a beautiful lake with a Michelin star restaurant at the top which we ate at. It didn't end up fulfilling our expectations, but it was still very delicious.

Something unique about Shanghai is that there are plenty of stray cats and dogs around the city and they tend to be quite friendly.

First Day Of Classes

My first day of classes began that Monday morning at 8 am with "introduction to Chinese culture". After touring the campus the day before, I knew exactly where I was supposed to go. The class was actually very interesting and I learned a lot about the history of China and its geography, even just from the first class!

Some other things that I did this week during my exploration of the city included getting hotpot, making my own cologne by combining different scents, and exploring more in the "new bund" area. We also went to a karaoke place in the mall called "KTV" which was really fun, and we sang a combination of English and chinese songs.

After meeting up with my friend from high school who attends NYU Shanghai, he showed me some of his favorite places which included the NYU campus, a street, and a restaurant called pecking duck which was very delicious. We also saw an AI blue yeti restaurant which was intriguing.

Overall, my first main week in Shanghai was an absolute blast. I explored so much, learned so many new things (including my first bit of chinese! which includes how to ask for cold water and hot water, as well as saying thank you). Next week, after syllabus week is over I'll talk about how I really get into my classes. XieXie!

Connor Madriago

Mechanical Engineering

Classes

After a first week focused mostly on orientation and adjusting to life in Paris, classes officially started this week. One thing that immediately stood out to me is how quickly paced the courses are compared to what I’m used to at Michigan. Since the program only lasts six weeks, classes meet four times a week for about two and a half hours each session, so material moves fast.

At the same time, the class sizes are much smaller than what I typically experience back home. One of my classes only has six students, while the other has around thirteen. Because of that, discussions feel much more personal and interactive, and it’s easier to actually get to know both the professors and the other students in the program.

Another aspect of the courses I’m looking forward to is the number of activities and excursions built directly into them. For example, my Food and Culture class includes both a food tour and a wine tasting later in the program.

More Paris Exploration

As the second week went on, Paris started feeling slightly less overwhelming and a little more familiar. Even after just two weeks, I’m beginning to understand why people say Paris is a city best experienced slowly. So instead of rushing to see all the major landmarks, I’ve started exploring different neighborhoods and parts of the city more casually with friends. Frolicking around random areas of Paris has honestly been some of my favorite moments.

One of the most interesting places we visited was the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The building itself almost feels futuristic compared to the rest of Paris. Between the curved glass exterior, sharp angles, and massive open spaces inside, it felt completely different from the traditional architecture most people associate with the city.

Later in the week, we visited the Arc de Triomphe at night, which turned out to be one of my favorite experiences so far. Seeing the city from above while everything slowly lit up at sunset made Paris feel much larger than it does when walking street by street.

And of course, no late-night Paris outing is complete without grabbing food somewhere afterward.

We also continued exploring parks and different public spaces around the city. One thing I’ve noticed is how often people in Paris simply spend time outside. Parks are constantly full of people sitting, reading, talking with friends, or just relaxing in the middle of the day.

speaking of greenery...

Paris Greenery

Before arriving in Paris, I honestly expected the city to feel much more dense and crowded with buildings and traffic. Instead, one of the biggest surprises has been how much greenery exists throughout the city.

Paris has clearly made an effort to reduce car dependency in many areas by adding more pedestrian streets, bike lanes, and public green spaces. Even many larger roads now include tree lined medians and planted walkways that make the city feel less overwhelming despite how populated it is.

Compared to many American cities, Paris feels much more designed around people rather than cars. Because of that, the city feels more alive outdoors. People spend hours sitting in parks, along the Seine, and in public squares instead of quickly moving from place to place.

Mastering the Metro

The Paris Metro has quickly become one of the most important parts of daily life here. At first, the entire system looked incredibly confusing, but after using it every day it has started becoming second nature.

Paris actually has multiple connected rail systems. The Métro consists of Lines 1 through 14 and functions more like a traditional subway with frequent stops throughout the city. Then there’s the RER system, which acts more like a regional rail or light rail network connecting Paris to outer districts and suburbs.

The RER trains are generally newer and often nicer, but they also stop less frequently. Most trips involve transferring multiple times between metro and RER lines. It’s pretty common to start on one line, switch to another, then transfer again before finally reaching your destination.

Brayden Moore

Chemical Engineering

Orientation

After finally settling into Paris, the program's first official week began with orientation. Most of the orientation focused on helping us adjust to daily life in the city and understanding how the program would work. We covered everything from class schedules and upcoming excursions to housing reminders, transportation, and safety information around the city.

While orientation itself was pretty straightforward, it was also one of the first opportunities to really meet my peers in the program. Since classes hadn't started yet, everyone was still in that awkward stage of trying to figure out the city, navigate the metro, and meet new people at the same time. The week ended with one of the highlights of orientation: a Seine River cruise through Paris.

Learning the Metro and Exploring Paris

One thing I quickly realized is that Paris is much larger than I originally imagined. Before arriving, I assumed I would mostly walk everywhere, but after a few days I learned very quickly that the metro is essential if you want to efficiently get around the city.

All students receive a Navigo card for transportation, but you still have to purchase and upload your MetroPass onto the card before using it. Once I finally figured out that process, navigating Paris became significantly easier. Walking between arrondissements can easily take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on where you are going, so learning the metro system early is almost mandatory.

Over the course of the week, my friends and I spent most of our time simply exploring different parts of the city. One of the most interesting things about Paris is how dramatically different areas can feel from one another. Some neighborhoods feel exactly like the classic image of Paris with narrow streets, cafés, and historic architecture, while others feel surprisingly modern. Seeing places like the Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, and the Arc de Triomphe was incredible, but visiting La Défense honestly surprised me the most.

Making Friends Abroad

One thing people do not always talk about with studying abroad is how strange the social adjustment can feel during the first week. Since classes had barely started and there were not many structured group activities outside of orientation, much of the socializing came from simply making spontaneous plans with people.

At first, it was a little difficult because everyone was trying to find their own routines as they adjusted to a completely new environment. But after meeting a few people during orientation, things started becoming much more natural. Some nights we would grab dinner together, and other times we would randomly decide to explore a different part of the city. Specifically, the food has become a major part of the social experience here. Some of my favorite moments so far have honestly just been sitting in restaurants for hours, talking with people.

Paris at Night

On Saturday night, my roommate randomly suggested going out at 10 just to get pictures of the Eiffel Tower at night. What we thought would be a quick trip somehow turned into wandering around Paris until nearly 2 in the morning. The strange part was that the later it became, the more alive the city felt. Cafés were still busy, people were everywhere, and entire groups were still gathering around the Eiffel Tower well after midnight. It honestly felt like nighttime in Paris begins at 2 AM instead of ending there.

So far, studying abroad has been equal parts exhausting, chaotic, exciting, and unforgettable, which honestly feels like exactly what it should be. Can't wait for next week.

Brayden Moore

Chemical Engineering

First steps in Shanghai

After a surprisingly easy 16 hour plane flight to China, the first thing that I said when I landed was “this doesn’t seem so different yet”. For context, I have never been outside of the US, so I figured that seizing the opportunity to study abroad in Shanghai would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

The first thing I did when I landed was mentally prepare for a long process through security, however, I was shocked that all I had to do was pick up my suitcase and walk down an aisle with everyone else. It probably took less than 5 minutes to get from baggage claim to outside!

After a small amount of confusion on which gate I was supposed to go to, I met up with my buddy—a student from SJTU that my program organized to help me get set-up for life in Shanghai. He explained the main apps that I would use to get around and communicate, such as DiDi, WeChat, and Alipay. He then bought me a DiDi (a rideshare service that is basically China's version of Uber/Lyft except much cheaper) that took us to my dorm. By the time we got there, it was 10:30 at night, so there wasn't really much time to explore.

Day 1

The next morning I felt very lost. I woke up in my dorm room—a smaller-sized apartment style room with a larger communal space that I shared with my Roomate. This is when I met my Roomate, and some of my first friends in Shanghai. I began feeling quite hungry, so I made my way downstairs, where I found a couple other UMich students as lost as me. We got together, and explored the canteen—the onsite "dining hall" where the food was just as tasty as it was cheap. It cost me just under $2 for a full meal and was better than any food you could find in America for that price. For the rest of the day, me and my new friends in the program toured the campus that we were going to be spending the next few months at. It was so much bigger than we imagined.

The coming days consisted of orientation, exploring the new campus, getting situated, and making friends.

We also explored downtown a little, which was unlike any city I've ever experienced before. But I'll talk more about that on week 1.

Small Complications

Since I've been here, there have been a couple complications, such as setting up cellular data, having to buy a new Chinese phone because my phone didn't support SIM cards, and overall having to use a translation app constantly to get around. But these first few days have been awesome and eye-opening.

Looking forward

I want to make the most of my time in China. In order to do this, I plan to travel to other cities such as beijing, chongqing, and more. I also want to learn as much chinese as possible while I'm here—at least enough to be able to communicate a little when needed. There will be many challenges, but so far this experience has lived up to everything that was promised and has been super cool. I'm thrilled with the possibilities of what I'll be able to see and get to experience while here. Next, il share an update of how my first week went.

拜拜!

Connor Madriago

Mechanical Engineering

Landing

After months of planning, packing, and stressing about everything from flights to housing, I finally arrived in Paris. Even now, it still feels strange saying that out loud. For so long, studying abroad felt like some distant future event I would think about between classes at Michigan. Now I’m actually here, living in a small apartment in one of the largest cities in Europe for the next several weeks.

Honestly, the reality of being abroad didn’t hit me all at once; it kind of crept up on me throughout the trip. My flight included a layover in Iceland, and going through customs there was surprisingly quick and easy compared to what I’ve heard about dealing with customs directly at Charles de Gaulle. By the time I landed in Paris, the airport itself was actually pretty manageable to navigate. The hardest part ended up being trying to find the driver from my program who was picking me up after I got through baggage claim. Somewhere between hearing French constantly around me, dragging my luggage through the airport, and stepping outside into Paris for the first time after an overnight flight, it finally started to sink in that this wasn’t just a trip anymore; I’m actually living here now.

Adjusting to Everyday Life in Paris

One thing that has already surprised me is how mentally exhausting constant adaptation can be. Even small tasks like grocery shopping, understanding transportation, or ordering food suddenly require more attention than they would back home. There’s this strange balance between excitement and overstimulation that comes with being abroad. Every street, every store, and every interaction feels unfamiliar, which makes even normal daily routines feel significant and exhausting.

At the same time, Paris feels incredibly alive. Everywhere I look, there are people sitting outside cafés, walking through the streets late into the evening, or navigating the city with a level of confidence I definitely do not have yet. Back home, I spend most of my time focused on schedules and assignments, constantly thinking ahead. Here, I’m hoping to slow down a little and become more present in the moment.

Housing

My apartment itself is definitely smaller than what I’m used to in the United States, but I’ve already started appreciating how efficient everything is. Between the kitchenette, desk setup, and compact layout, I’m beginning to realize how differently people approach space and daily life here compared to the U.S. Looking out the window and seeing Paris instead of Ann Arbor still feels surreal.

Another difference I’ve noticed is how much more connected housing feels to the surrounding neighborhood. Instead of feeling isolated on a campus, I’m living directly in the city alongside local residents, cafés, grocery stores, and small businesses. Every time I leave the building, I immediately feel immersed in daily Parisian life, which makes the experience feel much more authentic than simply staying in a hotel or tourist area.

Looking Ahead

One goal I already have for myself is to avoid staying inside an “American bubble” while I’m here. Obviously it’s comforting being around people from my program, especially while everyone is still adjusting, but I also want to challenge myself to become more independent and adaptable. I want to improve my French, meet new people, and experience daily life here beyond just the tourist side of Paris.

I’m also interested to see how studying abroad changes my perspective as an engineering student. So much of engineering at Michigan feels fast-paced and structured, and I’m curious how living in a completely different environment and culture will affect the way I think about balance, independence, and even problem solving.

Right now, I still feel somewhere between overwhelmed and excited, which honestly probably means I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Brayden Moore

Chemical Engineering