If you go to Michigan State University you’re probably familiar with the sounds of other languages. It has become a norm around campus. But these five thousand international students are not just bringing their language and culture, they’re also bringing in money.
In an email from Kent (CAS-EL-LA) Cassella, the Assistant Vice President for Media Communications for M-S-U, he said that before this raise was enacted, the fee was only 25 dollars. This year, international undergraduates continuing at State will pay 150 dollars. Those entering M-S-U will pay 500 dollars—per semester.
Well! This summer has definitely been busy– I worked in Ann Arbor as a production intern for WUOM Michigan Radio. As an intern, I was fortunate enough to produce the Jack Lessenberry program where I edited and posted on the web and on our Newsboss program the daily show. I also helped edit and produce a one hour program with WBEZ in Chicago about illiteracy in our country. “Illiteracy and its effects on our society” aired in July and I created the infographic that accompanied it.
Everyday I would edit new audio and create new graphics for the website. I enjoyed my time so much at WUOM and was so sad when I had to leave. I hope that one day I will be able to return as a real journalist and continue my career with public radio.
The China Internet Information Center defines a special administrative region as “a local administrative region of the People’s Republic of China that does not exercise the rights of state sovereignty.” China has two SAR’s; Macau, a former Portuguese territory, and Hong Kong, right across the bay. As a SAR, Hong Kong is still considered Chinese, but has it’s own laws, history and culture. Although this doesn’t cause any animosity between the city and Mainland China it has caused some major differences.
Just like his father, Jason Yeung, 18, was drawn into the world of theater in his hometown of Hong Kong, China. Yeung is a technical theater freshman at Michigan State University and believes that although there is a market in Hong Kong for theater, music and art, the market is smaller in other parts of China.
“The U.S. is the preferred destination for Chinese students going abroad,” said a study by the University of South Carolina U.S.-China Institute.
It also stated that nearly 128,000 Chinese students came to the U.S. this year alone. In ten years, the number of Chinese international students coming to the U.S. has increased by 80 percent.
“Most of my Asian friends here do either engineering or business,” Yeung said.
Reem Hanna, 36, is well known in the downtown Lansing community for her Middle Eastern baking. Tabouli, kebabs, fritters, falafel sandwiches and, of course, her hummus and pitas are just some of the typical cuisine she keeps on her menu. And, despite the economic turmoil Michigan faced, Hanna’s business is prospering.
When Hanna married her husband, Mike, 10 years ago, she moved from Palestine to his home in Lansing. They bought 1456 E. Michigan Ave. and rented it out to a family friend who wanted to create a Middle Eastern bakery. In 2005, however, The Jerusalem Bakery, which at the time was only serving prepackaged, frozen foods, was not making any money.
And so, in late 2005, Hanna and her husband reopened The Jerusalem Bakery under their own management. Advertised as a “family business,” the only employees are Hanna and her husband. Occasionally she will hire a nephew if she needs help, Hanna said.
On top of their cook-to-order menu, they sell a selection of groceries in the front of the store. Everything from kosher cheese to curry, chickpeas to hookahs. However, the groceries are not the bakery’s main attraction, Hanna said.
“Michigan Avenue is a busy street,” Hanna said. “I concentrate on my food. It was always a bakery, but we add a lot more.”
