01S70

Roads & Driving

Americans generally have less traffic rules, but the system is built around the principle of safety and consideration of other road users. For example, you can make an about turn or a right turn anywhere, unless there are signs specifically telling you not to. There are cross junctions where there are no traffic lights at all, but everyone slows down or even stop when they approach and check cautiously for traffic and pedestrians on all sides before continuing. Pedestrians can usually cross anywhere along the streets, but they usually do so quickly to avoid causing inconvenience to the drivers, and the drivers usually slow down to let pedestrians cross safely. Sometimes when a driver wants to turn onto a main street from a side street and the traffic on the main street is just very heavy, one of the drivers on the main street would stop and let the driver from the side street move first -- there are actually no rules regarding who has the "right of way" (except pedestrians). You don't hear the honking of horns either. Of course there are the occasional aggressive drivers, but people are generally more courteous and understanding.

It takes some getting used to to have cars on the "wrong" side of the road, and to look left first then right before crossing the road.

Roads aren't as smooth as the ones in Singapore. There are usually cracks and holes, probably due to the inclement climate every year. Driving down the freeways however, is a great experience because you go like 75 miles an hour (about 120 km/h) for long stretches. Contrary to Singapore, comparatively less accidents occur on the freeways than the other roads.

Enroute scenery here is of course fantastic. If you go down to more remote countrysides, you can find nice farms with the red-painted barns and splendid cornfields exactly like those you think of or see in the pictures. In urban areas the sidewalks are great with lots of cafes. You never see any building taller than say 5 or 6 storeys, unless you go down to the really big cities. There are also really nice billboards everywhere along the freeways.









Freeway views along Interstate-94 from Detroit to Ann Arbor.

Restaurant Dining

Portions are huge. They are also complicated. It usually takes half an hour just to order a meal because you need half that time to pore over the menu and the other half to clarify which appetizer, sides, deserts, drinks etc to go with all the foreign-sounding entrees. At the end of the meal, you'll usually take back some unfinished food back with you, which you'll eventually dump because you don't have the appetite to finish them at home anyway. That is the case even for Chinese food; they're only one size and each dish can typically serve 3-5 people depending. On the flip side, service is extremely good. Because of the culture stimulated by the tipping system, they'll respond to every request of yours promptly with a smile and check back on you all the time. Though for those not used to it, you'll wonder why they keep appearing at your table asking if you need anything else.

Residence Hall (Dorm) Dining

For those of you who have tried SAF dining, you wished it could have been like this. It's all-you-can-eat buffet-style, but the selection of food is the best part. Drink selection ranges from juices, milk to all kinds of soft drinks. The salad bar is a permanent fixture. Entrees may not always be to your liking, but they're generally delicious. And the endless selection of soups, deli, fruits, desserts (waffles, ice cream, donuts, cakes, bread etc) will just spoil you. It's extremely easy to gain weight, though for every selection of food they'll list down the estimated amount of nutrients so you can plan your diet. For most people like us though, we just eat less to stave off those extra pounds.

Flora

Plants appear to have more variety than in Singapore, despite what the geography books say. The lawns appear more inviting for picnics and sunbathing and just lying on, as the soil isn't muddy and the grass is soft and silky. Flowers are brighter and more colorful, though they gradually disappear as fall progresses.

Fauna

There are squirrels everywhere in the fall. For aliens like us, we just can't stop admiring how cute they are scampering around, gnawing on acorns and chasing each other. Everyone will start whipping out their cameras and snap away until the squirrel(s) decides it has something better to do than pose for pictures.

Birds here are less conspicuous and generally keep out of sight, betraying their presence only with their songs. You don't any crows, mynahs or piegons around though, and you usually see each type of bird only once.

Insects here are huge and relentless. Some of the most common are the bees, which for unknown reasons will buzz around people all the time. Flies of all types are also common near wooded areas at night, and they'll converge on any present light source. Fortunately, the netting keeps most of them out of the residence halls.

If you're lucky, at dusk and dawn you may even see other animals like badgers and deer.



Squirrels on the lawns along the Diag (nickname for the spiritual heart of the University of Michigan campus).