February 2024 International Graduate Student Newsletter

Hello everyone,

Happy February! And for those of you who celebrate, Happy Lunar New Year to you. It’s the year of the Dragon, and if you’re wondering what that means for your fortune predictions, read on! February 14 is also Valentine’s Day is, and coupled with the leap year this year, we’ve prepared a little something extra for you in this month’s edition of the newsletter.

Linyun Fu, who’s part of the International Graduate Student Advisory Board (IGSAB) has a movie recommendation for you as you usher in the lunar new year:

The Grandmaster (一代宗师) is a Chinese martial arts movie directed by Wong Kar-Wai. The film is an artistic portrayal of the life of Ip Man, the legendary Wing Chun grandmaster and Bruce Lee’s martial arts teacher. Set against the backdrop of 20th century China, it follows Ip Man's journey from his early days in Foshan to his later life in Hong Kong.

Tony Leung stars as Ip Man, capturing the master's skill, philosophy, and personal trials.  Zhang Ziyi features prominently as Gong Er, a fellow martial artist whose story intertwines with Ip Man’s, adding depth and drama.

Renowned for its visually stunning cinematography and poetic fight choreography, "The Grandmaster" transcends typical martial arts action, delving into themes of honor, love, and the passage of time. The film received acclaim for its artistic direction, emotive storytelling, and impressive performances, making it a standout portrayal of a martial arts legend.

You can watch "The Grandmaster" online for free through a few different platforms. 

To watch on Tubi, visit Tubi - The Grandmaster.

For Pluto TV, you can access it via Pluto TV - The Grandmaster.

On YouTube, the film is available on YouTube - The Grandmaster.

Have a lovely February!

Upcoming Events

US Dating 101(a Valentine's Special by IGSAB for International Graduate Students)
Monday, Feb, 12, 6:00–7:30 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ 

You're invited to join the International Graduate Student Advisory Board (IGSAB) and Graduate Council's Health and Wellness Committee, to learn more about the American dating scene! Bring your questions about dating apps, cultural norms around dating, and safer sex, while fellow students share their experiences and tips around dating safety and more! Dinner will be provided.

ELI Workshop | Love & Language: Valentine’s Day in the US 

Monday, Feb 12, 3-4PM Cobb Hall, room 203 

Typically considered a day for couples to give each other gifts, people feeling excluded have created alternative celebrations and even competing holidays, like Galentine’s Day. Escape the stress of Winter Quarter with this fun workshop in which we will discuss the history and American cultural celebrations surrounding this romantic holiday, use English idioms and phrasal verbs about love, and learn some basic American expectations of romantic relationships. 

Wellness GRAD Support Space                                                           First Wednesdays, Feb 7 & Mar 6, 12:30–1:30 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ 

UChicagoGRAD and Student Wellness has partnered to bring you a support space beginning monthly first Wednesdays in February and March, for you to meet peers and gain support as you manage academic projects. Discussion topics can include imposter feelings, procrastination, existential dread, perfectionism & more. All are welcome to join!

Feature Friday: Criminal Justice Reform, pt. 3
Friday, Feb 9, 12:30–2:00 p.m., 6030 S Ellis Ave

Join us winter quarter 2024 for our Feature Fridays conversations on criminal justice reform, featuring community leaders from our network of partners who will help us unpack the history of systemic oppression in Chicago, the many strategies employed to address the problem, and how to learn more and get involved.

Afternoon Tea: Washington Park
Friday, Feb 9, 2:00–4:00 p.m., 6030 S Ellis Ave

Afternoon Tea with UCSC is a weekly series exploring the hot tea in the world of civic engagement and “social justice.” The informal structure is intended prioritize student voices, build community and support robust discussion on “big” topics.

Which neighborhood is home to more small-owned, business cooridoors: Bronzeville or Washington Park? Trick question; Washington Park is part of "Bronzeville!" Home to the city's annual Bud Billiken Day Parade, Washington Park is our truly underrated neighbor to the west, and we could all stand to know a little more about the hidden gems and history of this beautiful neighborhood.

We will provide afternoon tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sparkling lemonade, croissants, macaroons, muffins, and other light, afternoon tea-like snacks.

Volunteer Opportunity: South Side YMCA
Saturday, Feb 10, 2024, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., 6030 S Ellis Ave

Our partners at the South Side YMCA provide a huge array of community services on the South Side, with focuses on food security, recreational programming, economic empowerment, and more. Join the UCSC as we assist with a variety of tasks around their site! Meet at the UCSC and join our group as we walk over together.

Ask Me Anything: Career Development for International Graduate Students
Wednesday, Feb 21, 3:00–4:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Are you an international graduate student considering a career in the United States after graduation? Join us for this Ask Me Anything Session with two UChicagoGRAD staff members who were international candidates themselves!

Josephine Cai (Director, International Student Initiatives) and Steffen Blings (Associate Director, Graduate Student Career Development) will answer questions on how to explore and develop potential careers as international students. After the session, you'll have a better sense of strategies for career exploration and networking, as well as ways to address common challenges international students face.

Better Together GRAD Speed Friending Night
Monday, Feb 26, 5:00-7:00 pp.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Join us for a speed friending event night with Student Wellness and UChicagoGRAD. Dinner will be provided, with activities to break the ice, make new friends, and play board games if you'll be so inclined! From 5-6 p.m, we will have speed friending in groups and from 6-7 p.m, we will have games and food for more casual connecting. We look forward to seeing you then!

Save the Date: GRADUCon 2024
Friday, March 22, Online via Zoom

GRADUCon is the university’s annual career exploration conference exclusively for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. Each year the conference brings together hundreds of participants for a full day of career-themed panel discussions and one-on-one conversations with UChicago alumni mentors. By centering the advice of alumni who have been in your shoes, GRADUCon inspires and empowers you to achieve your professional goals.

There will be a panel on the U.S Job Search for international students. We understand that as an international student, the process of navigating the job search and avoiding potential pitfalls within the American job market can be a disconcerting concept for many. We have invited alumni to share their perspectives on how they have personally been through the process, and what are the types of realities international students would have to be prepared for as they enter the job market.

The virtual panel will take place via Zoom on Friday, March 22, 2024, from 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm CDT. In addition to the panel, the conference will also feature opportunities to meet with students for one-on-one virtual “coffee chats” over Zoom.

For a full conference schedule, including a list panel topics, please refer to the GRADUCon webpage. Remember to save the date and register for GRADUCon 2024!

Resources

Do you know that Graduate Council provides attorney office hours to eligible, full-time graduate and professional students in the University of Chicago? Graduate students are offered legal consultation pertaining to landlord/tenant issues including lease and sublease reviews. All eligible students can schedule an appointment online through GRAD Gargoyle. Please refer here for more information.

Introduction to Interstride

Introducing all graduate students to Interstride - a platform that offers support for international graduate students and postdocs on their U.S and international job search process. It is an interactive portal that provides insights, community, and job opportunities. Both domestic and international students can find resources for living and working abroad - whether for study abroad, a summer internship, or a full-time job. To access the platform, go to https://www.interstride.com/university-of-chicago/ and click on student login. That will bring you to shibboleth and you can proceed to create an account directly from there.

If you’re interested in the webinars offered on using Interstride to maximize your job search, here are a few videos to check out –

Click here for an introductory webinar on Interstride

Click here on job search strategy for international students

Check out upcoming webinars such as Getting unstuck in your U.S. job search and International internship scheme in the U.K

Job Opportunity

Graduate Student Job Opportunity for Summer Program in Hangzhou, China

The office of Career Advancement is excited to return to Hangzhou, China in Summer 2024 to partner with Wanxiang Corporation for the Wanxiang Ambassador Fellows Program! Participating students will travel as a group to Hangzhou, China for 5-weeks, alongside one Career Advancement staff member. The students are housed at Wanxiang Polytechnic University and are enrolled in 3 weeks of classroom-based Chinese language and culture study, as well as seminars focusing on the basics of clean energy.

Career Advancement is currently recruiting two Graduate Students to join the program as translators! They are looking for individuals who are fluent in Mandarin and available to live in Beijing and Hangzhou from mid-June to end of July, 2024. Interested applicants can view more information and apply here!