Wildcard « The Washtenaw Voice

Staff Writer

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The canoe launch at Barton Nature Area offers a scenic view of the Huron River. (Jared Angle/The Washtenaw Voice)

Eight ducklings follow their mother in the Huron River at Gallup Park. (Jared Angle/The Washtenaw Voice)

Historic buildings still stand at Parker Mill County Park. (Jared Angle/The Washtenaw Voice)

Ann Arbor’s best has something for everyone

The city of Ann Arbor is full of fun and interesting things for college students to do during the summer. Unfortunately, some of these activities are costly and cannot be done every day. For students who are looking for fun and free places to spend the summer, the city’s many different nature parks and trails are a great place to do all kinds of activities in the warm weather.

There are more than 100 different parks, nature areas and recreational centers in Ann Arbor, including: The Arboretum Nature Center, Gallup Park, Barton Park, Bandemer Park, the DeVine Nature Preserve and Parker Mill County Park.

Take a stroll with us as we review them:

Parker Mill County Park

Located at 4650 Geddes Road in Ann Arbor, The Parker Mill County Park is the last functioning pioneer mill in Washtenaw County.

This park is great for picnics and family gatherings. There are plenty of picnic tables and rocks to sit on along Fleming Creek, and restrooms are available. All around the park, educational signs are posted about the different types of plant and animal life and how the park was funded.

There is also information about how to preserve wildlife and how to protect the environment. There are multiple paths at Parker Mill, including one that leads to Gallup Park.

The Hoyt Garrod Post Trail is one of the main trails of Parker Mill. This pathway, which does not allow bikes, skateboards or pets, goes across the creek and into the woodlands.

The path is paved by a wooden bridge, made to help preserve the area. This trail was specifically made for observation, photography and the study of nearby plants and animals.

Gallup Park

A perfect park for jogging and biking, Gallup Park, at 3000 Fuller Road, has a picnic and grilling area, which is perfect for family or social gatherings. There are two playgrounds for kids, places to fish and paved walkways for exercise and walks.

Drinking fountains and restrooms are also made convenient.

Gallup Park is a great starting point for students who would like to spend an entire day at parks. There are paths that lead to Fuller and Parker Mill parks, and the Arboretum; a great way to get from one part of Ann Arbor to another.

From April to October, Gallup offers canoe, kayak, bike, row boat and paddle boat rentals. There is also a paddle-through coffee shop called the Perk and Paddle Cafe.

Barton Nature Area

Located on Huron River drive in west Ann Arbor, Barton Nature Area is known for its large dam and vast nature area. There are two different sections to this park, but one can only be reached by boat. Near the dam, there are picnic tables set up for visitors, but restrooms are not included. One of the main trails at Barton leads to a grassy area, where the field opens up, and visitors can appreciate Ann Arbor’s beautiful woodland scenery.

Nate Des Jardins, 22, of Ypsilanti, spends a lot of time in this area as a teenager because he likes the sights.

“It looks like there are mountains of trees out there,” Des Jardins said. “You can walk off into the wilderness at any point, without following the path.”

Des Jardins also said that he enjoys spending time near the dam and the docking area.

“The docks are great for fishing or just relaxing,” he said.

The Arb

Located in downtown Ann Arbor at 1600 Washington Heights, the University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum Nature Center is a great place for different kinds of activities. Also known as The Arb, this area is popular among local residents because of the large size and structure of this area.

Students can often be found playing Frisbee or football games in the fields. There are also different nature paths that can be great for walking, jogging or biking.

Ypsilanti resident Carly Underwood saidthat she loves spending her free time in the Arb.

“The other day, I spent an entire day reading at the Arb.” Underwood, 29, said. “It’s so soothing.”

Frequent visitor Tony Tomshany said he and his girlfriend like to walk the path from the Arb to Gallup park.

“We first discovered it on Hash Bash,” Tomshany, 23, Ann Arbor, said. “There were so many people in town, we just decided to walk to the Arb, and we found this way that goes over the railroad tracks, and then we were in Gallup Park.”

Bandemer Park

Offering much more than just a quiet walk in the woods, this park starts where Whitmore Lake and Barton roads meet on the north side of Ann Arbor. Along with trails for bikes, jogging, and walking pets, there are also docking areas to canoe and kayak, a dirt bike ramp area, and a free disc golf course.

The disc golf course is great for players who want to practice or goof off with friends. There are many places to sit and hang out around this course, and unlike many in the area, Bandemer’s course is free.

Visitors of Barton Park can swim or take inflatable tubes from Barton to Bandemer if they choose to, but Des Jardins said that he would not recommend it.

“If it looks like a good idea, don’t do it,” he said. “There’s no current, and you’ll get to the end in maybe a day.”

DeVine Nature Preserve

This park is different from the other nature areas because it is smaller and more secluded. Located near the corner of Zeeb and Liberty in west Ann Arbor, the preserve is in a quiet neighborhood where visitors can be left in peace. Although this area is no good for bike riding or walking pets, the DeVine preserve is great for visitors who like to take walks or spent time in nature.

Unfortunately, many visitors have made a habit out of making a mess at the DeVine Preserve. Dexter resident Alex Witus said that DeVine was great when it was first made available a few years ago.

“It was better before when people didn’t know about it, because it was in the middle of nowhere,” Witus, 20, said. “Then it got a reputation, and people started trashing it.”

All good things.. Reflecting on our issues

The 2011-12 staff of the Washtenaw Voice, arguably the most decorated college newsroom team in Michigan with first-place General Excellence awards in two statewide contests and a third place Best of Show award at the national college media conference, shares a few memories of their year with the newspaper.

I will never forget my time at The Voice and I have learned so much in my short time here.

At the beginning of the year it seemed nearly impossible to come in on a Monday morning with 16 blank pages. The thought of filling all of those pages with content by the next Friday was daunting. But, we did it.

As the year has gone by, we’ve done that 17 more times, adding more pages to the mix almost seamlessly. I will always see the college in a different light now that I have gone in for a day at 6 a.m. and left at 1:30 a.m.

When football season rolls around, I will miss the constant heckling around the office, but I will still know that my team (the Green Bay Packers) will always be better than yours.

Goodbye TI106, and good luck. To the bat cave!

In the summer of 2011, I was a joke.

It wasn’t until early-August that I began to consider what I would do with no job once it started getting colder and school started up again. I’d have to go back.

A past teacher at WCC had mentioned the idea of getting my writing published, as the ultimate goal of any writer. I had taken an Intro to Journalism course the previous semester, and it seemed the main goal of that class was also to get published in some way, by any means necessary.

So there I was, considering this journalism thing rather than the basic liberal arts pursuit. I was intimidated by the school paper, but it seemed the offer to submit stories to the big scary Voice was all I had for hope outside of the minimum-wage grind.

Since that first submission last August, it has been a blur of text, a blur of photos and a blur of achievement. I’ve never succeeded this much in all my life. As I quickly rose to become features editor, it became clear that this was the thing for me.

My love of writing has been truly put to the test, but at least now I feel like I’m living up to my mother’s expectations.

The sad part about working at The Voice is once you start to get comfortable as a group, the year is over and it’s time to say goodbye.

It seems like just yesterday I was sitting down to interview President Bellanca for our first issue. When I look back on this year, obviously I’ll think about Michigan football and spending my Saturday’s in the fall at Michigan Stadium. But I’ll also think about our newsroom and the fun I had sitting next to Ben Solis as we put together 18 issues of .

Trading Dave Chappelle quotes and giggling like children as we listened to our adviser as he cussed under his breath made even the most stressful days fun. From Orlando to Detroit to Mt. Pleasant, this year has been a trip (pardon the pun), and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

When Emma Lazarus wrote the words “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse on your teeming shore,” my experience tells me that she probably had a college newspaper staff in mind.

Working with The Washtenaw Voice for the last two years has taught me volumes about myself and what I can take in terms of mental and emotional abuse. Apparently, reporters are magnets for this kind of crap. It’s a putrid game and addicting game. I lose sleep while I anxiously meet deadlines, just to do it all again the next week. I crave and adore every minute of it.

Our staff was exhilarating and frustrating at the same time, like a sad parody of National Lampoon’s Animal House. We eat enough pizza to kill a cow, and probably have from all of the Sidetrack burgers we’ve eaten in our day-long design and copy editing sessions.

There is no place I’d rather be on Washtenaw’s campus, especially not Logic class, than in my newsroom with the eccentric and glorious writers, photographers and designers of the most decorated campus newspaper in Michigan.

In the Voice office, where I spent most of my time on campus this year, I learned a lot about journalism, design, and probably too much about the people in here.

Spending so much time in a room with our spectacular adviser Keith Gave and the rest of the incredible staff has been invaluable.

Most memorably, I got to shake hands with the president and turn in words and photos to The Voice for the special section we produced for his U-M visit. This paper offers so many opportunities, taking advantage of them all was challenge enough.

I wish I could stay to wel- come in the new staff and continue with the members who are sticking around, but unfortunately for me, it’s time for others to get the pleasure of working here.

The past year at The Washtenaw Voice has been an eye-opening experience for me. A year ago, I was so focused on my photography classes in the Gunder Myran building that I never noticed what was happening on the rest of campus. That changed when I met Keith Gave, the adviser for The Washtenaw Voice.

Keith recognized that I had a talent for photography and writing that could translate into a journalism career. The first few months transformed me – I went from writing dry, unfulfilling essays at the whim of my composition professor to writing my own news stories on subjects that students on campus care about.

My writing and photography weren’t the only things to improve though—my friendships with my coworkers at the Voice grew stronger as well, between long days working on the newspaper and our trips to Orlando and Mount Pleasant.

It’s been a great year, and I couldn’t have had such an amazing time if it weren’t for the wonderful people at Washtenaw Community College.

My favorite memory is when we put the wrong story up on the website. It was Ben’s story and he emailed everyone saying, “MAYDAY MAYDAY…”

It made me imagine that the Voice was this huge airplane made of old newspapers that used stories for fuel, and that we had put the wrong type in it, making it swerve toward the ground.

Working for The Voice allowed me to engage for the first time in serious Web programming. If I hadn’t worked for the newspaper, I would have never learned the depths of the WordPress system so well. My new knowledge has given me the confidence to start many new projects that I wouldn’t have thought possible just a few months ago, and it has greatly increased my ability to speedily design and program quality websites.

Wow, this 2011-12 has been a whirlwind! Coming to The Voice at the end of 2010, I was amazed at the “newsroom.” I could not believe the activity and excitement that I observed, and learning how a newspaper comes to be.

This year has given me so much more admiration for what a reporter has to go through to get interviews, double check their stories, and most importantly meet their deadlines. I am not sure how the editors ever sleep with so many “fires” in their schedules. My mind would never shut down.

Working with the designers has been such a wonderful experience for me. My clients are our advertisers, and the designers have never let me down. I cannot begin to thank the wonderful group that I have met and had the privilege to work with this past year. I congratulate the ones moving on, and look forward to a great year working with the ones coming back.

Wow! It’s been a damn long year and I’m freakin’ exhausted.

I’ve gone without sleep. I’ve gone without family time. I’ve gone without exercise and haven’t carried the best diet all year.

And with all of those sacrifices, I wouldn’t take back one second of this year.

By far, it has been the most incredibly satisfying, exhilarating year of my life.

From riding with the Blue Angels last summer to covering the U-M-Michigan State game in East Lansing in the Fall to writing my favorite sports feature on the Ann Arbor Derby Dimes. . . and let’s not forget covering President Barack Obama on his visit. Needless to say, I’ve been up, I’ve been down. I’ve cried, I’ve panicked. I’ve shaken with excitement. And I have to say I’m so very sad to let this part of my life go.

I’ve only been alive for 26 years and soloing in an airplane, then having an emergency landing in a field cannot top this past year. Alright, maybe not dying when I was 17 was probably the best highlight ever, because I actually lived to write this.

But this year was an amazing reminder why I’m studying journalism. To witness history, tell stories and to experience some really cool stuff.

Now good night. I’ll be back.

It has only been two months since joining The Voice as a staff writer and I’m already on the verge of a mental breakdown. That said, it has been such an amazing two months.

Since the first time I walked into the bedlam that is The Washtenaw Voice office, I have been treated as part of the family. As a journalism major in her second semester of college, I never expected to have a full newsroom experience quiet like this so soon. I was ill-prepared for how real it all was and for how attached I would become to The Voice staffers in such a short amount of time.

I appreciate every moment I get being a part of such an awesome group of people and even the occasional panic attack associated with nearing deadlines pays off when I see my byline. Can’t wait for Fall!

I began working for The Voice as a photographer and became photo editor. This experience piqued my interest in writing, so for the past school year I have served as a freelance reporter. As an introvert, reporting definitely takes me out of my comfort zone, but that’s been a good thing.

On the volunteering beat I have met many amazing volunteers who are making a difference in our community. I also enjoyed researching the history of The Washtenaw Voice and getting to know some of the early staff members, like

former Michigan House Speaker Gary Owen and Dan Kubiske.

It has been an enlightening and fun two and a half years of personal growth.

Writing for The Washtenaw Voice has been one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experience I’ve had in quite some time. I had a lot of great experiences with a lot of great people.

Working at The Washtenaw Voice gave me the opportunity to create an impressive portfolio and learn from my mistakes. The journalism classes taught at WCC are great, but actually working on content that will be published and read by the community has taught me more than I could ever learn sitting in a classroom.

Many students fail to realize that most employers don’t give a crap about grades; they want to know what you can do—and in the newsroom here at Washtenaw, we do it.

Giving help, or a voice, to forgotten or overlooked people was among my most unforgettable moments in the Journalism program at Washtenaw Community College.

Investigating the issue of handicap parking at WCC was very important project. I learned from a handicap person of her pain and suffering in finding a parking spot. I couldn’t believe she was being ignored, and that motivated me to work harder on getting to the facts.

Another story I had a lot of fun with is the story of the World War II veteran, George E. Koskimaki. His eyes were degenerating, along with a few other things, and I was happy he was willing to work with me on capturing his story. For the first two hours he approached me as if I was a hostile anti-war reporter.

Providing a view into the homeless was important work. I tried to put the readers in the shoes of the homeless that were faced with trying to find shelter during a cold wet rainy day. I am thankful for WCC’s journalism program. It helped me to become a better writer and to be more aware of the overlooked. Journalism isn’t dying, it is being transformed—and WCC is leading the way.

My favorite memory at The Washtenaw Voice this year was going to the national college media conference in Orlando with the rest of the staff.

In my experience with managing my son’s hockey teams, it was always that first traveling tournament, when we were all on foreign ice, that the team started to gel.

The same can be said for the Voice staff; on our return, the newspapers just kept getting better. I’m super-stoked that I got to be a part of it, and that I met some great people along the way.

There will always be a smile upon my lips when I think of them and their dedication to their crafts, and if I ever get to Miller’s Ale House in Orlando again, I’ll once again toast the best damn community college newspaper in Michigan. Cheers!

Horrific Haunts to explore this month

Voice staffers previewed several haunted houses in and around Washtenaw County. Here are some of the freaky few that made the cut:

Chelsea ‘Feargrounds’

Chuck Denton

Staff Writer

The haunting around Chelsea will be bigger than ever this year after local fear-mongers moved their headquarters from an eight-room haunted house to the Chelsea “Feargrounds.”

“This will be a Hollywood-quality show with custom animatronics,” said Paul Jameson, of Reanimation Services.

Jameson teamed up with Jeff Londos to form Reanimation, and together they have many years of experience creating state-of-the-art Monster-Tronics attractions.

“Our goal is to immerse people into the haunted environment like they have never been before,” Londos said.

Innovators in Haunt Technologies, they will be rolling out wearable animatronics costumes, toilets that come alive and bite, and sensory impressions that will tingle every nerve.

“You will experience sights, sounds, smells, lighting and more,” said Jameson.

Haunted Funeral Home, Inkster

Allie Tomason

Staff Writer

The funeral director will meet you at the door, and if you are squeamish, he will unexplainably put you at ease before leading you to your final fate in The Haunted Funeral Home.

This Halloween haunt has an immediate creep factor going for it just in its origin. Once a working funeral home, it looks calm and serene on the outside. But on the inside, terror waits.

The walk-through takes about 15 minutes or so and is accompanied by the intimidation and suspense of walking through dark corridors, where monsters are lurking at every turn waiting to devour your flesh.

The flashing strobe lights in most of the maze can be disorienting, and the music is loud enough to drown out the screams to the outside world, but not to quiet the fear as “Get the chainsaw Charlie,” is heard in the distance.

According to the funeral director, all who enter don’t always return, and the bloody footprints on the floor seem to serve as evidence to that fact.

At $12 per person, this spooky venue is a little pricey, but worth the time and the surprise that waits at the end of the tour.

Krazy Hilda’s Barn of Doom, Saline

Chuck Denton

Staff Writer

When you see the Saline cemetery, make a quick left on Monroe and hit the gas. You’re just a few miles away from Krazy Hillda’s Barn of Doom and Coleman’s Field of Fear Corn Maze.

Once there, you must get past the blue-eyed guard goat, Obi. The horns are real, so don’t test him. Obi is a nice kid and usually stays in his pen. If you want to get on his good side, feed him.

While the children run the Animal T rain, Hay Hide, Corn Maze or the Barn of Doom, you can relax over some hot cider and fresh farm-made doughnuts. Krazy Hilda’s offers two levels of monsters, friendly and not so friendly.

“We have a kick-ass haunt and we will scare the crap out of you,” said Krazy Hilda. And she means it.

It is rumored that the Corn Maze feeds this time of year. If all the screaming and spattering is any indication, make sure you leave with everyone you came with.

“We use professional actors, rather than animatronics,” said Krazy Hilda.

Krazy Hilda’s Barn of Doom is carried on in the memory of her mom, Gee Gee, who died of lung cancer three years ago. She enjoyed watching the customers’ reactions to being scared and helped make the props and dummies.

Night Terrors at Wiard’s Orchards, Ypsilanti

Allie Tomason

Staff Writer

Stand in line to enter the Mined Shaft and hear blood-curdling screams from The Asylum next door. It is enough to cause “Night Terrors.”

In the spirit of Halloween, Wiard’s Orchard goes the extra mile to amuse and entertain with six, designed-to-scare attractions.

This outdoor “thrill park” promises to thrill and chill, and it does just that. The deployment of actors, animated props like talking crypt keepers and rattling crates, fog machines and optical illusions give an authentically spine-chilling experience to those who dare to indulge.

Each attraction has its own theme, which adds diversity to the haunt, and thrill seekers can purchase tickets for individual attractions or for all six.

However, if making it through all of them in one night seems overwhelming – and it can be – then tickets can be redeemed for the remaining attractions at a later date.

And if you don’t happen to be a haunted-house enthusiast, there are other activities to consider, such as “Scareyoke” (Wiard’s version of scary karaoke) and miniature golf.

This venue is family friendly and emulates a homey kind of feeling with its row of fire pits, perfect for gathering and taking a little breather, sipping hot cider with donuts or just hanging out with friends warming up and waiting to go on to the next fright.

And the staff is friendly and helpful – unless they’re trying to scare the wits out of you.

‘Crypt of Carnage’ in Westland

Nathan Clark

Staff Writer

With three haunted houses opening so close together, Westland is a city that should not be ignored.

The “Crypt of Carnage” opens for six nights of terror and one day of friendly monsters for all ages. After seven years of operation, this year promises to be the best yet with many terrifying fan favorites from years past and some new frights.

For children and the weak of heart, the crypt will be having a friendly monster event for children 12 and under on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 4-6 p.m. There will be no scares, the lights will be on, there will be free candy for children, and the first 100 children will be given a free miniature pumpkin. Admission to the friendly monster event will be one nonperishable food item that will be donated to the Salvation Army.

Haunted Woods, Westland

Jael Gardiner

Staff Writer

This is a fairly new haunted attraction, offering a walk through the woods in deep darkness, in which the ground is uneven and difficult to see.

There are a few costumed characters that jump out with deadly items like a chain saw or the occasional loud scream, and one character even barks like a dog. The scene is decorated with small candles and props that hang from the trees that line the eerie path, which starts with a foreboding story about “Bloody Mary.”

During the walk, it was so dark and difficult to see that a group of visitors wandered off the path. There were only a few people in the woods, and it was a very long walk. The ground was so uneven that several people tripped and fell.

And not everyone felt scared or entertained, for that matter. One visitor commented that for the money he spent, he felt “raped.”

Overall, there a few bridges to walk over and some strobe lighting which makes walking across the bumps and pits in the ground even more difficult. Other than that, there wasn’t much else, and the entire walk takes close to half an hour.

Downtown Main Street, library can be spooky places

Anne Duffy

Staff Writer

The Main Street Area Association is putting on the 11th Annual Halloween Treat Parade in downtown Ann Arbor on Halloween Day from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Families can walk the streets begging for candy from store owners. Participating downtown stores will have black and orange balloons outside their doors from Ashley Street all the way to Fifth Avenue and from William over to Washington Streets.

More>>

Animals enjoy tricks – and treats, too

Anne Duffy

Staff Writer

The Humane Society of Huron Valley is sponsoring a “Muttster Mash Bash,” a Halloween party geared for children ages 4-12 years old on Oct. 22 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Youngsters can enjoy a scavenger hunt combined with a trick-or-treat maze through different stations while learning about animals, getting a face painting, watching magic tricks, hand feeding a dog and making crafts toys for a cat.

More>>

The meaning of Halloween, please?

Anne Duffy

Staff Writer

Halloween: A holiday that is evil and crime ridden or fun and festive with spiritual reverence for the dead?

The meaning of this holiday is what I’m trying to figure out. Sometimes I just think Halloween is stupid and downright dangerous. Other times I feel the spirit, and it seems fun. This is one holiday that’s all over the map with feelings both far and wide.

More>>

Paying top dollar for cheap thrills around Halloween

Anna Fuqua-Smith

Staff Writer

For Hannah Stadelman, going to multiple haunted houses throughout the fall season is essential to her Halloween experience.

“I go to do something with friends and to get the pants scared off me,” said Stadelman, 18, of Ann Arbor, a culinary arts major.

And she’s not alone.

More>>

Global Warmth:

Global Warmth:

They com to WCC from all over the world, in search of a future and often finding friendship

ANDREW BACKFORD & JULIA RODRIGUES

Contributors

Stephanie Okoye

When Stephanie Okoye, from Anambra, Nigeria, went to her embassy for her visa interview, she was not sure if she would get through. “I’ve heard a lot of stories about people being denied, so I was a little worried, but I was lucky to get through with mine,” said Okoye, 17, a liberal arts major. Each year, students like Okoye from different parts of the world enroll at Washtenaw Community College in pursuit of a career and a better education. WCC serves nearly 20,000 credit students per year, and of that, about 1000 are international. There were 377 international students enrolled for the Winter semester, representing 75 different countries. The journey for these students is not always easy. There are cultural and language barriers, homesickness and frustrations caused by being away from home. However, WCC helps to make some of those challenges lighter. There are several programs and support groups in place that makes life a bit easier for foreign students. The International Student Association is a support group that brings international students together every two weeks for an opportunity to meet others and perhaps make new friends.

But besides the meetings, WCC provides a specific orientation that is solely designed for international students. Also, international students have their own counselor. There is even the availability of tax specialists who help those in need with their taxes. In addition to counseling, Diamond also helps with emotional support. “I want them to know that I care about them,” Diamond said. She also initiates meetings to promote social interaction among international students. “I’m starting to do conversation groups,” she said, “because I want them to come in and meet people or just come in and talk to me.” To better understand international students and their plight, The Voice spoke with 10 international students about the process of coming to America – here, to Ann Arbor, to forge a new life for themselves.

Buthiana Hassan, undecided, Sudan

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? I heard about WCC from some friends when I first came to Ann Arbor. I was looking for a school to improve my English and my friends say this is the best in the area. What was the process like? I came to the country on a special program supported by the American government. The program is “Women Leadership Activist,” so I came as an international delegate. How much did it cost? The airplane was almost $2,000, but I was lucky because I came on a special program. All of my expenses were paid, so I just enjoyed the ride. What was your perception of America before you came here? America has an impact in my country because of the war. America leads our peace process for a couple years, so I was familiar with America and the good things they do for other nations. I see them as a helpful nation. They help the poor people. Has your experiences lived up to your expectation? In some ways yes. I’m just lucky living here. It is not 100 percent around me, but I made many American friends. American people are very helpful especially when it comes to the humanitarian side, which I really love. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? My culture shock…. (laughing). Sudan is an Islamic country governed by sharia law and it’s different what the people wear, especially females. And female and male interacting is different in our culture and the amount of freedom that an individual has is different, especially for a female here. What do you miss the most about back home? I miss many things. I miss my family for sure. The good thing is that we have technology so I get to talk to them on a daily basis. I also miss my work; I used to work with refugees, poor people and women, and I miss that a lot. I cannot say I miss food because I still eat my food here. There are couple different African stores that I go and shop. What is your favorite dish? Salmon and salad. I love vegetables in general. What do you do outside of WCC? I work as a care giver. That is fun for me. Just sitting down with elderly people and talk with them is fun for me. I met many friends and especially because I don’t have family here I enjoy life with them on a daily basis. Is there anywhere locally you can go to and feel at home? To be honest, the way I’ve been treated and the way I treat other people, is not like home, but it’s welcoming. I was not expecting that. I expect when you live in a different neighborhood you’re going to suffer, but I’m suffering from other things like missing my family and not from loneliness. What are your plans after WCC? To find a place to take classes and to take things that I love. I think that it will help me one way or another in my future.

Stephanie Okoye, 17, liberal arts, Nigeria.

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? Because I wanted to be 18 by the time I go to university and I think it’s kind of easier to transfer from here to other university for cheaper. I heard about it from my uncle who passed through it. What was the process like? First you apply online, then you wait for a reply, and when you get a reply and you are sure you’re coming then you apply for a visa interview. How much did it cost? I can’t really estimate but it is expensive considering the difference in value of currency. What was your perception of America before you came here? I didn’t really have a big picture. I think of better schools and things like that. Has your experiences lived up to your expectation? So far I would yes. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? The only thing that shook me was the weather here, because usually we just come here for summer when it’s really hot. I can’t believe this place can actually get this cold. What do you miss the most about back home? Family, friends and food. What is your favorite dish? White soup. It has okra and a lot of spice in it. What do you do outside of WCC? Hang around with friends and stuff like that, Bible study and going to people’s birthday parties. Is there anywhere locally you can go and feel at home? ABS or African Bible study at Eastern Michigan University. What are your plans after WCC? To transfer to a pharmacy school, hopefully U of M.

Mark Donald Amobi, 17, electrical engineering

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? My brother was here and my mom thought it would be a good idea. I also have an aunty and uncle that live in Ann Arbor. What was the process like? It wasn’t too hectic, it wasn’t has bad as I expected it. You have to apply first and get the form I-20 then apply for a student visa. How much did it cost? I’m not really sure because my mom did most of the work. What was your perception of America before you came here? I thought that everything would be advance like technology. I expected to see nice places, big buildings and good roads. Has your experience lived up to your expectation? Yes. Nothing has disappointed me yet. At least nothing I can think of right now. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? The weather was really bad. In Nigeria it’s really hot. What do you miss the most about back home? My friends, family, weather and food. What is your favorite dish? I’m not really choosy. But I like chicken, fish and my Nigerian food. I know a store where you can buy Nigerian food and cook it your own self. What do you do outside of WCC? I play video games and soccer in Ann Arbor. Is there anywhere locally you can go and feel at home? I go to the African Bible study at Eastern. There are a lot of Nigerians there. What are your plans after WCC? I don’t really have a plan, but my uncle advised me to get a degree in math before moving into electrical engineering. I’m really indecisive, so I might just go with his plan.

Kangtai Park, 23, liberal arts transfer, South Korea

Kangtai Park

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? Because I was trying to transfer to University of Michigan and WCC is the closest community college to UM. I talk to UM, and they told me there are a lot of community colleges around here and Washtenaw is a reputable one. What was the process like? I just go online and apply, but it’s more of a tedious process because you have to turn in a lot of different documents. You have to apply for a visa into the United States and we have to have a lot of things translated from Korean to English and that cost around $100 to $200. How much did it cost? I forget, but I spend about $1,000 to $1,500 per month in living expenses. What was your perception of America before you came here? My perception was that it’s sort of a racist country. I envision America as a white country that doesn’t give privileges to minorities like Asians. Has your experience lived up to your expectation?In some aspects yes and in some no. Not all the people are racist as I had thought. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? How people treat each other and cultural differences, such has having to pay tax and tips. That was weird because everything is rounded off in Korea so that everything has a price on it that includes the taxes. What do you miss the most about back home? Family. What is your favorite dish? I love meat. A lot of meat, anything with over 60 percent meat I like. What do you do outside of WCC? Playing sports, I love playing soccer, basketball, tennis and I also love jogging. I do a lot of outdoor activities such as paintball and skiing. We also do barbeques at the church. Is there anywhere locally you can go and feel at home? Church. There are a lot of Korean churches all over the place. It’s not really like home, but you get to meet other Koreans and stuff. What are your plans after WCC? I’m planning to transfer out; it’s the only option available for international students at WCC. At least that’s what I was told.

Daniela Esquivel, 19, culinary arts, Mexico

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? Because it’s close to my house, and my family told me about it. What was the process like? It was hard, a lot of paperwork. How much did it cost? Everything cost me around $6,000. What was your perception of America before you came here? I thought it was a good country with a lot of opportunities and good schools. Has your experience lived up to expectation? Not really. I have to pay a lot for school, and it’s really expensive. I thought it would be a lot less expensive. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? The people. Some of them are nice and some of them are mean. What do you miss the most about back home? My family. My sister, grandparents and my aunt. I call them once a week. What is your favorite dish? Pasta. I like penne rosa pasta with chicken What do you do outside of WCC? Go with my friends and watch a movie. And sometimes we go shopping or just for a walk. Is there anywhere locally you can go and feel at home? Nowhere locally. Maybe Detroit in Mexican town. What are your plans after WCC? For now, I’m planning to go back to my country once I’m finished with school.

Huda Khalid, 19, pre -med/biology, Pakistan

Huda Khalid

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? Because I wanted to get my general requirements out of the way before I transfer and it’s closer to home. What was the process like? Well my parents migrated here, so I came here as a kid, but in the beginning the process was kind of rough because I didn’t speak any English. How much did it cost? My parents covered all the cost so I’m not sure. What was your perception of America before you came here? I didn’t have any; I thought we were just going to a different part of the country. That’s what my parents told me, I was only 8. Has your experience lived up to your expectation? Because I was so young I didn’t really has any expectation. What was your biggest surprise when you first came here? The fact that we didn’t have to wear uniforms and that the teachers didn’t hit you. What do you miss the most about back home? I miss my culture. I miss the clothes. Everyone was the same religion and on the same page, but here there are different races. Back home everyone was Pakistani so it was easy to click with everyone. I also miss my family and definitely the food. What is your favorite food? Biryani. It’s basically rice with chicken or lamb and a lot of spices. What do you do outside of WCC? I work part-time and sometimes I hang out with friends. Is there anywhere locally you can go to feel at home? When I go to a Pakistani restaurant, like in Chicago. What are your plans after WCC? I am planning to transfer to UM.

Mrs. Khan, 37, education, Bangladesh

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? Because it’s convenient for me. I’m a mom and I live in Ann Arbor. What was the process like? I came here as a permanent resident so the process was a little different. My uncle sponsored me and he did everything that needed to be done. How much did it cost? I only paid airfare and spending money, which was about $5,000. What was your perception of America before you came here? Better education, and better opportunity for me and future generation. Has your experience lived up to your expectation? Some points yes. The opportunity, safety, security and education aspect of it lived up to expectation. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? When I first came here, I had language barriers and sometimes I didn’t know where I stand. People looked at me like I’m black or not white. While in Bangladesh, everyone is Bangladeshi. What do you miss the most about back home? A lot of things like the Bangladeshi environment, family, friends, the house where I grew up, my home town and food. What is your favorite food? Fish curry. Is there anywhere locally you can go to feel at home? I can go to the Mosque, but I like to stay at home. My family is very big, and we usually get together on the weekend and that makes me feel at home. What are your plans after WCC? I’m not sure right now.

Vladimir Onufrieve 19, liberal arts, Uzbekistan

Vladimir Onufrieve

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? I went to high school and I didn’t want to miss time on going to college so I decided to go to Washtenaw Community College. I live around here, that’s how I found out about WCC. What was the process like? The hardest process was language barrier and making new friends. I don’t really know about the whole process. My mom won the green card and she told me I’m going to be here that’s all. How much did it cost? I have no idea; I just know tickets are expensive to come here, like $1,500. What was your perception of America before you came here? Regular, like cowboys and everything. I also had the American dream. Has your experience lived up to expectation? Not yet so far. I’m not living the dream. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? Schools. How big they are and everything is nice. Where I’m from, everything is messed up. Especially bathrooms. What do you miss the most about back home? My family and grandparents, especially my grandfather. He was my best friend. What is your favorite dish? Plov. It’s yellow rice with meat. It’s delicious. What do you do outside of WCC? I just go out with my friends, like my best friend Corey. We used to go to the Ypsi/Arbor Bowling place a lot when he is in town. Is there anywhere locally you can go and feel at home? Not really. Just at home with family. What are your plans after WCC? I’m planning to study languages. I was thinking French.

Tenen Kaba, 26, nursing, Liberia

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? Because it’s close to home and I’ve known about it since I’ve been living here. What was the process like coming here? I didn’t come directly as a student. I applied for a visa and then I got it and came here to live. How much did it cost? It was like about $5,000. for everything. What was your perception of America before you came here? I think of here having lots of opportunities. My father used to come here to work, so he told me there are lots of opportunities here. Has your experience lived up to your expectation? Yes it did. But there are some letdowns. Like the business here, I didn’t think you have to work so hard here. Actually it was easier over there. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? The city. I came to New York, and the city makes me. . . wow. But in my vision when I was in Africa, it was really nice but when I came it wasn’t like that. It was dirty. What do you miss the most about back home? Everything. I miss my parents, my friends and all the stuff I used to do. I miss the food, but I’m able to cook it here because they have everything here. There is an African store in downtown Ypsilanti where I buy my food. What is your favorite dish? Ummm, okra sauce. There is eggplant, red oil and onions. It’s like a stew. What do you do outside of WCC? I work. Sometimes I go to club, and I have three kids so they keep me busy. Is there anywhere locally you can go and fell at home? No. Nothing reminds me of home. What are your plans after WCC? My plan is to get a degree here in nursing and find a nursing job.

Huda Ali, 23, nursing, Somalia

Huda Ali

Why WCC and how did you hear about it? Because all my friends came here and took classes and they advised to come here. And I live in Ann Arbor and WCC is the closest one to me. What was the process like? My mom came here in 1999, and she later applied for me. How much did it cost? She took care of everything for me so I don’t know how much it cost. What was your perception of America before you came here? I didn’t really have one. I was happy with my friends, and so I didn’t think about coming here Has your experience lived up to your expectation? I had all my friends, I was happy and so I didn’t care about anything. But when I came here I realized how lucky I am. Because there, there is not a lot of opportunities – but here there is. What was your biggest surprise when you came here? I learned how to drive, and my mom bought me a car. That was my biggest surprise. What do you miss the most about back home? My friends. I talk to them on Facebook, email and sometimes phone. But my best friend is here right now. I also miss the weather because over there we don’t have winter; all the time is summer. What is your favorite dish? Pizza. We have Pizza Hut over there, too, and it’s the same thing. What do you do outside of WCC? Sometimes me and my friends play soccer or tennis at Ypsilanti High School. Is there anywhere locally you can go and feel at home? Dearborn. I’m not sure what the place is called in Dearborn, but it’s like a Yemeni community. But it always reminds me of back home. Everything like food and restaurant, I feel like I’m at home. What are your plans after WCC? I like the University of Michigan, so I would like to transfer there.

Coming to a college near you?

Muggle Quidditch is ‘sweeping’ the nation

JAMES HIGHSMITH

Managing Editor

ALEX PARIS THE WASHTENAW VOICE

Andrew Axtell puts the quaffle through the goal past keeper Phuc Do.

Andrew Axtell decides it’s his time to take over the game. They’re only playing a five-minute blitz, and his team is down. “Two minutes remaining!” shouts University of Michigan student Danica Whitfield, in a British accent. Axtell’s teammates pass him the ball and he races from one end to the other, weaving between three opposing defenders and trampling another. He makes it look easy — even with a broom between his legs. Just as easily, Axtell whips the ball past a defender, scoring a goal assuring that his team will at least tie the game. “10 points for team Fa QC!” shouts Whitfield, 20, a communications and screen arts and culture double major at UM. They’re playing Quidditch. Yes, the same Quidditch that is a part of almost every Harry Potter novel. Rather than flying around on brooms though, the players sprint with the broom between their legs. Instead of a flying ball called a “snitch,” a player runs around in gold while being chased by other players.

ALEX PARIS THE WASHTENAW VOICE

Evan Batzer apears to be sailing over the quidditch pitch in a practice at the Arboretum.

It may seem dorky or unordinary, but this group of 12 individuals just wants to compete. “If you have the ball, anything goes,” said Axtell, a 19-year-old computer science major. “Other than tackling from the neck or hitting from behind, you can just tackle, or lay a shoulder to someone. It’s my favorite part, personally.” The UM team has been around for a few years as an organization, but this is the first year the team has actually gotten out and played the game. They compete year-round after tryouts during the Fall semester. The sport has grown tremendously over the last few years and now has a governing body called the International Quidditch Association (IQA). The game is played on a 48-yard oval shaped field, with the width at 33-yards at its largest. It is played with five balls, each with different names: The Quaffle: It’s the main ball in the game. Typically it’s a deflated volleyball. The Quaffle is used for scoring points. Teammates pass this ball to each other in hopes of throwing it through one of the opponent’s goals. Each team has three goals at different heights, but each are all worth the same value in points. The Bludgers: There are three of these in each game of Quidditch. The beaters, also known as defenders, use these balls to throw at opponents. If you’re hit by this ball, you’re forced to run all the way back to your goal before being eligible to play again. The Snitch: In the movies, the snitch is an elusive gold ball the flies around with wings of its own. While that’s not possible in real life, the snitch is a tennis ball that’s placed into a sock, which is tucked into the back of a runner’s shorts. The person with the snitch runs around relentlessly trying not to get caught. If caught, the game is over and the team who caught the snitch is awarded 30 points. While the Michigan team is only in its first year, players are themselves and enjoying the company of their teammates, as well. The team remains very diverse and includes players who transferred from Eastern Michigan’s Quidditch team.

ALEX PARIS THE WASHTENAW VOICE

Michael Scheible, Phuc Do and Mike Ronzetti bring the quaffles, bludgers and goal hoops to prepare for quidditch practice on a rainy day at the Arboretum.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” said 20-year-old biology major Rachel Hillabrand. “It’s a good bonding experience. A lot of us are into Harry Potter, and we’re pretty like-minded.” Recently, the team got even more comfortable when they drove to Chicago to compete in C2E2, a Quidditch tournament drawing several teams from around the country. The Michigan team finished with a 1-1 record at the tournament, but still had a blast. “We got to play with a lot of different people,” said Whitfield. “It was a huge team trip. That was very enjoyable.” While Quidditch hasn’t exactly caught on to the mainstream yet, Michigan players have yet to be phased by the public’s reaction to them.

“My parent’s laughed. Some people just laugh and say, ‘You’re so weird,’” said Hillabrand. “Some other people just ask, ‘Well how do you play?’” “What most people don’t understand is that it’s much more physical than you would think,” said Abby Weinstein, 19, a biology major. “Everyone is always getting tackled . . . In Chicago we played indoors and got lots of rug burn.” While the team formed in the Fall, it allows other players to join with them and play whenever they have scrimmages, commonly held on weekend afternoons. Just remember to bring a broom. For more information, visit: umichquidditch.com.

Brick Bash