A Summer Move to Ann Arbor

It’s been just over a week since I arrived in Ann Arbor 🌳, and I have to say—everything has been better than I expected! Maybe my expectations were low after my last visit, but so far, it’s been a warm and welcoming experience. 👋 People Are So Kind After spending several years on the East Coast (maybe I’m biased, but still), I’d gotten used to a certain… coolness in people. Here, complete strangers smile and say hello for no reason—it’s honestly a little surprising 😊 but in the best way. Whether it’s getting a driver’s license 🪪, setting up a bank account 🏦, or getting a new phone plan 📱, everyone actually tries to help you solve the problem. What a concept! ☀️ Summer Here Is Lovely The sun rises early and doesn’t set until after 9 PM 😎. It’s sunny and warm, but not overwhelmingly hot—nothing like Shanghai, where you start sweating the moment you step outside 💦. We’ve had some rain, but it’s usually a quick passing shower. Rain here just gets it—it knows not to overstay its welcome during our precious summer days. 🍜 Food > Expectations Yes, really! While truly great Chinese food is hard to find 🥢, there’s solid Thai, Japanese 🍣, and other cuisines. The grocery stores are well-stocked—I even found my favorite salt bread 🧂🍞! 🏡 Small-Town Vibes, Big Heart I’ve never experienced life like this. Everything is just 10-15 minutes away 🚗💨. The whole city seems to revolve around the university, creating a calm, focused environment where it feels easier to breathe, live slowly, and appreciate the little things. It’s a new rhythm for me—one I didn’t know I was missing. 🏠 Also… I blind-rented my apartment 📦👀… and I LOVE it. Hoping summer lasts a little longer 📅🍃 and the semester starts a little later… Has anyone else moved to Ann Arbor recently? What surprised you the most? #AnnArbor #Umich #SmallTownLife #SummerInMichigan #RelocationDiary #NewBeginnings