First Week – New International Students’ Life in the U.S.

Your first week in the U.S. will be a good, memorable experience. I have seen friends who missed their parents and families while a few are already set to enjoy a new life — half way around the world from their native country.

It usually takes a couple of days up to a few weeks for international students to get adjusted to their new environment.

The drive from the airport to the college will be memorable one.

You will see so many different types of cars (mostly 1 person per car). Checkout the previous post on How to avoid jetlag, that might come in handy.

When I reached my apartment, I was surprised when my roommate asked me to identify which is sugar and salt without tasting them.

Apartment Hunt

The first most important thing to do is to find a place to stay. If you already have an apartment, then find a roommate. Seniors will help you out with shopping stuffs for your new home.

The sheer amazement after seeing Walmart, Tom’s Thumb, Kroger and other shopping malls for the first time still lingers in me after several years.

In some shopping centers, some banks are located within the complex. I have seen people opening bank accounts within a shopping complex, like those at Tom’s Thumb and Albertson’s.

Making lots of friends will help you in the long run and will give you access to different ideas. This is helpful because everyone will be spending 2-3 years in school.

To understand how things work in specific situations, you need to talk to people and learn from their experience.

For instance, what if you want to withdraw from courses for a particular semester after you have already paid the tuition fees? Will you get refund or what can be done to get the fees back? Answers to those kinds of things you will only learn if you talk to seniors. However, not all seniors can give you answers unless they or some of their friends have encountered such situations.

As you go around the campus in your first few days, carry a small notepad if you don’t have cell phone yet. Note down phone numbers of your friends and seniors. Visit their apartments and say “Hi” to their roommates.

Build a network. You will understand how to find a part time job, aid and many other things if you have a network.

• Timeline – Students Spending Habits in US

Try arranging for a small party among new friends so you will get to know more people. Smile at every other person you come across with and get to know them. It will definitely make your life easier if you have lots of friends here.

Some of our readers inquired about credit cards, how to find part time jobs, what is credit history, how to get a driver’s license and International Driving Permit, etc. So please expect posts from these topics soon.

Until then, cheers!