cultural difference and Miscellaneous advice
Please note information supplied on this page is for the benefit of Fulbright Scholars travelling to the U.S., to assist with travel preparations and also to support Scholars in their transition to life in the U.S. Please note: the information has been extracted from recent Fulbright Scholar Final Reports and is not necessarily the views or recommendations of the Fulbright Commission.
| Familiarise yourself with telephone area codes nationally and internationally |
| When living in cold climates, dress in layers as indoors is mostly heated |
| Ensure you have adequate Health Care arrangements in place and that the people you live with are also aware, in cases of emergency. |
| Contact the local Australian Embassy or consulate and get on the mailing list as they host a range of Australian activities like ANZAC day and football grand final celebrations |
| When submitting government applications forms research the requirements and entitlements prior to submission. Once submitted, follow up on their progress regularly |
| Register with the IIE Complementary Ticket Program (in NYC) as they have some great discounted and/or free offers |
| Get in touch with the Universities' International Student Department prior to leaving or as soon as you get there, to get advice on the restrictions and requirements of your stay |
| Students staying in the US over 1 year, be aware of restrictions with the J1 visa. |
| Take supplies with you eg. Tim-tams, vegemite, minties but are available on line |
| Aussie sarcasm can be misunderstood or taken very literally - be careful |
| Apply for football tickets well ahead of time. 2007 Senior Scholar |
Register with Advance through the Australian Embassy before traveling. They have chapters in several major cities. See: http://devadvance.schipul.net/local chapters/washington.asp . A great resource for getting advice about living in the US, from Australians who have been here for a while. 2006 Professional Scholar |
| Free wireless internet is almost everywhere in the US. In cafes etc. However some, like Star Bucks require a fee, yet others like Cosi are free. Look for signs on shop fronts. 2006 Professional Scholar |
| When you visit a Macy’s store, ask for international traveler’s discount card. By showing your passport you receive a card that gives an 11 percent discount – even on items already reduced or on special. 2006 Professional Scholar |
| One thing many Australians do not know about is appropriate tipping. 15-20% for almost everything is standard (many places are leaning towards 20%) and $1 per bag for bellhops or sometimes cab drivers. Not tipping at all is unacceptable – no matter how bad the service is. If I was in a situation where I was unsure if it was appropriate to tip someone, I asked friends, watched what other people did, or asked the person themselves. 2006 Postdoctoral Scholar |
| Wait at least 10 days before applying for a social security number. If you apply before this time you will not be in the computer system and will have to have the number mailed to you which takes weeks. If you are in the computer system you receive the number instantly. 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
www.craigslist.com is an online classifieds site where you can find just about anything you need – accommodation, furniture, room-mates, etc. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| (Boston) summers can be unbearably hot and the winters are absolutely freezing (but fun) get an air conditioner and don’t skimp on the heating! Partner 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Always make sure all your documents are in order because you can't expect any consistency or leniency from customs and security agents, especially with heightened security. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |