Whether or not this is your first time away from your country, you are probably thinking about the different aspects of living in a new culture. Most grantees find that they must make some adjustments, since many things are new or unfamiliar. The process you will go through may be difficult, but it is also exciting and contributes to your personal enrichment and understanding of other ways of life.

Adapting to another culture may be frustrating at times, but there are people at your host university and at LASPAU who are able to help. Temporary problems should not discourage you. A growing familiarity with the new culture and with the resources available to you will greatly increase your enjoyment of your surroundings. You can read more about the process of adjusting to life abroad by downloading this PDF on cross-cultural adjustment.

• Community Life in the United States
• Personal Safety
• Housing
• Long Distance Telephone Service
• Money and Banking
• The Climate
• U.S. Holidays
• Acknowledgments
  

COMMUNITY LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES

The cities and towns in which colleges and universities are located vary widely across the United States. Like those at home, large urban centers or rural villages have their own special benefits as well as disadvantages. No matter where you study, we hope that you will take advantage of the unique character of your community in the United States, its natural and cultural resources, history, and beauty. In most university and college towns in the United States, there is an awareness of the rich diversity that international students bring to the community, but people may or may not be familiar with your country. We hope that as you learn about the United States and its people, you will also share the culture and perspectives of your own country with others.You will find that communities have a variety of public and private agencies and organizations that may be of interest to you. These institutions provide services and opportunities that can enrich your life culturally, assist you or members of your family with adjustment, or teach you a new skill. The public library may have children’s reading hours, and local schools or churches often operate day care programs or adult education classes. There may also be local special interest clubs for such pastimes as gardening or hiking; sports clubs for adults and children; support groups for single parents; or service agencies through which you may volunteer your own help and expertise.

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PERSONAL SAFETY

The United States is generally a very safe place to live and visit. However, as in any country, you should be sensible about your personal safety.

Although most university towns are friendly and secure, some neighborhoods are less safe than others. Your fellow students and local guidebooks should be able to tell you what a particular neighborhood is like. You should become familiar with your own neighborhood so that you can judge for yourself what is or is not safe to do there. In general, you should try to avoid walking alone late at night, particularly if you are a woman or live in a major city. If you must walk alone, be aware of your surroundings and the behavior of the people around you.

Additionally, you should never leave your apartment unlocked or let someone you don’t know inside your apartment. If you have a car or bicycle, it would be wise to keep these locked when not in use. You should also not carry a large amount of money with you. If you have to carry large sum of cash, be discreet about it.

If you use common sense, you should be safe during your entire stay. However, if you are the victim of a theft, report the crime immediately to the police. If credit cards or bankcards are stolen, cancel them right away so that you will not be charged for the misuse of your card. If your passport is stolen, call your country’s consulate in the United States immediately. You should keep a list of credit card numbers, bank account numbers, travelers check numbers, and your passport number in a secure place in your home so you can more easily report and replace the stolen items.

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HOUSING

No matter where you study, housing will probably be one of your most important initial concerns. Housing at U.S. universities—and in the surrounding cities and towns—is usually in great demand during the academic year. Whether you will be making arrangements for yourself alone or for you and your family, it is wise to consider the housing options that will be available to you as early as possible. LASPAU is unable to arrange housing for you at your university; it will be your responsibility to secure it. Many universities now include housing information on their web pages, including on- and off-campus options, local rental laws, average rental costs, etc. Here is a brief description of the types of housing you are likely to encounter so that you can begin to consider your options.

There will probably be three types of housing options open to you during your studies: on-campus university dormitories for single students; on-campus or nearby university-owned apartments for single or married students; and off-campus privately owned apartments or rooms for rent.

Dormitory rooms are usually in large buildings or housing complexes that can be, but are not necessarily, segregated for graduate and undergraduate students. Depending on the facilities available and your individual preference, you may share a dormitory room with one or two roommates or lease a room alone. There are usually no cooking facilities in rooms, although there may be a kitchen, shared by a group of rooms, that students can use. Bathroom facilities are usually shared. Some students, while acknowledging the shortcomings of "dorm" life, enjoy living close to university activities. They also may not want to prepare meals and instead prefer the convenience and social atmosphere of eating in a cafeteria on campus.

On-campus apartments are an attractive option for some students because they combine proximity to classrooms and school facilities with the independence of apartment living. On-campus apartments provide more space and privacy, but the rent is usually higher than for a dormitory room. Students may have the choice of renting an apartment alone or with roommates. Some universities do not have their own apartments and rely on the surrounding community to provide housing in privately owned buildings.

Living Off Campus

Off-campus living allows students a much wider variety of housing choices and, for grantees with families, more space than may be available on campus. Rents and sizes vary widely, so you can seek a living arrangement that more adequately meets your needs for space, cost, and location. Rents for housing are usually lower the farther they are located from campus; however, you must make sure that transportation to the university is available. Some grantees like the idea of living away from the university because it offers the chance to experience community life. Single students who want to live off campus but cannot afford or prefer not to rent an apartment alone sometimes rent an apartment or house with a roommate.

Take your time: Check newspaper classified advertisements (Sunday papers have the most listings) or drive through neighborhoods looking for rental signs. Websites such as craigslist.org, apartments.com, and rent.com can sometimes serve as excellent resources, particularly if you are living in or near a city. When you find an apartment, make an appointment with the building manager and inspect the unit in the daytime. Talk with other tenants in the building.

To lease or not to lease: Most apartments are rented under either a lease agreement or a month-to-month rental agreement. A lease is good from a tenant’s point of view for two reasons: you are assured that you have the right to live there for a specific period of time and you have an established rent during that period. However, a month-to-month lease makes it easier to move if you are dissatisfied with the apartment. Most other provisions of a lease are there to protect the landlord.

Leasing an apartment or house: Read any lease carefully. The minimum information a lease or rental agreement should include is the rental rate, required deposit, length of occupancy, apartment rules, and termination requirements. Some questions you may want to ask:

• How much is the rent? What is included (e.g., gas, electricity, water, parking, laundry)?
  
  
• How many persons may occupy the apartment? What is the guest policy?
  
  
• When and how must rent be paid? Are you allowed to sublet?
  
  
• If roommates share the apartment, who is responsible if one should leave?
  
  
• Under what conditions are the security and cleaning deposits refundable?
  
  
• What is the length of occupancy? What is the landlord’s right of entry?
  
  
• What are the rules concerning pets, conduct, and use of recreational facilities?

If corrections or repairs are needed, it is advisable to make the rental contingent upon the landlord making these repairs and agree upon a completion date. This agreement should be in writing and dated and signed by both parties. All rental agreements or leases should also be in writing. If there is any language you don’t understand, ask a reliable person to explain it to you. It is always good to pay rent and other payments by check, not cash. Write the purpose for writing the check on the face of the check (example: "April rent"). If you must pay in cash, get a signed and dated receipt from the landlord.

Deposits: In a lease or rental agreement, a landlord cannot require a nonrefundable cleaning or security deposit. Payments called "fees" may also be subject to this law. A security deposit is often required, but a landlord may keep only those parts of cleaning and security deposits needed for such purposes as repairing damage caused by the tenant, cleaning the premises, or making up for unpaid rent. You should also receive interest that has accrued on the security deposit for the length of time it has been held by the landlord.

The landlord should return the refundable part of the deposit within 30 days of the time you vacate an apartment. Deductions from the deposit should be itemized in writing. Prepaid rent, such as the "last month’s rent" which is required by most landlords to be paid before you move into an apartment, may not, by law, be considered the same as a security deposit. If you pay a deposit to a landlord to hold an apartment and then change your mind about moving in, you are not entitled to receive that money back unless it was agreed upon in writing at the time you paid it.

Apartment sharing: If one roommate leaves without paying his or her share of the rent, the landlord has the right to collect the rent from the remaining tenants. Great care should be taken to choose roommates who will fulfill their share of the obligation. Otherwise, you may be obligated to pay their share of the rent.

Right of entry: The landlord may enter the premises at reasonable times to inspect and make repairs. Usually, a landlord will not enter your apartment without calling to ask permission or to notify you that there is work to be done. In many states, the landlord is required by law to do so. To protect you in case of bad circumstances, the law requires that the landlord obtain a judgment from the court before entering an apartment when the tenant has broken the lease and the landlord has a lien (a property claim against payment) on the tenant’s personal property.

Damages: If the tenant or guests of the tenant damage the premises, the tenant is responsible for making repairs or replacing the damaged items. Other than reasonable wear-and-tear, the tenant is expected to return the premises to the landlord in the same condition as when received. Protect yourself from false accusations of damage by going through the apartment with the manager before you move in. Make a list of existing damages, paying attention to the condition of appliances, plaster, draperies, carpets, lighting fixtures, etc. Ask the manager to sign and date this list, sign it yourself, and make copies for both of you to keep.

Subletting: If you have signed an agreement to rent an apartment and then take rent from another person to live in that apartment instead of living there yourself, this is called "subletting." This is often done when a student wants to travel during non-school periods, but does not wish to lose the right to live in the apartment upon returning. Subletting requires the landlord’s consent. Many landlords do not allow it, and even if you have permission, you are responsible for the rent payment each month whether or not you collect it from the subletting person.

Be very careful when you choose your subtenant and have him or her sign an agreement which states the rent, the dates of occupancy, and a statement that all damage caused during your absence will be corrected by the subtenant. Get information about this person’s family, workplace, and anything else that might be helpful if you return to find that he or she has disappeared and left you with unwanted troubles.

Rent: Rents are based on the size of the apartment, the extra features it may have (furniture, appliances, carpet, curtains, etc.), and the quality of the neighborhood. The law states that the rent is payable in advance for each rental period. The rent due on the first of the month, then, is for the month just beginning, not for the month ending. If you do not pay the rent within 10 days of this date, your landlord has the legal right to begin eviction proceedings.

Choosing a neighborhood: When you look in the newspaper, you’ll find descriptions which can be confusing. Apartment listings are usually organized by neighborhood. You should decide where you want to live before going out to look at potential apartments. When choosing a neighborhood, think about safety, transportation to the university, and convenience. If you do not have a car, be sure that the things you need (such as shopping, library, and post office) are close enough to reach easily by walking, taking a bus, or riding a bicycle.

If you have a car, check the streets for signs that tell about parking restrictions. Many areas require a permit for parking on the street. It is often better to take an apartment which provides a parking area in or behind the building than to hope for a parking space every day on the street. The rent may be more expensive, but it will probably be less in the long run than the cost of fines you may have to pay for parking illegally. If you need to park on the street in an area that has parking restrictions, contact the city or town hall in your community to find out if it is possible for you to obtain a parking permit.

If you plan to ride the bus, find out exactly where the nearest bus stop is. Ask the neighbors if it is safe to wait for buses there. It is a good idea to find a bus stop that is well-lit by street lights. When investigating a neighborhood, take the time to ride the bus to your college or university. If you must transfer many times, or if the journey is long, think about a different neighborhood. To learn more about the various areas, buy one of the maps or guidebooks available in drugstores, bookstores, and other shops.

Be sure to read the information on Personal Safety in this section.

Rental insurance: You may want to consider purchasing rental insurance to protect you in case of theft, fire, water from a leaky roof, or anything else that might cause the loss of any of your possessions. It’s not very expensive and usually covers items that are lost or damaged even if they are outside your home (such as a stolen bicycle or luggage lost on a trip). Check with the international student office at your university for the names of reputable insurance agents.

Eviction: Without a lease, a tenant usually has no extended right to stay or to depend on a rental rate. Under some conditions and with proper notice (usually 30 days), a landlord may demand that a tenant leave or that a higher rent be paid in future months.

Giving notice to leave: When you plan to end your tenancy, write a letter to your landlord 30 days in advance of the time you intend to leave. Include your address, the date of writing the letter, and the date you will be vacating the premises. Deliver it in person and ask the landlord to sign and date a copy for your records.

At the time you vacate, do not leave anything behind. Surrender your keys immediately. Your landlord could be entitled to keep rent money from your deposit for every day that you do not comply with the terms of vacancy. When you vacate, call each utility company and cancel the service. Otherwise, you will be responsible for usage after you leave. You should give a forwarding address for final bills or go in person to close these accounts.

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LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE SERVICE

There are several long distance telephone companies to choose from. Be sure to research them in detail to find out what the rates are for the country or countries you plan on calling. Remember that rates vary depending on the time of day you call. When signing up for a program, be very specific about your needs and verify all of the information about rates and services for calls within the United States and abroad.

Calling cards are available from most long distance companies and give you the convenience of calling from anywhere, at any time. Be careful, however, as calling card calls are often much more expensive than regular calls (although they are cheaper than calling collect). Ask your long distance company for rates and other information.

Prepaid telephone cards are also available at many stores. You can purchase these prepaid cards for $5, $10, or $20, allowing you to make calls equaling these amounts by simply dialing the number provided on the back of the card. This option is great for people who frequently make calls from pay phones but rarely carry a lot of coins and also for calling your home country.

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An important consideration for international students is what to do about the money needed for expenses upon arrival in the United States. It will be necessary for you to become familiar with the banking system and learn the subtleties of managing your finances.

The basic unit of currency in the United States is the dollar ($). There are 100 cents (¢) in a dollar. All paper money is colored green and is the same size. The most widely used denominations include the $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills. Coins come in a variety of sizes, and denominations are all in cents (¢). These include 1¢ (a penny), 5¢ (a nickel), 10¢ (a dime), 25¢ (a quarter), 50¢ (a half dollar), and a $1 dollar gold coin.

Throughout the United States, you will find banks providing a variety of services to meet your specific needs. These services include checking and savings accounts, traveler’s checks, credit cards, money orders, safe deposit boxes for valuables, and more. A major consideration in choosing your bank should be location. You should look for a bank that is near your housing or school, offers convenient business hours, pays favorable interest rates on your accounts, has low service fees, and has conveniently located automated teller machines (ATMs).

It is very easy to open a bank account in the United States. Typically, you must provide a local address, your student identification card or Social Security card, your passport, and the money you wish to deposit. If your university has a bank located on campus, you may find it easier to open a new account there. On-campus banks are often willing to open a new account using your school-issued student identification number, whereas banks located off campus will require a U.S. social security number (see section on Social Security).

Most banks insure customer deposits up to $100,000. This insurance is provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an agency of the U.S. federal government. When selecting a bank, be sure that it is FDIC insured.

The easiest way to manage your finances is through the use of a checking account. A checking account allows you to deposit money, then write checks against it to pay for services and purchases. When you open a checking account, you will receive a checkbook with your name and account number printed on it. Your checkbook will also contain a financial ledger, which is used to maintain a record of your transactions. Depending on the bank and the type of account you have selected, you may be charged a service fee for having a checking account. In many instances, this fee may be avoided by maintaining a specified minimum amount of money in your account. Each month, your bank will mail you a printed statement of your account activity for the previous month. Be sure to compare this monthly statement with your check ledger for discrepancies. This is called "balancing your account." If there is a question regarding your account, notify your bank immediately.

While a checking account offers you a convenient and easy method to make payment for goods and services, it does require a degree of responsibility on your part. In particular, you must be careful to avoid "bouncing" a check. A bounced check is one that you have written for more money than you have available in your account. Most banks and many businesses will assess a high service fee for a bounced check, which may result in a negative credit rating for you. Remember, it is illegal to deliberately bounce a check in the United States.

A savings account is another way to keep your money safe, yet accessible. Most banks offer a variety of savings accounts, including passbook, statement, money market, and holiday accounts. Savings accounts usually earn more interest than money deposited in a checking account and are typically used when you have money that is not needed for short-term expenses. Since interest rates offered by banks on savings account deposits vary widely, it is good to compare rates at several banks before opening an account.

Most banks offer automated teller machines (ATMs) or money access centers (MACs). These machines make it possible for customers to deposit, withdraw, or transfer funds conveniently, even when the bank is closed. You will find ATMs in banks, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. When you open an account with a bank that operates an ATM system, you’ll be issued a plastic ATM card. You will be assigned a personal identification number (usually called a "PIN") that identifies you as a bank customer. Never give anyone your PIN.

Some ATM cards also function as debit cards, allowing you to make purchases in the same way you make a credit card purchase. However, with a debit card, the amount of the purchase is deducted directly from your checking account. Be certain you understand your bank’s ATM system and policies and are familiar with the fees your bank may charge for using this service.

Credit card use in the United States is so widespread that it may be difficult to carry out certain transactions (such as renting a car) without one. Most people find that credit cards offer a convenient method to pay for goods and services without using cash. It can also be easier to purchase items by credit card than by check, since stores often require that you show two forms of identification when you pay by check. If you obtain a credit card, be certain to use it with great care and treat it as you would cash.

If a credit card is lost or stolen, report that loss to the company immediately, or you could be responsible for paying for the purchases made by someone else. Read your credit card contract carefully before signing an agreement and become familiar with the regulations and procedures of your credit card company or bank. Remember, if you purchase goods or services on credit, you are in fact borrowing the money from your lender and will be charged a significant rate of interest on your purchases if you do not pay your bill in full.

One widely accepted, convenient, and safe form of bringing money to the United States is the traveler’s check. They are issued by most banks and are accepted almost everywhere as if they were cash. Traveler’s checks come in a variety of denominations ranging in value from $10 to $100. They are not expensive to purchase and can be readily replaced if lost or stolen. To redeem or "cash-in" a traveler’s check, you will need to present valid identification, which may include a passport, driver’s license, student ID, or credit card.

There are a number of ways to transfer funds from your country to the United States. Many students will bring with them a bank draft to cover their dependents’ living expenses. Others will have a draft forwarded through the mail once they are established here. Still others will have their funds transferred electronically to their personal bank account or to a university student account. Wiring funds directly to your student account is the most convenient method of transferring funds to support your dependents. You will need to provide your bank with the exact transfer requirements, which should be available through your school’s international student office or finance office.

Most banks and schools will also assist you in cashing a bank draft. It may take up to three weeks before your draft is "cleared" and funds are made available to you. To help this process go more quickly, it is suggested that you do one of the following:

• Have your bank draft written by a corresponding bank in your home country (that is, a bank that is affiliated with your U.S. bank). The draft will display the U.S. bank’s name and/or bar code, usually in the lower left corner, and will be treated the same as a check from the U.S. bank.
  
  
• Have your home country bank issue a draft to a U.S. bank with an office near your school or residence.
  
  
• Check with your university or bank to learn the best options available to you.

Tipping for services rendered is a very common practice in the United States. Following is a list of basic percentages that can be used when calculating tips. Keep in mind that the amount of the tip expresses your satisfaction with the service, so larger tips should be used if you had extremely good service and smaller tips if the service was poor.

• Restaurant waiter or waitress—15% to 20% of the bill
  
  
• Bartender—10 to 15% of the bar bill, or at least $1 per round of drinks
  
  
• Hotel bellhop—$1 per bag for carrying baggage to the room
  
  
• Airport personnel who carry luggage—$1 per bag
  
  
• Taxi drivers—15% of the fare, or no less than $1
  
  
• Hair salon/barbershop stylist—15% of the bill

Americans tend to do their food shopping at large grocery stores (or "supermarkets") on a weekly or biweekly basis. These stores offer a wide variety of foods, paper goods, cleaning supplies, and toiletries at lower prices than "convenience stores" or other small neighborhood stores.

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THE CLIMATE

The climate in the United States varies greatly from region to region and from season to season. The chart below displays the average temperatures in the region in which you will be living. The map illustrates which states fall in the listed regions and indicates the various time zones in the United States.

It can be extremely cold in the winter in many parts of the United States. When strong winds combine with low temperatures, it becomes harder to keep warm. For example, if the wind is 35 mph (56 km) and the temperature is 20°F (-7°C), the wind chill temperature is -20°F (-29°C). The snow presents a challenge to international students who are not accustomed to it. There may be days where brisk winds combine with very low temperatures to make dangerous conditions.

• Make a habit of listening to weather forecasts on TV or the radio so that you will be able to dress appropriately each morning. TV and radio broadcasts will also inform you if schools are closed due to snow.
  
  
• On the days that are extremely cold, limit the length of time that you are exposed to the cold.

Layering is warmth: Wear many layers of loose clothing, as this ensures that there are pockets of air between the clothing layers to insulate your body from the cold. For the upper body, a long-sleeved shirt worn over an undershirt and topped with a sweater and coat is best. For the lower body, a pair of long underwear underneath a pair of pants will keep you warmer. Underwear made from silk is very comfortable, and polypropylene is good for outdoor sports, although both of these materials tend to be expensive. Pants need to be loose-fitting—remember that the idea is to keep warm air close to your body. Tight-fitting pants (and jeans) do not help to keep you warm.

Dressing in layers that you can remove or put back on as you need will help you cope with the differences in temperature you may encounter when entering and leaving buildings, some of which may be overheated.

Keep your head warm: Many people are surprised to learn that 60% of the heat lost by the body is lost through the head. Wearing a hat to cover your head is therefore very important for keeping you warm. A woolen hat is a necessity, but if you really feel the cold, buy a sheepskin hat—this will give full protection against the icy winds that may blow across your campus. At the very least, wear a pair of earmuffs to protect your ears.

Close "gaps": Neck and wrist openings are potential sites for heat loss. Wearing a scarf around your neck and long mittens can help close these gaps.

Make use of your body heat: Wear mittens instead of gloves. Since mittens expose a smaller surface area to the cold, your fingers will stay warmer with mittens.

Your comfort depends on the quality of your clothing. All clothing sold in the United States is required to have a label that describes fiber content and care. Down jackets and full-length down coats are warmest, and since most of them already have a nylon outer shell, they provide the best protection against the wind. Even though down garments are costly, they are a good investment. Wool is the next best insulator and, although not effective against the wind, it is warm even when wet. Leather is very effective against the wind, but it is a poor insulator and inadequate for severe winters.

You may be tempted to buy cotton and acrylic sweaters, since they tend to be cheaper than wool. Cotton and acrylic have very little insulating value, so these will not keep you warm enough. It’s worth paying a little more for a good wool sweater. You may want to bring one from your home country—if they are available—as it may be less expensive than in the United States.

Your feet will become cold if you do not protect them. It’s best to buy leather hiking-type boots with insulated lining and thick rubber soles with lots of tread. This will keep your feet warm and will make walking on the ice easier, but they will not keep your feet dry unless you waterproof them yourself with a silicon spray. (You can buy silicon spray at the shoe store when you buy your boots.) Vinyl boots are waterproof but will not keep your feet warm unless they have insulated lining. Avoid wearing boots that have high heels or smooth soles. For safer walking on snow and ice, wear boots with lower heels and treaded soles. If you are not sure what to buy, ask a friend who has been on your campus for at least one winter season or check with the international student office.

The best time to shop is during a sale. Some stores have winter clothing sales in October, and most have sales right after Christmas. Don’t think this will be too late—January and February are often the coldest months! There may also be discount stores near you, offering low prices on good-quality items. Check with the international student office to see if they have tips on where to shop.

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U.S. HOLIDAYS

January 1—New Year’s Day. This is a celebration to welcome the new year, starting with the night before (New Year’s Eve, on December 31). Schools, offices, and stores are closed.

Third Monday in January—Martin Luther King Day. This is a holiday in commemoration of the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968, pictured left), an African-American civil rights leader who received the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. Some businesses and schools are open on this day. Your local newspaper will usually list what is open and what is closed.

Third Monday in February—President’s Day. An official holiday honoring past U.S. presidents. The month was chosen because of the February birthdays of two famous presidents: George Washington, the first U.S. president and commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary armies that won independence for the United States, and Abraham Lincoln, who held office during the U.S. Civil War and was known for abolishing slavery. Schools and offices are closed, but most stores are open.

February 14—Valentine’s Day. A day to celebrate love and romance. "Valentines" or other tokens of love (cards, candy, gifts) are exchanged. It is not an official holiday, and offices and schools are open.

March 17—Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick’s Day was brought to the United States from Ireland and recognizes the patron saint of that country. It is common to see people dressed in green to celebrate. Offices and schools are open in most parts of the United States.

April 1—April Fool’s Day. This day is typically celebrated by playing practical jokes on friends and colleagues. It is not an official holiday, and offices and schools are open.

Second Sunday in May—Mother’s Day. Not an official holiday. This is a day of recognition for mothers and other women (such as grandmothers and stepmothers) who have played an important role in one’s life. Cards or small gifts are often sent to those people.

Last Monday in May—Memorial Day. An official holiday in commemoration of those who died in wars involving the United States. Many people visit graves and decorate them with flowers. Unofficially, this day is considered the start of summer. Offices and schools are closed.

Third Sunday in June—Father’s Day. Not an official holiday. This day honors fathers and other men who have played an important role in one’s life. Cards or gifts are often sent to those people.

July 4—Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. With this document, thirteen colonies declared their independence from England and became the first thirteen states of the United States. Firework displays mark this official holiday, for which schools, offices, and many stores are closed.

First Monday after the first Sunday in September—Labor Day. This official holiday, which is celebrated on May 1 in most countries, honors the contributions and efforts of working people. Offices and schools are closed. Unofficially, it is considered to be the end of summer.

Second Monday in October—Columbus Day. This official holiday commemorates the day Christopher Columbus landed in America. Most schools and offices are closed.

October 31—Halloween. Not an official holiday. Originally a religious holiday, this day is now celebrated primarily as a children’s holiday, though adults sometimes plan costume parties as well. Children dressed in costume will likely appear at your door. When they say "Trick or treat" (which means "Give me a treat or I will play a trick on you"), it is customary to give them a small piece of candy.

November 11—Veteran’s Day. This holiday honors all U.S. war veterans. Some businesses and schools are open. The newspaper will usually list what retail stores are open.

Fourth Thursday in November—Thanksgiving Day. This feast was initiated by the Pilgrims (the first settlers of the thirteen colonies of the United States) and the Native Americans (who already lived on the land) to give thanks for the bountiful harvest. Today, this is a day of giving thanks for what we have. It is usually celebrated by eating a big turkey dinner with family and friends. It is an official U.S. holiday, and offices, schools, and stores are closed.

December 25—Christmas. Although Christian in origin, this day is recognized as an official holiday in the United States. Family members and friends travel great distances to be together and exchange gifts. Offices, schools, and stores are closed.
 

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The information on keeping warm in cold climates in this guide was originally prepared by Cornell University for its international students. Reprinted by permission of the Cornell University International Students and Scholars Office.

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