週日, 五月 20, 2012

報到

  • 1. GET Personal Identification card (PID card) from computer center building 405. (Carry your PID/PAN document, Passport, I-20)
  • 2. OPEN account from MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) or other banks. (Carry your PID card, Passport, I-20)
  • 3. VISIT (graduate) secretary of your department for lab key, assistantship information, or other important stuff.
  • 4. GET Social Security Number (SSN): “To apply for a social security card, you must present in person your passport, your I-94, I-201D or IAP-66 (pink copy), and a letter from OISS verifying your employment eligibility to the Social Security Office, 5015 S. Cedar St., Suite 150, Lansing, 48910. The office is located near the northeast comer of E. Jolly Rd. and S. Cedar St. in Lansing. Telephone: 377-1935.” Application for a Social Security Card

報到注冊及其他MSU資訊

找房子

A. 美國住房總體介紹:

a.房型

  • EfficiencyStudio: 一個大房間加上廚房區及一個單獨的衛浴
  • One-bedroom/Two-bedroom: 一房一廳,兩房一廳
  • House: 一棟大房子,多以單個房間為單位出租,須公用廚房,廁所

b. 租約Lease 與房東之間的合約條款,租期一般有3月,6月,9月和一年。

一般情況下,到期後自動續約,也會調漲租金。

c. 家俱各apartment情況不同,綜合而言,一般校外apartment都無附家俱,有家俱房租較貴。

B. 綜合事項:

你可以先找房再選室友,或是找有房的室友。只找室友的可以到allmsu.com,可以免費註冊帳號,登入後到Classifieds > Rental and More > Roommate去瀏覽和/或發貼,或者是找有roommate match服務的租屋。

看Apartment 注意事項

  • 1. 房租是否有含水電、瓦斯、暖氣,洗碗機(如果你不愛洗碗),Free Heat and Water雖然很重要,但相對房租也會不便宜,冬天瓦斯費有的時候高達100-200,但是只有幾個月並非一整年,所以可以評量一下有包暖氣與沒有包暖氣哪種比較划算;
  • 2. 房子的地點,是否方便到學校,有沒有直達公車﹔
  • 3. 四周的環境是否安靜﹔
  • 4. 租約多長、是否每年漲價、漲價幅度多少、是否能sublease (University Apts不能sublease) 、能不能辦storage,押金(deposit)多少﹔
  • 5. 其他包括是否有額外的清潔費、管理費﹔
  • 6. 額外設施,像免費列印啦,免費cable等等。

C. 校內住房:

Spartan Village 

校內Apt.一般優先考慮graduate students,特別是有family的,如要申請,一般二月,三月就要開始。雖然這些Apt.每年都漲價,但是因為他們地理位置好,公車方便,有免費cable, internet,仍然是無車一族新生的首選。

University Apartments Student Rates
學校宿舍租金

校方最新消息: News!! 校內Apts 仍可要求附傢俱

University Apartments will continue to provide furnished apartments to any resident that wishes this service. However, residents desiring to provide their own furniture will be permitted to do so. All we request is that tenants notify the apartment staff at 355-9550 if they require furniture. This notification would be best if done in advance. If you have any questions please contact Karen Corley or Adam Koivisto at the above listed phone number.

Owen Graduate Center

在 Eli Broad College of Business 和MSU College of Law 旁邊,位於校園中央。有些像國內的大學生宿舍,一樓有餐廳(美國食品)。可以買meal plan,大概7塊左右一餐。不能自己做飯。兩個人共用一間廁所衛浴,有免費的Housekeeping service, 而且你可以 just worry about your research and let the staff take care of the rest.

Undergraduates: There are 23 undergraduate halls on campus. More Information

D. 校外公寓:

以下是比較受歡迎的一些校外公寓的信息:

  • Campus Hill: 房價整體便宜,1路公車方便;
  • Trappers Cove: 小區安靜,房價合理,位於學校南邊, Free heat;
  • Twyckingham: 離學校近,價錢也公道;
  • University Villa: 房租貴,離學校近﹔
  • The Pines: 公車也好搭, Free heat﹔
  • Cedar Creek: 離超市近,沒有家具,便宜,位於Okemos區,有很不錯的小學校,有小孩子的家庭可以考慮﹔
  • Capestone: 四房兩套衛浴設備,洗衣機烘干機,電費自付,給你免費的公車票,風景優美,26號公車沿綫﹔
  • Hidden Tree: 頗貴,而且不含水電暖氣,但房間很大。

以下Apt. 跟北校區只有一街之隔,很多人說他們唯一的好處就是離學校近,可是又貴又吵。

  • Delta Arms
  • Studio House
  • Campus View
  • University Terrace
  • Evergreen Arms
  • Haslett Arms [一個月要700多]

其實還有很多APT...這些是一些可以幫你找房的網站

一個可以看Apt. Review 的網站:
http://www.apartmentratings.com

有很多人暑假的時候,把東西放到storage, 房租簽好,sublease 出去,從國內回來再搬進去等等,或者是中間想sublease出去的。當然,這些都是省錢的好方法。

買家俱

搬運自理:

  • 1. MSU Surplus Store: 只有禮拜二跟禮拜五有開。Tues. 7:30 pm-5:30pm, Fri. 7:30am-3:30。我去看過,他裡面現在賣的都是以前Spartan Village原本有提供的五斗櫃、書桌,建議可以在這裡買。*請注意到運送問題,假如你這個禮拜二買好,可以禮拜五再來搬。
  • 2. St. Vincent舊物回收中心:1020 S. Washington Lansing, MI, M-S, 10-5, 這裡呢,偶爾會有不錯的沙發、小茶几、餐桌等。你買了之後呢,三天之內要來運走。

有運送[不一定免費]服務:

  • 1. Buy &Sell Shop:這是一個家族經營的事業,老闆為人爽朗會做人,老闆叫Paul, 譬如說你問一個沙發多少,然後等依下問一套餐桌多少她就會說你要是兩個一起買就會便宜多少多少之類的。可以再這邊挑的道不錯的沙發床、他有一個bargain地下室,就是地下室的東西都很便宜。$10-15的小桌子,有的時候會有很划算的deal。營業時間Mon-Sat, 10-6pm, 一次運送是$40, 不算件數,也就是不管你買幾樣都很便宜。可已這裡挑到看起來很高級的沙發、客廳用品、餐桌椅,床架。 1814 S. Washington Ave, Lansing[不要太晚去的話,大概兩三點,可以當天運送]
  • 2. Buy-Rote Rent or Sell: 1121 S. Washington Ave. Lansing 這家呢,他的傢俱有新的也有二手的。新的,餐桌椅一整套不超過兩百塊[e.x1 table +4 chairs],很划算。同套的我在Art Van 看過要三百多塊,那他會比較便宜有的是因為他是展覽過後,或是百貨公司過季的。然後呢假如你想要買不錯的二手床墊+box,這是個好地方,還有不錯的床架,我現在的床,就是在這裡買的喔!那你說,是要睡覺的耶,可不可以買新的ㄚ。他也有新的,可是也許是百貨公司展覽過,或是其他大家具店,搬運的時候弄髒了,所以她就蒐購下來。會便宜很多,是新的,可是有地方髒掉。買回家用衛生紙沾水擦擦就好了唷!他裡面的姐叫Jessica, 人很不錯。她好像是免費搬運,這個我不太確定喔。
  • Dicker & Deal: 710E. Kalamazoo, Lansing, 10-6, Mon-Sat, 12-5, Sun.這家阿,可以買沙發、腳踏車、微波爐、電視、五斗櫃、桌子。我去看過床墊,可是感覺起來沒有第二家好。這家的搬運費是45半卡車。有新的也有二手的,但老闆做生意不太誠實,曾有一位弟兄受到欺騙,因此需要特別注意。
  • The Mattress Source 賣床墊的,是因為我覺得床很重要,學生嘛,除了書桌大概就是床最重要了,要能睡好書才能讀好。所以我就跑進去看看,躺一躺他們的床,有滿硬的床[我喜歡睡硬的床]。都是全新的,價錢也算合理,免費運送。我有跟他聊過阿,要是很多人跟他一起買她就會送床架。2650 B E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, 從學校往Okemos方向[東方]走,過了金鍋,快到橋之前的左手邊。M-F, 10-8, Sat. 10-5, Sun, 1-5。
  • 最後,如果你有車,想要跑遠一點又要買新的,可以去 Art Van Clearence Center, 8748 W. Saginaw hwy, Lansing要過Lansing mall至少在開個十幾分鐘,他也會幫你送囉!
  • 要浪漫、高級、有氣氛、有氣質、有品味的Ikea,在離這裡一個多小時的Canton有新開的IKEA, 41640 Ford Road, Canton, MI 48187, Sun-Sat 10:00am- 9:00pm 不過, 100 mile 之外, IKEA不負責免費運送,所以租個UAHL過去搬會比較方便喔!

買車

第一階段:紙上作業

評估以下幾點決定是否進入第二階段

  • 買車主要目的
  • 廠牌
  • 年份 (Year)
  • 里程數 (Mileage)
  • 維修記錄 (Mechanical Record)
  • 價格 (Price)
  • 賣主 (Owner)

可以使用KBB查詢二手車或新車平均價格!

第二階段:看車及試車

評估以下幾點以決定是否進入第三階段

主要評估:

  • 引擎 (Engine)
  • 煞車 (Break)
  • 離合器 (Transmission)

次要評估:

  • 輪胎 (Tire)
  • 冷、暖氣 (Air Conditioner & Heater)
  • 車門、窗戶、後照鏡
  • 雨刷
  • 大燈、方向燈、煞車燈

第三階段:議價(Negotiation)

關於學生家庭方面的一些資訊

學校組織

(1) Michigan State University Family Resource Center (FRC)

MSU家庭資源中心,提供學生及教職員家庭相關資訊。
Email: 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護,您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看

(2) MSU’s Student Parents Mission (SPOM)

MSU父母學生會由FRC所負責,會員由電子郵件傳送資訊,提供互相協助的訊息,一學期會費美金5元。
1407 S. Harrison, Suite 225 E. Lansing, MI 48823
(517)432-3745 ext. 146, Email: 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護,您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看 ,

國際學生及家屬保險International Student Health Issues

(1) Student Health Insurance 國際學生強制保險

(2) Student health subsidy program 學生配偶可加入此program free of charge.但限於Olin Health Center, 包括預防針注射及一般醫生看診,藥品需另付款.

(3) Graduate Assistant Health InsuranceTA及RA的學生保險,由學校給付. Contact:(517)353-4434
Email: 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護,您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看
Nisbet Building room 140

(4) Ingham health plan
包括doctors visits, health check-ups, lab tests, prescriptions and some surgical services…but not cover prenatal care or cover the cost of delivery. To apply contact: (517)887-4465

(5) Medicaid, Michild & Healthy Kids, Dept. of Human Services
For children that are born in the United States and are not covered under other insurance plans. To apply Contact: (517)887-9400

(6) Women’s health clinic, Ingham county health department
包括family planning, prenatal care, maternal infant outreach program and comprehensive medical, educational and counseling services related to contraception. To apply Contact: (517)887-4320

(7) Care Free MEDICAL, Inc.
Provides free medical care to low-income families. Female patients are able to receive annual gynecological examinations as well as the possibility of free mammograms and pap semesars. Males will receive examinations and testing as warranted. All children and young adults will receive recommended annual and well-child examinations as well as immunizations. To apply Contact (517)887-5922

以上保險相關資料 由OISS提供,請依各人需要連絡及詢問詳情

免費的孩子托育照顧Free Child care

(1) Emergency back-up childcare (EBU)

MSU employees and students will be able to use five days of EBU care, free of charge. Contact: Spartan Child Development center, (517) 353-5154;
1730, Crescent Rd. E. Lansing

(2) MSU Child Development Laboratories

Child-Care (low-income and above 4 years old may qualify for free schooling)
(517) 355-1900, 325 W. Grand River, E. Lansing, MI 48823

(3) Family Growth Center

Free child-care 6 times a month. Contact: (517) 351-6641

Miscellaneous

(1) Every Tuesday for International women & Kids

A group of international women who gather for fellowship on Tuesdays. Meet at University Lutheran Church (on Harrison next to Islamic Center)
Tuesdays from 1-3pm, except the 2nd Tuesday of the month. There is a small fee ($1-$2) to participate each week depending on the activity
Contact: Tammy at (517) 346-9977 or 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護,您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看

(2) Public Libraries

Free story time and activities for baby and children, please check: East Lansing Public Library and Capital Area District Libraries

(3) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC is a food and nutrition program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture through the Michigan Department of Community Health. WIC helps correct or prevent poor nutrition in low to moderate income pregnant or breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants, and children up to 5 years old. WIC services are free to applicants and participants.

(4) Child Care Scholarship Programs

(5) Garage sale info

Check http://www.lsj.com (looking for classifieds)

Please let us know if you have something to add. Thanks!

石頭重,沙土沉,愚妄人的惱怒,比這兩樣更重。
Timothy