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Living off campus refers to finding living accommodations that are not on the campus of the school to which you are going. Some international students choose to live off campus in a homestay situation whereas others may rent an apartment, room, or house off campus. Living off campus might help you to feel as if you have a place that you can escape from school and the ever present sight of swarming college students everywhere you look. This section will help you get a picture of what off-campus living can be like and how to find what you are looking for.
What it can be like
The choices for living off campus are many.Living off campus could consist of a home-stay where you live with an American family.Other students not living on campus will rent an apartment, home, duplex, or town home often with a few roommates.
If you are on your own and not living with a home-stay family, without the benefit of the school or home-stay family to take care of your needs ； then, you'll be responsible for your own utilities, cleaning, rent, shopping, transportation and ,of course, feeding yourself.When you are not studying, you will be able to step out of your home into a US neighborhood that offers you a chance to live as an everyday American. You may even get invited to the neighbors for dinner or to a block party!! If you are the adventurous sort, or if you have a family that needs more room than the on-campus housing provides, then living off campus may be the choice for you.
What kind of housing is available
Living off campus could consist of a home-stay where you live with an American family.Other students not living on campus will rent an apartment, home, duplex, or town home often with a few roommates. Let's take a look at these options and explore your needs as you consider them.
- Apartments
Living in an apartment, or renting something similar such as a house, condominium, or room either on your own or with roommates will require you, first of all, to locate a place to rent.Once you are moved in you will be responsible for rent, damage deposit, cleaning , communicating with the landlord, signing the lease, commuting to and from school, learning the layout of your neighborhood, and possibly cooking for yourself unless you use the school's food service for meals.
- Finding an apartment
When looking for a place to rent off campus, many universities and colleges will assist you in your search by offering a website or office that can provide information on what is available for off- campus housing. You should also check out the local and school newspapers and bulletin boards.Don't forget to use the tried and true method of asking around.
- On-campus housing office
For an example of an off-campus housing office of a major university, click here to view the University of Wisconsin Madison's site.This and similar sites will give you listings of off-campus housing e.g. apartments, rooms, houses, efficiencies, coops, etc. that are for rent.Most major universities will offer the same information in their Campus information / visitor's center. If your school doesn't have this, check with the school counselors and be obsessive in checking the campus bulletin boards.
- Newspaper
Local newspapers will give you the rental listings in the city and areas serving the city. To find your city's local newspaper on the web, you can do a search on newspapers.com.
- Online
Use the internet for your off-campus housing search. Rent.Com is a website where you can type in the city , state, and the dates you are looking at to rent. The site will provide you with rental listings according to the search you specify.
- Home-Stay
A home-stay is an arrangement where you live with an American family during the time you are in the states. A home-stay is a great place to be immersed in American language and culture.You will be provided with a bedroom in their home and will eat your meals with the family except for lunch when you eat at school.There is no better way to become familiar with the area of your school and city than by going along on outings with the host family who will be prepared to help you have a successful experience in America.Many times your friendship with a home-stay family will last even after you move back to your home country.
- How to get it
If you are interested in having a home-stay experience, pick a school to go to that will assist you with finding a home-stay.Generally the school provides home-stay families that are well known to the school‘s staff and the school will also help you in communicating with the home-stay family before and after you arrive.
- Shopping, Movies & Restaurants
Whether you live on-campus or off-campus, you will need to take a break from studying and enjoy some relaxation away from school such as shopping, movie going, and dining out at restaurants. Finding your way around may be a little intimidating at times but will get easier as time passes, your English improves, and you become more familiar with your surroundings. Be aware of your safety and make sure the area you plan to go to is safe.Allow yourself a good amount of time the first time you leave campus so you can walk around and explore and see the community off -campus. You may want to simply take a walk, shop, eat out, see a movie, tour the art museum or an area historical site, see a play or sit in the park. On the weekends over longer breaks, there are plenty of regional activities also such as skiing in the winter, mountain hiking, fishing, swimming, and of course sight seeing the area attractions and scenery.
For leisure activities such as shopping, going to movies, and eating at restaurants, there are very few places that offer as many choices and range of budget options than in America.Furthermore, you can do all these activities under one roof at American malls. When you are tired of all the books , check out these options to cipher through what is available for you in your search for some fun.
On-line shopping
The USA shopping directory for online shopping in America is a categorized directory of US shops selling on the Internet.Click here to access this site.
Shopping Malls
Shopping malls are indoor shopping cities. Parking is plentiful and your only complaint about these shopping paradises may be that your feet hurt after the miles of walking you'll do over the space of a few city blocks. Most large department stores are located in malls, although you can still find department stores in the downtowns of cities. Department stores which are known for their lavish and expensive items include names such as Bloomingdales and Macys. For more practical, economical choices, head to Sears or J.C. Penny.
A typical American Shopping Mall
In the last few years outlet malls have become popular. Name brand companies will sell their out of stock or overrun merchandise in their stores at these outlet malls which are generally located on the outskirts of the city.
Other shopping options include mass retail stores such as economical American favorites like Kmart, Target, and Wal-mart. In recent years they have expanded to include large supermarkets.. American shopping malls are continually changing to appeal to the public's convenience and comfort. Hence the arrival of the Superstore!Click here and get on the Super Target website where you can check out the weekly specials, get coupons, apply for a credit card, locate a store near you, and order on-line.
The largest shopping mall in the United States, famous world wide, is the Mall of America located in Minneapolis , MN.This mall has over 520 stores, 50 restaurants, state of the art bowling alley, Legoland, three food courts, movie theatres, Under Water Adventures indoor aquarium, the Camp Snoopy Amusement Park, and many events throughout the year.
LegoLand at the Mall of America
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Supermarkets
American supermarkets have choices galore. With so many choices of where to shop, let's take a look at a few to help you sort things out.
- Large Chain Supermarkets:
These giant stores spreading throughout the country are supreme one-stop shopping utopias.While you shop for your groceries, your pictures can be developing at the one-hour photo center, your prescriptions can get filled at the in-store pharmacy, you can do your banking at the in-store local bank , and don't forget to stop at the service counter to take care of your bills, credit cards, money orders, and send your letters and faxes,.Chances are trekking the aisles in this huge maze of food will tire you some, so take a break and have a snack and a cup of fresh brewed coffee at the store's Café Deli or Starbucks. Some grocery stores have spas and salons for you to get pampered after the laborious task of lifting heavy bags of groceries. There are departments for Deli, dairy, bakery, bulk foods, organic foods, imported foods, meat, florists, gifts, seafood, and sushi. Don't worry about getting lost in this city under one roof, go to your local store's website and take a virtual tour!
Check out this great list of American supermarkets on Wikpedia: Supermarkets in America. You are sure to find one in your neighborhood.
- On-line grocery shopping
If you want to have your groceries hand delivered to your door, you may order them on the web through a variety of different grocery stores. Check the local grocery store in your area.To find one of the larger, well known supermarkets in America try these sites:
Safeway
Piggly Wiggly
SuperValu
- Chinese/ Asian Markets
Almost every major city will have some type of Asian grocery store.As the Asian population continues to grow in size and spread throughout the US, the popularity of Asian malls and markets is heating up among Westerners also.
The 99 Ranch Market is one of the largest and most popular Chinese supermarkets in the  US with stores primarily in the West Coast in California but they also have stores in Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada and Washington. Started by a Taiwanese, this store especially serves middle to upper class Taiwanese. The Super H Mart is an Asian grocery in Virginia.
- Asian Malls
Asian malls are becoming more and more popular among westerners. Check out these popular malls yourself by going to Wikipedia Encyclopedia's list of Asian supermarkets.
Here is another list of Asian malls in North America with links to their sites.
Some Asian-oriented shopping malls in the US:
Kintetsu/Miyako Mall
San Francisco, California
San Gabriel Square
San Gabriel, California
Milpitas Square
Milpitas, California
Koreatown Plaza
Los Angeles, California
Hong-Kong City Mall
Houston, Texas
Super H Mart
Fairfax City, Virginia
Asian Garden Mall
Westminster, California
Koreatown Galleria
Los Angeles, California
Mitsuwa Marketplace
Edgewater, New Jersey
Japanese Village Plaza
Los Angeles, California
Uwajimaya Village
Seattle, Washington
The Galleria Market
Northridge. California
Little Tokyo Square
Los Angeles, California
Hong Kong Plaza
Rowland Heights, California
Movies
No better place for movies than the land that makes the world's favorite and best ones - the USA !Because movie going is a universal love, breaking through cultural and language barriers, it's a great choice for going out with new friends and afterwards you can practice English by discussing the movie.Theatres in the US are magnificent and the buckets of popcorn are as big as most of the screens in Taiwan movie theatres. But don't bring in buckets of chicken and bags of stinky dofu, outside food is not allowed in.
- Online ticket purchasing:
For on-line movie theatre ticket purchasing, go to Movies.com.Type in the zip code or city and state that you want, and you'll get listings for the local theatres in your area.From there, you can order tickets on line from theatres where this is available.
Restaurants
Yes.America has restaurants.Go to them and eat.Of course, just like home you will have a choice in cuisines.For the most authentic Asian restaurants, try ChineseChildbook.com ‘s restaurant finder for Chinese /Taiwanese Restaurants in your area.Finding the most authentic tasting Chinese or Taiwanese restaurants in the US isn't hard, especially if you ask your Asian friends.
- Online guide of US Restaurants
For a quick look at some of the American restaurants in your neighborhood, go to Restaurants | United States. Click on the state you want for a list of that state's cities then click the city you want which brings up some of the restaurants in your city.This site does not list most popular chain or fast food restaurants.
Public transportation in the US is available in most large cities. There are bus systems that serve the city only and those that travel coast to coast for longer trips. International students can avail themselves of the public transportation by studying the websites that are offered with maps of routes and schedules. Subways or some form of mass transit is available in some of America's largest cities.
Not every area in the states has convenient public transportation. Even if you have it in the area where you are living, you may not find it as convenient as the transportation in Taiwan. With a little research beforehand , any potential problems using the public transportation in your city will be prevented.
The varieties of public transportation are:
- Cross-Country Bus systems
Generally most major cities will have a public city bus system. You will use this to travel in and around the city area. To travel across country when you are not choosing to fly on a domestic airlines, the Greyhound Bus is widely used and is an economical and efficient way to travel.
To travel across country, you may use the Greyhound bus which offers economical tickets that are available for purchase on line or at the depot.They also have a special ticket called Ameripass available for travel anywhere in the United States.Go to Greyhound.com to find the station near you, buy tickets, check the schedule and get fare and route information.
- City bus systems
City buses are available in larger metropolitan areas.Go to the website of your city and then to the link for public transportation.Below are links to public transportation systems in various large cities.You will find bus routes and fare information, possibly subway if they have one.
- Subways
In the Unites States, a few of the larger cities have subway systems. Below are the links to some of them and the link to the US Local and State Transit, which can help you access public transportation information to any state's cities and counties.
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