waldek.usa
25.08.07, 18:53
Ponizej masz troche podstawowych info, zakladajac, ze nie bedziesz
spac w polskiej dzielnicy w jednym pokoju z piecioma innymi
delikwentami za $50 miesiecznie na glowe, oraz zywic sie paczkami z
Czerwonego Krzyza badz kosciola.
Pardon, ze po angielsku, ale sadze, ze wystarczajaco jasno.
Arrival
Initial Expenses: You should plan to arrive with enough money to
meet the substantial initial expenses of your first weeks in the
United States. Until you finalize your living arrangements, you
should expect to spend from $20 to $50 per day for meals at
moderately priced restaurants and from $80 to $300 per night for
hotel, motel, or guest house accommodations. Advance lodging
reservations are strongly recommended, especially if you plan to
arrive between May and September.
Transportation: www.mbta.com/
Housing.
One of the simplest ways to find an apartment or house in the Boston
area is to visit a realtor. Realty offices maintain extensive lists
of apartments and houses and, for a fee that usually equals the
amount of one month's rent, will help you locate a house or
apartment that matches your needs.
Sharing an apartment with a roommate may help reduce expenses.
boston.craigslist.org/ (select Boston), bardzo dobra strona, polecam
na 100 %.
Housing costs vary widely depending on the neighborhood, the
condition of the dwelling, and amenities included. Do not rent a
house or an apartment before you have seen it. Rent usually does not
include costs for heat, electricity, hot water, gas for cooking,
telephone charges, parking fees, or furniture. Most apartments are
unfurnished, many do not have refrigerators, and many are
air-conditioned. Always ask the landlord or realtor to clarify what
is included in the monthly rent.
Leases: A lease is a legal contract between landlord (property
owner) and tenant (person renting). Do not sign any lease until you
have read it thoroughly and understand all of its provisions. Almost
all property owners require the tenant to sign a lease for one year,
committing the tenant to 12 months' rent unless a subtenant
acceptable to the owner can be found. Leases usually start on the
first of the month. Off-Campus Housing Services will review your
lease with you, if you wish.
Rental Costs: Most owners require one month's rent in advance. You
should be prepared to pay up to three or four months' rent before
occupying an apartment (first month in advance, last month in
advance, a refundable security deposit, and possibly a realtor's
fee). Please arrive with sufficient funds (preferably in travelers'
checks, not cash) for these initial expenses.
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment generally ranges from $1,000 to
$1,800 per month or more depending on the condition and location of
the unit. The cost of a two-bedroom apartment varies anywhere from
$1,300 to $2,500 per month or more. Single family homes range from
$2,000 to $4,000 per month or more.
Furnished rooms, with or without cooking privileges, cost from $700
to $900 per month or more. The estimated monthly cost to share an
apartment with a roommate ranges from $500 to $1000 per month or
more per person. Utilities, such as heat, hot water, gas, and
electricity, may range from $120 to $450 per month.
Utilities: The major utilities are telephone, electricity, and heat
(electric, oil, or gas).
Telephone: The average cost for local telephone service ranges from
$30 to $50 per month. Long distance calls are billed separately. The
cost to install a new telephone ranges from $37 to $90.
Electricity: The voltage used in the United States for small
appliances is 110V (60 cycles). If you bring appliances which use
220-V to 240-V, you must use an adapter. Adapters are available for
purchase; and are inexpensive.
Monthly electricity costs vary from $30 to $100 per month depending
on building size and usage.
Heat: If heat is not included in your rent you should expect to pay
from $90 to $350 per month. To keep fuel costs to a minimum,
thermostats could be set to about 65º F during the day and 55º to
60º F at night or when you are not at home during winter months.
Clothing.
New England winters are very cold and you will need warm outer
clothing and boots. Unless you own these items, it is usually easier
and more economical to purchase winter clothing once you arrive.
Winter coats vary in price from $70 to $300, depending on quality
and materials. Winter boots are priced from $40 to $120. Good
quality used clothing is available at lower prices. Lightweight
clothing is needed for the hot, humid summers in the Boston area.
Health Insurance.
Nie zapomnij miec ubezpieczenie, ktore powinno pokryc koszta w US.
Jezeli nie masz takowego, nie przejmuj sie, w Massachusetts istnieje
bezplatne Masshealth, jakkolwiek w zasadzie tylko w przypadku
emergency.
Jezeli lubisz ocean, to mamy waterfront. Rzeki? Charles River. Caly
Boston jest atrakcyjny, tu ciezko jest cos pominac.
Slynna Newbury Street jest zawalona fajnymi sklepami, kafejkami ze
stolikami na chodniku, pamietaj ze palenie wewnatrz jest zabronione.
Ludzie tam chodza rowniez aby sie pokazac.
Z racji liczby uczelni (wiecej niz w wielu stanach) jest to miasto
studentckie, miedzynarodowe i "mlode".
Z Newbury skrec do Copley Square, odwiedz biblioteke, przejzyj sie w
szkle John Hancock (najwyzszy wiezowiec) do spolki z Trinity Church,
spotkanie historii z nwoczesnoscia.
Stamtad do shopping mall, ktore doprowadzi do Prudential i do
restauracji Top of the Hub, jedzonko dobre i super panorama miasta.
Kolejne miejsce to Christian Science Church, intersujacy kompleks,
koniecznie zalicz Mapparium.
Po sasiedzku jest Symphony Hall i Horticultural Society, przy
Massachusetts Avenue, ktora przecina Huntington Avenue, przy ktorej
z kolei jest Museum of Fine Arts.
Polecam zaliczyc Arnold Arboretum z ogromna liczba przerozny drzew i
krzewow, nawet bonsai.
Wracajac do miasta, Beacon Hill jest jedna z najstarszych czesci
miasta, z architektura z pocz. 17 wieku, na rzut kamieniem od
Financial District, gdzie znajdziesz prawie wszystkie drapacze.
W Government Center stoi sobie City Hall, niewatpliwie
najohydniejszy ratusz, jaki kiedykolwiek zobaczysz. Poza tem w
srodku mozna sie zgubic latwiej niz w lesie.
Kolejny punkt to Faneuil Hall Marketplace - sklepy, knajpy,
restauracje, uliczni magicy i oczywiscie Faneuil Hall, w ktorym
posiano ziarno Rewolucji.
Koniecznie zajrzyj do North End, ktory w tym najbardziej europejskim
miescie w Stanach jest najbardziej europejska dzielnica, wloska.
Waskie uliczki, podworka, koscioly i mnostwo fajnych restauracji,
oczywiscie wloskich. Tzw. "u Mamy i Taty" (Ma and Pa) sa
autentycznie prowadzone po domowemu.
Jezeli juz o restauracjach, to owoce morza wedlug mnie sa najlepsze
w No-Name Restaurant, zlokalizowanej na Fish Pier, czyli porcie
rybackim. Gdy wejdziesz, idz na pietro, nie wyglada luksusowo i o to
chodzi. Widoki z okien sa fantastyczne, zamow seafood chowder -
niebo w gebie, rachunek za dwie osoby z piwkiem Sam Adams okolo $30,
nie biora plastiku (!).
Jeszcze jedno: Europejczycy maja tutaj opinie skapcow, poniewaz nie
daja napiwkow. Kelnerka tak naprawde to z tego ma dochod. W Stanach
napiwki daje sie wszedzie, dzieki temu wszyscy sie staraja obsluzyc
klienta.
Na chinskie jedzenie polecam chinska dzielnice, w szczegolnosci
Chinatown Cafe na Harrison Avenue, wszystko jest tanie ($5) i dobre,
moze dlatego tyle policji tam zawsze jest.
Teraz troche o barach.
Boston jako miasto stosunkowo irlandzkie ma przypuszczalnie wiecej
irish bars niz Dublin. Nie daj sie nabrac, wiekszosc jest dla
turystow. Ja polecam The Plough and Stars, 912 Massachusetts Avenue
w Cambridge.
Jezeli wygladasz na 21, nawet gdy masz 40, to musisz pokazac
paszport (ID), tu nie ma zartow.
