Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada

Foreword, by Allan E. Goodman ix Introduction xiii PART 1 MOVING HERE 1 What to Bring with You 3 2 Passports and Visas: A Quick Overview 7 3 The First Ten Things You Should Do Here 12 PART 2: SUCCEEDING AT YOUR UNIVERSITY 4 The Biggest Academic Challenges for International Students 21 5 Succeeding Academically 27 6 Thinking Creatively: Going Beyond What the Professor Said 42 7 Working as a Teaching Assistant, Lab Assistant, or Research Assistant 49 8 Avoiding Plagiarism and Doing Honest Work 56 9 The Culture of Universities in the United States and Canada 73 PART 3: LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 10 Settling In 115 11 Learning the Terrain 124 12 Learning the Language 136 13 Identification Cards 141 14 Earning Money 144 15 Managing Money: Bank Accounts, Debit Cards, and Credit Cards 151 16 Spending Money: Shopping at Local Stores, Malls, and Online 164 17 Getting Around: Buses, Bikes, and Taxis 182 18 Getting Around: Cars 189 19 University Housing and Meals 209 20 Apartment Rentals 216 21 Kids and Family 226 22 Health Care 232 23 Campus Life 247 24 Telecommunicating: Phone Calls, Internet, Cable TV, and More 256 25 Dealing with Problems 263 Appendix 1 A Glossary of Words and Phrases for International Students 277 Appendix 2 Abbreviations, Acronyms, Nicknames, Holidays, Floor Numbering, and Clothing Sizes 345 Index 365