International Student Information

WELCOME!

We are very excited that you want to join us here in Charlotte, North Carolina. Coming from a different nation and culture, we realize that you will probably be facing what is commonly known as “Culture Shock”.

We want to try and make your adjustment to living in the United States as easy as possible. We have provided information from our experience of dealing with internationals throughout the last several years. We sincerely hope that this helps as you begin your new, exciting journey towards living in the United States and while you acclimatize here in Charlotte.

M1-VISA: (Click Here for M1-Visa FAQ)

First of all, let us remind you that you are not allowed to work in the United States for a US Employer. This includes babysitting, any nanny job, household chores, etc. You are allowed to work for people / business back in your home country, if you receive payments in your home country. An example: working over the Internet and getting paid into your home bank account.

Please remember that you have your valid passport, your I-20 form as well as any supporting documents ready to show to the US Immigration Officer when entering the United States. Best is to keep all these items in your carry-on luggage or your briefcase. The same applies for any dependents traveling with you.

HEALTHCARE AND EMERGENCIES

Medical care can be very expensive, and so you are recommended to have good health insurance coverage already in place before traveling in the case of an accidental or emergency medical need. While a medical policy is not mandatory here in the US, many hospitals and physicians may not provide patient care without evidence of a policy.

In case of an emergency, you can dial ‘911’ in most parts of North Carolina to get immediate ambulance, fire, police or other emergency help. In some remote areas where the ‘911’ service is not available, dial ‘0’ to get a local operator, who will get you in touch with the emergency service required.

Hospitals are typically staffed with physicians and/or nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and have emergency rooms available at all times.

For minor illnesses and problems, you can usually purchase common medication, vitamins, pills, Band-Aids, etc. at local drugstores or pharmacies located throughout most cities. Basic medications such as aspirins and cold medicine may also be available at local gas stations and 24-hour convenience stores.

Another note: You may want to get travel insurance in your home country before coming to the states. Again, medical care here can be quite expensive.

BANKING AND FINANCES

Bank Hours

Generally, hours of operation for most banks in North Carolina are from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, and 9am to 12pm on Saturday.

In the beginning of your stay, it is good to have traveler’s checks from your home country as they are usually widely accepted. However, eventually you should open a bank account and obtain checks and a debit card, which are the most widely accepted tools of payment apart from cash.

Check Writing and Debit Cards

It is customary to have a checking account in the US. A checking account can be opened at any local bank. Checks or debit cards are mostly used to make purchases at stores, when buying groceries, and for dining in restaurants. A debit card functions like a credit card except the money is drawn directly from the balance of your account.

The most important function for a check is to pay local bills such as rent, electricity, telephone, etc. Bills are not paid at a local post office, as is the case in some European countries. When writing a check in North Carolina, you will be asked to present some form of picture identification. The most recognized is a North or South Carolina driver’s license.

Credit Cards

The United States is the land of the credit card. Visa and MasterCard are common as is American Express. All major credit cards are widely accepted. There are also thousands of other credit card options in the U.S., many of which are tied to particular retailers and organizations, which offer special benefits for using their particular card.

If you don’t have a credit card, you’ll survive, but using credit cards for payment is a widely accepted practice. You may encounter difficulties in making certain types of reservations or bookings, for example, hotels and rental cars. In such cases a credit card number is usually required to confirm your reservation. Even if you pay by cash, you may need a credit card in such situations.

How to Open a Checking Account:

We have found that the Wachovia Bank on Tyvola Road has been very helpful. Here is what you will need to bring with you when opening a checking account with them:

Current passport with picture ID
Some money to cover the initial charges for checks etc. (will all depend on what kind of checking account you open).

You should tell them that you are a student at the MorningStar School of Ministry and would like to open a college account (no fees). Ussandra Banks, one of the staff there, has been dealing with our students in the past.

After you have opened the account with them, they will send you the ATM / Debit Card as well as personalized checks.

The other bank that has been recommend is the Bank of America.

US Currency

The currency throughout the United States is the US Dollar (USD) and the “$” sign preceding an amount also represents the value in dollars. US Dollar bills are commonly available in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Unlike the bills in many other countries, all US Dollar bills look similar (using colors of green, white and black) and are of the same size. Differences include the US Presidents honored on each bill and the actual value of the bill, which is printed in each of the corners on both sides of the bill.

One Dollar is further divided into 100 cents and coins are available in these smaller than $1 denominations. This includes pennies (1 cent coins or $0.01, the lowest denomination), nickels (5 cent coins or $0.05), dimes (10 cent coins which are actually small in size than nickels and pennies, despite the higher value of $0.10), quarters (25 cent coins or $0.25), and half-dollar (50 cent coins which are less common and carry a value of $0.50).

Exchanging Money

It is advisable to exchange your currency at full-service banking branches, which are available in all major cities. This is a much better alternative than exchanging currency through independent shops or at airports, which tend to charge more excessive rates and commissions. You can also have money quickly wired to you through international corresponding banks in US dollars to a local bank in the area that you are in. Ask your US bank for all the necessary information to make transfers from your home bank.

While the foreign exchange markets never rest, unless you’re carrying the currency of a country in economic crisis, you can get a fairly accurate exchange rate quotation in the business section of your local daily newspaper each morning. Most banks and currency trading offices will also give you a quote over the phone based on their current rates whether you are looking to exchange your home currency into USD or exchange your USD into another currency.

If you are exchanging into USD, you should be able to get USD immediately. If you are exchanging your USD back into your home currency, then you should plan ahead depending on what your home currency is. For example, Canadian currency is usually fairly commonly available on an immediate basis, but depending on the amount of USD you want to convert into another foreign currency, your local bank may require a few days to arrange that foreign currency for you.

There are several sources online where you can get up-to-date currency quotations as well as online currency converting calculators where you can easily type in the type of currency you have (USD or foreign currency), the amount you wish to exchange, and then choose the currency you want to convert into. Click the “submit” button and you’ll quickly get a detailed currency conversion.

If you have access to the Internet, you can use these online calculators to solve any of the above variables.

Universal Currency Exchange – www.griffonbank.com
Currency Converter – finance.yahoo.com/currency
Foreign Exchange Rates www.oanda.com/convert/classic

BUYING A CAR & DRIVING

Buying a Car

If you decide you want to buy a car, be sure you ask for guidance from someone familiar with the area.

Try to have a personal referral to recommend an auto dealership or a trustworthy source. Local auto journals (found at most grocery store entrances) or the local paper (The Charlotte Observer) can often offer good deals from private sellers.
In most cases you will be purchasing the car with cash, which can work in your favor. Be discerning as to when you tell the salesperson you have cash so they don’t quote you a higher price. Unfortunately, many of the low cost automobile dealerships tend to be somewhat dishonest so be very careful where you go.
There are many inexpensive but good cars available let the Holy Spirit be your guide. $1,800 and up, is what can be expected. Don’t go too cheap as it may cost you more in the end.
Some students found that they had to first purchase their car insurance before they could purchase their car. Call the insurance company and give them the VIN number of your car (Vehicle Identification Number). This number is located on your vehicle title as well as on the vehicle itself (left or right of windshield). The insurance company can then insure your car.
Here are two places that have been very helpful to students looking for cars. Tell them that you are with MorningStar and know Maggie:

David’s Auto Sales
Contact: David Greene
(336) 977-1387 or (336) 877-4787

Universal Auto Sales
4825 S. Tryon Street
Contact: Joe
704-521-1010 • 704-777-4062

To drive a car purchased in the U.S. you must have:

A valid driver’s license – You may want to check on getting an international driver’s license that is printed in English before you leave home.
Car insurance
Car registration papers
NC safety inspection sticker (If you are a North Carolina resident)

Motor Vehicle Insurance

Not every insurance agency will have a policy to cover internationals without an American driver’s license and a copy of your driving record. One agency that has been extremely helpful is:

Nationwide Insurance (Steve Ferko Agency)
Phone: (704) 845-1989 • Toll Free: 1-800-849-1989
Contact Person: Steve Ferko or Ms. Bobbi Sasser

Another helpful company with simple procedures would be:

A-1 Insurance Agency
537 W. Sugar Creek Road #201 • Charlotte, NC 28213
704-598-4442 • Fax: 704-598-8927
Contact: JoAnn

To get a reasonable price have with you:

A five-year driving record from your home country
The driver’s license from your home country
Some proof of how long you have been driving
You will also have to bring the title to the company or the VIN number of the car.
Expect to pay a Standard rate: $225-316 for six months with over 3 years driving experience, $860 for 6 months with no experience. The more driving experience you have, the better the rate will be as long as you have a clean driving record.
Ask your host family or local friends for their insurance company. You may get a better deal, if they are willing to take you on as one of their household members.

Vehicle Registration Tag

If you buy a car from another person, you will need to register your motor vehicle and transfer the title (the certificate of ownership). To do this, contact the North Carolina License Tag Agency as listed in the government pages of the phone book. You may want to visit their website at www.dmv.dot.state.nc.us for more specific details on what is required.

You can take care of this at any one of these locations:

6016 Brookshire Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28216 – (704) 399-8306
6058 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28212 – (704) 535-2525
4200-H South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28209 – (704) 525-3832

If you buy your car from a professional dealership the dealer usually takes care of the registration. Ask to make sure that this will be done.

What documents are needed to register the car?

You will need to bring with you a copy of your automobile insurance policy and the title for the car. Depending on the circumstances you may need a Notary Public (found at most banks) to authorize the signatures involved with the transaction.
Once you have a car, you must keep your license tag registration up-to-date. There will be a sticker that goes on the license tag that is valid for one year.
After purchasing your car, expect a bill in the mail for a taxing property charge. This is an extra charge here in North Carolina to be aware of.

Once you have a registered car you must also pass a state-required inspection.

There is a sticker located on the lower front left-hand corner of the windshield. It has a month and a year. Pay attention to the “expiration date”, there is otherwise a $300 fine if you go over the “grace” period that is given by the state to have your inspection done.
It cost $10.00 and takes 30 minutes or less to have your car inspected. That is a fixed price by the state and you should not have to pay more than that.
Most garages, car dealers, and service stations can do a safety inspection on your car. Look for a sign outside that says “Official Inspection Station.”
The station will look at your car and do a safety inspection and emissions test (a test on the exhaust of your car). After you pay for the test, the mechanic will put an inspection sticker on your windshield.
Be careful with tinted windows, there is a limit to how much light must come through; otherwise you will need to have it removed and it can be expensive to do so.

License Identification Requirements:

Once you determine exactly what kind of license you need, make sure you have the proper identification. Motor Vehicle Statutes require proof of full name and date of birth. You may present a valid or expired photo driver’s license or special identification card issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles or a photo driver’s license or special identification card issue by other states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, US Territories, Canadian Provinces, or a “Licencia Federal De Conductor” issued by the Mexican Government as a form of identification.

However, if you do not have a social security number you cannot get an NC driver’s license. You are allowed to drive with your international license as you are only a temporary resident.

If you do not have one of the above documents, you may present two of the documents listed below, one of which must show your date of birth. It is NOT acceptable for the two forms of identification to come from the same category (i.e., report card and school transcript).

Certified or original birth certificate.
Social Security card or other document with Social Security number and name; Computer generated tax document or payroll stub; Financial statement from a bank, insurance company, brokerage firm, etc.; Government issued documents such as a US Military ID card; Letter or computer print-out from the Social Security Administration.
Official school records signed by school officials, including report cards, driver education certificates, diplomas, driving eligibility certificates, or transcripts. School IDs are not acceptable.
Military service discharged (DD-214 or Cartilla Nacional) or military photo ID.
Unexpired, stamped photo passport from any country.
Tax records (except forms completed by individuals), W-2 forms, 1099 forms, property tax records, or quarterly tax payroll records.
Certified marriage license or certificate of marriage issued by a government agency.
Limited Driving Privilege (valid or expired).
Unexpired vehicle registration or certificate of title.
Authentic document from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), alien registration receipt card, resident alien card, employment authorization card, temporary resident card, certification of US citizenship (with photo), Certificate of Naturalization (with photo), OMB 3116-0008 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitors, OMB 1115-0051 Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant, I-797 Notice of Action or I-797C Notice of Action.
Servicio Militar Nacional or military ID card issued by the National Secretary of Defense of Mexico.
Matricula Consular or Matricula issued by the Secretary of the Exterior of Mexico.
Credencial Para Votar or Voter ID card issued by the Instituto Federal Electoral of Mexico.
Cedula (with photo).

Charlotte DMV (Divison of Motor Vehicles) Offices:

Express Office: For renewals and duplicates of driver’s licenses only. No road tests available. Location: Midtown Square, 401 S. Independence Blvd. (between Kings Drive & Kenilworth Ave.) (704) 392-3266
North: DMV Building, 8446 N. Tryon St., (704) 547-5786 or (704) 547-5787
East: 6407 Idlewild Road, Independence Office Park, (704) 531-5563
South: 201-A West Arrowood Road, (704) 527-2562 or (704) 527-2563
West: 6016 Brookshire Blvd., (704) 392-3266 or (704) 392-3267

Most of them are open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, but you should check with the offices to confirm their hours. Afternoons are busiest, particularly on Mondays and Fridays. Some offices close for lunch. Appointments are accepted, but be warned: Many residents complain the DMV phones are constantly busy.

Driving Habits In NC

The rules of the road are loosely followed, be attentive to other drivers.

People pass on highways wherever there is an opening, right or left side.

Pay attention on smaller roads and in shopping center parking lots for a four-way stop sign. (See driver’s education manual for more details)

Get a NC Driver’s handbook to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road. You can go to www.dmv.dot.state.nc.us for more information.

In NC and many other states you can turn right at a red stoplight. A “right on red” follows the same rules as a stop sign. Priority goes to the person with the green light then it is your turn.

People tend to not use their turn signals and also not to look for somebody else’s turn signals. Don’t get frustrated!

Very important: Get familiar with rules for encountering school buses. Passing a stationary school bus that is loading or unloading passengers is very serious and may result in getting pulled over by the police.

OBTAINING A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD & NUMBER

As a vocational student, you are allowed to apply for a Social Security Card. The Social Security number is like a personal identification number and is used for many different things, such as pulling credit records, paying taxes etc. In your case, you do not need to get one, but if you are planning on getting a US Driver’s License, you will have to have the Social Security Card.

The easiest way to apply for it is to go to the local Social Security Office, hand in your application and show the original documents that are required. The office is open Monday – Friday from 9:00am – 4:30pm but it is better to be there early (even before 9:00am) to get a good spot in line.

The application with guidelines and further information on the Social Security is available on line at www.ssa.gov/ssnumber.

OBTAINING A N.C. / S.C. STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD

If you do not want to apply for a Social Security card, this I.D. card is extremely useful for international students in acquiring, for example a bank account, a public library card, registration tag / insurance for a car, medical care (in some instances), etc. etc. It is cheaper and easier than obtaining a US driver’s license (approx. $10 versus approx. $150) and will achieve many of the same purposes for establishing acceptable I.D.
How do you obtain a state I.D.?

Go to the DMV (department of motor vehicles) nearest to your place of residence. To find the address and phone number in the white pages of the phone book look under: “North Carolina State of ---Dept of Motor Vehicles ---“
You will need to take with you:
Your driver’s license of your own country
Your passport
Take some other I.D., for example a credit card, in case it is asked for
Approx. $10.00 for the fee
The street address (NOT a post office box address) of your place of residence
You will likely be asked something like, “Are you planning to become a resident in the state?” to which you should reply YES.
You will be photographed on the spot and the I.D. card should be processed while you wait.
For further details go to www.dmv.dot.state.nc.us

IRS (Tax) Number:

All US citizens have a personal social security number that is used for income tax purposes along with other governmental related activities. For non-US citizens without a work Visa, the 9-digit number is unavailable.

The IRS will, however, provide people with a tax number. This can then be used for legal purposes, if needed. Go to the nearest IRS office and apply for a number. You will need a state ID and possibly some other identification.

For further information go to www.irs.gov/. Another website that may be helpful in understanding this is: www.iStudentCity.com

MAKING A PHONE CALL

Once you have a phone service carrier such as BellSouth or Alltel Carolina, all local calls are free of charge. Ask your host family about long distance charges, however many students buy prepaid calling cards from most local gas stations or a local Wal-Mart.

The 3 digit area codes in the state of North Carolina are as follows:

704 – (major cities: Ashville, Charlotte, Concord, and Hickory)
336 – (major cities: Wilksboro, Moravian Falls)
910 – (major cities: Greensboro, Winston-Salem)
919 – (major cities: Durham, Greenville, and Raleigh)

Telephone calls are easy to make and public phones are located at most restaurants, gas stations, bars, hotels, libraries, airports, train stations, shopping malls, and other public places. While some public phones are still coin operated, you can charge most calls on your credit card.

Dialing the number ‘0’ will get you a local operator
Dialing ‘00’ will get you a long-distance operator
Dialing ‘411’ will get you directory assistance to find a local phone number and you will be charged for this service (usually $.50 - $1.00).

If you are trying to find a number outside of the local area, then dialing ‘1’, then that area’s 3 digit code followed by ‘555-1212’ will get you directory assistance in that area code. Toll free directory assistance is 1-800-555-1212, which you can call to get the toll-free number of an organization you are trying to reach. Toll free numbers begin with either 1-800, 1-888,
or 1-877.

Most public phones or phones located in hotels will be accompanied by a yellow pages and possibly also a white pages phone directory.

The yellow pages directory is a subject and category based listing of various services and enterprises in the local area – so you can find restaurants, hotels, lawyers, travel agencies, and more. Yellow pages may be oriented towards consumer services (business to consumer pages directories) or towards other businesses (business to business page directories).

The white pages directory is typically an alphabetical listing of all local commercial and residential addresses and phone numbers, listed by the name of the business or the last name if an individual’s residence.

It is cheaper to make calls from a public phone usually compared to calling from a hotel or motel which many times have much higher rates for local as well as long-distance and international dialing along with added fixed per call charges. To make a local call you can enter the 7-digit number.

To make a long-distance call the U.S. to another area code in the U.S. or Canada, dial ‘1’, then the 3 digit area code, then the 7 digit phone number.
To make a direct international call, you will need to dial ‘011’, then the country code of the country to which you are dialing, and then followed by the phone number of the person you are calling in this country. Assistance in this can also be received from an operator.

CHEAP International Telephone Calls

Many students in the past, much to their dismay, have discovered that US telephone companies will charge extremely high rates for international calls unless you ask for a cheaper plan. In many cases this will add only $3.00-$5.00 extra per month to your phone bill. If you are living with a family ask if they have an international calling plan. If not make arrangements with them to get one added. It can save you up to 80% off of the rate being charged.

The biggest long distance phone service carriers are AT&T, MCI WorldCom, and Sprint PCS. All of these companies offer international calling plans at reasonable rates. The cheapest phone rates obtained by students last year were obtained through dialing an “access number” offered by the New Jersey bases “IDT” telephone company (1-800-930-7721). Calls to most European countries were approximately $0.14/minute and as low as $0.10/min to Australia. These rates were valid any time.

To obtain an access number and PIN (personal identification number) from IDT:

dial 1-800-CALL IDT (1-800-225-5438)
Have a credit card available, calls with IDT are pre-paid and you can choose whether you want to pre-pay a minimum of $25, $50, or whatever you choose. Payment can also be made by check but this method will delay connection by a few days.
Once connected you will hear a recorded message each time you make a call letting you know the balance of your account. When you dial the number of your desired country you will hear how many minutes remain on your account. When you reach the end of your pre-paid amount you will need to pay IDT again or you can authorize them to charge your card a designated dollar amount.
When you call the above 1-800 number you will hear a “menu” offering the different phone services from IDT. CHOOSE THE OPTION which says “NET-to-PHONE”.
The operator will ask you to provide a phone number (cannot be a mobile phone) which will be used as your ID number when you call up (not your PIN). NOTE: this is not for the purpose of switching phone companies (i.e. you can keep whoever is the current carrier for your phone line. It is also not for the purpose of billing since you pre-pay. At the time of my enquiry I did not have my own phone line so I asked a friend to “use” their number. Be assured that this in no way impacted their phone either through charges, unsolicited advertising, etc. etc.
I.D.T. can be used wherever you are in the USA but if you travel to another major city you may need to inquire what the dial-up “access number” is for that area (you keep using your phone ID and PIN as normal).
If you discover a cheaper alternative let other students know!!

There might be other companies that offer cheaper international calls. Check out advertisement that you receive in your mail or check out the Internet.

INTERNET

The cheapest some students have found is access4less.net.

Access4less.net is a reliable and affordable Internet Service Provider (ISP). They service clients nationwide with unlimited, dial-up service. Also, their dial-up service does not bother you with banners or advertisements. Your personal information is not used for marketing either. Access4less.net provides FREE 24 hours a day online support to all of its clients. $5.95 per month, low setup fees and no long term contract period. Just sign on at access4less.net to find out more information.

CELL PHONES

The major companies for cell phone service here in the Carolinas are Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless. There a stores of either company located all throughout Charlotte.

Either of the companies will want to run a credit check on you before they sign you up for a contract and sell you a phone. However, for a credit check, you would need a Social Security Number. Don’t worry though – either company is also willing to charge you a security deposit instead so you could still sign up for a plan and purchase a phone.

Check with your preferred company and find out further details.

RESTAURANTS

Many Americans eat at some type of restaurant at least three times a week for lunch or dinner.

The tip is not included in the price of the meal and varies from 15-20% depending on the quality of the service.
If you plan to eat out, it’s common to have one or more restaurants open at virtually any time of the day. The long hour restaurants include 24 hour-a-day diners and fast food chains, which open early morning at 6am or 7am for early coffee and breakfast and stay open until past 10pm or 11pm. Example: McDonald’s Drive Thru open 24 hours/day.
Most other restaurants are open from 11am for lunch until 10/11pm or 12 midnight for dinner.

International Restaurants

Red Sea Restaurant – Ethiopian Cuisine
206 Independence Blvd. 704-375-4999

Sibony Cuban Restaurant
Hwy 51 near the corner of Johnson and 51

Thai House – Thailand Restaurant
Hwy 51 near corner of Johnson and 51 – across from Sibony Cuban Restaurant

Rhineland Haus – German Food
Park St. near Up-town

Tipping

It is common to tip waiters/waitresses, taxi drivers, barbers, parking attendants, maid service, porters, and doormen, who all depend on gratuities. You do not need to leave a tip in fast food places or self-service type restaurants such as McDonalds or Taco Bell. It is advised to give around 15% of your bill as a tip to your waiter/waitress.

SHOPPING

Hours

Shopping hours vary depending on the location and type of store, but typically opening at 9am or 10am and closing late in the day ranging from 8pm to 10pm for most mall based outlets and larger stores, especially Monday through Fridays. Smaller shops may close as early as 5pm or 6pm although this is less common on weekdays and more common on Saturdays and Sundays for all shops. Many convenience stores/gas stations are often open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Some Wal-Marts & Harris Teeter’s are open 24 hours in some locations.

Method of Payments / Refunds

Just about anything you purchase is returnable with a receipt if you don’t like it or it tears up. Simply ask what the refund policy is for that store.

MasterCard or Visa is widely accepted for payment in the United States. Many people use checks and their debit cards.

Grocery Stores

Harris Teeter (probably most popular)
Wal-Mart Super Center
Bi-Lo
Food Lion

When shopping for food, many students have found it is cheaper to buy cans or frozen food instead of fresh vegetables and fruits. You will find that eating habits vary from family to family.

Shopping for International Food

Stores that carry some international products:

The Fresh Market – 2 locations in Charlotte
Harris Teeter – Grocery Store
The Atlanta Bread Company, Big Sky Bread Company, and some Harris Teeter Stores sell “European” style bread.
A shop called “The Chef’s Market”, in the town of Matthews is run by Europeans and carries a variety of authentic products and breads.
African Food – There is a food store located on Central Avenue and Eastway Blvd. Caribbean food stores also carry a variety of products similar to African foods.
The World Market on South Boulevard

Shopping Malls and Shopping Centers in the Charlotte Area

SouthPark 4400 Sharon Road; Charlotte, NC 28211
Carolina Place 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy ; Pineville, NC 28134
Eastland Mall 5471 Central Ave; Charlotte, NC 28212
Carolina Pavilion 9567 South Blvd.; Charlotte, NC 28273
The Shoppes at University Place 8929 J M Keynes Dr., Ste. 301; Charlotte, NC 28262
Windsor Square Shopping Center 1814 Windsor Square Dr. ; Matthews, NC 28105
The Arboretum 3333 Pineville Matthews Rd. ; Charlotte, NC 28226
Northcross 9801 Sam Furr Rd. ; Huntersville, NC 28078
Park Road Shopping Center 4201 Park Rd; Charlotte, NC 28209
The Centrum 10416 Centrum Pkwy; Pineville, NC 28134
Stonecrest at Piper Glen 7860 Rea Rd; Charlotte, NC 28277
Freedom Mall 3205 Freedom Dr; Charlotte, NC 28208
The Commons at Chancellor Park 8135 University City Blvd; Charlotte, NC 28213
Crownpoint Plaza 2320 Sardis Rd. N; Charlotte, NC 28227
McMullen Creek Market 8318 Pineville Matthews Rd ; Charlotte, NC 28226

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE

What is the International House?

International house is a non-profit organization established in 1981, dedicated to serving the international community of Charlotte and encouraging cross-cultural communication and understanding. Currently, International House offers more than twenty different programs and services, including citizenship classes, the English Tutor Program, the International Seniors Association, Charlotte’s Council for International Visitor’s, the Doorways Book Club, the International Friend’s Group, and more. It also serves as a resource center for internationals, social service organizations, schools, businesses, the media and others.

Does International House offer foreign language classes?

While International House does not offer formal foreign language classes, it does conduct several Language Conversation Hours throughout the week. The Conversation Hours are informal gatherings of languages learners, that provide individuals an opportunity to practice their language skills. Currently, Conversation Hours are offered for seven different languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. For more information on meeting times, check the “Calendar of Events” at www.ihclt.org.

How is International House funded?

International House is supported entirely through its own fundraising initiatives, private donations from individuals and corporations, and grants from foundations, community agencies, and other not-for-profit organizations. One of the primary fundraising events for the organizations is the fall Gala, featuring a different country theme each year. Another significant source of support comes through individual and corporate memberships to the organization. Membership donations to receive the newsletter and other regular mailings begin at $25.00 per year. For more information on membership, please visit their website.

Does International House offer translation services?

While International House does not provide translation and interpretation services directly, They do maintain an extensive referral list of Charlotte are interpreters and translators. You can access this information at the “Information and Referral” section of their website, where you’ll find contact information for interpreters and translators for over 65 languages.

Where is International House located?

322 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte
704.333.8099
email: info@ihclt.org
website: www.ihclt.org

LIBRARIES

Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Public Library
310 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 704-336-2725

Morrison Regional Library
7015 Morrison Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28211
Phone: 704-336-2109

In order to get a library card you must:

Show identification
Have proof of resident (piece of mail, to show address of your residency)
If you do not have your own place, you can show an official letter from the school stating that you are a student, that will enable you to get a free card.

You can get a library card from any branch in Charlotte, so use the one that is convenient to you.

Most libraries not only have books, but also computers with internet access.

POST OFFICES

There are post offices everywhere. You can find the one nearest to you in the phone book in the government section. Some of the grocery stores also sell stamps for mail within the USA. The opening hours of the post offices are the same as banks.

CULTURAL INFORMATION

On A Personal Note

“How are you?” or “What’s up?” – are only greetings. Don’t take it personally if someone asks and keeps on walking.

“Let’s get together and do something.” Call, make an appointment or it won’t happen. It’s only a way of saying “I would like to get together with you”.

Most Americans are not quite as straightforward as you might be used to. When they ask for your opinion on their hairstyle, their clothing etc., be sensitive in voicing your opinion too directly.

When you don’t understand, do not be afraid to ask the other person to slow down. There are still many people who are not familiar with foreign accents or realize that English is not your first language.

The American culture and way of doing business can be very different to what you are accustomed to experiencing. Ask lots of questions, expect the best and don’t be afraid to express yourself.

When eating at a buffet, never take the same plate back to the buffet line. It is a health rule that restaurants must adhere to in America.

Most Americans are quite unfamiliar with the concept of meals being also the time for fellowship and interaction. Many families go out to eat, which usually only takes about one hour. However, once introduced to this new idea, they really enjoy it.

American Leisure Time

Many Americans spend much of their time watching TV or playing sports. The main sports in the US are baseball and American football. However, in Charlotte soccer is pretty popular.

There are also many different parks around Charlotte to visit. Since travel distances are great in Charlotte you will probably have to drive to most of the parks. Another thing to remember is before going on a walk ask and make sure it is a safe place to do so.

CULTURE SHOCK

Yes, you will go through culture shock and no, you can’t really avoid it. The only thing that you can do is sort of ‘ride it out’ and hang in there.

There are many different symptoms and feelings to culture shock. Some feel completely out of place, struggling even with basic daily chores. Others get really tired seemingly without any reason.

Experts have said that culture shock comes in waves. You have the ‘honey moon stage’ where everything is great and exciting. That is usually the first month. And then reality hits: no-one understands your jokes and you don’t really get theirs either; you can’t always follow what they are saying because of your language skills; they always comment on your ‘cute’ accent; you cannot find the food that you are used to or the brands in the grocery store that you like; the whole system with post offices, government offices, driving, licenses etc. is absolutely different than what you are used to etc. etc. etc.

The next waves come around the 6th months and then again the 12th months. It is like hitting a wall and feeling like you are never going to make it.

Be encouraged and know that all of this is normal. Changing cultures is a shock to our physical, emotional and spiritual systems. It is very common to begin to idealize your home country and then start to judge Americans and their ways comparatively. Recognize when this happens and don’t allow yourself to be critical or judgmental of others.

Ask the Lord to show you the good in the American way of life and to impart the positive parts into your life. Ask the Lord to give you good friends in the States that are US citizens. Ask the Lord to show you His standard for your country as well as the USA. Ask for the Lord to give you His heart for this nation and her people.

All of this will help you keep the balance in the midst of feeling out of place. It is tough at times, but you will make it if you focus on the Lord and press into Him.

OFFICIAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS OF NORTH CAROLINA:

1st January	New Year’s Day
3rd Monday in January	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
3rd Monday in February	President’s Day / Washington Birthday
Last Monday in May	Memorial Day
4th July	Independence Day
1st Monday in September	Labor Day
2nd Monday in October	Columbus Day
11th November	Veteran’s Day
4th Thursday in November	Thanksgiving
24th December	Christmas Eve
25th December	Christmas Day
26th December	Boxing Day