Information for Harvard Spouses and Partners A Publication of the Harvard Students’ Spouses and Partners Association Last reviewed August 2013 Table of Contents Welcome ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Resources in and around Harvard ................................................................................................................. 5 Activities & Information for Spouses & Partners ...................................................................................... 5 Family Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Harvard ID and Library Cards .................................................................................................................... 8 Education and English lessons .................................................................................................................. 9 Computers ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Harvard Computing Services ............................................................................................................... 10 Public computers with internet access ............................................................................................... 11 Health and Wellbeing ............................................................................................................................. 11 Outings and Innings ................................................................................................................................ 12 Harvard Information Center ................................................................................................................... 13 Official Matters ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Driver’s Licenses ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Identification Cards ................................................................................................................................. 14 Health Insurance ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Students and their dependents .......................................................................................................... 15 Scholars and their dependents ........................................................................................................... 16 Insurance Plans Outside of Harvard .................................................................................................... 17 Dental Care ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Pregnancy ............................................................................................................................................ 17 Massachusetts Health Connector ....................................................................................................... 18 Assistance Programs ............................................................................................................................... 18 Visa Information ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Taxes ....................................................................................................................................................... 21 Work Permits (Employment Authorization) ........................................................................................... 21 Daily Life ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 Things to do in Boston, Cambridge and Harvard Square ........................................................................ 23 Be a tourist .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Public Libraries and Museum Passes .................................................................................................. 23 www.hsspa.harvard.edu P a g e | 2 Postal Service .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Transportation ........................................................................................................................................ 24 MBTA ................................................................................................................................................... 24 Harvard Shuttle Bus ............................................................................................................................ 24 Harvard Evening Van Service .............................................................................................................. 24 Rental Cars .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Bikes .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Phones, Internet and TV ......................................................................................................................... 26 Phones ................................................................................................................................................. 26 Internet and Cable .............................................................................................................................. 26 TV on demand ..................................................................................................................................... 26 Housing ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Banking .................................................................................................................................................... 28 Getting a Job ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Paid work ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Volunteer work ................................................................................................................................... 29 Disabled persons resources .................................................................................................................... 29 Shopping ................................................................................................................................................. 29 Furniture and Household Goods ......................................................................................................... 30 Supermarkets ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Clothing and Shoe Shopping ............................................................................................................... 32 Charity Shops ...................................................................................................................................... 33 Restaurants ............................................................................................................................................. 33 Food Trucks ......................................................................................................................................... 33 Restaurants ......................................................................................................................................... 33 Hair Salons .............................................................................................................................................. 34 US Holidays and FAS Academic Dates 2013-2014 ...................................................................................... 36 Annual Events ............................................................................................................................................. 37 References .................................................................................................................................................. 38 www.hsspa.harvard.edu P a g e | 3 Welcome Welcome to Harvard! This booklet is provided to you by the Harvard Students’ Spouses and Partners Association (HSSPA). HSSPA is an entirely volunteer-run organization open to the spouses and partners of all Harvard students, postdocs, and other affiliates. Since 1896, it has provided a way for its members to make friends, find intellectual stimulation, and most importantly, get a sense of belonging to the community of Harvard University. HSSPA organizes a variety of subsidized outings