The George Washington University Upon Arrival Handbook 2 Upon Arrival Handbook TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME TO GW .................................................................6 PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS ............................................................................20 OFFICE FOR STUDY ABROAD (OSA) ..........................................................6 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS .................................................................................21 INTERNATIONAL SERVICES OFFICE (ISO) ................................................6 COPING WITH A NEW CULTURE ...........................................22 ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION & INTERNSHIPS.............7 HOW DO I ADJUST? ...................................................................................23 IMMIGRATION MATTERS .....................................................7 WHAT AMERICANS ARE LIKE ....................................................................24 LIVING ON CAMPUS ..............................................................8 INDIVIDUALISM .........................................................................................24 GW DEFINITIONS: .......................................................................................8 PRIVACY .....................................................................................................24 TIME ORIENTATION ..................................................................................24 CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET ................................................... 9 DIRECTNESS AND ASSERTIVENESS ..........................................................25 GELMAN LIBRARY ......................................................................................9 EQUALITY ...................................................................................................25 WRITING SUPPORT PROGRAMS ...............................................................10 INFORMALITY ............................................................................................25 UNIVERSITY COUNSELING CENTER ..........................................................10 ACHIEVEMENT, ACTION, AND WORK ......................................................26 HOUSING ....................................................................................................11 WOMEN’S ROLES ......................................................................................26 FITNESS FACILITIES ....................................................................................12 FRIENDLINESS ...........................................................................................26 LERNER HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER ...............................................12 FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS ........................................................27 SHOPPING ...................................................................................................13 RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR ROOMMATE OR FLOORMATE .................27 SHOPPING CENTERS ..................................................................................14 DATING AND RELATIONSHIPS ..................................................................27 CELL PHONES .............................................................................................14 FAMILIES ....................................................................................................28 TRANSPORTATION .....................................................................................15 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES ............28 BANKING.....................................................................................................17 RELIGIONS .................................................................................................29 POSTAL SERVICES ......................................................................................18 ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND SMOKING ...........................................................30 WHERE TO GO FOR MEDICAL CARE ..........................................................18 PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION ..........................................................30 MENTAL HEALTH ........................................................................................19 GETTING INVOLVED....................................................................................31 STAYING SAFE ............................................................................................19 Upon Arrival Handbook 3 CAMPUS LIFE ..............................................................................................31 EVALUATION FORM ...................................................................................53 STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ...........................................................................32 FILING YOUR TAXES ...................................................................................54 GW PROGRAMMING ..................................................................................32 PAYING YOUR BILL .....................................................................................54 CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS ...................................................................33 TRANSCRIPTS .............................................................................................54 MULTICULTURAL STUDENT SERVICES CENTER .......................................33 STAYING BEYOND THE END OF CLASSES ..................................................54 GW TRAILS ..................................................................................................34 BECOMING AN OSA ALUMNI ....................................................................54 GREEK LIFE .................................................................................................35 REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK ........................................................................54 LGBT RESOURCE CENTER ..........................................................................35 SOURCES ...............................................................................56 ARTS AT GW ................................................................................................35 APPENDIX A:..........................................................................57 STUDENT PUBLICATIONS ..........................................................................36 4-RIDE MAP ...........................................................................57 EXPLORING DC ......................................................................39 APPENDIX B: BANKING INFORMATION .............................58 LIVEABLE CITY ............................................................................................39 APPENDIX C: EMBASSY INFORMATION .............................60 NEIGHBORHOODS .....................................................................................40 MAJOR SPORTS TEAMS .............................................................................41 APPENDIX D: UPCOMING POLITICAL EVENTS ....................61 MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES ..........................................................42 APPENDIX E: SLANG DICTIONARY ......................................62 MONUMENTS .............................................................................................46 APPENDIX F: MOVIES & TV SHOWS FILMED IN OR AROUND MOVIE THEATERS .......................................................................................47 WASHINGTON, D.C. ..............................................................64 THEATERS/MUSICAL VENUES....................................................................48 APPENDIX G: WHERE TO FIND U.S. REGIONAL CUISINES IN TRAVELING IN THE UNITED STATES ....................................49 THE D.C. AREA .......................................................................65 TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE U.S. ........................................................................49 APPENDIX H: WASHINGTON, D.C. RESOURCES .................66 TRANSPORTATION TO BALTIMORE, PHILADELPHIA, AND NEW YORK CITY WEBSITES ...................................................................................................66 49 DC NEWS: ....................................................................................................66 TRAVELING BEYOND THE EAST COAST .....................................................50 BOOKS ABOUT DC: .....................................................................................66 RETURNING HOME ...............................................................53 BEFORE YOU LEAVE ...................................................................................53 OFFICE FOR STUDY ABROAD Hilary Wilson Exchange Coordinator [email protected] Shawna Bruell Exchange Program Assistant [email protected] STAFF LISTING Rob Hallworth Director [email protected] Laura Ochs Associate Director [email protected] Daniel Riley Executive Coordinator of GW Study Centers Carolyn Kashner Office Manager [email protected] Elizabeth Betts Advisor [email protected] Turkey, Middle East & Africa Sarah DeNapoli Advisor [email protected] UK & Italy Sharlene Juste Program Assistant [email protected] Short Term Abroad Programs Shaylyn Laws Advisor [email protected] Spain, Portugal, Latin America, Australia & New Zealand Cayla McCullough GW Study Center Program [email protected] Assistant Annika Turner Advisor [email protected] Europe, Ireland & Asia WELCOME Welcome to The George Washington University and Washington, D.C.! We have prepared this handbook to assist you during your time