Handprints at OIPS

Dear international students in Albuquerque,

On Friday 2, 2008 you should go to the Office for International Programs and Studies at UNM to leave your fingerprints. It starts at 3:30pm. That’s a tradition that takes place every semester before international students are leaving. You put your fingerprints on the wall of OIPS, and you also write your name and country on it.

There will be also some food, if you show up early enough. Because internationals are greedy and hungry people who like free food. So, make sure that you can come right on time.

Use the opportunity to leave your traces at UNM forever!

Facebook

Don’t forget to change your e-mail address that you used registering for facebook. Just for those who haven’t had facebook before. Because when the semester is over and you loose your student status, your e-mail address from your host university will be deleted. And thus is not valid for facebook anymore. So, what do you have to do? It is easy…..just change to a valid e-mail address. Either use the e-mail address from your home university or your private e-mail address. Since facebook is a good source to keep in touch with your friends from all over your world it is good to stick with it.

Keep in touch

I am sure everybody made a lot of friends from all over the world. Some are closer friendships and some are not. However, you will miss your international friends since they are so diverse and you had a lot of fun with them. You explored the U.S., went to parties, but you also shared thoughts about college, solved emerging problems etc. Thus, saying good-bye will be hard for a lot of us. After a big good-bye party everybody will go back to his/her country and returning to daily life. So, what can you do? First of all you should collect your friend’s names, e-mail adresses, maybe also home addresses etc. if you don’t have added them as your friends on facebook (thanks facebook). Colllecting home addresses don’t make that much sense, though. Because a lot of you will move to other places after finishing your study. But in general, try to keep in touch once in a while, arrange gatherings afterwards in different countries etc. There’s no excuse forgetting your friends

Transcripts

Since you put so much effort in your studies abroad, you shouldn’t forget to get your transcripts before leaving your host country. In order to get them right on time you should go to Student Services and order them well in advance. Because the end of the semester is very busy, so it might takes much longer to get your transcripst as usual. You have to pay a $ 3,00 fee in order to get one hardcopy of your transcript and you shouldn’t forget to let this transcript sent to your home university. Otherwise you can’t transfer your credits. If you do it when you are already at home it probably takes you more effort and time to get this done.

Luggage problems

You shopped too much??? And you don’t know how to get your luggage back home know? Probably you are not the only one who has that problem. Things are piling up in your room…..they will never fit in your two suitcases…? For international flights you are allowed to check-in two pieces of luggage. In general, each bag must weigh less than 50 pounds. But check with your airline, because sometimes your checked luggage must weigh less or sometimes your luggage can even weigh more. Potential solutions:

• Immediately stop shopping! Although for some it might be cheaper to shop in their host country. Note, that it isn’t that cheap anymore after paying the fee for the additional luggage.
• Throw some of your old clothes away you don’t need or you never wear again.
•  Bear the costs of additional luggage – one piece of additional luggage will be about $ 70.
• Shipping some of your stuff back home is another option – but probably the most expensive one.

 

 

International Festival

Yesterday the International Festival at UNM Campus in Albuquerque took place. Because of the unusual cold weather a lot of students prefered warmer places than the outside of the campus. However, some took their coats and scarfs to enjoy the event no matter how cold it was. So, what was going on there?

International Festival on UNM Campus

The festival will take place on thursday, April 10, 2008 from 11am to 3pm. There will be 25 booths representing different countries from all over the world performing traditional dances etc. Furthermore, you’ll get free food and drinks. That might be an incentive to check it out!

Check your current immigration status

Depending on what you want to do after your study ends here (Albuquerque: May 16, 2008), you have to take action now since your DS-2019 form - which guarantees legal J1-status in the US – will expire May 16, 2008. You should consider following things:

• First of all, if you plan to leave the U.S. after your the completion of the intended program, there’s nothing to worry about. You don’t need a new DS-2019 form. The only thing you need to do, is to go to your advisor and fill out a leaving form and pick up an information sheet. But there’s no rush for now!
• If you want to work after the completion of your study you should act immediately since you need to apply for an academic training before your DS-2019 form expires. Ask your academic advisor for more instructions.
• If you would like to stay for an additional semester as an exchange student you need to see your advisor to get a form for “Program Extension”, also before your DS-2019 expires (30 days before your DS-2019 expires), otherwise you are not eligible for an extension. Also make sure that you talk to your advisor in your home country since he/she has to sign the “Extension Form” and you will need to show proof of funding to continue the program.

Last, but not least: If you plan to travel after the completion of your program, don’t forget that you are only allowed to stay in the U.S. for another month from the day your DS-2019 expires. If you disobey, you will be in violation of your legal immigration status.

 

Tax forms (for the U.S.)

Since April 15, 2008 ist the deadline for doing your tax forms for the previous year, you should do it immediately. If you don’t fill out the tax form be aware of fines and immigration problems. Also students who arrived for the spring semester 2008 and just spend a couple of days in the year 2007 on vacation have to fill out a tax form for the year 2007.

 

Dear exchange students!

Since I am an exchange student and soon going back home to my country I came up with the idea to exchange useful information, tips, advices etc. before leaving the host country. There are a lot of things to consider or you don’t want to forget. But there is not only administrative stuff to think about, you also might exchange personal thoughts and concerns. First, when you came to your host country you had to adapt to a new culture. After some early problems you really began to appreciate your new home, your new friends, your new life. And now, going back home again? Getting used to your old life, reintegrating into your old environment? Any concerns, problems? This a good opportunity to exchange thoughts with your buddies. 

I am looking forward to your contributions and have fun!