Going to America (for three months)

Hi,

After the MSc, my next adventure has been moving to the United States of America for three months and working in an American University.

From my experience so far, here are some tips:

#1 bring credit & atm cards. The trip budget will be around $10000, including travel expenses.

#2 bring cash (at least $2000) - useful for living expenses in first days, and to pay the first month rent and security deposit, if required by the landlord

#3 check your appliances power adapters - the wall sockets are different, and so is the voltage (110 Volts instead of 220 Volts in Continental Europe) - most of laptops transformers support both voltages, so you'll just need the socket adapters. You can find them at the US airports

#4 book at least 5 days in hotel, to search for an apartment to rent

#5 also rent a car. Even if you like walking (like I do), you'll soon find out that the car is indispensable to doing most things in the US, and that includes looking for a house

#6 get a mobile phone. There are great options, like Tracfone or Mojo Mobile, that are cheap, and easy to set up over the phone. Having your own phone number will also be very useful.

#7 get a city map. A good one will have all the street names in it and street name index. It's very useful to look around for houses for rent - you'll probably find interesting places that don't appear on internet listings...

#8 when talking to landlords, be sure to state that you'll be staying for short term, and if you want furnished or unfurnished apartment. These conditions will probably increase your rent value, but you are better knowing it in advance

#9 before deciding on a particular house, ask at the university around about security in the area. Prefer to spend more to be in a safer neighborhood

If you follow these tips, and are a little lucky (or have good guardian angels ;-), you'll settle in the american town of your choosing in about a week.

Next, you'll have to go shopping...