The Building Leadership for Change through School Immersion program is designed to assist you in becoming leaders in your educational communities. As such, the expectations for your participation in the program will be high. Your attendance and engagement in all program activities will be closely monitored and the work you submit as part of the program will also need to meet academic standards that your instructors will review with you at the outset of each course component.

While we understand that many of you are coming to the United States with dependents, the program should always take priority and you will need to ensure that your dependents are taken care of outside of the Boston University environment. Bringing your children to school with you is not an option as it impacts the learning environment. Being a leader also implies that you are resourceful in solving problems and finding solutions. As such, the expectation is that if you come to us with problems or questions, you will already have looked into possible solutions or answers yourself first.

Massachusetts state law requires that all students be immunized (vaccinated) against certain diseases. You will need to provide proof that you have received these immunizations when you first arrive at Boston University. To learn how to submit this required information, click here.

Health care in the United States may be quite different from your home country. Browse this website to learn more about your health care options. Since your health insurance coverage will be provided by SACM, you will need to process a waiver for Boston University insurance. Information on this process is found here. We will assist you in completing this process as part of orientation.

Before you arrive in the United States, it will be your responsibility to find housing. For more information about how to find a place to live near the Boston University campus, please visit the International Student and Scholar Compass.

1. Click Housing.
2. Click Off-Campus.
3. Browse resources about signing a lease, tenant rights, and more!

Based on anticipated school placement locations, the following will be convenient living locations during your time at Boston University:

• Coolidge Corner or Washington Square: Brookline, Massachusetts
• Cleveland Circle: Brighton, Massachusetts
• Newton Center or Newton Highlands: Newton, Massachusetts
• Allston/Brighton, Massachusetts
• Kenmore/Fenway: Boston, Massachusetts
• Back Bay: Boston, Massachusetts
• The neighboring cities of Cambridge, Somerville, Malden and Medford are also T accessible and often more affordable.

You are not required to live in any of the above neighborhoods, but those locations may make your commute more convenient. We also recommend looking for lodging that is close to the Boston subway system (called the “T”). The MBTA Green Line: B Line, C Line, or D Line are all convenient train lines to live near.

Previous cohorts have found apartments in the following apartment complexes:
Hancock Village Apartments in Chestnut Hill (part of Brookline, MA)
Cambridge Park Apartments (Cambridge, MA)
Fenway Diamond at 9 Miner Street (near BU campus in Boston, MA)
160 Pleasant Street Apartments (Malden, MA)

For more information about Boston neighborhoods, click here.

Summer Programs for Children

Since school for children aged 5 and up begins in September, you will need to identify childcare options for your children for July and August. Summer camps fill up quickly, so you want to start this exploration right away. Past participants have found it very helpful to coordinate childcare, even collaborating to hire babysitters to watch children in more than one family.

Most local city governments run their own local camps for residents, either through the city or town Department of Recreation, or through the local schools. Check with your local public school, or your city’s website. There are often the most cost-effective options.

Here are a few other helpful links:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/top-lists/bostons-best-summer-day-camps/
https://www.verywellfamily.com/free-summer-programs-for-kids-3128854
https://www.bostoncentral.com/classes_camps/summer_camps.php
http://ymcaboston.org/

Family Resources provides information about the various forms of childcare available to you. They offer resources about:

• In-home care
• Babysitting
• Childcare centers
• Family day care providers
• School age care
• Play groups
• Summer camps

To browse these resources, visit the Family Resources website. For more help, contact Family Resources at 617-353-5954. Or, complete the Referral Statement Form and email it to familyre@bu.edu. Please note that center-based childcare can be quite costly in Massachusetts.

Childcare Providers in Massachusetts

• Department of Early Education & Care (EEC): This is a search engine for all EEC licensed childcare providers, both group care and family care, in Massachusetts.
• care.com: Access childcare, senior care, pet care, and housekeeping services through this online community.
• sittercity.com: Find babysitters and nannies in your neighborhood.

Public School Age

In general, children have the right to attend public school in the city or town where they reside. Kindergarten begins at age 5. Some school districts offer preschool programming for children from age 3, but that varies by district. Families should contact their school district to learn about the enrollment process. Please note that the school year generally runs from early September through mid June, so it is important to be in contact with the school district as soon as you have your living arrangements in order to get your child registered.

Schools will require certain forms for each student, including a copy of the lease for the housing you rent. Parents should be sure to carry with them from Saudi Arabia:

• Children’s Medical Records, especially a list of any immunizations they have received. An original Birth Certificate
• Emergency Medical Card/proof of health insurance coverage

For more information, click here.

You will need to set up a local bank account when you arrive in the United States. There are a number of banks near the Boston University campus, including Bank of America, Citizens Bank, and Webster Bank. You will need to decide which bank is best for you based on location, services and fees.

Before you set up a phone, you should research which phone carrier is right for you. The largest phone carriers in the United States are Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile, and many of them offer discounts to international students. Click the previous links for more information and to learn how to set up a phone with each carrier.

You may choose to purchase a car for your stay in Boston, in which case you should carefully review the following information.

If you drive in the United States, you must have a valid license and insurance issued by the state where you are living, in this case Massachusetts. If you have a driver’s license in Saudi Arabia, it will not transfer to the state of Massachusetts and you will need to apply for a new license. For more information about how to apply for a Massachusetts driver’s license, click here.

You may have driven for many years and feel comfortable driving in Saudi Arabia, however driving in the United States presents a variety of challenges to both new and experienced drivers.

Every state has its own traffic laws and regulations. You are responsible for knowing and following the laws of the state in which you are driving.

If you violate a traffic law, you are placing yourself and others at risk for an accident. If you are caught violating the law, you may receive a ticket and need to pay a fine. You also may see your auto insurance rates increase or even lose your license. Be cautious and respectful at all times when driving.

General Driving Tips

• Always carry your driver’s license and insurance card with you.
• Wear your seatbelt at all times and make sure your passengers buckle up as well.
• Never text or talk on the phone while driving. In many states, this is illegal.
• Use proper seatbelts and car safety seats for children.
• Slow down when driving at night or in bad weather (fog, ice, rain, snow).
• Obey all traffic laws and signals. When school is in session, many streets will have reduced speeds in school zones. Pay extra attention when driving in these areas.
• Drive defensively and be aware of your surroundings.
• Make sure your car always has gas, especially in cold weather.
• Keep your headlights on at night and when using your windshield wipers. (Even if you do not see a big difference, this helps other drivers see you.)

Adapted from the Saudi Aramco Out-of-Kingdom Assignments Welcome Guide.

There are a number of places to buy food around Boston University, including Star Market, Target, Whole Foods Market, and Trader Joe’s. Boston also has some of the best restaurants in the United States. To browse restaurants in Boston, visit Yelp.

It is also easy to find Halal food in Boston. You can search on Yelp as well as with Uber Eats for Halal restaurants, and the website https://www.zabihah.com is also helpful. Large markets such as Star Market have Halal food sections. A local favorite, walking distance from campus, is Garlic N Lemons.

Information about Boston-area weather can be found on the Weather Channel. Type in the zip code 02215. You will experience all four Boston seasons during your time at BU, and you should be prepared for changeable weather that can range from 20 to 28° C in the summer, when you arrive, to -5 to 5° C in the winter (December through March). It often snows in the winter, so bring or be prepared to purchase heavy winter coats and waterproof boots. Umbrellas are always a good idea!

• Many people (waiters, drivers, hair stylists, etc.) depend on tips or “gratuity” as part of their income/salary.
• Some restaurants may add a mandatory tip/gratuity for service, especially if you are with a larger group.
• You can download a number of tip calculator applications for your cell phone that will help you calculate the appropriate tip quickly and correctly, but a 20% tip is a generally accepted guideline in restaurants.
• Staring is considered very impolite. On the other hand, when you are talking to someone, it is important to maintain regular eye contact to show you are interested in the conversation.
• Talking about sensitive topics like money, politics, religion, or personal issues is generally only done between close friends.
• Americans smile often, even at strangers! This is a basic sign of politeness in the United States and should not be misinterpreted as something more personal.
• People in the United States greet each other with handshakes and do not touch during conversation, unless they are close friends or relatives. This is especially important when men and women interact.

Adapted from the Saudi Aramco Out-of-Kingdom Assignments Welcome Guide.