Boston City Guide

1. Weather
Temperature:Winter 31F, Fall 50-70 F, Summer 90-60 F
Seasons:Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Clothes:Raincoat/Jacket, Winter Coat, Scarf, Gloves, Skid-free Shoes, Thermals, Umbrella,Hat,Earmuffs

2. Cost of Living
Phone Call (Local) 35 cents (Public Phone )
Long Distance to Manila Get a phone card, or review phone companies special rates
Postage (Local) $.41 (Domestic)
Postage (to Manila) $0.90
Bus Fare $1.25 (Charlie Card), $1.50 http://www.mbta.com/
Train Fare $1.70 (Charlie Card), $2 (ticket only) http://www.mbta.com/

3. Racial Mix
Students: Extremely international
Locals: Mostly white

4. Getting Around
Bus Bus
Train "T"
Walking Can walk everywhere
Car a necessity? No
Others Some people prefer to bike to school.

5. Filipino Supplies
Filipino Stores: None but supplies are available at the stores in Chinatown
Oriental Stores: Shops in Chinatown (Super 8 and Great Wall are the bigger ones)

6. Student Services
Phone Cards Sarimanok One (888 633 6739), Direct Line Philippines (866 357 0338)
Balikabayan Boxes: North American Terminal Phone: (781) 961-0030
Travel Agents: None mentioned
Apartment Listings Boston Globe

7. Hangouts for struggling Students
Restaurants Chau Chow, Penang, Pho Pasteur, other Chinatown haunts,Bars
Others (parks, bookstores, apartments?) Boston Common, Esplanade at Charles River, Harvard Square bookstores

8. Safety
Places to avoid - none mentioned

9. Interesting words/phrases When people ask you how you're doing, just say "Fine, thank you." They don't really expect to hear that you're homesick, that your parents miss you and that your Significant Other is having a hard time getting a ticket to visit you. It's a routine greeting. Other things you might want to know: when they talk abou t Football, it's American Football. The Football played in the Philippines ins called Soccer in the US.

10. Places to live Brookline, Allston, on-campus housing

11. Church Boston College Chapel

Contributor: Joanna Francisco, Boston University