You Know How to Become Bostonian (Chinese Version)

Yafeng.Chen

Massachusetts is a large state for education. Boston is also known as a city which attract many international students from different countries. Among them, Chinese international student is one of the biggest groups in Boston. As a Chinese student, I felt to become a Bostonian is quiet challenging. 

I am Yafeng, doing MBA program for supply chain and marketing in Umass Boston. I did not apply Umass Boston directly, I had studied in MAIA that English second language school 2016. Until 2017, I moved from Marlborough to Dorchester the suburb of Boston. Anyway, suppose I was a newcomer of Boston. I have summarized the following points.

Housing

I am living Harbor Point On The Bay community that is only 5 mins walking from the Umass Boston. However the cost is very reasonable. From my perspective, as a international student, you should to live near to place where you need to go, or we can choose some place that close to public transportation. Then, is your house located in a safe place, would be important question. You can ask your student adviser and senior students for good suggestions. Finally, you should find couple places and compare these different places. If you are newcomer of Boston, you need to complete these processes before you come to Boston.

Daily Supplies Shopping

Living in America is not like living in China where you can  a supermarket or a convenience store in downstairs of your apartment. Therefore, you will walk for long time or take public transportation to the market. However, many options still will be available for you. At least, I am able to get every thing what I got in China. For the American supermarket, you can search on google map, which isn't a big case. Additionally, Chinese supermarket is very important to a Chinese international student. I provide some of location of Chinese market below.

Jia Ho Supermarket

692 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111

C-Mart

50 Herald St, Boston, MA 02118

28 Hayward St, Quincy, MA 02170

Kam Man Foods

219 Quincy Ave, Quincy, MA 02169

Transportation

If you will buy a car, you can ignore this part 😂😂😂.

From my experience, I summarize some advises for international students.

1. Free Shuttle

2. MBTA (you can get some discounts and buy the monthly pass in the transportation department of your college, and also get CharlieCard in subway station)

3. Uber & Lyft (sometimes, Uber or Lyft might provide discounts, which will be cheap)

4. Zipcar (After pass the driver license test, applying Zipcar a good option. )

    Link: http://www.zipcar.com/

5. Rental Cars (Rental system is very strong in Boston)

Furniture

Generally, American renting is without furniture. Therefore you will be very busy to buy furniture before moving in date. You have two options that new furniture and used furniture, but the second hand stuff are much more cheaper than new products. I provide some advise following.

For used furniture, I suggest that you buy those from senior students that you can find these information in WeChat groups and Google. Then, used product markets are good option as well.

For new furniture, IKEA, MattressFirm, and Wayfair are good good places, but furniture handling is very trouble. Although, they provide delivery service, it still will take 3-5 business days. Thus, I rented the U-hual in order to handle furniture. 

In the end, as a old "Bostonian", I hope that every international students and newcomer can become bostonian within one week!!!👍👍👍