Welcome to the Class of 2005

International Student Handbook

Williams College

2011 – 2012

Published by the Office of the Dean

July 2011

The compilation of this publication was made possible

through the use of the following resources:

WilliamsCollege Student Handbook

WilliamsCollege Bulletin

International Student Handbooks

from the following area colleges:

SmithCollege

MountHolyokeCollege

ConnecticutCollege

Northeastern University

NAFSA's International Student Handbook

U.S. Department of State's publication

Special thanks to Marissa Thiel, James Mathenge, Zara Curimjee, and Wendy Magoronga

Comments and suggestions regarding the WilliamsCollege International Student Handbook may be directed to: Jessie Garner (413-597-4037) or at

Updated by: Jessie Garner, Assistant to the Dean

Williams College admits men and women of any background to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other College-administered programs. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1973, or the regulations there under, in the education programs or activities which it operates, including employment therein. The College does not discriminate on the basis of handicap in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or the regulations there under, in admission or access to its programs and activities.

The Williams community includes talented students with documented disabilities who may require learning, sight, hearing, manual, speech, or mobility accommodations. Although Williams operates no specially structured academic programs for individuals with disabilities, the College is committed to providing support services and accommodations in all programs to students who need them.

Williams endeavors to provide equal access to campus programs and activities for all members of the college community. The Dean's Office, through the Director of Academic Programs, coordinates the various accommodations required to make students' educational experiences successful. Inquiries concerning the College's nondiscrimination policies may be referred to the Dean of the College, Williamstown, MA 01267. Tel.: (413) 597-4171.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL AND ARRIVAL INFORMATION

1. You should arrange your flight through Teresa, at , to Albany, NY airport on August 27, 2011. If you have decided to book your own travel into Albany, NY, please inform us of your arrival information (time, carrier, and flight number). There will be representatives from WilliamsCollege at the airport, and free shuttles to the campus, which is approximately 50 minutes away from the Albany airport. We do not provide transportation from any other airport.

1. Sheets and bed linens will be provided through a generous grant from the college, and they will be in your dorm rooms upon your arrival. The following items are included:

Dorm Bedding Set: Dorm-Room-In-a-Box: Comforter Sheet Set, Mattress Pad, Pillow, Towel Set

• TWIN XL Reversible Comforter

• TWIN XL Sheet Set (Flat, Fitted and 2 pillow cases

• Towel Set (Bath, Hand and Wash)

• TWIN XL Mattress Pad and 1 Standard Pillow

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ABOUT WILLIAMS

Useful Web Pages

JET LAG

CULTURE SHOCK AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT

Culture Shock

Ten Ways to Aid Cultural Adjustment

Things to doin a New Culture

Relationships and Social Adjustments

ACADEMICS

Concepts of a Liberal Arts Education

Academic Honesty and the HonorCode

Statement of Academic Honesty

Guidelines

Course Selection

FACULTY

VACATIONS

Storage

Delftree Self Storage & Warehousing......

Adams Heated Self Storage......

Places to Stay during Major College Holidays

STUDENT SERVICES AND RESOURCES

Peer Tutoring

Writing Workshop

ESL......

Career Counseling

HEALTH SERVICES

Health Insurance......

Thompson Health Center

Psychological Counseling Service

Exercising and Eating Right

Peer Health Services

COPINGWITH THEWEATHER

Type of Clothing Needed - facts

Daylight Savings Time (DST)

Winter Sports and Activities

COMMUNICATION

Mail Service

Telephone Service

CONVERSION REFERENCES

Clothing

Weights and Measures: Abbreviations and Symbols

Weights and Measures: Metric to U.S. Standard Conversion

Temperature

TRANSPORTATION

Airports

Air Service

Bus Service

Taxi Service

Trains

Travel Agencies

Car Rental

Automobile Information

International Driver's License

Obtaining a Massachusetts Driver's License

Driving while intoxicated

MONEY MANAGEMENT

Transferring Funds

Opening a Bank Account

Other Banking Services

Banks in Williamstown

PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION

Passports

F-1 Visa/SEVIS I-20 (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)

I-94 Form

J-1 Visa/DS-2019

Expiration dates

The Port of Entry

Special Registration......

TRAVEL

Reentry to the U.S.

Valid U.S. Visa

Valid Form SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019

Travel to Contiguous Territory (Canada, Mexico, or Adjacent Islands other than Cuba)

Reentry Without an Endorsed SEVIS I-20 or DS-20196

Canadian Citizens and Landed Immigrants

Travel Within the United States

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT

On-Campus Employment: Basic F-1 Regulations

Transfer to Another Program and On-Campus Employment

Optional Practical Training

Change of Address

Summer Employment

Applying for a Social Security Number

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND THE LAW......

CRIMES and “SCAMS”

Ways to Avoid Being a Victim of Crime

What To Do If You Are Accused of a Crime

Smoking

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Williamstown Open Container Law

HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

Holidays Celebrated in America

RELIGIOUS GROUPS AND CHURCHES

COMMON TERMS AND IDIOMS

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ABOUT WILLIAMS

"Williams is one of the greatest academic Institutions in the United States. Do not worry if the courses and classes initially overwhelm you. You will get the hang of it, and you will receive a great education. Teaching at Williams is very much dependent on the professors, so ask your JA's, IC members and other upperclassmen about the professors and the classes you are interested in. If you enjoy the professor, you will also enjoy the class more.” (Ashok Pillai , Sweden)

" I think that Williams is a great school with an exceptional undergraduate program. Most of the classes are small and the professors know you by your first name. The professors are also very approachable for questions or even just a quick chat. It is academically competitive out here, which keeps me on my feet all the time and challenges me to work to my full potential." (Parth Doshi , India)

“ Williamstown is not a town, nor is it a village; it is a street, a college, and a Wal-Mart. The mall is an extension of this, but it is too far away to be considered a part of this place.”
(Marcos Sahm, Brazil)

"Williams gives you all the opportunities and freedom to create and explore. All it asksin returnis hard work and devotion." (Kamen Kozarev , Bulgaria)

“Williams is the most exciting place to experience life: study hard, find friends for life, and discover new horizons. When I first came here, I was fascinated by the beautiful campus and welcoming people.”

(Iskra Valtcheva , Bulgaria)

"If you'd never heard of Williams before you started applying, don't worry, neither had I. My mom convinced me to apply through the Common Application, and when I got in I started researching it and found out what a good school it is. When I visited it, I fell in love with the place, and decided to come here. As a sophomore, I'm absolutely certain I made the right choice." (Andres Carrizo , Florida)

“When you apply to Williams, you think it is worth a try. When you get accepted and decide to enroll, you hope you are making the right decision. When you finally get here, you realize this is where you belong.”

”I had a wonderful time during First Days. Everything was new for me: all the people, the beauty of the campus, and the US culture on a broad basis. I entered a community that is as diverse as it is united.”
(Vlad Andonov , Bulgaria)

“Moving so far away from home was quite a challenge, but coming to college in the US is something I have always wanted to do and, after living in big cities my whole life, Williams seemed like the perfect place for me to start. I doubted one of my teachers back home (an alumna) when she told me I would only be bored if I wanted to because there's always something happening and there's so much to get involved in. I took it to the extreme and ended up getting involved in one too many activities but I'm learning to manage my time and to pick and choose the best things for me to be doing now. There's definitely a lot to do in this small town and I've had a wonderful first semester. Classes were incredible and teachers were accessible and extremely nice.”

(Melanie Beeck , Brazil)

“Williams College is wonderful. But beware: it might have ups and downs. It does for most people. It might take you some time to learn to enjoy new things and new types of people. Whatever it is, it takes some moments of elation and some of despair.”(Vasko , Bulgaria)

“This is a place where you will make lots of amazing discoveries about life in general, people, your field of study, this country. This a place where YOU will discover YOURSELF and who you are and what you can be. Communication with people may be the most precious and most interesting part of your experience at Williams. I counted up to 30 countries whose representatives are here, for you to speak to and be friends with! You come to the USA and you meet the whole world, the whole variety of cultures! You will definitely pick up several phrases or words from many languages (if you are not lazy... :) which is so much fun!” (Darya Dyachkova – exchange student, )

Useful Web Pages

• The Williams College Honor System (
• Williams Students Online ( - information on weather, dining hall menus, campus announcements, campus and Williamstown-area phone directories. Also contains student webpages, the Online Facebook, and the Housing Plans.
• Information Technology ( help pages and software downloads.
• Multicultural Center (
• Office of Career Counseling (OCC) (
• The Dean’s Office (
• Special Academic Programs (
• Williams College Library( - library hours and information, electronic databases, the library catalog.
• College-Wide Message Service ( - campus announcement system for current events and important notices.
• The College Council ( - student government
• WCFM ( - student radio station
• Williams Outing Club (

JET LAG

Jet lag is one of the first adjustments you will face once you arrive in the United States, and it means adapting to a new time zone. Jet lag is caused by the long airplane flight from your homeland and its severity is related to the distance and direction you travel. After a few days (perhaps as long as a week) of disorientation and sleepiness, you will function quite normally - eating lunch when it is the middle of the night at home, or rising at an hour you went to bed only a few days before.

CULTURE SHOCK AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT

Culture Shock

Culture shock is a psychological disorientation due to being in a new culture. It is not fatal.

Broadly speaking, culture shock comes from:

• Living and/or studying (or working) for an extended period of time in a different environment;
• Having values you held absolute brought into question because of cultural differences;
• Being constantly put into situations where you are expected to function with maximum proficiency but where the rules have not been adequately explained.

As can be seen, culture shock does not result from a specific event. Rather, it builds up slowly from a series of small events often difficult to identify. Remember that the reactions are emotional and not easily subject to rational management.

The FOUR Stages of Culture Shock are:

• Initial euphoria
• Irritability and hostility, disappointments and internal conflicts
• Gradual adjustment (coming to terms)
• Adaptation to biculturalism

Symptoms of culture shock:

• homesickness
• boredom
• withdrawal (i.e., spending excessive amounts of time reading; avoiding contact with host nationals)
• need for excessive amount of sleep
• compulsive eating and/or drinking
• chauvinistic excesses
• stereotyping of and hostility toward host nationals
• loss of ability to work effectively
• physical ailments (psychosomatic illnesses)

Although uncomfortable, it is a normal part of the adjustment process, and you need not be ashamed of it.

“Well first of all, no matter how much contact you have had with American culture, you are bound to suffer from some sort of culture shock. That might range from never having sipped alcohol to suddenly being confronted by it in dorm rooms, or to put a reverse spin on it: having boozed your way through high school and suddenly realizing that oops, this is America, the drinking age is 21.” (Abid Shah , Pakistan)

Ten Ways to Aid Cultural Adjustment

• Keep contact with your family and friends from home. Write emails, make phone calls.
• Make friends with people from your home country. Join the International Student Organization on campus or attend its activities.
• Participate in sports or other activities that interest you or in which you participated at home.
• Find restaurants that serve food you are accustomed to, or buy ingredients from the local food store so as to make dishes you have at home.
• Get to know Americans and try to understand and appreciate their culture while sharing your own. Be observant and ask questions!
• Expect to encounter some difficulties – it is natural. You might not do as well in your studies as you did at home in your first few months here, since you are dealing with a different academic system and many other new situations. Be realistic, make allowances for yourself!
• If you do not like your new surroundings and find a lot to criticize, try to think of one thing each day which you like about this new environment.
• Take some time to be alone and read or relax. Try to think positive!
• Learn from others’ experience: friends who have already experienced cultural adjustment and culture shock, your International Student Advisor, or a College Counselor. A discussion can help.
• Keep your self-respect and concentrate on the long-term advantages of studying in the U.S. Keep your sense of humor. Culture shock will pass.

Students from different cultures experience different levels of culture shock. You may not experience the physical or emotional changes brought on by culture shock while others around you might. If you experience culture shock you will probably discover your own methods of making yourself better in addition to these suggestions. Add your ideas to the list and share them with new students as they arrive, or tell your International Student Advisor, so that others may benefit from your experience.

"From time to time, and certainly in the beginning, life can seem overwhelmingly unmanageable. The academic workload, commitments to other groups and activities, social life (or trying to have one), even all the information in your mailboxes and inboxes: together they can make you feel like you're in the midst of a hurricane! Slowly but surely, however, you will learn to handle it all. Life in the States is about surfing the waves, not about going deep underwater!" (Abhishek Basnyat, Nepal)

"It will happen to you. You think you know all the stages, like I did, but without knowing, culture shock will creep on you. Be it your adverse reaction to the food, to the locals or the local environment, you will suffer some degree of culture shock. So be prepared, have an open mind and be ready." (Federico Sosa , Paraguay)

"Yes, cultural shock exists and you are going to suffer from it. You might even get depressed and cry every day because you feel that you cannot get used to this place. (That's what I did during my first few weeks at Williams.) But once you reach out to people, the peer counselors, your JAs, the psychological counselors and even your professors, it is going to be a lot easier and better. So don't be afraid to cry and don't be afraid to ask for help. Everyone will be more than happy to support you." (Reka Daroczi , Hungary)

“Different students deal differently with the shock. My advice: remember, this is another country. The customs are different; do not retreat in a shell of your own. The wonder of a place like Williams is the great diversity of people on campus. You are bound to find people with similar interests, and really: freshman year is AWESOME. Some people revel in cultural differences. Be one of them.” (Naila Baloch , Pakistan)

“You will probably learn that some people are wonderful as they are, and others just aren't. Don't isolate yourself too much, but try to keep your sense of who you are and why you are here. There are many things why you can enjoy Williams and add meaning to your life--friends, activities, classes, etc, etc. If you don't limit yourself and forget your prejudices, Williams will provide you with a whole new world to explore. Have fun with it!” (Radu Mireuta , Romania)

Things to do in a New Culture

• Observe others and yourself.
• Pay attention to common expressions and slang (some of them are listed on the last pages of this handbook).
• Don’t take things too literally. Be assertive and ask questions! It is perfectly all right to ask people to repeat what they said when you don’t hear or understand.
• Dare to say “no” to situations or actions you find unacceptable or unpleasant.
• Strive to understand, not imitate the Americans!
• Make choices that benefit you.
• Practice your communication skills, go out and take the initiative!

Relationships and Social Adjustments

Male/Female Relationships: Most Americans are still confused by all the social, legal and cultural changes in male/female relationships brought on by the women's movement. While great importance is placed on equality in American culture, women and men do not have equal standing yet. It is still true that American women make less money than their male counterparts and have fewer economic and educational opportunities. However, compared to women in most other countries, American women enjoy great flexibility of choices and options, rights and privileges.