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RESOURCES FOR NEWCOMERS
HOUSING
Temporary
The Madison Friends of International Students offers
up to 3 days of housing at no cost with families in the area of Madison.
You can search for further information in “temporary housing” section
of http://www.intstudents.wisc.edu/mfis/index.htm
For information on hotels, hostels or dorms on campus, visit:
http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/overnight.asp
Permanent
On Campus
UW-Madison has dorms and apartments for rent. Dorms are
available for either undergraduate or graduate students, while apartments
are available only for graduate students (single or with family), professors
and university employees. Further information is at http://www.housing.wisc.edu
Off Campus
To rent an apartment or a house outside the campus area,
the following resources are available:
The university provides a list of apartments, houses,
efficiencies, rooms and co-ops for students and the university community
submitted by tenants, sublessors, owners and managers, as well as information
on regulations you must know before renting. See http://housing.civc.wisc.edu
Start Renting Magazine
You can find this magazine containing information on places for rent in
many places (some restaurants and close to bus stops). It is free. There
is also a web page,
http://www.startrenting.com
General Information
When looking for an apartment, the most important points
to consider are:
1) Ask what utilities are included in the rent (water, electricity, gas,
etc) and about the minimum length of the lease.
2) It is better to have heating included in the rent because heat expenses
can run very high during the winter. Take into account that apartments
located in front of a lake or exposed to the wind require more energy
to heat.
3) Electricity is generally not included in the rent. If you must contact
MGE to arrange for service, call (608) 252 7222, 1-800-245-1125, or go
to http://www.mge.com.
Your landlord must provide you electricity while your application for
service is processed.
4) Some buildings or condominiums do not have their own laundry facilities.
It is recommended you rent a place that either provides laundry facilities
or is located close to a laundromat. Washing and drying machines usually
work with 25 cents coins. Take into account that it is not easy to take
your clothes to a laundromat during the winter.
5) By law, the security deposit cannot exceed the amount of one month
of rent.
6) In some places, pets are not allowed, and in some others, you are required
to pay a monthly fee or a special deposit if you have a pet.
7) It is important that you take note of the general condition of the
apartment you rent when you first arrive. Landlords will ordinarily provide
a form for renters to fill out to record preexisting damage to the apartment
(holes in the wall, broken cabinets, carpet stains, etc). If the landlord
does not provide a form for this purpose, make your own record of the
condition of the apartment and give a copy to your landlord. Otherwise,
you could be held responsible for preexisting damage when you leave.
8) It is a good idea to rent a place located near a bus stop. Go to www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/metro.html
to check for maps and schedules.
9) If you have a car, ask if there is an additional cost for the parking
space. Parking spaces on campus are expensive and scarce.
10) Make sure to have a map when going to see apartments. That way, you
will always know where are you located in relation to the university and
other parts of the city.
11) Ask if there are convenience stores, banks, supermarkets, laundromats,
bus stops, etc. near the apartment.
12) The Tenant Resource Center offers advice on how to resolve any problems
you might have with your landlord or apartmentmates. http://trc.studentorg.wisc.edu
13) Take your time when visiting apartments. Do not assume things, and
always ask to clarify all of your questions. Most of all, do not feel
intimidated by the landlord.
CLOTHES
Used
St. Vincent de Paul
In this store, you can find second hand clothing. It is a good option
for less expensive clothing in good condition. Their internet site is
at: http://www.svdpmadison.org/location.html
Goodwill
Check their website to find the store nearest you: http://locator.goodwill.org
New
Burlington Coat Factory:
2025 Zeier Road. Madison, WI. 53704-7419.
Very close to the East Town Mall. It is an excellent option for coats,
gloves, and other winter clothing. The clothing there is of good quality
and includes well-known brands. They also have a good selection of infant
apparel. The website is: http://www.coat.com
Marshalls
There is one Marshall’s in the East Town area and another in Whitney Square.
Visit their website to find the one nearest you: http://www.marshallsonline.com/
Loans
Madison Friends of International Students (MFIS) organizes
a winter coats loan program. For more information, go to their web page:
http://www.intstudents.wisc.edu/mfis/index.htm
FURNITURE
Used
St Vincent de Paul
http://www.svdpmadison.org/location.html
Swap
The university has a store where they sell everything from chairs to computers
or beds. http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html
Another option for used furniture is to check the streets,
especially during the month of August when many people are moving. People
discard things in very good condition and anyone can take them for free.
Garage sales are a good alternative between the months
of April and September. Be on the look out. Signs advertising garage sales
are often only posted for a short time in the neighborhoods where they
take place.
New
Burlington Coat Factory
http://www.coat.com/
Marshalls
http://www.marshallsonline.com/
Target
http://www.target.com
Shopko
http://www.shopko.com
FOOD
Madison has a large selection of restaurants with food
from many parts of the world. However, if you want to try some Mexican
food, the following are a few options:
Casa de Lara, 341 State St., (608) 251 7200
El Pastor, 2010 S. Park St., (608) 280 8898
Frida, 117 State St., (608) 256 4000
Laredos, 694 S. Withney way, (608) 278 0585; 4001 Lien Road, (608) 240 9701
Sacramento, 6644 Odana Rd., (608) 827-5266
Mexican Groceries
El mercadito, 916 Whitney Way, (608) 441 7375
La Hispana Grocery Store, 4512 E. Washington, (608) 249 5033
La Mexicana, 30 S. Fair Oaks Av., (608) 241 4554
La Regional, 1417 Northport Dr., (608) 240 9008
Mercado Marimar, 2102 S. Park Street, (608) 260 8924; 6713 Odana Rd., (608) 833 4059
Super tienda latina, 6005 Monona Dr., (608) 221 2203
Yue-Wah Oriental foods, 2328 S. Park, (608) 257 9338
Tortilleria (Tortilla Store)
Tortillería del Norte, 529 S. Park St.
Mexican Bakery
Sacramento, 6644 Odana Rd., (608) 827-5266
NEWS AND THE MEDIA
Mexican Newspapers
Milenio Diario (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey,
Tabasco, Tampico, Torreon and Veracruz) and Milenio Semanal (Login and
password required).
www.milenio.com
Grupo Reforma (You must pay a fee to access the contents
of these sites):
www.reforma.com Mexico
City
www.elnorte.com Monterrey
www.mural.com Guadalajara
La Jornada
www.jornada.unam.mx
El Universal
www.eluniversal.com.mx
Revista Proceso (You must pay a fee to access the contents
of this site). www.proceso.com.mx
El Financiero
www.elfinanciero.com.mx
El Economista
www.economista.com.mx
Organizacion Editorial Mexicana (with links to its newspapers
in several cities).
www.oem.com.mx, www.elsoldemexico.com.mx
University Newspapers
The Badger Herald
http://www.badgerherald.com/
The Daily Cardinal
http://www.dailycardinal.com/
WiscWeek
http://www.news.wisc.edu/wisweek/
Local Newspapers (Madison)
Isthmus
www.isthmus.com
The Daily Page
www.thedailypage.com
The Capital Times
www.madison.com/captimes/
Wisconsin State Journal.
www.madison.com/wisconsinstatejournal/
The Madison Observer
http://www.madisonobserver.org/
National Newspapers (USA)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
www.jsonline.com
Chicago Tribune (Registration required)
www.chicagotribune.com
Los Angeles Times (Registration required)
www.latimes.com
New York Times (Registration required)
www.nyt.com
Washington Post (Registration required)
www.washingtonpost.com
USA Today.
www.usatoday.com
The Wall Street Journal
www.wsj.com
International Media
BBC Mundo (BBC in Spanish)
www.bbcmundo.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/news/
ABC (Spain, Free access)
www.abc.es
Clarin. (Argentina)
www.clarin.com
El Mercurio (Chile)
www.elmercurio.cl
Le Monde (France, in French)
www.lemonde.fr
The Financial Times (England)
www.ft.com
TV
PBS. Wisconsin Public Television (Channel 21 air, Madison)
www.wpt.org
Cable TV
Charter.
www.charter.com
Sky Cable TV of Madison
www.skycabletv.com
Dish Network (Dish Latino)
www.dishnetwork.com
BOOKS
In general, textbooks are expensive and required for
courses. There are some bookstores where you can find new and used books,
and also exchange them at the end of the semester. A few places to purchase
textbooks are:
The University Book Store, 711 State St, (608) 257 3784
www.uwbookstore.com
Underground Textbook Exchange, 664 State St., (608) 251
4444
undrgrnd@ix.netcom.com
Amazon (online only)
www.amazon.com
When buying used books, be careful to check the condition
of the books. Also, make sure when you buy a book that it is the one required
for your course.
LIBRARIES
University Libraries
www.library.wisc.edu/
Madison Public Library
At the different public libraries in the city, you can borrow books, CDs,
DVDs and VHS movies. You only need to register for an ID card, and it
is free. Call 266-6300 for further information, or visit: www.madisonpubliclibrary.org
WEATHER AND ADEQUATE CLOTHING
How to convert from Fahrenheit to Centigrade
www.albireo.ch/temperatureconverter/
The weather in Madison changes frequently and sometimes
reaches extremely cold temperatures. During the summer, temperatures of
32-38 °C are common, whereas in winter, the temperature can reach -40°C.
Changes in temperature occur very fast, so it is a good idea to check
the weather forecast before you leave home. Here are a few relevant links:
www.weather.com
www.theweathernetwork.com
In the winter season, you really need a good coat, gloves,
a hat, scarf and something to cover your ears. It is also recommended
to wear long underwear to protect you from cold winds. In addition, a
good pair of boots is very helpful, especially when the ground becomes
slippery with ice.
Although a good coat might be expensive, in Wisconsin,
it is worth the expense. A good coat is:
Warm
Waterproof
Adjusts well to your waist and neck.
If it is possible, a good way to save money is to buy
winter clothes at the end of a winter season when many stores have sales
to clear out older winter fashions for the coming spring.
TRANSPORTATION
City map
www.ci.madison.wi.us/transp/images/madison-area-map.jpg
Downtown Madison map
www.ci.madison.wi.us/transp/images/citymap-large.jpg
Madison Metro Bus
This page has information on the routes and schedules of public transportation.
It also includes information on detours, transportation to special events
and how to buy bus passes online. Remember that a free bus pass is available
to registered UW students. A Spanish version of the website is also available.
www.ci.madison.wi.us/metro/metro.html
MAP
Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation (DOT)
If you need to know how to get a driver’s license or a state ID go to:
www.dot.wisconsin.gov/
Taxis
Taxis are only available by phone request. Call at least
30 min in advance. Some of the taxi companies in Madison are:
Badger Cab
Cheap and collective but not very fast service. Do not try this one if
you are in a hurry.
256 5566, www.badgercab.com
Madison Taxi
Fast service. Rates are a bit higher.
255 8294, www.madtaxi.com
Union Cab
242-2000, www.unioncab.com/
Parking
Information on parking lots and applicable rules can
be found on the following page: www.ci.madison.wi.us/parking/parkinfo.html#GENERAL
Bikes
The following link has information on bike routes, safety
rules and how to register and care for your bicycle, www.ci.madison.wi.us/transp/bicycle.html
Bicycling Community Page, www.danenet.wicip.org/bcp/
AIRPORT
Dane County Regional Airport
Location, departures and arrivals, and information about different airlines
are available at:
www.co.dane.wi.us/airport/default.asp
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Badger Bus
Buses traveling between Madison and Milwaukee. For information on tickets
and schedules, visit: www.badgerbus.com/
Vangalder Bus
If you want to go to Downtown Chicago, the airports in Chicago, or other
places near those locations, go to: www.vangalderbus.com/
Greyhound Bus
Buses with destinations throughout the USA. For more information, see
the following page: www.greyhound.com
INFORMATION ON HIGHWAYS, ROADS AND DRIVER’S LICENSES
Dane County Highway & Transportation
Information on the transportation systems of Dane county: www.co.dane.wi.us/highway/hwyhome.htm
WI Road Conditions
This page provides information on the general conditions of the roads
in Wisconsin during the winter season.
www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/winter-roads.htm
WI DOT Detour and Construction Information
Information regarding detours due to road construction.
www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/workzones.htm
OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
Vision Quest Stables Inc.
A nice trip on a carriage through downtown Madison
www.qpg.com/V/vqstables/
Betty Lou Cruises
A yatch tour of the Monona and Mendota lakes, usually during summer time.
For more information, go to the page: www.nautigal.com/bettylou/
Train
http://www.amtrak.com/
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