Debating

Ugh... I won't be getting my first paycheck for almost a month and a half after I move in.... any ideas on how the heck to survive (especially with security deposits, two months rent, furniture, etc. expenses looming over me :cry: )? Talking about furniture... if someone goes to visit and you see a good, cheap furniture place, do share . It seems like the closest Ikea is far far away.

I, HOG? Sorry I'm international, currently in the States, but will be going back to Europe during the summer before school starts. I'm curious, how's everyone handling the move with only two 25 kg suitcases allowed?

How is that appopriate WITHOUT taking it out of context? :?

Trader Joe's (mostly organic grocery store) usually has lower prices than Whole Foods (another organic store, madly expensive). These are the only two I know that are more popular, but there are always local farms if you're in a rural area. I gained about 20-25 lb when I came to the U.S. and never really lost them, but I was underweight so in my case that worked out well. I only know a couple of people who didn't gain weight (and I know a lot of foreigners), and it seems to only depend on their metabolism, regardless or workout regimes (sorry :?).

I do think that if you are looking online, finding an apartment would be the easiest. That's what we're doing, and if we don't like it, we can always get something nicer next year when we can actually look around in person (to answer your question, I didn't look at any of them, I was only at the school when I visited, but I stayed with someone at Aspen Chase in Amherst and I fully appreciated the "crazy monkeys" description used for the undergrads...) Rent is pricey though if you have no one to share with so make sure to look for roommates. I think most departments provide mailing lists to help people find housing and roommates. The link you posted is really neat, I wish I had seen it earlier. In all honesty, I would rather live in a condo/apartment in a house but I don't think I will be able to find something nice just by looking online.

I'll be in one of the apartment complexes in Sunderland with my fiance. I think the campus is pretty big, at least compared to my miniscule school. It looks like an L with the corner pointed north-west and it's about 1.5 mi on each side, 3 on the diagonal... does that make any sense? Anyway, 2 mi can make a difference if I want to walk/bike/rollerblade to school so I thought it was important to be as close to my academic buldings as possible.

Yeah, looking for housing is pretty time-consuming, but I managed to do everything online, we just got approved today. I think it may be easier for me since we'll be getting an apartment so I could fax everything in and they're pretty good about helping people from out-of-state. You are right, JFK is pretty far away, but that was the cheapest flight I could get (still a good 1300), and I wasn't sure where I'd be going when I bought it so it had to be a good large airport. Since I will be landing there anyway, I have the choice of either making another transfer or taking the train/bus, and honestly, I think it will end up being about the same amout of time. If you can find a cheap flight directly into Bradley, that's great, but I really doubt it :? Lila, according to the map, Turners Falls is about 17 mi away, on a local route (don't know how bad trafic is). We can all meet up and hit ABC when we get there .

Welcome hydsnare! Nadine, I only have a flight booked to JFK, haven't quite decided what to do from there. I might just take the train to avoid another transfer :? I feel Holyoke is a bit too far away from the school for a comfortable commute, especially with your schedule being broken up because of classes, etc. but then it depends on which side of campus you're going to be at. I chose Sunderland because I'm in the north part so it's really close. Availability might be going down now but people from my department told me the most postings go up in July, so if what they say is true, I wouldn't be too worried...

I look forward to being able to cook my own meals... I'm really good at cooking, I don't quite know when or how I picked it up. meridionale... good for you for working out that much. I did strength training and running 5 times a week last summer but as soon as the semester started other things took priority (like work, study, school, work, study, work, 4 hrs of sleep). I hope I'll have a lot more time for myself in grad school than now (how sad is that). :cry:

CS Ph.D. UMass