First Arrival notices注意事項：

Whether you live on or off-campus, you need to read the following very carefully.

1. Electricity: Some landlords would apply for the electricity activation for you before you arrive, and some wouldn’t. You can ask your landlord about it, and if your landlord doesn’t apply for you, you will have to call “Duke Energy"(http://www.duke-energy.com/) from Taiwan to tell them your address and activation date (arrival date). If you don’t do this, your apartment will have no electricity when you move in.
Even if your landlord activates the power service for you, you still need to contact “Duke Energy” as soon as possible after you arrive in Durham, in order to switch the account under your own name. Otherwise the electricity service only lasts for a few days and would be cut off suddenly.

2. Cell phone:

If you need a cell phone right away and does not have a student ID nor SSN yet:
To apply for a cell phone number (with a monthly “plan”), you would need a Social Security Number (SSN). However, laws have changed, and we F-1 students can’t apply for SSN anymore. Therefore, your only choice is to buy a “prepaid” phone from Verizon or a SIM card named “Go phone” from Cingular. With Verizon, you have to buy a new cell phone from them, so if you prefer to use the cell phone you bring from Taiwan, you have to go to Cingular, which provides SIM card to put into the cell phone.
Of course, the “prepaid” phone or “Go phone” have much higher rates, so if you want to save money, you can find a friend who has SSN and already has a plan, and then have your plan added under his/her name (apply for a plan under your friend’s name/account). However, because you have no credit history in America, you will still be asked to give a 400 to 500 deposit at the beginning. It will usually be refunded after a year or so.

If you have a student ID:
Go to Duke’s OIT and apply for a cell phone under Duke’s corporate plan so you won’t need a deposit nor SSN to apply for a monthly plan. Look at http://www.oit.duke.edu/televid/wireless/ for more details.

3. Car Rental: Please note that many car rental car companies require that you be over 21 (and sometimes 25) years old if you wish to drive a rental car. They also require you to have a major credit card in your name. If you are under 25 years old, you may need to pay an extra fee (underage fee), which may cost you $20 - $25 extra per day. The typical cost for renting a small car without insurance is around $30 a day. Special weekend deals (discount rates) are sometimes offered.
It is wise to purchase extra rental auto insurance at the rental car company. If your car is damaged or slightly dented during your rental period, you will be financially responsible, even if it is not your fault! However, many credit cards may provide coverage for rental cars already so check your credit card benefits!


4. Internet: If you are lucky and you neighbors are using wireless Internet, then you can take advantage of it (but the connection is sometimes very unstable). But if not, then before you have your Internet access installed, you can either go to libraries or International House to surf the Internet for free. There is also wireless Internet available on campus.
To have Internet access of your own, you can contact TimeWarner Cable. They can also install cable TV and digital phone, if you like. (p.s. If they come late, you can ask for a $20 discount for next month’s bill.)

5. Furniture:
a. Mattress—There are many stores selling mattresses, and among them, Mattress Firm sells expensive but high quality mattresses. Its delivery fee is also the highest (almost $60), while the delivery service is not satisfactory.
b. Shower curtain— Without it, usually you will find your bathroom flooding every day. So buy one as soon as possible.
c. Desk— Most “desks” here don’t have drawers. To buy a typical desk with drawers like that in Taiwan, Office Depot is the right place to go.
d. Chest, Drawers, Dining tables—Wal-mart, K-mart, Super Target, Sam’s club, Costco…etc. (The last two need membership card to get in.)
e. Sofa, Futon, Side table— Nationwide Warehouse, Wal-mart, K-mart, Super Target, Sam’s club, Costco…etc.
f. Cookers, Utensils, Microwave oven— same as d.

Note: If you want to buy furniture from Super Target, Wal-mart, K-mart…etc., you will need to carry and assemble them by yourself. To do so, you must buy a toolbox first, because you always need screwdrivers and a hammer to complete the assembly.

6. Food: There’s no Safeway or QFC here, but there are Kroger (24/7), Food Lion, Super Target, Costco, Wal-mart, K-mart, etc.

﹡Social Security Number: The law has changed, and we F-1 students can’t apply for the Social Security Number (SSN). So if you have come to USA before and already have a SSN card, please don’t loose it. Keep it safe and bring it with you. You will find it very useful.

﹡ITIN: ITIN stands for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The ITIN is a number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (the federal tax office in the USA) to people who are not eligible for a Social Security Card. It is not a photo ID, but it replaces the SSN as your ID for many applications, such as phone service.
　 Therefore, it’s wise to apply for it as soon as possible. Also, you need a savings account to apply. So when you open your bank account, don’t forget to open both checking and savings accounts. To apply, please go to International House (note: It’s Not International Office. They are different) for more details.

﹡International House: It is the center of useful information. You can get almost all the information you need to settle down in Durham, including detailed maps, housing choices, bus schedules, auto insurance, and all kinds of living resources information. It is located at the intersection of Anderson St. and Campus Dr. Tel: 919-681-3922 Lisa.