Tips
Like you, we run into situations that did not make much sense to us, and decided to share our experiences and pieces of advice with you.
It's more than a "been there, done that". If I mainly contrast U.S. customs to European ones, I think this could be useful to any International student looking for knowing better the area.
Hope it will be helpful to you!
Transportation in Greater Lafayette
American collective transportation is certainly not as effective as the European is. However Lafayette/ West-Lafayette have done a pretty decent job with it, specially because it's FREE for all Purdue students and staff.You can find here the city bus website: Just for your information: one needs to get on by the front of the bus, and to show his PUID for every ride.
The busses are usually not too late. Be just careful with the Trolley: it often happens that it breaks down and does not finish its ride.
Biking is also a nice way to travel in the city. You may find new and used bikes at:
- the Bike Lady in Lafayette (used models, could also fix your own bike): 765-429-5452
- Hodson Bay Co. on the Levee Plaza (new models, could also fix your used one): 765-743-3506.
- Churches' special sales in August/ September.
- Wal Mart (new exclusively): cheap quality, cheap price.
- Fast Cab and Courrier: 765-474-4450
- 4 Star Taxi: 765-742-8400
Transportation out of Greater Lafayette
Greyhound Bus Lines provides 3 daily connections to Indianapolis and 3 daily connections to Chicago. The connection point and ticket office are located at the Big Four Depot, Second Street in Lafayette. For more information regarding schedules and times, call 765-742-8836 or visit Greyhound's Web site.The bus goes through Gary (to reach Chicago), which can be a dangerous city. You may want to use another way to go to Chicago.
Amtrak provides service to Indianapolis and Chicago. The train departs and arrives at the Big Four Depot in Lafayette. For more information, call 800-872-7245 or visit Amtrak's Web site.
Notice that the merchandise train have priority on the passengers train, which caused the latest one to be often late (by 1-2 hours minimum).
Indianapolis International Airport is located 60 miles southeast of West Lafayette. Shuttle service is available daily to and from West Lafayette to the airport.
Purdue University Airport is located in West Lafayette on Airport Road. Lafayette Aviation offers scheduled air carrier services, a repair station, aircraft sales, flight instruction, charter aircraft rental, air ambulance, line service and avionics sales and service. For more information, call 765-743-9692.
Shuttle to IND (Intl' Indianapolis Airport): 765-497-3828
Shuttles leave every two hours, nine times a day
Fares: $ 25 one way - $ 45 round trip
Officially reservations are not necessary, but the shuttles are really full around vacation times and you won't be guaranteed a seat if you don't reserve!
Shuttles to ORD (O'Hare Chicago Airport): 765-743-3120
Reservations MUST be made 48 hours in advance.
Schedule changes regularly: check it on the website
Fares: $55 one way - N/A for round-trip
Driving in Indiana
Don't assume your driving license (from your country of origin) is valid in Indiana. The best thing for you to do is to enquiry at the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicle).If it is valid, it is probably temporary.
For the writing test, you may refer to the driver manual available online
Visit the BMV website to know more about the driving licences' modality:
The BMV staff is picky about procedures: be sure to consult the website or call them before showing up with only half of the required documents.
There are two BMV centers in the Greater Lafayette:
- West Lafayette License Branch, 720 West Navajo, West Lafayette 765-464-1525.
- Lafayette License Branch, 220 Elmwood Avenue, Lafayette 765-448-3738.
Renting a car
The closest rental places to campus are at the Purdue Airport (1450 Aviation Dr) in West Lafayette: Budget Rent A CarI heard (and emphasize that I didn't check myself) that the best deal was with Ace Rent-A-Car (850 Sagamore Pkwy N in Lafayette 765-446-2234)
ID Cards
We really (really really) discourage you from using your passport (and visa) to get into bars, clubs or to buy alcohol. We know too many people who lost their (precious) documents and got into doing their immigration papers all over again.Instead of losing all that time and that money (plus having to go back to your country to get a new passport and visa), we suggest you to get an Indiana ID.
It's quite cheap: around $5. You get it done in BMV (go back to "Driving in Indiana" to get more information)
Visa Validity
One tip we want to reiterate: most of the visas need to be signed once a year by the ISS services. Don't leave the U.S. without checking their validity!The ISS
Banks
You probably already run into the two big establishments on campus: Chase and PEFCU.Here is a piece of advice:
- PEFCU is more friendly and available almost everywhere on campus. Their services are often cheaper than any other banks. However, if you leave the area, or need to do international wire transfers, it gets complicated.
- CHASE is more expensive, less flexible, but their debit and credit cards are working everywhere in the US (often) for free.
When and if you go to a bank, take the opportunity to ask about "credit history". You'll see it's often a requirement to get a cellphone or a car.
Cellphone Companies
*A credit check will be performed (and based on the credit information or in case you don't have credit history, a deposit to establish the cell phone account may be required)Other websites where you can order a cell phone:
Landline Phone Company and Phone Cards
Landline Phone company:Phone Cards:
Other Utilities
Cable company (CATV / Broadband Internet):Satellite TV Providers:
VOIP Providers:
Electricity:
Natural Gas Supplier:
Water Company:
Restaurants on Campus
As you probably noticed, you're going to have a new restauration area in PMU. We'll discover that in the same time than you.In the meantime, you may be interested in using the HTM Cafe in Stone Hall. The restauration service is partly run by the Food Science Dpt which make their menus being more nutritionally balanced.
You also can go to
Restaurants off campus
Here is an exhaustiveBy the way, here is the rule concerning tips for the waiter/waitress:
- 10 % of the total price if you're absolutely miscontent with his/her job (unpleasant behavior, you've been forgotten or you've received your dish after a really long time, s/he mixed up your orders)
- 15 % for a normal service (s/he came up regularly to check everything was in order, s/he responded in an appropriate time to your requests, etc)
- 20 % and more if s/he's done a very good job with your dinner.
Just DO NOT LEAVE without leaving her/him money. Most of the times, the tips is his/her main wage! Even s/he's done a poor job, s/he did it and deserves to be paid for it.
How to pay tips? by adding extra cash (your meal costed $8.50, you round it up to $10 and tell him/her to keep the extra money back), or by adding the tip on your credit card receipt/check.
Usually for a big group of customers, the waiter/waitress will pre-calculate the tip.
Also, unlike in France (at least), waiters / waitress don't mind to divide up the check if you are a group and you all pay separately.
One more thing: portions are bigger in the U.S. Don't feel like you should finish up your plate before to leave! You can ask for a "box" or a "doggie bag" (unformal term) that you can take home!
Food in Groceries Stores
Basically here is the overview:- Walmart: cheap but bad quality
- Meijer, Target, Marsh: higher standards, higher price.
- Payless: stands in between
- Meijer or Marsh for canned / non perishable products
- LA Village Food Mart, 208 South Street, in the Village (close to Cafe Vienna in West-Lafayette): for groceries and indian specialties
- Global Grocers, 109 North Chauncey Avenue in West-Lafayette.
- Asia Oriental Market, 2400 Yeager Road (West-Lafayette).
- La Carniceria Abaztos, 160 West 3rd Street in Lafayette: for groceries and mexican specialties.
Fresh Food
The best deal to buy fresh vegetables, fruits (and sometimes cheese) during seasons is to go to:- Purdue Village Gardens in the late afternoon: people who have gardens will sell their fresh and organic products for really cheap (you can even bargain with them).
- the Farmers' Market in Lafayette (May to October) on Tuesday morning (7:30am to 1pm), Thursday afternoon (4 to 7pm), and Saturday morning (7:30am to 1pm). Find more on the
Alcohol, and Cigarettes
So my dear Friends of Europe, let's mix in the fun stuff with the not so fun stuff.
Let's just say you went out with a couple of buddies and have become a bit drunk.
Be careful !!!! We're pretty sure by now you have seen West Lafayette Police Department; Lafayette Police Department, the Sheriff's office, the Purdue Police and/or State police cruising around town.
Though walking while drunk is ok where you are from; it could be a reason for an arrest here.
If you want to avoid such an impleasant encounter, it is advised to WALK home in GROUPS (at least of two people).
The police will rarely arrest someone for this "offense" unless during peak moments (such as Grand Prix weekend, beginning of the year, Halloween, etc. etc.) and only when you are completely wasted.
If you find yourself in that scenario, walk home with a friend and don't let your drunk friends wander by themself...
That being said, if you find yourself in the unlikely scenario of a barfight ... or you think you can be funny to the police... Well, your odds for getting arrested just increased exponentially! And if you do, you will get a PI, or "Public Intoxication" (ie. jail, court, fines, community service and all that fun stuff).
TO BE AVOIDED. So, in short, don't drink in (too much) excess.
Drinking and driving
If you don't live within walking distance, DO NOT DRIVE DRUNK. NEVER!
Aside from the risks you take towards your and other peoples lives your chances of being arrested are pretty high.
Though the police aren't allowed to pull you over for no reason they can and WILL pull you over for anything they can come up with, especially around 3 am (bar closing time, fyi the legal limit in Indiana is .8 percent or 8 promille blood alcohol content http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_alcohol_content).
In this case you will be arrested and get a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), which is quite severe.
Instead, please have a designated driver or a taxi to take you home (10-20 dollar depending on the distance).
The numbers are 765-742 8400, 765-477-1234. Either can be quite busy so if you can bring both numbers (or better yet program them in your phone).
Also, do not buy cigarettes or alcohol for minors (cigarettes are illegal for -18 year olds and alcohol for -21 year olds), because if you do you might get in serious trouble as well.
You might seriously risk your visa with that kind of forfeit!
Social Interraction
You probably already experienced some body language and behavior's misunderstanding.
It's hard to generalize but here are some rules to respect in the U.S.:- don't stand too close (no kissing on the cheek, no hugs, no touchy-feely behavior if you're not invited to it)! Apply the "one-feet away" rule!
- American people are used to congratulate each other for whatsoever achievements, good or ridiculously expected one! Understand two things from this: you're not specially a genius, and you're expected to also congratulate your colleagues.
- the "Call me whenever you want!", or the "I call you soon!", or "Pass by whenever you want" does not mean what it could mean in other countries. You'd better not think you can call them everyday or drop by unexpectedly!
- Often prof-students relationships are more casual in the U.S. than in Europe. You may be invited for dinner at your advisor's place, or s/he might allow you to call him/her by her first name. That's pretty usual and no, s/he's not hitting on you! However wait for them to grant you that permissiveness!
- Body hygiene and clothes cleanliness are two topics on which the average American person has a strict understanding ! Be sure to adapt your personal hygiene to the local standards (at least daily shower, daily shaving, and deodorant, please !)
Hair-dresser
Don't ask me why, but my Belgian social event coordinator asked me to address that question.
For ladies, I would recommend two places:- Eclectic Hair Salon and Massage Studio: 115 N Chauncey Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906 765-743-2595
- There is another good one next to the West-Lafayette Wal Mart: Christina & Company Inc. 765-449-4341
For gentlemen, I don't have a clue. Let me know if you've found a good one!
Entertainment
- Movie theater: it costs around $8 on the Levee Plaza. However you get a student discount if you go to Eastside 10 (which has incidentally better screens and sound system)
- Extreme Bowling in PMU: blacklights, Music and Special effects lightnings on Friday and Saturday 9pm to 12.30am! The only shadow on that beautiful picture is that the lanes are shorter than usual.
- Unlimited Billards in PMU for $2 every Wednesday, all day long!
Sports
Sports in the U.S. is not limited to watch football/soccer on TV (Unlikely France, country of very few athletes ;)Here people watch but also practice! We should learn from it.
On the university level, you'll see that the sport center is probably more developed, better maintained and equipped that the one you probably heard about in your home university.
Plus, it's free with your PUID, and often opened from 5:30am to 2am! The schedule is not constant. You'd better check before to get the
The two sports that are really popular are the (American) Football (to differentiate from soccer) and the Basketball.
The Football Purdue team's name is the Boilermakers.
The Indianapolis Football team is the Colts, and the Pacers for Basketball.
As for the European football, it is called soccer over here and it's known as a female activity.
However you'll find Soccer League on campus that are also male. If someone knows how to get into them...
Religions
You're in the "Bible Belt" which means that having a religious life and faith is very common for people (students, staff, family, ...)The big difference with Europe (other than Europe being less proselyte) is that you'll run into many more religious denominations here.
Just for the story, you already probably know that Protestantism is the traditionally main religion for the U.S.
However in Indiana, the official largest religion is Catholicism, because the Protestant members are just divided up in several smaller communities.
One more thing: you might be curious about the Amish community (part of the anabaptist denomination).
The biggest Amish community in Indiana is localized in Shipshewana (Northern Indiana)
Hospitals and Doctors
If you are a student, try as much as possible to go toFirst because you'll be familiar with the place really early after you arrived (you must show your insurance information there as soon as you get here) and secondly, because they're performant and have reasonable fees.
However PUSH is not open 24/7.
In the unpleasant case where you need to see a doctor out of the urgent care hours, I would recommend you to contact the Arnett Clinic (2995 N Salisbury St, West Lafayette 765-448-8000). It's a walk-in clinic but you can call them before to know if they are overwhelmed with patients.
Knowing more about Indiana
You might roll your eyes when an American confuses again Switzerland with Sweden, or Austria with Austriala, but what do you exactly know about Indiana?Here is a short crash-course that enables you to have richer cocktail conversation! :)
- Indiana is historically the 19th State of the U.S. (Constitution signed in 1816), and the 38th in land area.
- Only 6.3 million (!) residents live in Indiana and they're called "Hoosiers."
- The capital is Indianapolis, and is known for the "Indianapolis 500 automobile race" held annually over the Memorial Day Weekend.
- "Indiana" means the "Land of the Indians". The state hosts one of the best preserved prehistoric Native American sites of the U.S. in Southern Indiana: the Angel Mounds State Historic Site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Mounds)
- The flag of Indiana is strangely similar to the European one: gold stars on blue background. It also has a glod torch in its middle that represents liberty and enlightenment. The rays linking the torch to the stars echoes their far-reaching influence. There are 19 stars, one for each colony that signed so far the U.S. constitution.
- The main economic activity is not corn production as one would expect, but is steel industry because of the largest American steel producing area in Calumet!
Knowing more about Purdue University
Purdue is a public university founded in 1869 by John Purdue.Academically, Purdue is noted for its engineering, agriculture, pharmacy, and management schools, which, according to the 2006 U.S. News & World Report rank 8th, 2nd, 4th, and 18th respectively in the nation.
If you had to know one famous Purdue student, you'll probably talk about the astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Purdue students have a nickname: Boilermakers! Ask anyone why... you'll probably have a different version each time :)
As for the mascots, there are three of them
- The Boilermaker Special, designed to look like a train locomotive.
- Purdue Pete: a human character in black and gold (the campus colors) with a mallet.
- Purdue Rowdy: the newest symbol representing a young boy who hopes to become a Purdue Boilermaker.
The Purdue hymn is "Hail Purdue!" and the chorus says:
Hail, Hail to Old Purdue!
All hail to our old gold and black!
Hail, Hail to Old Purdue!
Our friendship may she never lack,
Ever grateful, ever true,
Thus we raise our song anew,
Of the days we've spent with you
All hail our own Purdue.
Mysterious initials
DUI: Driving Under Influence - DWI: Driving While IntoxicatedBYOB: Bring your own Booze/ Beer
RSVP: Repondez S'il Vous Plait (meaning you need to let know whether you accept the invitation)
PUID: Purdue Identification Document
PUSH: Purdue University Student Health Center
IU: Indiana University
PUIU: Purdue University - Indiana University
24/7: 24h a day, 7 days a week
Safety on Campus
We encourage you to explore the various safety resources available to you. These are listed in the Your Campus Your Safety document found on the Offfice of the Dean of Students webpage http://www.purdue.edu/odos.Please take special note of the SAFEWALK program at (765) 494-SAFE.
Fee Deferment
You're TA, or RA on Campus, and every year, you struggle with money because you have to pay the tuition fees before to receive your first pay check!
Purdue administration tries to fix up the situation and proposes a fee deferment.
Here is the detailed information:GRADUATE STUDENT STAFF- FEE DEFERMENT PROCEDURES
For Graduate Staff Experiencing Temporary Financial Difficulties
Effective 8/15/07 for the 2007-2008 Academic Year
Special fee deferment arrangements have been made for graduate student staff who are experiencing temporary financial difficulties. The temporary nature of this provision addresses the financial problems caused when fees and tuition are due prior to the student's first pay date in the fall.
This Special Deferment is available for graduate student staff members whether new to the University or continuing as an employee.
Guidelines-- A temporary fee deferment is available for the fall semester only.
- The University will temporarily defer fees and will establish a due date of October 15, 2007. The balance will be due in full and the Installment Plan will not be available.
- The amount of the fee deferment will not exceed $1,250.00. Students whose fee assessment exceeds this total will be responsible for payment of the difference.
- The University will not charge the normal $30 fee deferment fee.
- Make sure that he or she has a valid local address in the registrar's system.
- Verify that their graduate staff appointment is approved and processed into the bursar system.
- Request the fee deferment in person by applying in Hovde Hall room 14 between the dates of August 15 through August 27th (the date of final cancellation).
- Bring their copy of the fall registration confirmation (fee invoice).
- Bring his or her Purdue University ID card.
- Meet with a bursar office representative who will discuss with the student his or her eligibility for a fee deferment based on temporary financial difficulties.
- Be required to sign and date a two-part graduate student staff fee deferment form. This form will include the student's PUID number, amount of the deferment and due date of the deferment. For the fall 2007 semester the due date will be October 15, 2007.
- Complete the registration payment process by depositing the revised payment coupon in the Bursar drop box outside Hovde Hall room 9 along with any payment over and above the deferment, on or before the invoice due date.
Housing in Greater Lafayette
Of course, there are the dormitories. But let's face it: although the location is great, it 's very expensive and offers no privacy.
If you want to get your own place, you'd better read this:- West Lafayette is often more expensive than Lafayette (justified by the location), but you probably can't get a parking permit if you live to close (less than 1.5 mile to campus) and Lafayette is well deserved by the bus lines
- West Lafayette is most likely inhabited by fraternities, and undergraduate students (Purdue staff living more in the suburb), while Lafayette offers a more diverse and less campus-oriented population which is refreshing if you want to be down-to-earth
- Lafayette has a downtown center with more stores, coffee shops, restaurants and bars than in West Lafayette: it has more style!
Here is a good resource to search for a place:
and another one: