Resources for International Students

August 1, 2011 in Campus resources, Orientation Edition by TBG | Comments closed

You’ve waded through immigration red tape, said goodbye to loved ones, and, after hopping on the plane, you’re here! Congratulations. Just getting here can be an accomplishment. Now what? Living in a foreign country is far from easy, especially if you’re a neophyte in the land of the red, white and blue- and after the initial honeymoon stage wears off, it is quite common to experience the blues. Sure, the weather is warm (compared to some places), the people are friendly (sometimes), and the school offers a plethora of opportunities to cement new friendships and embark on awesome adventures. But when all is said and done and you’re stuck in your closet-sized, hole-in-the-wall dorm room with no blanket the first week you’re here, no car to get to the nearest Bed, Bath & Beyond to buy said blanket, no furniture (it was supposed to be delivered two weeks ago), and no idea of where things are or how things work, life in the USA can spark moments when catching the next plane back home sounds like heaven.

First things first: don’t panic! Instead, walk uphill on Bancroft Avenue (your back to San Francisco) to the International House (I-House), located at 2299 Piedmont Avenue at the corner of Bancroft and Piedmont Avenue. The International House is your home away from home, or the closest thing to it. International House, a dormitory building that houses nearly 600 Berkeley international and domestic graduate and undergraduate students and scholars, has helped international visitors transition to life in America since it first opened its doors in 1930.

Besides the I-House, the following resources for international students are available:

The Office of the Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS)

Located inside the I-House, SISS is the place to go with questions about immigration or visa documents. SISS assists international graduate students with questions about work permission, programs and services for international students at UC Berkeley, government information and general advising for international students. It also files H1 visa petitions for UC Berkeley employees.

To find the SISS office, upon entering the main lobby of the International House, turn right (not left, which leads to surprisingly good cheap eats and generous portions at the International House Café). Then make your first left, followed by a right into the mailroom opposite the Great Hall (a big living room). From the mailroom, turn left and follow the hallway corridor. Services for International Students and Scholars is located in this hallway on the right side.

The International House Program Office

Want to meet new people? Become a member of the International House. For one low fee, members receive International House Program News (5 issues/yr) and reduced admission to tons of events, including fitness and dance classes, Ethnic Heritage Dinners, performances, lectures, and group trips. Detailed monthly program information is available at the International House Program Office.

International students and scholars can also participate in the International Friendship Program, which pairs individuals with American families. For more information about the International Friendship Program, email ihprogra@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Attention: International FriendshipProgram Coordinator).

International House Meal Plans

Tired of cooking spaghetti in your kitchen? The International House’s cafeteria offers meal plans for students and non-students. Meal plans include access to ethnic theme dinners, barbecues, chef series dinners, the annual beach party and more.

Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of The Berkeley Graduate’s new graduate student orientation edition.

Resources for Grad Student/Faculty Mentoring

July 30, 2011 in Campus resources, Orientation Edition, Teaching by Jonathan Banda | Comments closed

Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of The Berkeley Graduate’s new graduate student orientation edition.

Graduate students are an integral part of the academic core of the University, conducting research and instructing undergraduates, with a personal interest in the success of this institution. The relationship between faculty and graduate students is at the heart of the discoveries and productions that are generated by any research institution, and at UC Berkeley, a university that in the recent years has been recognized as the best overall graduate institution in the nation, successful relationships between faculty and graduate students are integral to the overall graduate experience.

Oftentimes, a close academic relationship with a mentoring professor can become the pivotal factor in a student’s success and completion of his or her graduate degree. While such relationships do not always occur instantly or remain sustained, success in mentoring is something that requires the cooperation and efforts of both the professor and the graduate student.

One of the main aids to faculty-graduate student mentoring is the Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Teaching and Resource Center, which provides teaching support and guidance to GSIs as well as mentoring seminars and workshops for faculty to help them become better mentors. Berkeley is one of the only universities to incorporate faculty mentoring of GSIs into university policy. The policy outlines the guidelines concerning recruitment, workload, preparation, and assessment of GSIs, as well as highlights the central role that faculty play in mentoring graduate students as teachers.

At any given time, there are over a thousand GSIs working in the university and the goal of the GSI Teaching and Resource Center is to great an ongoing feedback loop between GSIs and faculty so that the quality of the courses is enhanced. The results not only make for a better teaching experience, but also improve the quality of undergraduate education.

Among the numerous endeavors of the Center is to make sure that the work that faculty are doing in relation to mentoring graduate students is acknowledged and included in the university reward system. To that end, each year a few select faculty, from both within the Academic Senate and without, are recognized with the Faculty Award for Outstanding Mentorship of GSIs. In addition, a similar award, the Distinguished Faculty Mentors Award, is given annually by the Graduate Assembly to honor faculty research mentoring.

Reciprocity

July 28, 2011 in Abroad, Guest blogger, Research by Julie Ward | Comments closed

This summer I finally crossed the equator—an important step for a Latin Americanist. I headed from Berkeley to Mexico City, my home base for the academic year, and continued to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro for research and language instruction. The endless winter implied by my itinerary made for some interesting packing choices, while the multiple border crossings made for a bureaucratic labyrinth.

The hefty application fee for a Brazilian visa represents that thorn in the student traveler’s side: the Reciprocity Fee. A nonimmigrant US visa costs $140, and that is exactly what it costs a US citizen to apply for a Brazilian visa. The US Department of State explains through press releases that their fee covers the entire process of granting a visa (or not), and that the visa-granting section of Consular Affairs must be self-sustaining. Brazil, however, defines its fee entirely in Hammurabic terms: “This is because the U.S. government charges Brazilian citizens who apply for a U.S. visa a minimum of 2 mandatory fees.”  Olho por olho…

Fee paid and visa in hand, I thought that my penance for being a US citizen was complete. Not so fast: I stepped off the plane in Argentina to be siphoned off into a special immigration line. A girl with a smile straight out of a toothpaste commercial informed groggy American, Australian, and Canadian tourists that they could pay 131 USD, 100 USD, or 70 USD, respectively, in cash or credit. I was first in line, and while I was blindsided (my travel guide had conveniently omitted this bit of information), the Brazilian embassy experience had served as an anesthetic, numbing me to the next bloodletting.

The Australians at the next booth were extremely friendly about the matter, but did express their surprise.

“That will be $100,” the entry fee collector announced.

“Oh…” The couple fumbled through purse and wallet and came up with a credit card.

“Each.”

“Oh!” Their eyes opened wide.

“That is how much it costs us when we want to go to your country.”

“Well, this had better be a great place!” the wife exclaimed. Her sentiment somehow came off as sincere belief in value for money rather than a complaint.

Argentina’s chipper, brazen move was in some ways easier to take than the Brazilian policy—no visa required, you only have to pay the fee every 10 years, it’s an on-the-spot credit card swipe—but for these same reasons it seemed even more like a because we can nip at the ankles.

A part of me hurrahs nations that stand up to what could be perceived as unfair, invasive treatment of their citizens, although I have a hard time going along with the self-flagellating Americans populating online travel forums, chiding any compatriot who dares complain about a denied visa. Their desperation for solidarity, championing high fees and rejected applications, seems to defend rather than reject States’ taking advantage of individuals.

A bigger part of me questions the usefulness of these policies for effecting change in US treatment of Brazilian and Argentine citizens—especially since the US already has its own reciprocity rules, disguised as “Visa Issuance Fees”, in place. The whole reciprocity game consists of sovereign states throwing their weight around at the expense of the others’ citizens, and the very borders we citizens are crossing are the ones that keep us from joining together to speak out. Widening the perspective reveals a system of governments allowing each other to effectively tax their citizens, and it’s easy to imagine some winks and nudges hidden among the finger pointing.

Weekend Update: July 22-24

July 22, 2011 in $10 or less, Things to do, Weekend Update by TBG | Comments closed

With the summer weather turning hot, The Berkeley Graduate presents some cool events for this weekend.

If you like drinking good beer for a good price, and meeting other grad students at the same time, be sure to go to BEC’s tonight at 8 for the Graduate Social Club summer social. There are special discounts on beer, and there will be some fun events for grad students and their guests. The GSC runs some great social events throughout the year, so be sure to follow the GA calendar to stay up-to-date on graduate social life.

If you really must do something educational on your Friday night, the Chabot Space & Science Center is showing Into Eternity, a documentary on nuclear power. If zoology piques your interest more than environmental policy, you might enjoy the showing of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland: tickets are only $5.

On Saturday, watch history in the making as Oakland hosts its inaugural Jazz Festival at The Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate. Or, watch some of the Bay Area’s finest culinary talent battle it out at the East Bay Food Fight in Jack London Square, from 4:30-7:30.

Saturday evening, combine your childhood love of Disney with your now more sophisticated aesthetic palate when the San Francisco symphony performs your favorite Disney tunes at 8 PM: Disney in Concert: Magical Music from the Movies.

If being outdoors is a must, this is a great time to explore all the terrific hiking the Bay Area has to offer. A great place to cool off in the summer is Tilden Park, with plenty of shady forests and a wonderful swimming hole, Lake Anza. Get there early to beat the summer crowds, and beware of poison oak!

Exploring the Bay Area- Day Trips and More

July 18, 2011 in $10 or less, Orientation Edition, Things to do by Lucy | Comments closed

Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of The Berkeley Graduate’s new graduate student orientation edition.

Photo by Matt Hoberg

As a graduate student in the Bay Area, you are fortunate to be living close to some incredible natural and cultural attractions, many of which are free or very inexpensive. Between BART, AC Transit, CalTrain, Amtrak, CityCarshare and ZipCar, there are many places within easy reach, even if you don’t own a car.

The Sonoma Coast: Best known for its grapes, Sonoma County is also home to a rugged coast that boasts secluded beaches, great seafood, and the only Russian colonial outpost in the lower 48. Don’t Miss: Bodega Bay, home to the Tides Restaurant—parts of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds were filmed there and it has a great selection of seasonal seafood; Goat Rock State Park,where impossibly smooth sections of rocky sea stacks are thought to represent ancient backscratchers for wooly mammoths; and Fort Ross, which from 1812-1841 represented the far eastern extent of the Russian America Company’s vast fur trade empire.

Monterey: Steinbeck’s Cannery Row is now a tourist destination, and Monterey and the surrounding area make a great day trip from Berkeley. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium and its wide array of sea life and interactive displays. Get up close and personal with sea otters (within the legally established limits, of course) on a kayak tour of Monterey Bay. Just south of town, visit quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea or take the scenic 17-Mile Drive past the world famous Pebble Beach golf course.

The Delta: Just a short drive east of the Bay Area lies the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta, a vast bucolic backwater rich inhistory. A maze of sloughs, levy roads, and free ferries lead you through California’s boating capital. Rio Vista offers some interesting dining options, while Locke showcases the region’s rich Chinese history. On the way home, drive through the Montezuma Hills and marvel at the gigantic modern wind turbines spinning right next to the 19th century windmills of former homesteads.

Golden Gate Park: Closer to home lies San Francisco’s answer to New York’s Central Park. Stretching for 3 miles from the psychedelic Haight-Ashbury District to the Pacific Coast at Ocean Beach, the Golden Gate Park is home to various museums and other attractions. The Conservatory of Flowers features a variety of amazing plants; the California Academy of Sciences is open again and offers exciting science exhibits and nightlife; and the de Young Museum boasts an eclectic collection of art from the worldover. Also check out the buffalo herd or attend one of the many annual events such as the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass concert in the park. At the end of the day, watch the sunset at the Beach Chalet at the western end of the park.

Point Reyes: Jutting into the Pacific from Marin County, Point Reyes is one of the most beautiful and desolate places in the Bay Area. Legend has it that famous British explorer Sir Francis Drake landed in the area in 1579, and you can take the road that bears his name all the way to land’s end where the National Park Service maintains the historic lighthouse. Or check out the reconstructed Coast Miwok village at Kule Loklo near the Bear Valley visitor’s center. You can also see the Tule Elk herds at the northern part of the park or visit one of the area’s many beaches, such as Limantour or the sheltered Heart’s Desire beach on Tomales Bay. Stop in Point Reyes Station to snack on artisan cheese or hit up one of the many barbecued oyster stands around Point Reyes and Tomales Bay.

Wine Country: Napa and Sonoma Valleys produce some of the world’s finest wines, and it is no surprise that they make a great getaway for bleary-eyed grad students or for vacationing parents. Tastings run the gamut of all price ranges and interest levels; be sure to check the tourist information centers for special deals. If wine isn’t your thing, check out the Napa Valley Mustard Festival, get a mud bath or great BBQ in Calistoga, or visit Mission San Francisco Solano—the last of the 21 Spanish missions to be founded in California and now a state historic park in downtown Sonoma.

More options: If you’ve got a whole weekend to spare, there are a number of other exciting destinations within a few hours’ drive from Berkeley. Go skiing in Tahoe, double down on your GSI paycheck in Reno, admire the majestic beauty of Yosemite, go condor-spotting at Pinnacles, become one with it all at Big Sur, gaze upwards among the redwoods in Humbolt County, or check out California’s golden heritage in the hills around Placerville.

Grad Student Grocery Guide

July 11, 2011 in Bay Area basics, Orientation Edition by TBG | Comments closed

Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of The Berkeley Graduate’s new graduate student orientation edition.

Whether your graduate funding allows you to live as a prince or pauper, it’s important to make the most of your limited time to find high-quality groceries at affordable prices. With a huge number of restaurants per capita, from Angeline’s to Zachary’s—including some that are fairly reasonably priced by Bay Area standards—it’s worth eating out every now and then to sample the local fare and expand your palate. For the times when you need or want to cook at home, the most important thing is to get good ingredients at good prices. Here is The Berkeley Graduate’s opinionated guide to Berkeley area grocery stores.

Berkeley Bowl

Pros: By far the best quality, selection, and prices of produce in Berkeley—this is vegan and vegetarian heaven. The bulk bins are fantastic, and the meat and fish counters are solid.

Cons: Prices here vary—some items are well-priced and competitive with Safeway and Grocery Outlet, others are more in the Whole Foods and Andronico’s range.

Trader Joe’s

Pros: Exceptional prices on dairy and good prices on bread, eggs, pasta, nuts, and more. The wine and beer is very good here— $3 six packs and $2 bottles of wine, as well as higher-priced options.

Cons: The produce here simply cannot compete with Berkeley bowl in price, quality or selection.

Andronico’s

Pros: Student discounts at some locations, good selection, and convenient locations (Telegraph, Shattuck, Solano and University).

Cons: Andronico’s tends to be priced higher than some of its competitors for many items.

Whole Foods

Cf. Andronico’s, except no student discounts.

Grocery Outlet

Pros: The best prices in town for organic products (you’ll never want to go to Andronico’s or Whole Foods again), fresh-baked bread (loaves of rye or sourdough for less than $2), canned goods and pasta, fresh meat, and more.

Cons: The produce can be unreliable.

Safeway

Pros: Sign up for a Safeway card and get good deals on rotating items. The prices here are very good on a lot of staples, like pasta, bread, flour, canned goods, meat and dairy.

Cons: The produce can be hit or miss.

Other good options

-Korean markets on Telegraph

-Latin American markets (e.g. Mi Tierra Foods)

-Monterey Market

-Farmer’s markets

-Farm boxes

-Dollar stores (e.g. the Dollar Tree on Shattuck)

Weekend Update: July 9-10 Edition

July 8, 2011 in $10 or less, Things to do, Weekend Update by TBG | Comments closed

The beautiful Berkeley summer weather continues, and there are some terrific events going on in the area.

On Friday, put on your dancing shoes and find your way to Jack London Square, for a night of merengue dancing al fresco from 830-10 PM at the foot of Broadway.

For a more relaxing evening, check out Paramount Theater‘s showing of National Velvet, starring Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor. The show starts at 8 PM and tickets are only $5.

Closer to campus, the Pacific Film Archive is running a series of films on Japenese divas with showings Friday and Saturday, as well as a showing of Bertolucci’s The Spider’s Strategem, inspired by Borges’ short story “The Traitor and the Hero,” on Sunday evening.

Head down to trendy Temescal for the Temescal Street Fair on Sunday from 12-6 PM. There will be two stages of music, crafts, and food from local favorites like Lane Splitter Pizza. Take AC Transit or ride your bike, since convenient bicycle valet parking will be provided.

The summer berry and stone fruit season is in full swing, and California figs are starting to appear as well, so it’s worth making a trip to one of the local farmer’s markets. The Temescal market is Sunday from 9-1, the downtown Berkeley market is Saturday from 10-3, and the Grand Lake market is Satuday from 9-2.

Finally, as Lucy wrote about here, a traveling letter press is in San Francisco this weekend, offering a great chance to try your hand at printing.

Moveable Type: Letterpress on wheels rolls into town

July 8, 2011 in $10 or less, Things to do by Lucy | 1 comment

Photo by Power and Light Press

For centuries, printmaking was an itinerant profession. Traveling printers moved from town-to-town, setting type as they went. Contemporary printmaker Kyle Durrie is following in this tradition from behind the wheel of a 1982 delivery truck retrofitted to hold two presses and a “motley assortment of type.” Durrie got the idea for Moveable Type, her cross-country letterpress project, when trying to figure out a way to meld her love of printing with her love of road trips. Launched with the help of Kickstarter, Durrie and her type truck have since gained considerable momentum, even landing on the pages of The Economist.

Through the Moveable Type project, Durrie hopes to introduce people to letterpress, to the process and equipment of printing. For the next six months she will be traveling around the US and Canada, bringing her truck to street fairs, galleries, libraries, universities, and everywhere in between. Durrie will spend nearly a week in the San Francisco Bay Area and has appearances lined up at some great venues.  Find a venue that suits you and come on out to try your hand at printing!

Tour dates:

 

Best Tips for the Apartment Hunt

July 5, 2011 in Bay Area basics, Orientation Edition, Uncategorized by TBG | Comments closed

Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of The Berkeley Graduate’s new graduate student orientation edition.

As the Fall semester approaches, new graduate students are faced with the often daunting task of finding an apartment in the Berkeley area. The rental market can be quite competitive, and around campus this is the most competitive time as there is a huge rush for securing apartments close to the University. To help you keep your sanity and your stipend, this post will offer some helpful tips for navigating the apartment search gauntlet.

Make technology your friend. Search Craig’s List for the neighborhood and price range you’re looking for. It can be helpful to set up an RSS feed to track the latest listings. It’s also useful to do a text search for important items, such as move-in dates, whether there is a yard or garage, etc.

Another great option is PadMapper, which integrates Craig’s List postings with a Google Maps interface. Just input a price range, scroll and zoom to find your favorite neighborhoods, and you’re good to go.

Cal Rentals hosts apartment listings geared especially for members of the University community.  While there is a small fee to subscribe and the volume of postings is much smaller than Craig’s List, Cal Rentals can still be a useful resource.

Know the process. Take the time to learn about what you will be asked on a rental application so that you will be able to file them quickly. Be prepared with a check at each apartment showing—many property owners charge an application fee to allow them to run a credit check. Alternatively, think ahead and get your own credit report to provide to property owners, saving you money in the long run.

Know your rights. Berkeley’s Rent Board has a reputation as being friendly to tenants, but you still need to do some due diligence to avoid sticky situations. You are entitled to interest on your security deposit, to a walk-through inspection by your property owner, and to the protection of rent control. Remember that rental laws vary by city, so if you’re renting outside of Berkeley you’ll need to research the local rental laws.

Document everything. Before you move anything into your new place, go through the apartment and take photographs of the entire living space. If anything is broken, tell the property owner immediately. These are key steps to a smooth move-out—the last thing you want is a battle with the property owner about whether you left the place in worse condition than you found it. If you document along the way, you’ll have a compelling case if any issues need to be resolved by the Rent Board.

Use local contacts. Trying to find an apartment remotely can be tough, but if you have some friends or family in the area, it’s time to call in some favors! Have them check out some of your favorite listings so you know whether it’s everything you hoped it would be. Colleagues in your department might be willing to help as well, so don’t be afraid to ask for a favor in return for a beer when you get into town.

Know what to compromise on, and what not to. You probably don’t need granite countertops and fancy appliances, but you might really want some space to garden, a garage for your car or hobby, or a living room big enough to have friends over. The one thing you should never compromise on is safety and comfort. If you don’t feel safe and comfortable walking in the neighborhood at night, it’s going to be very difficult to focus on your teaching and research. If you don’t need a lot of space and can’t afford a one-bedroom in a nice area, think about finding a studio, or try to connect with some students in your department to get a place together and save on rent. One and two bedroom apartments in Berkeley are fairly expensive, but the prices get much more reasonable with three or four bedrooms, since those apartments will often take up one floor of a house.

Technology can help you figure out how safe a neighborhood is. The Berkeley Police Department has a crime map that can give you a sense of how often crimes are committed in an area, and how serious they are. Oakland has a similar site. These are important tools to use since safety can vary dramatically, even from one block to the next. Talk to folks in your department about where they’re living, and be sure not to rely on stereotypes—many parts of Oakland are much safer than some parts of Berkeley, for example.

Weekend Update: 4th of July Edition

July 1, 2011 in $10 or less, Things to do, Weekend Update by TBG | Comments closed

Photo by Amani Hasan

With the long weekend coming up and beautiful weather in store for the Bay Area, there are some great opportunities to take a break from summer research or teaching.

In a festive mood? Find your way to Piedmont for the annual 4th of July Parade, featuring everything from a kazoo band and youth bagpipe group to the Oakland Raiderettes and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Start your day right with a Pancake Breakfast, and finish off with a picnic in Piedmont Park with live music.

Looking for a more urban celebration? Head out to Jack London Square for the July 4th Festival of Family Fun, where you can rent a bicycle, kayak or canoe and explore the urban environment, or just relax with food and entertainment.

If July 4th means fireworks to you, the Berkeley Marina is the place to be. There will be live music, dragon boat rides, and a fireworks show at 9:30.

Further afield, the Marin County Fair in scenic San Rafael features fireworks as well as performances by The Temptations and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

This is also the second-to-last weekend for the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, and July 4th will feature a Blues Festival.

For those living in or near Alameda, there is a July 4th celebration aboard the USS Hornet, as well as a fireworks show.

Exciting things are happening this weekend in the cultural arena as well. Catch an adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis on Saturday or Sunday at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley, or Down a Little Dirt Road at the Berkeley City Club.

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