International Faculty & Language Assistants

Congratulations on being accepted to participate in UMF's exchange faculty program. We look forward to hosting you in Farmington. For general information about visas, and airport pickup follow the links below; for more detailed information about exchange agreement terms for faculty and language assistants from your country, click on your county's flag below.

First Step: Get your visa

Final Step: Arriving in Maine

Questions about your immigration status while in the US

China	France	Mexico	Russia	Elsewhere

IMPORTANT ARRIVAL INFORMATION

There are no direct international flights to Portland, Maine. You will probably arrive first in Chicago or Boston or New York and then make a connecting flight to Portland. After your arrival in the airport, follow the other passengers directly to baggage claim. A driver from UMF will meet you in the baggage claim area. In the case that your original schedule is changed due to weather or other conditions beyond your control, please notify us as soon as possible by calling the university AND by requesting a message to be directed to the Portland airport. IF, FOR ANY REASON, YOUR ARRIVAL IN PORTLAND IS AFTER 9 PM, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL IN PORTLAND. Please be sure to carry enough cash or a credit card for this purpose.

Comfort Inn Hotel, near the airport, provides discounts to UMF students and staff. Ask for the UMF discount rate (currently $49.95 plus taxes). You can go to the hotel via a free shuttle by calling the hotel: 1-800-368-6485. Once in your room, please confirm your arrival by phoning the advisor at (207) 778-0099. We will then arrange to meet you the next day.

Date of Departure from home country________ Date of arrival in Maine ___________
Please include all connecting flights, for example
Airline: Air France Flight Number: 882 Departure Time 8:15 am; Arrival Time 3:42 pm

Airline ________________ Flight Number ______ Departure Time ______ Arrival Time ______
Airline ________________ Flight Number ______ Departure Time ______ Arrival Time ______
Airline ________________ Flight Number ______ Departure Time ______ Arrival Time ______
Airline ________________ Flight Number ______ Departure Time ______ Arrival Time ______

*You may return this information by FAX to (207) 778-7278 or by EMAIL the information to: aprils@maine.edu

About flight arrangements

Please be aware that all flights arranged by UMF for exchange visitors are handled by an external travel agency. Because these tickets are expensive, it is not possible to accomodate special requests from individuals regarding exact departure or return dates, times or connecting cities or flight routes. Individuals who elect to make changes to their travel itineraries are responsible for paying any and all fees and penalties associated with such changes.

Terms of our agreement with Beijing Polytechnic Institute and Komi Ped Institute: Follow the links to learn more about:

• Money
• Housing
• Food/Meals
• Transportation
• What to pack

About the UMF International House

The International House is primarily a residence for faculty who are teaching in our exchange programs, although it may also be used as a residence for other guests of the University who are working here on a temporary basis. Based on our experience with this arrangement, we have found that faculty appreciate some general information and guidelines. The mailing address for the International House is:

Your name International House 144 Quebec Street Farmington, Maine 04938

For your convenience, we will provide you with some complimentary toiletries, cleaning supplies, and snack foods on your arrival. Beyond this, you should expect to purchase your own toiletries, cleaning supplies, and any food that you want to keep at the house (most international faculty are provided with meals at the South Dining Hall during the operating hours). Quite often, participants in our exchange programs will leave behind things for the people who will be coming the following year--so check your closets before you go to the store! The university has provided you with blankets, linens, and pillows. In addition, the university will supply toilet tissue and light bulbs, as needed. You will find an initial supply of both in the downstairs hall closet. These items should remain in the International House for next year’s guests. Should you find at any time that you need more light bulbs or toilet tissue, you should contact Facilities Management at Ext. 7006. Facilities Management should also be contacted whenever the outside garbage can becomes full and needs to be emptied.

Residents at the International House have private bedrooms. The remainder of the house is a common living area to be shared by all of the residents. A washer and dryer are available in the basement of the house for your laundering needs. Residents are expected to keep the house reasonably clean, and to participate equally in the general housework. Please be considerate of the other residents in this regard. You will find a vacuum cleaner, broom, etc. in one of the closets. Residents work out some sort of system by which to share this workload.

Upon your arrival at UMF, you will receive a memo from Facilities Management Office, with instructions for use of the campus telephone system. PH: (207) 778-7470 This memo will also contain your authorization codes for placing long-distance telephone calls. These codes are intended for your use only, and should be kept confidential, since you are responsible to pay for your own personal long-distance telephone calls. You will receive the bills from the UMF Business Office. The yellow Bell Atlantic telephone book which is in the International house has instructions for local and long distance calling in the front section. If you need assistance in learning how to use the campus telephone system, you may contact either Facilities Management at Ext. 7006, the International Exchange Programs Office at Ext. 7122, or someone in your department should be able to assist you. Shortly after your arrival, you will be furnished your own e-mail account. There is a computer/printer in the International House. The computer includes foreign language software and is shared by the residents.

It is important to promote our exchange programs on campus; thus it is crucial to the vitality of these programs that our international exchange faculty participate in activities that will promote these continued exchanges. The International House is usually the site for two or three all-campus celebrations of international culture during the academic year. Since the house is primarily a residence for 2-3 people, frequent meetings or activities should be scheduled elsewhere on campus. The Conferences and Facilities office can help in finding suitable rooms for such activities. Students use the International House only at the invitation of the resident faculty.

Unfortunately, UMF cannot accommodate family members and is only able to make provisions for the faculty member herself/himself. Residents of the International House may have guests with the prior consent of the other residents of the house. Guest visits must be of a duration of less than one week, and the host/hostess must be present during the stay. Because the residents in the International House must share a common living area, it is important to limit the frequency of guest visits (for example, a guest who stays every weekend would not be appropriate). If you have a guest who needs to stay beyond these guidelines, please contact the Office of Special Services (Ext. 7277) and they will help you contact area hotels, motels or apartment rental agencies.


Please contact April Spencer, Director in the Office of Special Services or Lynne Eustis, Administrative Assistant, with any other questions or problems regarding the International House.

Money

The stipend amount you will receive is detailed in your appointment letter as well as in your immigration documents. That money is usually disbursed once per month by check. In addition to the stipend for teaching, you will also receive, once upon your arrival, and once at the beginning of the second term of your stay, a check for meals. You may use this money to purchase meals at the cafeteria or to buy groceries to prepare your own meal. Only faculty living in the international house receive cash money for food. Language assistants and student participants live in the dormitory and therefore must take all meals in the school cafeteria. You will also receive a one time allowance of $350 for travel or participation in cultural activities. Please remember that you will need to save all receipts in order to receive this money.

In order to open a bank account, you will need your temporary ID number or a social security number. If you need to cash a check, bring your passport. There are 3 or 4 banks in Farmington, and one of them, Franklin Savings, offers free ATM service on campus. Until your account is opened, you can pay for bills at school using a credit card. For questions about your bill, go to the business office in Merrill Hall

Food

A check will be available for you in the Business office shortly after you arrive. The amount is equal to cost of one semester of meals in the cafeteria. You should plan to use this money to buy enough groceries for 15 weeks or to pay for occasional meals in the cafeteria. In the past, campus and community friends of the international program have volunteered to take faculty shopping once a week or so at the nearby supermarket. Because we are in a rural area, you will find only a small selection of international food and spices available, so you may want to pack a few things into your luggage. Also, within walking distance of the international house, you will find a small grocery shop, a McDonald’s restaurant, a bakery and coffee shop, a soup café, and a house of pizza. In addition, there are two convenience stores that are open late.

TRANSPORTATION

UMF provides transporation to and from Portland airport upon your arrival and departure. You should find that most of what you need on a daily basis is available within walking distance. In the past, campus and community friends of the international program have volunteered to take visitors shopping as well as on some sight seeing excursions. Additionally, at the start and end of official university vacation periods, UMF runs a shuttle bus to Portland on the day dorms close. If you plan to use this shuttle, you should contact Lynne Eustis at least one week in advance. Finally, the international student club frequently plans travel to Boston, New York and even Washington DC during breaks and you are also welcome to join those trips.

PACKING

You should find that the international house is furnished with most things you will need, although not everything you may want. As you pack personal items, remember that electric appliances and other household items may be different from that in your home country. If you'd like to send some boxes of your belongings to the U.S. by ship or sea-mail, we will hold your boxes until you arrive. Remember that sea-mail is inexpensive but takes time. In addition to your clothing, personal items, books, etc., you are invited to bring with you small items, pictures and mementos which will make you feel “at home.” Usually, we have international festivals and party several times during the year, so if you have traditional costumes, pictures, music or other items typical of your country, they will be useful for sharing information about your culture with other students.
Be sure to pack clothes for winter weather. Winter arrives in late November or early December here and snow and icy rains are common, with average daytime temperatures of -5 C degrees celcius. Average snowfall is 152 ~228 cm yearly. Spring arrives in April and lasts until mid-June. Temperatures climbs to a range of 8 to 18 C . Summer begins in mid-June and lasts until September. Average daytime temperature in summer range between 22 ~ 27 degrees C.