A Handbook for Teachers at Beijing University of Technology

BEFORE YOU GO: A Checklist


If your passport is not current or if you do not have a passport, apply at once. Applications are available at the Office of Special Services or at the Probate Court on Main St. Please allow four weeks for your application to be processed.

In consultation with the Office of Special Services, apply for an employment (Z) visa for China.

Make a photocopy of the first page of your passport for yourself and bring a copy to the Office of Special Services.

For information about necessary/recommended immunizations. See the website of Center for Disease Control at <http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eastasia.htm>

Speak with the Office of Special Services to get assistance with flight reservations.

Remember to reconfirm your flight reservations 72 hours before departure. For international flights, you should be at the airport at least three hours prior to departure time.

IMPORTANT DATES
The fall term begins September 1 and runs through December. The spring term
begins in mid February and runs through mid-July. There are18-20 weeks per term and approximately 20 hours per week of class. Faculty may plan to arrive in Beijing 3-4 days in advance of term beginning.

MONEY

WHAT TO PACK

CALLING THE UNITED STATES
Check with your long-distance carrier for information on how to call collect, person-to-person, etc. International phone cards provide handy and inexpensive long distance calling as well. Use E-mail; it’s very inexpensive and convenient!

CALLING CHINA
*Note: Beijing is 13 hours ahead of Maine during Daylight Savings; so 8 P.M. in the U.S. is 9 A.M. the next day in Beijing. To call China from the USA:
011 (International) 86(the country code of China) 10 (Beijing) xxxx-xxx


Important numbers (give these out as EMERGENCY numbers to your family/friends)

Mr. Cai, Zunan, Director of International Exchanges
Ms. Wenying Woo
011-86-10-6739-1465 011-8610-6739-1858
E-mail:

ACCOMODATION

FOOD

SHOPPING

CLASSES.

WEATHER
Beijing experiences four seasons, with the winter months being very similar to ours in Maine. During the winter months, buildings are never above 68 and are cold and drafty. Heat is turned on November 15, but the weather is often quite cold before that time. The summer is very hot, and wind and sandstorms may occur.

HEALTH QUESTIONS

For information about suggested immunizations, visit the website of the Center for Disease Control and choose East Asia from the drop down menu.

TRAVEL


ABOUT FLIGHTS

PERSONAL SAFETY
With the predominant military presence, there is little violent crime in China. As you would anywhere, use common sense. For example, females should not go out alone after dark. BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS!
*For important safety information, visit the US Department of State's website: http://travel.state.gov/studentinfo.html

U.S. EMBASSY
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing is available to assist you in an emergency.
Their telephone number (if calling from within China) is 6532-3431 or
6532-3831. After hours emergency embassy number is 6532-1910. If calling
from the United States, please add prefixes 011 (International outgoing
call) 86 (China country code) 10 (Beijing area code) to the above numbers.
The embassy FAX number is 011-86-10-6532-4153 or 011-86-10-6532-3178. It is
highly recommended that you register yourself with the U.S. Embassy in China
upon your arrival in China. You may do this online at the embassy web site:
www.usembassy-china.org.cn\english\index.html.

Copyright © 2004 University of Maine at Farmington
Special Services-- 101 South St. Street Farmington, Maine, 04938
Phone: (207) 778-7122    FAX: (207) 778- 7278; TDD: (207) 778--7000
E-mail contact: exchangeprograms@umf.maine.edu