ARRIVAL INFORMATION FOR INCOMING STUDENTS
Cultural Information
Welcome to the United States, Albuquerque, and the University of New Mexico! We are glad you have chosen to come to our University, and we hope to get to know you better over the course of your stay. Use this guide as a reference while you prepare to come to the United States. It will be especially helpful in the first few weeks of your stay. Detailed information on most of the topics below will be presented at the International Student Orientation. You should also refer to the Office of International Programs and Studies (OIPS) website: www.unm.edu/oips for more information.
Albuqueruqe & The Southwest
Albuquerque and the southwestern US have a unique geography and culture of their own. The land is sparse, the mountains are large, and the skies seem to go on forever. On the west side of Albuquerque, from Petroglyph National Monument you can see the Rio Grande river meander through a tree-lined valley. The rugged Sandia Mountains, the southernmost mountains of the Rocky Mountain chain, tower over the eastern part of the city. A ride up the Sandia Peak Tram, the world’s longest single-span tramway, puts you on top of a mountain where the views are stunning. To the west, silhouettes of volcanoes against fiery red sunsets are often dramatic and spectacular. Albuquerque is a city full of exciting attractions and events from Old Town, where Albuquerque was founded in 1706, to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest open hot air balloon event in the world. We encourage you to find out more about the US, the Southwest and Albuquerque via the web and other printed resources. More information about Albuquerque can be found at: www.cabq.gov. Bienvenidos! Welcome to Albuquerque, New Mexico!
Cultural Adjustment
No matter how well you prepare for a trip abroad, adjusting to a new culture can be both an exciting and challenging experience. The early stimulation of sights, sounds and people can be invigorating, but a short time later you may experience homesickness, sadness and depression as you are introduced to new cultural rules and behaviors, and experience the challenges of communicating in a second language and the stresses of beginning a new academic program in a new environment. This initial adjustment period can be overwhelming at times. You may experience some moments when it seems impossible to make sense of your environment, when you cannot predict the actions of others, or when your own habitual actions seem to produce an unanticipated response in others. You may even fear that you made the wrong decision to come to the US and may consider returning home. Don’t worry. These feelings are all part of the natural process of cultural adjustment and will soon pass as you become familiar with your new environment, make new friends and become more confident in your ability to live and study successfully in US society.
Immigration and Visa Information
Critical immigration procedures are discussed in the enclosed cover letter. Read this information very carefully to know the correct procedures for your particular situation. For a list of American embassies, consulates and their websites, refer to: http://usembassy.state.gov/