raleigh survival guide fall 2014

8/9/2019 Raleigh Survival Guide Fall 2014

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SURVIVING YOUR FIRST FEW DAYS IN RALEIGH - 2014-2015 1

Surviving Your FirstFew Days in Raleigh2014-2015

328 Daniels HallRaleigh, NC 27695

p. (919) 513-0105 [email protected]/gti


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Welcome to Raleigh

We are excited to have you join us at North Carolina State

University this semester. This guide provides you with a quick

overview of what you will need to know during your first few

days in Raleigh and on campus. We will provide you with more

details and maps on orientation day. Were looking forward to

meeting you then.

REMINDER: Orientation will take place on Monday,

August 18. You will receive more information about what

to expect during your semester and other important

information about NC State and its surroundings.

Checklist once you arrive in Raleigh

Get your NC State student ID card*

Open a US bank account

Look for cell phone plans

Learn to navigate the transportation systems

Explore the NC State campus

*Note: Make sure you bring your passport or some other official

identification document with a photo ID to the card office

located in the West Dunn Building on main campus.

Table of Contents

Welcome to Raleigh ....................................................... 2

Transportation ............................................................... 3

Food & Dining ............................................................... 5

Safety .............................................................................. 6Money Matters ............................................................... 6

Communications ............................................................ 6


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Transportation

NC State University operates the Wolfline buses that transport you around Main and Centennial Campuses. The City of Raleigh operates

the Capital Area Transit or CAT buses that transport you around the city. The Triangle Transit is a regional bus system that provides

transportation to and from the Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) airport and cities close to Raleigh, such as Durham and Chapel Hill.

AIRPORT CAMPUS/HOUSING

Triangle Transit Route 100

This route takes you to and from the airport. You candownload a PDFof the bus route and schedule from the Triangle Transits website.

It costs $2.00 ($2.25 starting Fall 2014) to ride the Triangle Transit, and Route 100 will take you to NC States main campus.

Taxi Service

Taxi dispatchers are located outside the terminals at RDU. The Terminal 1 Taxi Dispatch Booth is located outside Bag Claim 3. At

Terminal 2, the booth is located on the lower level outside Bag Claim 1. The distance from RDU to Raleigh is about 14 miles, so you can

expect the taxi fare to cost around $30.

There are many taxi service companies in Raleigh, which you can locate by doing a Google

search for Raleigh taxi. Unlike major cities like New York and Los Angeles, there are not

many empty taxis driving around Raleigh. Most of them require that you call ahead to

arrange a pickup from your location. Taxi companies are regulated by the state of North

Carolina as well as the City of Raleigh.

Here is a short list of taxi companies in Raleigh (we do not endorse any of them):

Taxi Taxi (919) 333-3333

Green Taxi (919) 835-3545

Amigo Taxi (919) 862-6262

Note: Tipping taxi drivers 15-20% of the fare for good service is customary.
http://triangletransit.org/sites/default/files/maps-and-schedules/RoutesAndSchedules-100.pdfhttp://triangletransit.org/sites/default/files/maps-and-schedules/RoutesAndSchedules-100.pdfhttp://triangletransit.org/sites/default/files/maps-and-schedules/RoutesAndSchedules-100.pdfhttp://triangletransit.org/sites/default/files/maps-and-schedules/RoutesAndSchedules-100.pdf


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AROUND CAMPUS

WOLFLINE

Wolfline busesoperate every day classes are in session, serving all three campuses, threepark &

ride lots,official NCSU housing and privately-owned apartment complexes located on city streets

traveled by Wolfline buses on the way to or from these areas.

Note: You do not need to show any kind of ID to ride the Wolfline buses.

Look for the Wolfline bus stop sign around campus. Each Wolfline

bus is equipped with a GPS tracking device, so you can see where

your bus is by downloading the Transloc app onto your smartphone

or bytracking the bus online.

Note: The Transloc app can also be used to track the city and regional buses.

CAMPUS MAP

NC States campus spans 2,200 acres of land.The main campus is home to the D.H. Hill Library, the Talley Student Union, the StudentHealth Center, and the Carmichael Recreation Complex. Centennial Campus includes the Wolf Ridge dorms and the Hunt Library. You

can find amap of NC State buildingsonline.

When you first arrive on campus, you should get your NC State

student ID card from the office located in theWest Dunn building

(corner of Thurman and Dan Allen Dr.). Make sure you bring your

passport or another official photo ID.

As an urban campus, NC State University is very walkable with short

distances to off-campus locations such as shopping and restaurants, as

well as between campus destinations. Many students and staff choose towalk to school or work, and/or combine walking with another

alternative mode to get around campus. Download theNC State Walk

Times Mapto help you plan ahead and time your next walk trip.

AROUND TOWN

CAPITAL AREA TRANSIT (CAT)

Capital Area Transit provides bus service throughout Raleigh as well as R-LINE buses that

serve Downtown Raleigh. You candownload a PDFof the CAT System Map. Routes 4 and11/11L run around the NC State campus area. You can locateindividual route maps and

schedulesonline. It costs $1 ($1.25 starting Fall 2014) to ride a CAT bus each time or a local day

pass is $2 ($2.50 starting Fall 2014). TheR-LINE downtown circulatoris free. You canrequest

to receive a GoPassand ride CAT buses for free.
http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/transportation/wolfline/index.htmlhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/transportation/wolfline/index.htmlhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/parking/lots/parkrideLots.htmlhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/parking/lots/parkrideLots.htmlhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/parking/lots/parkrideLots.htmlhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/parking/lots/parkrideLots.htmlhttp://ncsu.transloc.com/http://ncsu.transloc.com/http://ncsu.transloc.com/http://maps.ncsu.edu/#/http://maps.ncsu.edu/#/http://maps.ncsu.edu/#/http://maps.ncsu.edu/#/buildings/wdbhttp://maps.ncsu.edu/#/buildings/wdbhttp://maps.ncsu.edu/#/buildings/wdbhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/maps/download/14-15_walk_times.pdfhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/maps/download/14-15_walk_times.pdfhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/maps/download/14-15_walk_times.pdfhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/maps/download/14-15_walk_times.pdfhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PWksTransit/Documents/CAT_Systemwide_Map.pdfhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PWksTransit/Documents/CAT_Systemwide_Map.pdfhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PWksTransit/Documents/CAT_Systemwide_Map.pdfhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/services/content/PWksTransit/Articles/CATBusRoutes.htmlhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/services/content/PWksTransit/Articles/CATBusRoutes.htmlhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/services/content/PWksTransit/Articles/CATBusRoutes.htmlhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/services/content/PWksTransit/Articles/CATBusRoutes.htmlhttp://www.godowntownraleigh.com/get-around/r-line/r-line-stop-locationshttp://www.godowntownraleigh.com/get-around/r-line/r-line-stop-locationshttp://www.godowntownraleigh.com/get-around/r-line/r-line-stop-locationshttp://go.ncsu.edu/gopasshttp://go.ncsu.edu/gopasshttp://go.ncsu.edu/gopasshttp://go.ncsu.edu/gopasshttp://go.ncsu.edu/gopasshttp://go.ncsu.edu/gopasshttp://www.godowntownraleigh.com/get-around/r-line/r-line-stop-locationshttp://www.raleighnc.gov/services/content/PWksTransit/Articles/CATBusRoutes.htmlhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/services/content/PWksTransit/Articles/CATBusRoutes.htmlhttp://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PWksTransit/Documents/CAT_Systemwide_Map.pdfhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/maps/download/14-15_walk_times.pdfhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/maps/download/14-15_walk_times.pdfhttp://maps.ncsu.edu/#/buildings/wdbhttp://maps.ncsu.edu/#/http://ncsu.transloc.com/http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/parking/lots/parkrideLots.htmlhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/parking/lots/parkrideLots.htmlhttp://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/transportation/wolfline/index.html


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Food & Dining

There are many grocery stores, restaurants, and fast food options located on or near NC States campus.There can also be a range in prices

when it comes to shopping at grocery stores or dining out.

GROCERIES

Grocery stores aka supermarkets can be quite large and will also sell household necessities and other items. Some large retails stores, such

as Wal-mart and Target, will also have a grocery section.

Some of the closest supermarkets around campus include:

Food Lion (multiple locations)

Harris Teeter (multiple locations)

Whole Foods (3540 Wade Ave)

Fresh Market (400 Woodburn Rd)

Note:TheNorth Carolina State Farmers Marketis also located on Centennial Campus. Local fruits and vegetables are sold throughout the

growing season. CAT bus Route 21 takes you to the closest stop near the farmers market, but its probably much easier to share a taxi with

several other people.

NC States Office of International Services(OIS) also lists on their website the contact informationfor specialty grocery storeslocated

around the Triangle. These stores will often sell the types and brands of food not typically found in an American supermarket.

DINING OUT

NC State has several dining halls (where the food is served buffet-style) as well as restaurants, cafes, and food trucks located around

campus. You can visit theUniversity Dining websitefor more information about their locations and hours of operation.

There are also numerous fast food dining options near the university as well as several restaurants. The OIS website also lists someethnic

restaurantslocated throughout the Triangle. Many restaurants are able to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free diets, and its always

a good idea to check the restaurants website or call them in advance if you have certain dietary needs or restrictions.

Many restaurants are located within close proximity to each other in major shopping centers:

Mission Valley diningoptions (Avent Ferry & Western Blvd.)

Cameron Village diningoptions (Oberlin Rd. north of Hillsborough St.)

Downtown Raleigh restaurants

TIPPING: You typically do not have to tip at fast food restaurants, but if

you are dining somewhere they provide table service (bring your drinks,

food, and clear your plates), a tip of 15-20% is customary. You can tip

more if you feel like youve receivedexceptional service, and you can tip

less if you feel like service was poor.

If you have your food delivered to you, its customary to tip the delivery

person.
http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/index.htmhttp://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/index.htmhttp://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/index.htmhttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/specialty-grocerieshttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/specialty-grocerieshttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/specialty-grocerieshttp://www.ncsudining.com/http://www.ncsudining.com/http://www.ncsudining.com/http://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/ethnic-restaurantshttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/ethnic-restaurantshttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/ethnic-restaurantshttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/ethnic-restaurantshttp://www.missionvalleysc.com/dininghttp://www.missionvalleysc.com/dininghttp://www.shopcameronvillage.com/directory/restaurants/2138211297http://www.shopcameronvillage.com/directory/restaurants/2138211297http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/explore/dininghttp://www.godowntownraleigh.com/explore/dininghttp://www.godowntownraleigh.com/explore/dininghttp://www.shopcameronvillage.com/directory/restaurants/2138211297http://www.missionvalleysc.com/dininghttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/ethnic-restaurantshttp://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/ethnic-restaurantshttp://www.ncsudining.com/http://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/specialty-grocerieshttp://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/index.htm


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Safety

Raleigh is a safe city and NC State is a very safe campus, but there are always steps you can take to ensure your safety and security:

Walk around in pairs or groups of people, especially at night. While many

downtown restaurants and bars are open late, many other parts of downtown

Raleigh close when the work day ends at 5 p.m.

Keep your valuable belongings with you at all times.

Do not carry large amounts of cash with you.

Make sure you look both ways before crossing the streets and stay in the

crosswalksdrivers are not always used to looking out for pedestrians.

Call 911 in case of an emergency.

Money Matters

Before you leave home, its important to check and alert your bank or credit card company that you will be traveling to the United States.

Otherwise, some foreign bank and/or credit cards may not work in the United States. You will find that most Americans prefer to use their

credit and/or debit (bank) cards to make purchases and very few carry much cash on them. Most vendors and merchants can accept card

purchases in addition to cash or checks.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when making a purchase:

Sales tax: the price you see on an item or on the menu is not the final price on your bill. Sales tax gets added to the total,

depending on the type of item you purchase as well as where youre located. The sales tax in Raleigh is 6.75% for most items, 2%

for unprepared food you would purchase in a grocery store, and 7.75% for prepared food (i.e. what you buy in a restaurant).

Tipping: not only do you tip taxi drivers and restaurant workers, many people alsotip for other servicessuch as getting your

haircut or valet parking.

Businesses around college campuses are usually very student friendly. Dont be afraid to ask if there is acollege student discount

on your food and/or entertainment purchases. You can often save some money by showing your NC State student ID card.

Communications

There are multiple companies in the U.S. that provide cell phone plans. The major carriers, such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint,

typically offer monthly plans that tie you to a 2-year contract (those include discounted or free phones but have very pricey early

termination fees). However, they also have prepaid plans and monthly plans that do not make you sign a contract. Make sure you read and

understand all the fine print if you choose to sign up with a wireless carrier that includes a contract. Some wireless carriers may also require

a Social Security number and/or credit history checks in order to sign up for their service. Below is a short list of companies that offer

cheaper monthly and/or prepaid plans (we do not endorse any of these carriers):

Republic Wireless(they have a kiosk in the NC State

bookstore, so you can purchase phones there)

TracFone

Cricket Wireless

Boost Mobile

GoSmart Mobile

NOTE:Most phones that are purchased in the US are

locked to only work for a specific wireless carrier. Many

international students prefer to bring their unlocked cell

phones from home and simply purchase a SIM card in the

U.S. Most carriers in the U.S. also utilize CDMA technology,

and only a few are GSM. See thisguidefor more information.
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/05/16/your-ultimate-tipping-guidehttp://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/05/16/your-ultimate-tipping-guidehttp://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/05/16/your-ultimate-tipping-guidehttp://students.ncsu.edu/deals/http://students.ncsu.edu/deals/http://students.ncsu.edu/deals/https://republicwireless.com/ex/https://republicwireless.com/ex/http://www.tracfone.com/http://www.tracfone.com/https://www.cricketwireless.com/https://www.cricketwireless.com/http://www.boostmobile.com/http://www.boostmobile.com/https://www.gosmartmobile.com/https://www.gosmartmobile.com/http://www.cnet.com/news/quick-guide-to-cell-phone-carriers/http://www.cnet.com/news/quick-guide-to-cell-phone-carriers/http://www.cnet.com/news/quick-guide-to-cell-phone-carriers/http://www.cnet.com/news/quick-guide-to-cell-phone-carriers/https://www.gosmartmobile.com/http://www.boostmobile.com/https://www.cricketwireless.com/http://www.tracfone.com/https://republicwireless.com/ex/http://students.ncsu.edu/deals/http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/05/16/your-ultimate-tipping-guide