First Weeks in Boston: Practical Ways to Welcome International Students

Greater Boston is home to dozens of colleges and universities, and each August brings thousands of international students who are arriving in the United States for the first time. Many land after long flights with two suitcases, a new apartment key and a long list of unfamiliar tasks: getting a phone plan, opening a bank account, figuring out the subway, finding groceries that taste like home. Their schools offer orientation, but the moments that make a newcomer feel at home often happen on the sidewalk, in the laundry room or at the corner market.

You do not need to be part of a university to help. Being a friendly, informed neighbor goes a long way.

Start With a Simple Hello

A new student in your building may be nervous about making mistakes or bothering anyone. Taking the first step helps.

• Introduce yourself by first name and apartment or house number.
• Ask how to pronounce their name, and then use it.
• Ask where they are from with genuine curiosity, not as a quiz.
• Offer one concrete kind of help, such as “If you ever need to borrow a tool or have a question about the building, knock on 3B.”

Keep it light. Not every student wants a long conversation on day one, and that is fine.

Share the Local Basics

Many questions newcomers have are about everyday routines that locals take for granted. A short, friendly orientation to the block can be extremely useful:

• Trash and recycling days, what goes in each bin, and when to put bins out.
• Street cleaning rules, which in Boston and many nearby cities can mean a ticket and a tow if a car is parked on the wrong side on cleaning days.
• Getting around. Where the nearest bus stop or train station is, how to load a transit card, and which routes run late.
• Groceries. Nearby supermarkets, international grocers and farmers markets where they might find familiar ingredients.
• The library. Public libraries offer free cards, quiet study space, Wi-Fi and community events. Many Massachusetts libraries also offer discounted museum passes.
• Emergency numbers. 911 for emergencies and 311 for city services such as potholes or missed trash pickups.

Help Them Avoid Common Scams

International students are frequent targets of scams, especially in their first months. Gently share a few warnings:

• Government agencies, including immigration and tax offices, do not demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency over the phone.
• Be cautious with rental listings that ask for deposits before you can see the apartment or meet the landlord.
• Do not share passport numbers, visa details or bank information with unknown callers or websites.
• If a call feels threatening or urgent, hang up and contact the university’s international student office directly.

A simple “I’ve heard about scams targeting new students; if anyone ever pressures you on the phone, feel free to ask me first” can save someone a great deal of money and stress.

Practical Help Neighbors Can Offer

Small, concrete offers are easier to accept than vague ones. Consider:

1. A walking tour of the neighborhood: grocery store, pharmacy, laundromat, hardware store, park.
2. A lending shelf: a spare fan, a toolbox, an extra set of dishes or a shower curtain for the first weeks.
3. Help with furniture: pointing them to reuse groups or helping carry a donated table up the stairs.
4. Explaining the weather: a heads-up that New England winters arrive fast and that buying a warm coat in October is wise.
5. Introductions to other neighbors, cultural communities or faith communities they may be interested in.

Be Thoughtful About Culture and Language

Students come from every corner of the world and bring their own customs and expectations. A few habits help conversations go smoothly:

• Speak clearly and naturally; do not shout or oversimplify.
• Avoid slang and local shorthand on first meeting. “The T,” “packie” and “wicked” may need explaining.
• Ask about dietary restrictions before offering food.
• Respect differences in how people greet, how close they stand and how direct they are.
• Avoid assuming someone’s language skills or background based on appearance or accent.

Know Where to Point Them

Neighbors are not substitutes for professional guidance on visas, health care, housing disputes or academic questions. When questions get complicated, point students toward the right resources:

• Their university’s international student and scholar office for visa and immigration questions
• The university’s health services and counseling center
• Their school’s off-campus housing office for lease questions
• Mass 211 for general help finding community services
• The public library for free classes, conversation groups and tech help

Keep Showing Up

The first week is busy, but loneliness often sets in later, in October or November, when the excitement fades and the days get shorter. Check in again then. An invitation to a neighborhood gathering, a holiday meal or a simple walk to see the fall leaves can mean a great deal to someone far from home.

Welcome Checklist

• Introduced yourself and learned the student’s name
• Shared trash, recycling and street cleaning information
• Pointed out transit stops, groceries and the library
• Offered one or two concrete forms of help
• Shared a friendly scam warning
• Made a note to check in again in a month

International students often remember the neighbor who helped them find the grocery store or carried a desk up three flights of stairs long after they graduate. Welcoming them well is a gift to them and to the neighborhood they will help shape.