Living in Massachusetts
What to Bring
Although Massachusetts has many stores where you can buy almost any essential college item, here is a list of some items that you may want to pack with you.
- Pictures of Hawaii, family and friends
- An address book with family and friends' phone numbers, e-mails and addresses
- Long underwear (you never know when the weather will start getting cold)
- A watch (there is no Hawaiian Time here)
- Layers of clothes
- Wool socks
- Chapstick
- The aloha spirit :)
Where to Dine
There are many places in the Wellesley Ville and in Boston that offer good food at reasonable prices. Here is a list of some areas and restaurants that Hawaii Club members enjoy eating at. Also, don't forget to try the New England clam chowder while you're here!
- Chinatown
- Porter Square
- North End
- Legal Seafood
- Amarin
- Bombay Club
- Penang
Places to Visit
Massachusetts is filled with many cultural and historical places. Here is a list of places that you may want to check out before you graduate!
- Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)
- Harvard Square
- Gardner Museum
- Fanueil Hall
- Freedom Trail
- Boston Common
- Fenway park
- Newbury St.
- Plymouth Plantation
- The Berkshires
- Cape Cod
Local Terms to Know
People living in Massachusetts sometimes use words or phrases that are not commonly used in Hawaii. Here is a list of terms that may help prepare you for the east coast language transition.
- On line: in line
- Wicked: super; also can be used before an adjective as an intensifier
- Flip-flops: slippers
- T: the Boston subway system
- Inbound & Outbound: different directions on the T
Words of Wisdom
In order to ease the transition of living in Hawaii to living in Massachusetts, the Hawaii Club members have come up with a list of things to keep in mind.
- Wear socks at night to keep yourself warm
- Wear long underwear during the winter but don't tell anyone that you are
- Don't walk outside with your hair wet once the temperature drops below 50 degrees
- Most people don't run on Hawaiian Time here, so promptness is commonplace and not an anomaly
- Put a sheet of fabric softener in your pocket to reduce your chances of racking up static electricity
- Check the weather forecast daily, since the weather can fluctuate immensely over a few days
- Carry an umbrella if you think it's going to rain, since the rain is much colder here.
- During the winter do not leave your dorm room without the following items: mittens/gloves, a hat, and a scarf
Sara Ayabe: sayabe@wellesley.edu
Date Created: November 15, 2004
Last Modified: December 1, 2004
Expires: June 2005