Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business&Government

Cambridge is a diverse community with residents from all over the world. Here are links that we hope will make you feel more at home in this city and in the surrounding communities.
Cambridge City services and departments, including parking and pets Maps Subway and trains Buses (Harvard, local and long-distance) Cars (yours and rental) Banks Post Offices Electricity and gas service Telephone, cable TV and Internet access Study English
Cambridge City Services and Departments	Official City Web site Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department. Go directly to information about resident parking permits, which you must have to park on most Cambridge streets, and bicycle programs and regulations. Police Department. For the latest crime reports by neighborhood, go here. Fire Department Cambridge Public Library Animal-control regulations and licensing
Maps	Harvard Square: This map shows the commercial center just outside Harvard Yard and residential neighborhoods west of the square. Cambridge: To help you get oriented, Harvard Yard is between the two green rectangles in the center of the map. Boston Mapquest
Trains	Subway schedules, maps and fares Commuter-rail service to Boston suburbs and near-by towns is provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Amtrak is the only long-distance train service in the United States.
Buses	Harvard shuttle Local bus service (Boston and suburbs) Long-distance bus service Greyhound Peter Pan Traveling to New York Fung Wah Bus has round-trip service between Boston and New York for $15 plus tax (as of December 2004). This Web site has links to other companies.
Cars	Your Car Parking permits: Harvard Cambridge (residents) Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles: Everything you need to know about registering your vehicle Inspection Stations: Find repair shops and gas stations certified to do required tests. Rental Cars Zipcar is the best alternative for local, short-term rentals. Harvard Faculty, Staff & Students join for only $25 per year. For long-distance or long-term rentals, check these companies: Avis Budget Enterprise Hertz Thrifty
Banks	These financial institutions have branches or automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Harvard Square. Listing here doesn't imply a recommendation; evaluate each institution's services and costs based on your own needs before opening any accounts. Cambridge Trust Company Cambridge Savings Bank Citizens Bank Sovereign Bank Bank of America Wainwright Bank
Post Offices	Harvard Square Station 125 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, Mass. 02138 (617) 876-3883 Cambridge Main Office 770 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, Mass. 02139 (617) 575-8700 Inman Square Station 1311 Cambridge Street Cambridge, Mass. 02139 (617) 864-4344 U.S. Postal Service Web site
Utilities	Nstar provides electricity and gas service for heating and cooking. (800-592-2000)
Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Access	NOTE: Watch out for "low introductory rates" that last only a few weeks or months. Many companies also offer packages of services that could save you money but might burden you with features you don't need. So make sure you understand what you need -- and what you're getting -- before you order any service. Local, long-distance and mobile telephone service Cingular (or call 1-800-331-0500) Verizon (or call 1-800-870-9999) Sprint (or call 1-1-800-877-4646) T-Mobile (or call 1-800-T-MOBILE) Nextel (or call 800-639-8359) AT&T (or call 1-800-501-3045) MCI (or call 1-877-777-6271) This Web site has links to New England wireless service providers This Web site has links to dozens of international calling-card offers. Cable/Satellite TV Comcast (Ask about packages that include cable modem access to the Internet) DIRECTV High-speed, or broadband, Internet access (faster but more expensive than dial-up service) Verizon DSL (you will need a local phone number) Comcast cable modem Dial-up Internet access (slower than broadband -- DSL or cable modem -- but less expensive) Here are some of the most-popular providers of this access: AOL Earthlink NetZero Juno MSN Yahoo
Study English	Fellows and affiliates have several options for studying English. (Classes for non-native speakers are typically called English as a Second Language -- ESL -- or English for Speakers of Other Languages -- ESOL.) Private tutor Harvard Extension School The Cambridge Center for Adult Education The New England School of English - Harvard Square All ESL classes require a placement test so you can be assigned to the class that best meets your needs. Enrollment is limited and classes fill up quickly, so we advise that you register and take placement tests as early as possible. Placement tests for some fall classes begin the week of August 23. You will be responsible for paying all the costs associated with ESL instruction for you and your affiliate. These costs include the registration fee, tuition (courses fee) and materials such as books or tapes. If you have questions about ESL instruction for your child, check with the school system in which your child is enrolled.
	Private Tutor You may choose to work with a private tutor instead of taking a class. Most tutors charge $35 to $50 an hour, so you can compare the cost and convenience of this option with classroom instruction.
	Harvard Extension School: Institute for English Language Programs 51 Brattle Street (near Harvard Square) Cambridge, Mass. 02138-3722 Phone: (617) 495-4024 Web site This program is open to fellows and affiliates. Classes for the fall term begin the week of Monday, September 19, 2005. Spring-term classes begin the week of Monday, January 23, 2006. 1) You must first submit a registration form with complete payment of tuition and fees. Registration is $50. Tuition for many of the classes is $675 a semester, although the intensive classes are $780 for undergraduate credit or $1,350 for graduate credit. To register, go to the Extension School's office. You can also register online if you have a credit card that is accepted in the U.S. 2) Then you will take the Harvard University English Language Placement Test at one of the times listed below (allow about two and a half hours). Register and take the test as early as possible. Fall term placement test schedule (all tests are in Science Center B): Saturday, August 27, at 10 am. Wednesday, August 31 at 6 pm. Thursday, September 8 at 6 pm. Spring term placement test schedule (all tests are in Science Center B): Saturday, January 7 at 10 am. Tuesday, January 10 at 6 pm. Tuesday, January 17 at 6:30 pm.
	The Cambridge Center for Adult Education 42 Brattle Street (near Harvard Square) Cambridge, Mass. 02138 Phone: (617) 547-6789 Web site This option is available for fellows and affiliates. Most classes begin the week of September 20. For a list of classes, go to the center's Web site. Placement tests are given on a walk-in basis at the center's office; but classes fill quickly, so take the test as soon as possible. Fees for most classes range from $130 to $320. The center is not associated with Harvard and has students from diverse backgrounds.
	The New England School of English Harvard Square 36 John F. Kennedy Street Cambridge, MA 02138 (617)864-7170 Web site This program offers 10 levels of study and can focus on the needs of the student, from beginners basic English to professional conversation English. Of all the programs, this can be the most costly. The price can range from $510 - $1325, depending on how many courses the student is taking. Each course is 1 1/2 hour, 5 days a week for 4 weeks.