And Now for a Non-Musical Interlude: How To Stay Properly Warm in Winter

Who Took This Awesome Picture?

Please answer "yes" or "no" to the following questions:
1. Is there a need for shoes that are not flip-flops?
2. Do you get enough Vitamin D?
3. Would you, if you could, cozy up to a roaring fire mid-May?
4. Is it important to wear clothes lined with faux fur? 

Below are the correct answers for Boston:
1. Ten months out of the year, yes.
2. If by Vitamin D you mean Doritos, then yes.
3. There are times that, yes, I would. And I'm not ashamed.
4. I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you through my fuzzy hat.

If your answers are different, you might need to know How To Stay Properly Warm in Winter.

 1. Buy a proper coat. We aren't talking waterproof-but-uninsulated. We aren't even talking waist-length. Anything that could, in any context, be described as a "jacket" will not cut it. We need high-tech, insulation-filled, waterproof, knee-length, hooded coat. To save money, you can buy a real winter coat either a) in a warm climate (they are cheap where nobody needs them!) or b) in the off-season (summer sales!). As painful as it is to try on coats in June, just think about the angst you will save yourself in November when it starts rain-sleet-hailing. "But," you protest, "why should I buy a huge coat when I will only need it for a month or so?" HA! we say. This year, we were still wearing our coats in June.

2. Buy proper boots. Again, cute will not cut it. At a minimum, boots should be waterproofed and hit above the ankle. Something big enough to accommodate pants is good as well, since it's very unpleasant to spend all day walking around school with soaked bottoms to your pants. "But guys," I hear you saying, "can't I just avoid the big puddles?" No. We can't really explain why, and honestly, we don't want to think about it since it's warm outside right now, but the puddles will find you, and they will soak you. Also: traction. If you can avoid the slow, embarrassing fall where you hit hard on one hip and then proceed to slide down a hill in full view of all your neighbors, you should.

3. Buy texting gloves. Admittedly, texting gloves are not usually the most awesome of gloves, but they serve one important feature: you can keep your gloves on as you, shivering, check to see when the bus is coming. Sometimes, this is such a wonderful thing you may have to wipe a tear from your eye before it freezes on your cheek. But keep your gloves on for that too.

4. Buy a hat. This is slightly more open to interpretation, but we can tell you that tightly woven hats with brims are great for keeping the heavy snow from blinding you.  It will keep your hair dry. It will keep you from flying into a rage-coma when a chunk of snow, wet and heavy, falls from the roof of a bus stop and onto your head.
Now don't get us wrong, winter in Boston is a beautiful thing, replete with outdoor ice-skating and idyllic hot-chocolate-sipping. But the best of winter is even better when you are properly attired.

The Musician's Guide to Avoiding Old-Timey Ailments: How To Not Get Rinderpest

Ahh, Rinderpest. The ancient scourge of cattle, domestic buffalo, and other even-toed ungulates. "But," we hear you say, "I'm a human." Well listen, even though this disease only affected animals, and was declared globally eradicated in 2011, there are still some valuable lessons we can apply to our lives.

1. Don't Lick the T. Okay, you probably wouldn't lick the T, that cozy train-space you share with 384,392 of your best friends on your daily commute. But if you think about it, holding onto the hand-rail or helping yourself into a seat and then eating with your bare hands is sort of akin to licking the doorknob. Rinderpest is spread through direct contact, and it doesn't get much more direct than saliva. We humans tend to hold onto things on the train to avoid falling over, unlike wildebeests who pretty much have it covered with four legs. So remember to wash your hands after riding the T, or after touching anything that seems particularly grimy, with soap and water.

Wildebeests don't need handrails.

2. Cover Your Cough. If there's one thing we know about Rinderpest, it's that it can rip through your nineteenth-century herd of longhorns like a warm knife through butter, and a large part of that is caused by air transmission. When you cough, it's best to do it into your elbow, where little Rinderpest particulate can't worm their way into the rest of the flock. Sneezing or coughing into your hand/hoof carries the risk that you will touch something else, or someone else, and spread the Rinderpest far and wide.

No, you guys, we just talked about this.

3. Don't Share Water. This little tip is also handy for avoiding other, less old-timey illnesses that tend to plague college students (some of which, like meningitis, are serious business). This is also where being human comes in handy, because, unlike antelope, we humans can mostly control our sources of potable water. Since human beings generally function better when hydrated, it's a good practice to start carrying around a reusable bottle with you; you can fill it up at the handy water fountains located all over the College of Fine Arts. And if someone asks you for water out of your own personal drinking vessel, just say "no thanks. I don't want to catch Rinderpest," and then give them the side-eye.

These practices will serve you well as you start the school year, particularly if you are moving from another geographical location, like a migrating giraffe. We all know that a new place means new germs, so although these three tips won't necessarily ensure that you won't get sick at all, they will pretty much guarantee that you won't get Rinderpest (although this is also thanks to Dr. Walter Plowright, who developed the vaccine).

And Now for a Non-Musical Interlude: An Illustrated Guide to the MBTA

Major benefit to living in Boston: an extensive public transportation system. The MBTA (or Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) is the classy way to travel. Affectionately known as the "T," this system includes buses, trains, and the commuter rail system (and maybe some boats. Or possibly spy cars.).  Navigating the T can be tricky, so below you will find a few tricks for the transit lines that are closest to BU.


The Green Line: This line runs directly in front of BU, so it is important. It's made up of a four-fingered claw-shaped amalgamation of four separate train lines (B, C, D, and E), which all converge close to the Kenmore stop and run up to Cambridge. It's helpful to imagine the Green Line as a Wizard of Oz-style witch hand:

Stylized Map of the Green Line

The B-line, in particular, has stops all along the BU campus, as shown.

The downside to BU's location is that it's difficult to get from one "finger" to another, because you have to take a train inbound to the "wrist," and then travel outbound back down the appropriate "finger/thumb." The good part is that the train runs all along BU's campus, so it's easy to travel from one part of campus to another. This is particularly nice in the winter.

It should be noted that Green Line stops are very close together, as compared to Red Line Stops, despite the MBTA's map making all stops look relatively equidistant.

MBTA Map

Reality (Distance in Human Steps)

The Green Line is made up of adorable trolley cars that emerge from underground and proceed to get stuck in traffic, behind pedestrians, and at red lights. The result is that it is often very rewarding to race the Green Line on your bike.

Despite the fact that this is arguably the most frustrating "subway" in the universe, it still deserves props because it is the heaviest-used light-rail line in the country, and also Boston's oldest subway (dating back to days when horses were apparently electrocuted).

The 57 Bus: This is a great alternative transportation option for those students who need to get to BU, but don't want to live in the densely-populated areas close to the B-line. The 57 bus runs the same route originally occupied by the now-defunct A-Line of the Green Line.  Depending on traffic, the 57 runs approximately every ten minutes (!!!!), with additional service during morning and evening rush hours. Like every bus commute, the 57 tends to be highly affected by weather, the mood of the bus driver, road conditions, the moon cycle, and other factors as shown below:

Monday Commute

Tuesday Commute

The best part of the 57 bus:

Other Important Info: Your Google Maps app will likely contain a button labeled "Transit." If you are looking at an area of Boston where the trains run, you can not only see the colored lines, but you can also plan a trip using public transportation on your app.

There are a number of MBTA Apps available, many of them for free. We can recommend MBTA Alerts for buses, but also suggest that you try apps to see which is the most accurate for your route.

Allow plenty of time for your commute, and bring music/reading/games/a book/knitting. This post only discussed one line and one bus, but there is a wealth of transit in Boston and we think you should explore it all!

Arriving in Boston Before September 1st, Volume III: Integrating with Your BU Community

Boston is a great city, and a great place to live. One of the things that makes it so amazing is the constantly evolving energy from people who move to Boston because it's such a great place to live. Once you have joined their ranks and settled in, it's time to make space for yourself in your new neighborhood. Welcome to Volume III of Arriving in Boston Before September 1st: Integrating with Your BU Community.

This is the fun stuff, you guys.

Practice.

You can see Andy Chae in the School of Music Office for a temporary ID card for access to the practice rooms. He will trade you money ($20 right now, but stay tuned as the amount may change in the future) for the card, which you can swipe in either access door in the basement. Money will be returned to its owner, in exchange for the safe return of the ID.

Practicing is an essential part of performing well on your ensemble audition, if applicable. These auditions tend to fall at the beginning of September, before school starts, so this little chunk of pre-September-1st practice time can be very nice to have!

Go to graduate orientation. 

You will learn how to register for classes, meet fellow graduate students, and gain valuable life skills. If you are feeling particularly sociable, see if some graduate students would like to end the day by getting a meal together, or grabbing a drink. It's important (and fun!) to cultivate these friendships early.

Find a job.

Once you have been assigned your BU login information (name and password), you can access the BU Gig Board. This is a great place to start hunting for work in your area of music. The key is being flexible and having fun, answering emails quickly, and not being afraid to play in new situations.

Also, jobs and quickie jobs are listed here, which is (again) accessible with your BU login information. These jobs include everything from office work to test proctoring to nannying. Find something you like to do, send out a few emails or make some calls, and keep a close eye on the boards for new postings. If you are an international student, on-campus jobs are interesting and plentiful.

Explore Boston

This is, after all, a big part of why you made this crazy-awesome move, right? To spend time in this historically rich, beautiful, culturally saturated place? Buy a one-week pass for the bus and subway system and ride a line all the way to the end; better yet, get yourself a Charlie Card for reduced fares and general awesomeness. Walk to Wally's and listen to some great jazz. Treat yourself to a meal at one of the great restaurants in Kenmore Square. Visit the MIT Museum. Take a stroll through Harvard Square. Go to the Granary Burial Ground. Above all, make yourself at home in this beautiful city which is, now, your home!

These are some quick, simple ways to start to settle into your new environment. Have some tips? Anything you wish you had known before? Let us know!

Arriving in Boston Before September 1st, Volume I: Navigating the Apartment Maze

Boston is a great city, and a great place to live. One of the things that makes it so amazing is the constantly evolving energy from people who move to Boston because it's such a great place to live. The downside to this wondrous bank of new friends is that moving to Boston can be a nightmare. While one blog post can't totally alleviate the difficulties, we have tried to provide some useful tips to help ease the process. Welcome to Volume I of Arriving in Boston Before September 1st: Navigating the Apartment Maze.

Hunting for an apartment in Boston is tough. If you are a musician, your livelihood can add another layer of complexity to the search. For the student new to Boston, there are a few things that are important to consider, and we thought we would share some of our more interesting experiences in the Boston apartment scene!

Know Your Legal Rights: Massachusetts has different rental laws than other parts of the country. Read up on your legalities to help you as you apartment hunt.

Fee/Half Fee/No Fee: In Boston, if you use a Realtor to hunt for your new apartment, you may be charged a fee. The fee essentially pays the Realtor for the work that she/he does for you, and is usually equal to one month's rent. Sometimes the landlord will cover half (or even three-quarters!) of the fee, particularly if the rental date is quickly approaching, or if the apartment is in less-than-ideal shape. The best way to pay no fee is to look for an apartment rented by the landlord her/himself. This makes the search more difficult, but it might be preferable to paying the fee. We like to avoid paying money, ourselves, and use Craigslist to filter our search results. This method means that you need to look every day (multiple times) and email or call right away if you see something you like.

Utilities included/not included: Some apartments in Boston, especially if they are managed by a large company or are in a large building, include heat and/or hot water in the rent. This seems completely useless as you are moving your sweaty self into the place in August, but in February you will be super thankful! Be sure to check which utilities are included before you sign a lease.

Pets: Many Boston apartments specify "no pets." Many more are cats-only, and there are a few magical apartments that allow dogs. Be sure to check your lease or call your landlord before you introduce an animal to your space.

Security Deposit: This is important. Boston landlords are required by law to put your security deposit into a savings account which accrues interest. That way, your deposit can be returned to you along with the interest if the apartment is in good shape when you move out. This is for the protection of the tenant. If the landlord will not be putting your security deposit into a separate, interest-accruing account, this is a definite red flag.

Musical Instruments: Some landlords don't want musicians in their buildings, period. Sadly, this tends to be more true for the private (no-fee) renters. Once, we sent an email inquiring about an open apartment, and the landlord called to say that she had Googled us, knew about our musician status, and wasn't going to rent to us (even if we promised never to play in the house). In our experience, the best bets are to
a) move into a bedroom in an apartment where there are already musicians living.
b) move into a large building rented by a company so huge that they won't care if you are a musician.
c) don't say anything, and keep your practicing at school.
Obviously all of this gets more complicated if you have a piano.

Roommates!: If you want to live with other people, there are certain populations that swear by Craigslist roommates. You can typically find lower rent, interesting friends, and no fee by moving into an apartment that is already occupied. No guarantees implied or expressed, but we know of someone who moved into a Craigslist apartment and (four years later) is married to one of her roommates.

Transportation: If you are attending BU, you will likely be looking for an apartment on the B-Line of the Green Line subway. Keep in mind, however, that there are bus routes that also run directly to BU from Brighton and parts of Watertown. Beware of advertisements that an apartment is "steps" from the train/bus stop, as sometimes "steps" means "1298264 steps." Ask your realtor/landlord to point out the bus or train stop to you while you are looking at the apartment.

Settling: Define your apartment hunt. Write some questions down, and answer them: How much time do you have? Is your move-in date flexible? What is your budget? Do you want to live alone or with others? Are there any make-or-break considerations? Do you want a porch? Do you want utilities included (and does this affect budget)? Are you bringing a furry friend?

Once you have decided what is most important to you, you can structure your apartment hunt much more effectively. If budget is most important, things like space or location can be more flexible. If location is a must, maybe your move-in date can shift slightly.

The best part about apartment-hunting in Boston is the reward of finding a place to hang your proverbial hat in a very cool, historically rich city. Have you lived in Boston before? Do you have any tips?