ACS Welcomes You - American Community School at Beirut

ACS Welcomes You AMERICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL AT BEIRUT Volume II; Issue 3; May 24th, 2014 This is the 3rd newsletter compiled by the ACS Welcoming Committee. We hope that you have found them useful and are getting excited about moving to Beirut to join us at ACS. If you have any questions you can ask your assigned buddy or you can e‐mail Jocelyne ([email protected]) or Becky ([email protected]) and we will do our best to address them in our final newsletter in June. Lebanon in Pictures
ACS Welcomes You Let’s Learn Some Lebanese Arabic Greetings Hello Marhaba Nice to meet you Good bye Tsharrafna Mah es salameh Thank you Shukran
How are you?
Kifak (m), Kifik (fem) Conversation How much is this? Adday heyda Please take me to… Min fadlak (m) Min fadlik (fem) khidny aal (m) khideeny aal (fem) I live in Hamra Beity bil Hamra Leave me alone Trekneh (m) Trekeeneh (fem) I love Beirut Bheb Beirut I want Baddeh I don’t want Ma Baddeh I work at ACS Ana beshteghel bil ACS What is your number? Shu rakmak (m) Shu rakmik (fem) Why Lesh What Shoo Hurry Yalla A little bit Shwai Wafa Kays, one of our Arabic teachers, has been offering Arabic classes for teachers after school. If you are interested in learning Lebanese Arabic that may be an option you may want to consider during your time at ACS. ACS Welcomes You Safety in Beirut Now that you’ve decided to join us at ACS, you’ve probably been asked this question by others and possibly wondering yourself. The initial answer to this question is yes, Beirut is a safe city. But that alone isn’t enough, because complex questions (which this one is) require multi‐layered responses. In my response to this question, I’ll give you a brief overview of several aspects of safety in Beirut and Lebanon. Ras Beirut, Hamra, Ein el Mreisseh As you already know, all overseas hires will reside within walking distance of the school. Ras Beirut, Hamra, and Ein el Mreisseh are the three areas of the city where our school housing is located and all are within 15 minutes of the school by foot. All of these areas are high‐end residential areas of the city with shops, grocery stores, and restaurants nearby. All three areas are highly pedestrian and are considered safe for pedestrian traffic both day and night. When going out late at night, it is recommended that you go out in pairs, which is prudent advice in any major city. Transportation Because of the number and variety of local shops within walking distance of your apartment and the school, teachers generally do not purchase cars. Taxis are also readily available both day and night. Company taxis are considered the safest and most reliable. They can be booked both day and night by calling the company; most will give you a rate upon request, which can save you the hassle of bargaining when you get in the taxi. Some teachers find a taxi driver that they like and will use one driver for their transportation needs. Drivers will pass you their business card upon request. There are many non‐affiliated taxis in Beirut. Fares are negotiable upon entering the taxi and need to be established before you embark on your journey to avoid undue stress and arguing upon arrival to your destination. You’ll find that a standard taxi ride will cost you 10,000 Lebanese Lira, which is about $6.70. One needs to be cautious about using unaffiliated taxis or a ‘service’, which is a shared taxi ride with other customers, as some robberies have been reported by passengers in non‐affiliated taxis. Luckily no school personnel have had major troubles, but it is something you’ll want to be aware of. You can also take a service taxi which is a taxi that is shared with other passengers going the same way that you are. These are very cheap and cost 2,000 lira ($1.25). If you are with four other people you can tell the taxi you want it to be a service taxi or you can ask the taxi when it stops to pick you up that you would like the service option. It may take a little bit longer for you to arrive at your destination but it is the cheapest option. My family and I have ridden in both company and non‐affiliated taxis. We generally use company taxis for longer trips to the outskirts or out of the city. We use whatever is available for short trips. We live near a couple of major hotels, Commodore and Crown Plaza, so taxis are always available outside of our residence. We have gotten to know some reliable and trustworthy taxi drivers and we have established a nice pool to choose from when we need to make a short trip. Buses are also available and run on weekdays and Saturdays. Because of the wait involved and limited English of the passengers and driver, most teachers do not choose to utilize this mode of transport. If you are thinking of purchasing a car there are several new and used options available. Gas prices and maintenance are comparable to those in the West. ACS Welcomes You Exploring Beirut and Lebanon Lebanon has so much to offer from skiing and hiking, to thousands of years of history to uncover in ruins that are located throughout the country. While touring and experiencing the country is an exciting way to spend your free time, it is imperative that you are aware of the current political situations happening in the region when you are planning your outings. Just like in any major city in the world, there are certain parts of the city (and country) that you should not visit. This is no different than living in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Washington D.C. Most have areas that you should not visit for safety and security reasons. Upon arriving, fellow teachers and staff members can advise you on your travel plans, so that you avoid any unneeded stress. Registering with your Embassy Because of the fluid political climate in the region, you may want to register with your local embassy upon arrival, so you can receive warden messages and updates from your department of state. Presence of Police and Military Soldiers Depending on where you are coming from, the police and military presence in Beirut and throughout the country may take you by surprise. Armored military vehicles, soldier transports and policemen with automatic weapons are common and should not alarm you. It is part of everyday life and does not represent a threat. As I tell anyone who wants to know what life is like in Beirut, my family and I feel blessed to be here. Beirut is a wonderful city full of charm and charisma. We enjoy walking the streets shopping at local shops and eating from all the different restaurants and stalls we find on our journeys. The key to being safe while working and living in Beirut is to be smart and ask about destinations before venturing out. Safety in Beirut as a Single Female I have lived in more than a dozen countries, and can genuinely say that I feel very safe in Beirut, more so than the American cities I’ve lived in, such as Brooklyn and Philadelphia. There is very little crime here, largely due to the closely‐knit neighborhoods. I’ve enjoyed getting to know all of the shop owners in my community, who kindly look after my dog and me and chat with us on our daily walks. However, it is still a city and of course common street sense should be followed, especially late at night. ACS Welcomes You Sending Mail to Lebanon
The local mailing address to receive mail is: American Community School at Beirut 67 Nigeria Street Jal el Bahr 2035‐8003 Beirut, Lebanon OR American Community School at Beirut P.O. Box 11‐8129 Riad El Solh 1107‐2260 Beirut, Lebanon This will get delivered to ACS P.O. Box. We check the P.O. Box 2 to 3 times a week. The school is not responsible for lost mail. You may forward your mail to either of the following addresses, as it is not advisable to have it delivered to your apartment. You may use the ACS NY office address for important mail such as bank statements, financial statements etc. Only small (5"x 9”) light weight (up to 2 oz.) envelopes are forwarded weekly via courier to Beirut. Bulk mail, parcels, catalogues, pamphlets, will not be forwarded. American Community School 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 8th floor New York NY 10017‐2303 USA
ACS Welcomes You Banking in Beirut
The banks will be coming in to the school on one day. Instead of new hires going to the banks to open up accounts, the representatives will bring to school the needed papers for the new hires to fill out on a specific sign up date that will be announced. On the sign up day, different rooms will be assigned for bank representatives to allow for the new hires to go in and fill in the necessary papers needed for opening an account at the bank of their choice. Some of the banks most teachers use are HSBC, Bank Audi, BLOM Bank, and Bank Med. We recommend you check out the banks websites so it will be easier for you when you arrive. Important Health Information I would like to explain to you briefly certain health concerns you may have before coming to Lebanon. ACS has two infirmaries run by two full time RNs and fully equipped with OTC medications, first aid supplies and emergency equipment if the need arises. As you may have heard from Jocelyne (our HR chairperson), all ACS employees are insured with a private insurance company serving them and their family members or dependents for sicknesses and injuries. Who are the ACS doctors? The school health insurance company provides ACS with two Family Medicine physicians from the American University of Beirut – Medical Center who serve us daily according to a pre‐
planned schedule. These doctors can provide you with medical treatment on campus, requests for lab tests and when needed refer you to a specialist. If I am on a chronic medication how can I renew and fill out my prescription? You need to schedule an appointment to see the ACS doctor and tell him/her about your condition so that he/she will note it in your medical file and a renewal of prescription will be issued at the beginning of each month. ACS Welcomes You If I have a chronic medical condition, what can I do? If you have a medical condition, make sure you get a full medical report from your Health Care Provider before coming to Beirut. It should explain your medical condition and any chronic medications you are taking. It is advisable that all new comers schedule upon arrival an appointment with our doctor for preliminary medical checkup and health history. I have a health emergency after school hours. What can I do? Call the school nurse and inform her about your condition who in turn will direct you to the appropriate channels. When is the ACS doctor available at school? Each doctor has specific schedule he or she works on. You can check out the schedule on the doctor’s bulletin board to make an appointment. What are the medical resources that we use? We have several hospitals around ACS area that we use for emergency treatment, hospitalizations and/or laboratory services. Upon your arrival, you will receive some more info about these hospitals and labs for your use. What is the ACS communicable disease policy? A “go home stay home” policy will be enforced for all employees and students experiencing symptoms of a communicable disease. The infected persons will go home and stay home until symptoms have subsided. The school nurses will assess symptoms on a case‐by‐case basis, determine enforcement of the policy, and clear all affected students/employees for return to school/work. Students or employees deliberately ignoring the “go home stay home” policy will be subject to temporary suspension. What vaccines do I need to take before I come to Lebanon? For children, follow the recommendation of your primary health care provider (find attached schedule for vaccination for kids). For adults, we follow the recommendations of WHO, CDC, and Ministry of Health. Before coming to Lebanon it is advisable to update your vaccinations for: ‐ Hepatitis A 2 doses ‐ Hepatitis B 3 doses ‐ Typhoid (booster) Rabies : no recommendation Yellow fever : no recommendation since it is found in Africa and NOT Lebanon ACS Welcomes You Recommended immunization schedule for children aged 0 through 6 years ACS Welcomes You Telecom in Lebanon Mobile Services Lebanon’s mobile telephone operators: Alfa ( http://www.alfa.com.lb/ ) Touch ( http://www.touch.com.lb ) Though services and tariffs are almost the same, Touch lines are more popular in Lebanon. They gained their good reputation because their network has been more reliable, in addition to some extra services. For example Touch offers SMS roaming. When you travel you can send and receive SMS text messages without the need to change anything in your plan. Just carry your phone with you and benefit from the feature. Mobile phone lines are either prepaid or postpaid. Prepaid lines are more practical because they are easier to operate. In order to buy a new prepaid line you need to have a copy of ID or passport. Cost of a new line, either Alfa or Touch is $25 with a credit value of $ 22.73. It can be purchased (recharge vouchers too) from any mobile reseller store. Such stores are on every street in town. Postpaid lines Any prepaid line can be changed into a postpaid one, however there is some paper work involved, and the monthly payment is different. What’s required (for foreign residents): 
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Valid Passport or Personal Identity Card or Residence Permit Deposit of $100 in case of line migration or $50 Deposit in case of new postpaid line. Proof of Residence or Letter of guarantee or deposit of $100 per line or Residence Certificate stamped by the mayor. N.B: If you have a residence permit, there will be no need for any Proof of Residence or its equivalent. Payment method: automatic direct debit at the bank is obligatory. A contract to be completed and signed (for Touch lines) There’s a monthly flat fee of $15 for postpaid lines, along with other fees for optional services. For more details please check Alfa and Touch websites. ACS Welcomes You Mobile phones If you are planning to bring your favorite phone with you please make sure to get a factory unlocked phone. When bought with a plan from your home city provider the phone is locked to that provider. It is technically possible to unlock such phones (process known as Jailbreak for iPhones, or rooting for Android phones). However such procedure is not recommended because it’s illegal, the software used is illegal too, and the phone’s performance is impaired. Also please make sure your phone supports GSM frequency band 900 which is used in Lebanon. Mobile phone prices are more expensive in Lebanon. Yet it is possible to find good offers or bargains from street stores rather than buying from certified vendors. Internet Each ACS apartment is supplied with a basic (1 megabit) ADSL internet connection from a local internet service provider, including a wireless router. Wireless coverage in your apartment will vary, based upon the configuration of concrete walls and the shape of the apartment. You will not be charged for your first month of Internet service. After that, you may refill the account by purchasing refill cards widely available at local stores, or set up automatic withdrawals from your credit card or bank account. The ACS business office will help you with filling out the bank forms in Arabic. Generally speaking, you will find the quality of Internet in Beirut is slower, less reliable, and more expensive than in other countries. Also, accounts are limited in terms of the amount of online traffic used per month. Information about rates and service levels will be sent separately.