Palm Beach Chinese



Welcome to the Palm Beach Chinese Christian Chapel Community, and to this booming metropolis, Palm Beach County, which we temporarily call our home. To help you settle, and to get you acquainted with this area, we have compiled the following pages of information for your browsing. If we can be of any further help to you, please do not hesitate to call us. Come join our Sunday Worship, we love to have you!

The Welcome Wagon,

Qingchuan Yao, 561-479-1786

qingchuan_yao@

Qi_yong Zhou, 561-752-5963

chris_z98@

This is where you are…..

Looking for Apartments or Roommates

Most graduate students live off campus. Average housing for a bedroom in a 2-bedroom apartment is around or above $1,000, and it is increasing each year. Casa Del Rio, Oaks of Boca, are good places near FAU. They are all within walking or biking distance to FAU.

To look for an apartment or roommate, this is what you can do:

1. Through info across the vine from other Chinese students: Send an email to

fau_chinese@ and

youngseeds@

You need to join these two groups first, in order to be eligible to email the two groups

You can email youngseeds@ to request membership to these groups.

2. These web sites can provide housing info:







and search by 'Rental to share/roommate'

3. Go to FAU library area, and check posters that are looking for a roommate. 

Getting Around

You can find a County Atlas at this site



The Palm Tram Bus System

Regular Fee: $1.25, Seniors (65+), Disabled, or students (21-) with proper school ID pay reduced fare of $0.60. Daily pass (unlimited rides) costs $3.00 (reduced fare: $2.00); monthly pass is $50.00 (reduced fare: $35.00). You can get the pass at FAU Owl Card Center or at all County Library Branches.

For a System Route Map and Schedule, go to



The Tri-County Rail System

[pic]

Fare varies from $2.00 and up, depending on the number of zones you travel, go to



For schedule, go to

Getting Hooked Up

Brand new to Palm Beach County? Below is a complete guide to getting all your basic utility services and more.

|Phone |

|BellSouth serves the Palm Beach County area. Newcomers will need a landlord's name and number, a work number, a personal |

|reference and phone number, and a Social Security number. If a customer has had BellSouth service in another area, no deposit is |

|needed. If a customer has never had service with BellSouth, a credit check will be run to determine whether a deposit will be |

|charged. Call (561)780-2355 for residential, or (561)780-2800 for businesses. |

|Electric |

|Florida Power & Light Co. serves most of Palm Beach County. You will need a Social Security number and the date you want service |

|to begin. FPL asks for at least 24 hours' advance notice. If you are moving into a newly constructed home, you will need a |

|certificate of occupancy before FPL can turn on the electricity. Deposit amounts vary based on the results of a credit check. FPL|

|requires a deposit equal to about two months' average billing. A onetime $14.88 service charge will be billed. Deposits must be |

|paid when connecting an account. Call FPL at (561)697-8000. Lake Worth residents receive electrical services through the city |

|utilities department. Call (561)533-7300. |

|Water |

|The government agency that will handle your water service varies across Palm Beach County. Call local municipalities for more |

|information. Newcomer's to unincorporated Palm Beach County can set up an account over the phone. You must call three days in |

|advance. If you have never had service with the county before, a $60 deposit will be assessed to the first monthly bill. For |

|information, call Customer Service: (561)740- 4600. In the south county area (Boca Raton/Delray Beach), call (561)278- 5135. |

|Gas |

|Florida Public Utilities Co. provides natural gas service. A deposit, normally about two months' fee, is required. The minimum |

|deposit is $40 for a residence and $100 for a pool heater. To establish service, you will need to present a photo identification,|

|Social Security number, residence phone number, business phone number and mailing address, if different from service address. |

|Call Customer Service at (800)427-7712. |

|Garbage |

|Each municipality provides regular residential and commercial garbage pickup. The unincorporated area of Palm Beach County is |

|divided into seven districts, with garbage collection service provided by various companies. Residential fees are assessed on an |

|annual basis. Call the Solid Waste Authority billing and collection department at (561)697-2700. |

|Cable |

|Adelphia Cable services all of Palm Beach County. For cable connection, call (561) 930-225 or (800) 345-4319 for 24-hour customer|

|service. |

| |

Shopping Guide

Grocery stores, like Publix, Winn-Dixie, or Albertsons, normally have everything from food to over the counter medicine and everyday items.  Wal-Mart is also a good store to shop for discounted items. Warehouse superstores such as Costco, BJ, and Sam’s Club require an annual $45 membership fees and offer discounted but quality products. You might want to tack along a friend who has a membership card to these stores.

Boys Farm on Military, just north of Atlantic Ave. offers quality produce. You can get $1.00 a bag produce in the front of the store, making your trip on a Saturday morning very worthwhile! (

Chinese Groceries

Palm Beach County: The Asian Market, NW corner of Lantana and Military Trail

Fortune Cookies, on Forest Hill Blvd., just east of Congress Ave.

Da Fat Grocery, at Forest Hill and Military Trail

There is an Asian Food Market on U.S. 1, just south of Yamato Rd.

For Inexpensive Furniture etc.: 

Faith Farm on State Road 7 just north of Boynton Beach Blvd.

The County’s Thrift Store offer monthly sales of surplus office furniture such as desks, chairs, bookshelves and cabinets. You can get a desk for under $20, a file cabinet for $15. And they are in very good condition too. Store is located at 5th St. and Belvedere Blvd. Go to for info on operation days.

For electronics specialty items, like converters, special adaptors, go to Radio Shack.

For textbooks: You can get almost any textbook for less than the University Book store at the following websites.























For computers,



For notebooks:





For computer hardware:



For general electronics, including Video Camera and Notebook computers,



For stationery items, visit Office Depot, Office Max, or Staples.

How to apply for a Driver License

Learner’s License - To earn a learner’s license, you must be at least 15 years old

You must provide :

• One primary and one secondary form of identification, which must be original or certified,

• Social Security Number, if issued,

• Proof that you completed a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course (check your local yellow pages under ‘Driving Instruction’ for a location near you) or a license from another jurisdiction, and

• Parental Consent Form, which must be signed in the presence of a driver license examiner or notarized if parent or guardian will not be present (form is located at ). If you are under 18 and are not married one parent or legal guardian must sign your license application. Stepparents may not sign unless they have legally adopted you.

You are required to take:

• A Written Test covering the following areas:

Road Rules – 20 multiple-choice questions about traffic laws – must have 15 correct answers to pass.

Road Signs - 20 multiple-choice questions about road signs – must have 15 correct answers to pass.

For a Driver’s Handbook, go to the follow website to



• Vision Test using an eye machine. To pass, you must have 20/40 (or better) vision in each and both eyes, with or without corrective lenses.

• Hearing Test

With your Learner’s License, you may:

Only drive during daylight hours during the first three months and until 10 p.m. thereafter, always with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat.

When you are ready to get your Operative License, you are required to take:

• Driving test and perform certain driving maneuvers. Please refer to the Florida Driver Handbook for specifics or present a waiver from an accepted driver education course.

• Original Driver License or Identification Card Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth and social security number (if issued) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued.

Immigrants

Each immigrant who applies for an original driver license or identification card must submit:

1. Alien Registration receipt card, (Green card, Form I-551); or

2. I-551 stamp in passport or on I-94; or

3. Immigration Judges Order, with the customer's A-number, granting asylum; or

4. I-797, with the customer's A-number, stating the customer has been granted asylum; or

5. I-797 or another form from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the customer's A-number, stating the customer's application for Refugee status is approved; or

Non-Immigrants

Each non-immigrant who applies for an original driver license or identification card must submit:

1. Employment authorization card issued by the United States Department of Justice (Form I688B or I-766); or

2. Proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by United States Department of Justice (Form I-94, not expired, with required supporting attachment(s). If in doubt regarding required documents, please bring all of your INS documentation with you.). I-94s must be accompanied by a Passport. Certain classifications require additional documentation. Some examples are:

▪ F-1 and M-1 classification must also be accompanied by an I-20.

▪ I J-1 or J-2 designation must be accompanied by an IAP-66.

▪ Refugee, asylum and parolee classifications must be accompanied by additional documentation.

The following documents will only be accepted with a supporting document, including but not limited to a Passport, Florida Driver License or Identification Card, Driver License from any other state, Employment Authorization Card, Employer Identification, Identification from home country, Identification from school or college, Social Security Card or other INS document.

3. I-571 Travel Document/Refugee Travel Permit

4. I-512 Parole Letter Accepted

5. IJO- Asylum or Cancellation of Removal - Immigration Judges Order granting Asylum or Cancellation of Removal.

▪ All required and supporting documents MUST be original or certified.

▪ Documents must be valid for more than 30 days from the date of issuance.

▪ Non-U.S. citizens applying for an original driver license will be issued a 30-day, no photo, paper temporary permit and a receipt. Non-U.S. citizens applying for an identification card will be issued a receipt.

▪ All records are transmitted to our database in Tallahassee, where the information will be examined and run against FDLE, FBI and INS databases.

▪ Upon identity and legal status verification, a driver license or identification card will be issued within 30 days from Tallahassee, mailed to the address on the driver record. The license or identification card will be issued for the period of time specified on the INS document.

▪ If a problem is detected, a denial of issuance letter will be mailed to the customer.

Driving is a Privilege - Don't Lose It

There are a number of infractions that can cause you to lose or restrict your driving privileges. The following are of particular interest to teen drivers.

• If you receive a traffic conviction while you have a Learner’s License, the one year period you are required to hold your Learner’s License will be extended for one year from the date of the conviction or until you are 18 years old, whichever happens first.

• If you receive 6 points on your driving record within a 12 month period, your driving privileges are automatically restricted to business purposes only for 12 months or until you are 18, whichever happens first. If you receive additional points during this restricted period, the restriction is extended 90 days for each additional point.

• If you have a blood alcohol level of .02% or more (applies to those under age 21), an administrative suspension of six months will result.

• If you are truant in your school attendance, your driving privilege is suspended until you provide proof you have attended school for 30 consecutive days.

• If you are convicted for possession of tobacco products (applies to those under age 18).

Buying a Used Car

CARMAX Auto Superstores, 2000 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach or check out



To research information on New or Used Cars, you should do some basic homework, such as determining a fair market value for the vehicle. Check out the following sources:



- Kelley Blue Book site provides trade-in and retail prices for used cars.



- provides comparisons of vehicles and test drive reports

– helps you to check the history of vehicle to see there is any lemon law related to it.

- from Dept. of Motor Vehicles on buying used cars.

Vehicle Registration

In the state of Florida, a motor vehicle is required by law to be registered within ten days of the owner becoming employed, placing children in public school, or establishing residency. Registering your motor vehicle goes hand in hand with the titling process.



How do I register a vehicle if I am in Florida?

If registering a vehicle in person, submit the original title, proof of Florida insurance to the local county tax collector or license plate agency.

Here is a list of offices for the application of Driver’s Licenses, Vehicle Registration



Automobile Insurance

What type of insurance is required to purchase and maintain a Florida tag and registration?

Florida's minimum coverage is $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) as long as you have a valid Florida tag, even if the vehicle is in another state or inoperative. There are no exemptions in the law. However, if you have been involved in a crash, or been convicted of certain offenses, you may be required to purchase bodily injury liability coverage (BIL).

For a basic understanding of the auto insurance, see the following site.



You can try the following to find quotes and compare.







Hospital Guide



Day Care Resource

The County Health Dept. runs a website that locates certified Day Care close to your home.



Enrolling a Child in School in Palm Beach County

When does school start?

School starts Aug. 10.

What school will my child attend?

The Boundary Office is responsible for determining which school a child will attend. Call (561) 434-8100.

What are the school hours?

Beginning and ending times vary. Check with your child's school or go the Public Affairs Web site at . Click on Information Directory.

What documents does my child need to register?

Students entering Florida schools for the first time must present:

1. A valid birth certificate or other proof of age;

2. Certification of a physical exam, including a test for tuberculosis;

3. A certificate of immunization or certificate of exemption from immunization for medical or religious reasons. Students who do not have proof of immunization will be sent home and cannot return to school until they have had their shots.

4. Proof of residence or intent to become a resident of Florida - two documents showing proof of residence such as a utility bill or voter registration card.

What kind of immunizations does my child need?

Students entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first, second, third and fourth grades need the varicella (chicken-pox) vaccine. It's the first year fourth-graders must have the vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccines are required for all students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Students in all grades, including pre-kindergarten, also need two doses of measles, one dose of mumps and one dose of rubella, which may be given as a two-dose MMR. They also must have complete five doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) series, and a fourth dose of polio series (OPV or IPV).

The only acceptable record of immunizations is the DH Form 680. It should include the student's name, birth date, parent or guardian's name, vaccines and the dates those shots were given, as well as the providing doctor's name and signature. Religious or medical reasons for not having a specific immunization must be listed as well.

All children, from birth to 18, may receive free vaccinations from the Health Department. Bring your child's current record of immunizations along with his or her Social Security card or other documentation of the Social Security number if the card is unavailable.

Without current records, all immunizations must be repeated.

For information, call (561) 840-0147.

When should students register for school?

New students should call the school to register as soon as possible. Don't wait for the first day of school.

How can I find information about the school my child will attend?

Call the school or visit the Public Affairs Office where you can view a copy of the Florida School Report. These reports show how schools compare in areas such as class size, annual expenditures, school safety, test scores, teacher education and experience. Most of this data is also available on the district Web pages: .

What are magnet schools? Where are they and how do I register my child for one?

Contact the Office of Magnet and Choice at (561) 434-8755.

How can I ask to have my child attend another school?

Visit or call School Choice/Choice Programs at (561) 434-8755. You'll be asked to complete a reassignment form. Requests are considered based upon space availability and the school's diversity goals. Valid reasons for transferring a student include supervision hardship, health reasons, change of legal residence, allowing a senior to finish the year at the school he or she had been attending, and transfers that improve the racial balance of both schools involved.

How can I find out what bus my child will ride and what time it will arrive?

Each school has its own bus routes, schedules and a bus coordinator. Schedules are generally ready about one week before school. Call the school your child will attend. Bus schedules are not available on the Internet. Avoid calling the school district's transportation department.

I work and can't wait for the bus to pick up my child in the morning and can't be home to supervise my child after school. What do I do?

Most elementary schools have School-Age Child Care (SACC) programs in the morning and afternoon for students whose parents work or need extended care. Contact your child's school for details.

What about lunch?

Breakfast and lunch are served daily at all schools. The price for breakfast is $1. Lunch for elementary students is $1.50 and lunch for middle and high school students is $1.75. Under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, free and reduced price meals are available to students who qualify. Application forms are available from your principal's office.

My child needs special help with a learning disability. What do I do?

Contact the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) coordinator at your school. If your child is not in an exceptional student education program, the ESE coordinator will arrange a meeting of the Child Study Team (CST) at the school. With your input, the CST will develop a plan to assist your child. If your child continues to have problems, the CST will request your permission to evaluate your child to determine if he or she needs special attention.

If your child is already in an exceptional student education program, the ESE coordinator at your school will invite you to a meeting to review your child's Individual Education Plan. The school district provides programs for all eligible exceptional students including mentally handicapped, speech- and language-impaired, learning-disabled, visually impaired, hearing-impaired, physically impaired, emotionally handicapped and gifted students.

My child is just learning English. What help is there for him?

All schools have programs to support the English language development and academic needs of students in the English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) program. If you have specific questions, call the Department of Multicultural Education at (561) 434-8620.

I'm interested in a private school for my child. When do they start classes?

Generally, private schools are open the same days as the public schools; however, dates and times do vary. Call the school in which you are interested for specific information.

Does the school district have a dress code? What is it?

The dress code policy or uniform guidelines vary from school to school. Call the school that your child will attend.

This website has much info:

Pre-Kindergarten Education

In 2002, Florida passed a constitutional amendment requiring the State to provide free voluntary Pre-K education to four years old. To find out about this program, go to



The site also provides a list of registered Pre-Kindergarten program providers in Palm Beach County.



For other school readiness programs such as Head Start, go to



To find out what neighborhood public school for your child, you can go to the public affairs web site of the Palm Beach School District, and click Boundary

School Choice information (Magnet Schools, Vocational etc.)

or download a brochure from



You do well to find out information about school open houses to make the right choice for your child.

Here’s the application form for Magnet Schools.



The deadline for application is December 22, 2005.

Adult Education at Community High School



Chinese School

There are two organizations that run a Chinese School on Saturdays. CASEC, the Chinese Association of Science, Economics and Culture runs a contemporary Chinese Class in Boynton Beach, contact Dr. Jin Hui Zhang at 561-795-6738. The Chinese Cultural Association of S. Florida at Boca Raton also runs a Chinese School at the Olympic Heights High School.

Public schools such as Watson B. Duncan Middle, and William T. Dwyer High School, have begun to offer Chinese language studies.

Long Distance Phone Calls

We suggest that you use phone cards, not the long distance carrier service of any phone company. You can ask BellSouth not to connect any long distance carrier to your phone, and lock it, i.e., without your approval no one can switch on your long distance carrier.

The best place to buy ‘phone card’ is to open an account at

(2.5 cents/minute)

The call quality is very good, the rate is cheap, the calling time can be renewed, and the expiration time after each renewal is 6 months. Be sure to use local access number when you call. When calling from home or cell phone, you can set up your account so that you do not have to dial lengthy pin numbers. Also you can speed dial your most frequent numbers. These can all be set up over the internet.

Another website for you to consider for phone cards:

(1 cent/minute to China)



Only look for phone card with the following attribute:

Check for quality rating. Only purchase 5.0/5.0.

Connection fee should be 0, rounding should be 1 minute, service fee should be ‘none’,

Expiration after Sale should be at least 60 days.

Long Distance Phone Rate

Since the deregulation of the telephone industry, we see a plethora of long distance/wireless service carriers. To help you understand and compare phone rates, go to



United States Postal Service,

To calculate what is the best option to mail something back to China, you can use



Or go to a nearby postal office and ask for suggestions.

If you move, you need to change your address. You need to fill an address change form at the Post Office, with your new and old addresses. The postal office will forward all the mail to your new address. Of course, you have to tell your friends to update your mailing address if this happens.

For Traveling to China and within U.S.

– a local company that specializes in China trips.

– you can sign up for a fare watch, so that the site will notify you when the fare is low for your specified destinations.





Job Searching Web Sites



















Immigration Issues

For general info,



To track application status with receipt number:



To obtain Forms and Fees Info:



Info by country,



Chinese Embassy,



US Embassy in China,



Filing Income Tax Return

If you hold a job and earn income on U. S. soil, you have to file the federal income tax return. The deadline for filing is April 15 of the following year, for all the income you make during the calendar year before. Failure to do so or any attempt to evade income tax would seriously jeopardize your immigration status should you decide to apply for permanent residency later. All your tax return related documents will be provided by your employer and bank in the beginning of a new year.

Foreign students have specific tax laws, go to



You can also fill in a web form to submit your tax questions, and they will reply you in email. Here is the web site:



To stop junk mail or telemarketing folks calling you, go to



To prepare for Hurricanes, Flood, etc.

Florida Hurricane Season – June 1-Nov.30!!!









Family Disaster Plan -

Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.

• Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.

• Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet (Rally Points); including a child's school, a neighbor or a public place.

• Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact. Have at least 2 ways of contact; e-mail, phone, etc.

• Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.

• Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.

• Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.

• Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a DISASTER SUPPLY KIT.

• Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.

• Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.

The Center for Crisis Information and Referral Services

Finally, if you are really desperate, and need help or information on Crisis Services, call 211 the crisis hotline. The website below also provides guidance if you have an elderly person at home who needs assistance.



Then of course we are always here to help make the transition to your new life in this community easier. Remember you have an ultimate ‘hot line’ –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayers and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

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