Living Here
Money | Transportation
| Children | Schools
| Healthcare | Housing
Los Alamos is a small, family town. It has limited
nightlife and after ten in the evening the town is quiet. The crime
rate is low; it is generally considered safe to walk on the streets.
Outdoor activities are popular throughout the year.
Life in Los Alamos, as in most of the American West, is informal.
Westerners have a reputation for being friendly. Most people entertain
on a casual level. Men rarely wear ties, even to work.
People enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, running,
and many other outdoor activities.
Santa Fe, approximately 45 minutes south by car,
offers a rich culture and is known for its many world-class museums,
shops and boutiques, art galleries and wide range of entertainment,
from dance to theater to music.
MONEY
Call your bank for current rates, or look on the Internet. You can
find exchange rates at http://quote.yahoo.com/m5.
Making Payments
In the United States, money usually flows through banks. Most people
use cash only for small purchases. For almost everything else, we
write a personal check, pay immediately with an automatic debit card,
or charge items with a credit card. For consumer information about
banking, credit cards, and more, the U.S. Government offers the following
Web site: http://www.consumer.gov/yourmoney.htm.
Financial institutions in the area (Los Alamos, White Rock, Espanola,
and Santa Fe) offer a full range of banking services.
TRANSPORTATION
A car is a necessity. Visitors to Los Alamos are often surprised
to learn that our town has no community-wide public transportation
system, nor is there public transportation linking Los Alamos with
Santa Fe or other nearby communities. Los Alamos is spread over a
large area, and many homes are several miles from the nearest stores.
You must plan on financing your own transportation once you are here,
and at least one person in your family should know how to drive. If
you are here with your spouse or partner, both of you might decide
to obtain a driver’s license; otherwise, you will tend to be
isolated.
AUTOMOBILES
Importing a car to the United States. Although
you may send a car from your home to the United States, renting
or buying a car here is usually simpler and less expensive. If your
vehicle does not comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards (FMVSS), you can import it into the United States
for personal use for a period not to exceed one year. For more information
see http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/.
If you decide to ship your vehicle to the United States, the ports
nearest New Mexico are in Texas and California. Houston, Texas,
the closest, is 900 miles (1440 kilometers) from Los Alamos. If
you ship a car to the United States, do not leave anything of value
in it.
To buy a new automobile, you will need to go to
Santa Fe, Espanola, or Albuquerque, or another city. Check the yellow
pages of the cities’ telephone directories under “Automobile
Dealers—New Cars” for addresses of automobile dealers. Plan
on renting or borrowing a car for the shopping trip.
To buy a used car, you may look in several places:
- the yellow pages of the telephone directories in the area under
“Automobile Dealers—Used Cars,”
- advertisements in the classified section of the area newspapers,
- notices on bulletin boards (for example, in food stores, libraries,
etc.), and
- an informal used-car lot (called the “Lemon Lot”)
in front of the Methodist church on Diamond Drive and Canyon Road.
Consumer information on how to buy a new or used car can be found
at http://www.consumer.gov/transportation.htm
A few hints: Light-colored cars are cooler in the
summer than dark cars. An air conditioner will make summer driving
comfortable. Fuel-injected systems are convenient, because they do
not have to be adjusted for altitude changes, as does a carburetor.
Four-wheel drive is not necessary, unless you intend to drive in back-country
areas. Front-wheel drive is helpful in snowy conditions. For safe
driving on snowy days, you will need a car with good road traction—chains,
snow tires, front-wheel drive, or a combination of these.
Legalities: Immediately upon the purchase of your
car, you must register your car with the Motor Vehicle Division of
New Mexico. If you do not wish to register the car yourself, your
automobile dealer will do it for a fee. Arrange insurance ahead of
time; you cannot drive a car off the sales lot without it.
CHILDREN
Having a Child
The Laboratory offers maternity workshops for expectant parents on
a regular basis. Information about benefits, insurance, etc. is presented.
For example, if you are hired as a UC employee and are eligible for
benefits, your baby must be enrolled in your benefit plan within a
set time frame. For more information about the workshops, go to http://www.lanl.gov/worklife/benefits/lifeevents/healthy_preg.shtml.
Childcare
Childcare is not always easy to find, particularly in Los Alamos
and White Rock. Parents must begin to look as soon as they know they
will need care. Parents must be persistent, and often, you will need
to put your name on waiting lists.
The State of New Mexico has guidelines to regulate childcare. The
State of New Mexico requires day care centers to keep on file a record
of each child’s immunizations and two emergency contacts other
than the parent(s). Therefore, please bring immunization records and
addresses for your emergency contacts. Contact the Los Alamos Public
Health Office at 505.662.4038 for a list of the immunizations your
child(ren) will require. It is recommended that you pick up documentation
you will need to fill out from the day care center at least one day
before you wish to enroll your child(ren).
Besides day care centers, you have the option of placing your child(ren)
in a day care setting based in a provider’s home. Look for babysitting
and childcare services under the yellow page section of the local
telephone books, and under “Babysitters Needed/Available” in the local
newspapers.
For more detailed information about the State of New Mexico’s
regulations governing childcare facilities, go to http://nrc.uchsc.edu/STATES/NM/newmexico.htm.
SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN
Public schools: The public school system, which
is free, provides thirteen years of education. Los Alamos public schools
begin at the kindergarten level and continue through high school.
A child who is five years old by September 1 is eligible to enter
kindergarten at the beginning of the school year. A child who is six
years old by September 1 is eligible to enter the first grade at the
beginning of the school year.
Private schools: Private schools in Los Alamos range
from preschools that accept children as young as two to schools that
are accredited by the state to teach older children. Some are secular
and some are church sponsored. Some may have long waiting lists. Write
to these schools before you come to Los Alamos to reserve a place
for your child. A small, nonrefundable registration fee, or deposit,
is usually charged. Write as soon as possible; registration for the
fall semester maybe completed by the previous spring. Individual schools
will provide you with information about entrance requirements, class
offerings, philosophy of teaching, schedules, and tuition. For addresses
of private schools in Los Alamos, e-mail immigration@lanl.gov.
Residence requirements: Students who attend public
schools in Los Alamos must be residents of Los Alamos County, which
includes the communities of Los Alamos and White Rock. Your children
will attend schools in the district in which you reside if you live
outside Los Alamos County. Nonresidents of Los Alamos County who work
at Los Alamos National Laboratory and who wish to send their children
to Los Alamos public schools must petition the superintendent of Los
Alamos public schools.
School Health Policies
Enrollment: There are immunization requirements
for all children enrolled in both public and private Los Alamos schools.
Your children should be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
(whooping cough), polio, measles, and rubella. Bring records of your
children’s immunizations and “booster” inoculations.
(It is always helpful if the records are translated into English.)
The law regarding immunization is strict, and schools enforce it for
all students, although certain exemptions are permitted for medical
or religious reasons. For further information on this subject, visit
http://www.laschools.net/for-parents/.
The public schools ask parents to complete a health history and a
medical permission form for each child upon enrollment. Medical permission
forms, which list telephone numbers of parents or alternatives, are
kept on file at school in case of emergency. Inform the schools of
changes in your child’s health or your emergency contact information.
Medications: If your child needs to take medicine
at school, tell the school nurse or principal. Your child should carry
just enough medicine for one day. The nurse will help children who
need assistance and will store medication at school for emergency
use, if necessary. The schools administer no medication without signed
permission from a student’s parents and a physician.
Medical emergencies: You (or your designated alternate)
will be notified if your child becomes ill or is injured at school.
It is your responsibility to obtain medical care for your child, but
the school will assist you. In an emergency, if you cannot be reached,
your child will be taken to the closest medical center or hospital
by ambulance, if necessary. To help the school develop safety programs,
notify the school nurse of any injuries your child receives at school
or during school-related activities.
Communicable diseases: Children with communicable
diseases must stay at home. The state health department will not permit
children to attend school if they have conjunctivitis (pink eye) (during
the first twenty-four hours of treatment), septic sore throat (strep
throat), chicken pox, hepatitis, scarlet fever, measles, rubella (German
measles), mumps, or impetigo. Children with fevers should be kept
at home; the school recommends that temperatures should be normal
for twenty-four hours before students return to class. Returning children
may be excused from physical education or recess for three days with
a note from a parent. After that, a written excuse from a physician
is required.
Insurance: If your family health insurance policy
does not cover school-related injuries and illnesses or you would
like additional coverage, the schools can give you information about
group health insurance for students.
Athletics: Students in middle school or high school
who participate in interscholastic athletics must have a medical examination
by a physician before participating in sports. Examinations must be
on or after May 1 of the year preceding any preseason practice.
HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE
Health insurance as well as other insurances/benefits may or may
not be offered depending on your particular hiring circumstances.
You may have been hired as a visitor or as a UC employee, or you may
have been hired under some other arrangement. Do not assume
you have insurance. Instead, e-mail immigration@lanl.gov,
and you will be advised of your appropriate benefits. If you are hired
as a UC employee and are eligible for benefits, remember to make your
choices of benefits within the allotted time frame. Again, if you
are hired in as a UC employee and are eligible for benefits, and you
or your spouse have a baby, remember that the baby must be enrolled
within a set number of days of birth. Please check with your Benefits
Office.
Before you come: If you have health insurance, check
whether your policy covers you when you travel to the United States
and while you live here, and know which medical procedures are covered.
Some medical Laboratory procedures regularly performed here are covered
by American health insurance plans but not by some European policies.
Bring your insurance company’s claim forms. Our usual custom
with indemnity insurance is to pay medical bills when we visit a doctor
and to claim reimbursement from the insurance company afterwards.
It may be possible to purchase health insurance from an American carrier
before you leave your country. If you enroll in a plan before you
come to Los Alamos, coverage can begin on your arrival date; however,
you may want to review any pre-existing condition(s) clauses before
you enroll in any insurance plan. In some cases, a United States resident
may be able to apply for you. Again, this depends on your circumstances.
Medical records: If you or members of your family
have a particular or chronic medical problem, or if you received treatment
in the past that may influence future treatment, bring a statement
from your doctor that includes your medical history and a description
of your current treatment. Have the statement translated into English,
if possible. Do not forget to bring claim forms if you have medical
insurance from home.
International prescriptions: If you bring a prescription
from abroad to be filled here, a pharmacist can determine the American
equivalent of the drug you need. However, pharmacists fill prescriptions
written only by doctors licensed to practice in New Mexico. You will
need to see a doctor here to obtain a new prescription.
Medicines and pharmaceutical drugs are regulated closely in the United
States. Certain medicines or drugs available over the counter in your
own country maybe obtainable here only with a prescription from a
licensed doctor. Check with your doctor to find out if drugs you may
be taking are available in the United States and if their sale is
restricted.
Finding an insurance company: Insurance agents are
listed under Insurance in the yellow pages. Some are independent,
while others represent large companies. Talk to several agents; compare
their services and prices and ask colleagues for recommendations before
you make a choice. Some agents sell all types of personal insurance
while others have a limited portfolio. Some companies sell health
insurance only to people who have lived here at least one year.
How much do you need? Health insurance is sold
in varying amounts and differs in the coverage it offers. Individual
insurance may be costly. An insurance agent can explain the options
and recommend the amount and kind of coverage that is adequate for
your area, but do compare prices offered with other agents to ensure
that you are getting a competitive price. The coverage offered by
individual policies, compared with group policies, is limited, but
you may be able to buy a rider (an extension) to a policy to cover
additional services.
To qualify: To qualify for individual health insurance
you may have to be examined by a doctor. The age of applicants and
their health problems determine whether a physical examination is
necessary. Often a physician’s report is accepted. Bring records
in English, if possible.
Non-English speakers: If you have difficulty with
English, bring someone who can translate for you to your appointment.
Most local doctors speak English only; a few speak Spanish.
RENTAL HOUSING
Adequate housing can be sometimes difficult to find in Los Alamos.
Besides Los Alamos, the closest places to seek housing are in White
Rock, and in the Española and Santa Fe areas.
Interpreting advertisements for houses and apartments.
Advertisements describe homes and apartments by the number of bedrooms
and bathrooms or, less commonly, by area in square feet. The phrase
“one-and-a-half bathrooms” means a house or apartment
with one full bathroom (sink, toilet, bathtub, and shower) and a half
bathroom (sink and toilet only). A utility room houses a washing machine
and dryer; sometimes it also contains a sink. A family room is an
area used for informal entertaining. An efficiency or studio apartment
is a one-room apartment with limited kitchen space, and a small bathroom.
Furnishings: Unfurnished units usually include carpets,
drapes, and large kitchen appliances such as a stove, refrigerator,
and sometimes a dishwasher. Furnished units usually include basic
furniture; a small assortment of silverware, dishes, and cooking utensils;
and pillows and blankets, but no linens—sheets and towels (a furnished
home will have linens). American mattresses come in four sizes: twin
(single bed), full (double bed), queen size, and king size. It is
best to get a list of what is furnished before you sign a lease.
Rental Agreements: Be sure you understand the terms
of the rental agreement you sign. It should specify the following
matters.
Form of contract: What kind of agreement are you
signing? If it is a lease, you may be bound to its terms for a specific
time period, usually one year. Short-term agreements can be made for
monthly or even daily rentals. In legal documents, the owner of a
home or apartment is called the landlord; the renter is called the
tenant.
Rent: How much must you pay, and when are payments
due? Will the amount be prorated (divided proportionately) if you
stay less than thirty days during your first or last month? What will
your initial payment be? (You will be expected to pay in advance a
cleaning and security deposit plus the first month’s rent, or
both first and last month’s rent.) Are utilities (gas, electricity,
water, garbage removal, sewage services) included in the rent? If
you are to pay for utilities, ask what recent average monthly costs
have been.
Cleaning/security deposit: Landlords usually collect
from new tenants a deposit that pays for damages or cleaning if the
tenants do not leave the premises in the state they found them. The
cleaning/security deposit may be as much as one month’s rent.
Find out under what conditions it is refundable. Ask whether you have
the right to receive photocopies of repair bills that are deducted
from your cleaning deposit.
Repairs and alterations: Learn who is responsible
for making repairs and who pays for them. Are you permitted to make
alterations?
Regulations: Are pets and children allowed? Is quiet
time enforced after a certain time in the evening? How many parking
spaces are you entitled to? May you sublet (rent) to another person
if you leave for an extended time? Are you required to notify the
landlord in writing before terminating the rental agreement?
Inventory: Apartment managers will supply an inventory
of items in your unit. Usually you have a week or two to initial and
return it, signifying that all items are present and in good condition.
Credit Rating: Most landlords will ask for information
about your salary, your employer, and personal references. Explain
that you are an international visitor working at Los Alamos National
Laboratory.
Deposits: Landlords often require a deposit to reserve
a unit temporarily while you continue to search for other alternatives.
Obtain a written receipt for it. Often the deposit, which may equal
a month’s rent, is not refundable; always ask!
Renting a House: Renting a home rather than an apartment
usually entails maintaining the house and yard. A real estate agent
representing the homeowner may take care of repairs, but if you negotiate
a rental contract directly with a homeowner (who may subsequently
leave the area), you are likely to be responsible for repairs yourself
and may have to write or call the owner when problems arise. Establish
in writing who will pay for repairs, and understand what maintenance
you are expected to perform. If the homeowner expects you to water
the garden, decide who will pay the water bill. Water is metered here;
keeping a lawn in this arid climate is expensive. Homeowners are often
willing to pay for water to ensure that their gardens will be kept
green.
Damages: Before you move into your rented house
or apartment, inspect it carefully with your landlord. Look for broken
windows or appliances, faulty plumbing, and stains on furniture, floors,
or walls. Make a written list of what you find and give a photocopy
of it to the landlord to protect yourself from being held responsible
for damage done by previous tenants.
Local Practices: Procedures for renting a house
or apartment vary in different places. In Los Alamos, real estate
agents who locate a rental house for you do not charge a finder’s
fee. There are no additional fees added to your rent to cover services
and upkeep. There is no registration tax for signing a lease, nor
is a tax levied on the occupants of an unfurnished apartment. You
are not required to pay a previous tenant for improvements he or she
made to your lodgings. Tipping the manager of your apartment building
is not customary.
Renters’ Insurance: The owner of rental property
does not carry insurance on tenants’ personal property. An optional
renter’s insurance policy covers loss of your belongings and
protects you from personal liability if someone is injured on property
you rent and sues you for negligence. For more information about what
renters’ insurance is, go to http://www.insure.com/home/renters.html.
Where to Find Rental Housing: The Los Alamos National
Laboratory Housing
Office (http://financial.lanl.gov/housing/default.shtml)
provides information about housing options in the area.
