TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Laredo
Welcome to Laredo
Laredo, the only city
to serve under 7 flags, is one of the fastest growing cosmopolitan cities
in the U.S with a population of over 200,000 people. It is located 150
miles southwest of San Antonio and 150 miles north of Monterrey, Mexico.
You can just follow the link to get a map of Texas.
Map
Located at an international border with Mexico, it has a unique blend
of American & Mexican cultures. This cultural fusion is reflected
in every fold of life in Laredo, be it food, dance, or language.
Weather
Laredo has a semi-arid
climate. People expecting to see snow would be in for a disappointment
as Laredo enjoys almost 320 days of sun.
Spring is warm and pleasant. Summers can be very hot and dry with low
humidity. People should protect themselves with sun-protective gear like
sunscreens, umbrellas, hats etc.
Winters are not severely cold. Temperatures may drop to 30 to 40 F occasionally.
A jacket or a sweater may suffice for the cold.
Laredo gets unpredictable high winds and showers. An umbrella or a windbreaker
is handy any time.
Statistics
Spring: 89F Max and 54F Min.
Summer: 110F Max and 80F Min.
Fall: 95F Max and 70F Min.
Winter: 71F Max and 40F Min.
Precipitation 19 inches Avg.
Humidity 62% Avg.
How to get to Laredo
Laredo has an international airport and is well connected through interstate bus lines too. People traveling from long distances usually prefer to come by air.
Airport
The Laredo International Airport code is LRD. Daily flights go to and
from San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Mexico City (Mexico). The airport
is a five-minute drive from TAMIU. Cabs are available at the airport at
any given time. Costs range around $15 to reach the University. Students
who do not speak Spanish must take a cab with a driver who can speak English.
The following is the link to the Laredo airport website:
http://www.cityoflaredo.com/airport/airport2002/Airport2003.html
Pick Up Information
The University arranges
to pick up international students arriving in Laredo from the airport
or the transit center if informed of their arrival time well in advance.
A ‘pick up information form’ must be filled out for this.
The students should send their itinerary to the foreign advisor so that
the University knows when and how the student is coming. Please go to
the following link to fill the pick-up form:
http://www.tamiu.edu/affairs/develop/arrival.htm
Interstate Bus Lines
(Greyhound Lines has buses going to Laredo from different cities of the
United States of America. Some international students book their ticket
to Dallas or Houston from their home country and take a bus to reach Laredo
.However, in such cases it is advisable to take a flight up to Laredo
as the journey by bus may be long and tiring.
City Transit System
The local bus service is called the Laredo Municipal Transit System. Various buses operate on various routes. Route # 16 bus connects the University and downtown. Route # 21 connects the University to South Laredo. Students with a valid student ID get tickets at reduced price of 35 cents per ride to travel in the El- Metro. A ticket card consisting of 20 rides can be purchased for $7 at the transit center in downtown.
Border Crossing
International students can visit Mexico within 26-miles of the border of Mexico for up to 72 hours without a permit. It is mandatory to carry proof of your citizenship such as your passport along with your I-20 and a valid driver’s license. If you plan to go more than 26 miles into Mexico, you must acquire tourist permits for yourself and your car which are available in Nuevo Laredo. Only Bridge #1, which is located at the south end of Convent Ave., is open to pedestrian traffic. However, Bridge #1 and #2 are open to vehicular traffic. Generally, people park their vehicles downtown and walk across the bridge. For the latest information click on this link:
http://ci.laredo.tx.us/www/crossing.html