By Kyle Dennan and Colby Leopard
International students on campus often find themselves having trouble accessing transportation to get around Tuscaloosa.
“Transportation is always one of the key issues for many international students, especially when trying to arrange their initial arrival,” Charter Morris, director of Capstone International Services, said. “Our office is actually not equipped to provide transportation, but there are a number of options that students have to get from the airport in Birmingham to Tuscaloosa.”
The information provided by CIS on their website to incoming international students mentions travel by personal vehicle, Greyhound Bus, Amtrak, airport shuttle, taxi and limousine as possible ways to get from the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport to Tuscaloosa.
According to Sharon Le, exchange coordinator at Capstone International Academic Programs, getting from the Birmingham airport to Tuscaloosa is often the most challenging travel arrangement to make for exchange students.
“Initially getting to campus can be a bit of a chore, but as the semester goes on getting around town without a car is what most out-of-state students in general face,” Le said.
International students get around the way many students do – they rely on friends or on public transportation.
“The Crimson Ride and Tuscaloosa Trolley system has been a real lifeline for many international students and visiting researchers,” Morris said.
Lisa Spangenberger, an exchange student just starting her semester at Alabama, agrees with Morris that the bus is the easiest way for exchange students to get around Tuscaloosa. For the places not located near campus, however, Spangenberger must ask her roommates for a ride.
“I can go by bus around campus easily and I can go the Strip, but I need my roommates to go to Wal-Mart or the mall,” Spangenberger said. “They both have a car, which is nice because they offer to take me places around town. I can just go and ask them if they can take me to wherever I want and they will help.”
Originally from outside of Mannheim, Germany, Spangenberger is used to having a car of her own to get around town. Despite having different traffic laws than her own country, Spangenberger says she would feel very safe driving in the United States.
“The thing I miss the most is my car, definitely,” Spangenberger said. “I would actually feel more comfortable driving in the U.S. than Germany because the highways are so much less crowded here.”
Prior to leaving for her semester in Alabama, Spangenberger obtained her international driver’s license so she can travel over spring break.
“I am planning on driving to Florida for spring break with my boyfriend to Miami and the beach,” Spangenberger said. “I’m not exactly sure whether we’re going to rent a car or do something else, but I got the international license so we have that option.”
Although getting an international driver’s license is the easiest option for exchange students wanting to drive in the United States, Capstone International recommends getting an Alabama state driver’s license for practical reasons.
“For those who do choose to drive, Capstone suggests obtaining an Alabama license in order to avoid any confusion during routine traffic stops and because many insurance companies will not insure those without a U.S. license, or will insure them at much higher rates.”
