frequently asked questions

the basics
transportation and moving in
food and supplies
odds and ends

the basics

I want to do Dorm Crew's Fall Clean-up. Can I do that and FUP?
Nope. Everything happens at the same time: FUP, FAP, FIP, FOP, Dorm Crew and any other programs they may have offered to try to tempt you away from Mother FUP. But what do they offer? Diamonds and rust. Come to FUP, where we love you dearly.
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When does FUP start?
FUP leaders are required to be on campus on Tuesday, August 16th, 2009 for leader training. FUPpies must arrive on Friday, August 21st, 2009. Please schedule your flight so you arrive on campus between 12 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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My aunt lives in Boston and gets lonely on Tuesdays. Will I have time to visit her during FUP?
FUP is a 24-hour-a-day program; we promise that you will have no time to visit family or friends, do errands, sleep, or eat for the entire week. Okay, you can sleep on the T.
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Where am I going to live during FUP week? And after?
FUP will be housed in Thayer Hall, one of the first-year dorms in Harvard Yard. On the morning of Wednesday, August 26, we'll be moving ALL of our stuff into a secure temporary storage site in Harvard Yard. Later in the day, you will be able to move into your dorm room, your new home for the next nine months. Lest you feel the hankering to unpack, we'll warn you in advance that you really don't have much time to set up your room on Wednesday, since FUP has events scheduled till late Wednesday night. (Also, you should wait till your roommates arrive to decide on rooms.) So, if your parents would like to help with the move, please have them plan to come on Thursday morning, the official day of move-in.
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transportation and moving in

I don't like getting up early, so I scheduled a flight that arrives in Boston at 4:30 p.m. You still love me, right?
Just because we're angry doesn't mean we don't love you. We ask that you arrive at Harvard before 3:00 because we have some icebreaker games scheduled, as well as dinner (yummy!). But some FUPpies each year have legitimate reasons for arriving late, and we will forgive you. Please tell us if you will be late, so we can make sure a FUP leader is waiting to let you into your room and help you find the rest of us.
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The only weekly flight from Ouagadougou to Boston is on Saturdays, so I'm going to arrive a day early. What do I do?
We understand that airlines can be, as Karl Marx phrased it, big boogers. Bourgers? Bourgeoirs? Regardless, though it is important to arrive on Friday, sometimes you can't help but arrive a day early. If this is the case, please notify us RIGHT AWAY by email and tell us why you will be arriving early and what time you will be arriving. We will certainly be able to get you a place to sleep that evening, but FUP will not be able to provide any food, activities, or entertainment until Friday morning, so we recommend that you bring some money to purchase food and friends until then.
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How do I get from Logan Airport to Harvard? to Thayer?
The easier but more expensive way ($35) is to take a cab. You'll want "Harvard University, Johnston Gate." If your driver doesn't know where the Gate is, just tell him/her it's by the T entrance. Also, if you want to take a cab but don't want to pay that much, let us know and we will try to match you up with other fuppies whose flights arrive around the same time so you can share a cab.

take it from us

Ayodeji Ogunnaike (FUP '06) and Nworah Ayogu (FUP '06) on FUPping in a hurricane. (1:24)

The storm

Recently, the public transportation options from the Airport have been greatly improved. Here's what you do: exit the terminal and look for the nearest Silver Line bus stop. Get on the bus ($1.25) and ride to South Station. There, hop off and look for signs to the Red Line. You want to take the train going toward 'Alewife'. Get off at Harvard. In the station, take the stairs up, NOT the ramp down. Then take the "Harvard Yard" exit. And there you are! Johnston Gate! Now, to get from Johnston Gate to Thayer, walk through the gate. Walk directly toward the big grey building. Yes, right through trees. You're a FUPpie and you're magic. Turn left before hitting the grey building or the John Harvard Statue. Thayer is the building directly to the left of (just north of) the grey building.
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food and supplies

AHH! What should I pack?
We strongly suggest that you bring only what you will need for one week. There is no room for storage. Think comfortable. You will be painting, moving, cleaning, gardening, and lots of sandwich making. Bring clothes that you won't mind having splattered with paint, spackle or peanut butter and jelly. Sturdy work-boots are a plus if you have them; sneakers should be fine.

Finally, here's a handy-dandy check list:

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How should I get my stuff for the rest of the year to Harvard?
DO NOT bring it to FUP. We have no room for storage and have to run around the Yard with our bags trying not to let dorm crew throw away our clothes anyway; you do not want to be protecting your futon and XBox as well. If you live near Boston, we recommend having a parent, guardian or relative throw all your stuff into a station wagon and drive it to Harvard on Thursday, August 27th, after FUP has ended and you have had a night to rest and digest. If you live far, far away, we recommend following Harvard College guidelines for mailing your stuff to school. You will want to address it to your Harvard Yard Mail Center address; the college will let you pick it up and take it to your room starting the morning of Thursday, August 27. If your parents want to help you move in, they should arrive then.
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Should I bring my computer to FUP?
Although there is no actual need for computers during FUP, we understand that you will want to facebook your fellow FUPpies and mysterious leaders as soon as you meet them (if you haven't already). While this is completely understandable, keep in mind that FUP is not responsible for stolen or lost computers. There will be lots of people going in and out of Thayer during the day while we are gone at worksites (Dorm Crew, maintenance staff, etc) and on the last day of the program your luggage will be stored in a truck for most of the day. Nothing has been stolen in recent years but please keep the situation in mind when you're deciding what to bring.
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We get showers in our suites, right?
Sorry, but Thayer has common bathrooms on each floor. There will be about six to eight people sharing each bathroom (two sinks, two shower stalls and two toilets). This means bring/buy flip flops and a shower caddy.
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What if I forget to pack contact solution? soap? honey-mustard onion pretzels?
A major chain drug store, CVS, is right across the street from Harvard Yard. And C'est Bon Convenience is even closer. And the Shaw's supermarket is a T ride or a 15 minute walk away.
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What's on the menu for the week?
Breakfast: donated pastries and cereal! Lunch: PB&J!!! Dinner: dining hall food (yummy!) at one of the houses
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I'm allergic to some foods. Do I have to let you know?
YES! If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know.
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I keep kosher. And I'm also vegan. Do I have to bring my own food? What's up?
Dinner is provided through one of the houses and FUP will make arrangements with the dining hall staff to provide kosher meals. It's nothing fancy, just a frozen dinner. (just fyi, Hillel food is GOOD) Breakfast, we usually get stuff donated and it's most likely not kosher. But there's always bread (which is usually kosher) from lunch that you can eat for breakfast. Vegan entrees as well as other items, such as tofu, soymilk, and rice milk, are available from Harvard University Dining Services. Please let us know in advance so we can make these arrangements.
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odds and ends

I am an international student and I'll have to register with the HIO. Will I be able to do so during FUP week?
Although the HIO wants students to register as soon as possible after arriving, there is no set deadline for registering. It is just easier for them to get organized before the school year begins. Registration takes about 15 minutes - you'll fill out a form and they'll make sure that your passport is in order for academic registration. The HIO office is open M-F, 9-5 pm. If you have any more questions, you can call them at 617.495.2789.
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I'm interested in doing community service at Harvard after FUP. Where should I go?
Your FUP leaders are your best resource, so just take your paint can and chat a little as you paint a fence or wall. There will be a list (eventually) up on the web of what the leaders are involved in. And we've also set aside an entire page of resources.
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