Housing
A majority of UNR students/scholars live a few blocks away from the campus, which also contributes to the fact that those apartments are relatively more expensive than those farther away. The prices most Chinese students/scholars feel comfortable with are around $250 to $350. With transportation, it is relatively easier to find a place that is right for you in town. Whenever a semester ends, ads of renting, looking for roommates, or moving sales will increase largely. Usually, you can look up the bulletins everywhere on campus or Sagebrush (campus newspaper) to find a room. Some local newspapers and real estate companies also publish on a regular basis information about apartments or houses.
Transportation
The bus services are very convenient in Reno and Sparks area. There are 27 bus lines (Route 1 through Route 27) in Reno/Sparks area. Free bus schedules are available at the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) on campus. Or you can obtain a copy at the Downtown bus termination on Fourth Street, called the " CitiCenter." As a matter of fact, you can obtain a copy any time when you are on a bus. Regardless of how far you need to go, the prices of tickets are:
Restaurant
There are about 20 Chinese restaurants in Reno/Sparks area. The following Chinese Restaurants are some good examples:
To find more options, you can refer to the Telephone Yellow Pages.
Shopping
Most food in many grocery stores is not meant for Asian people. There are chain stores like Trader's Joe's, Safeway, Raley's, Smith, and Albertson etc. However, many Chinese people here prefer Winco Foods, International Super Market, and Asian Store, etc. Even at these stores, there are not many options as what we are used to. As time goes by, you may adjust to American cuisine and become less frustrated with American food.
There are about 25 shopping centers & malls of various sizes and qualities. Better shopping malls such as Meadowood Mall and Park Lane Mall are very popular. Unlike the newly built shopping malls in China, these malls are usually one/two floored that take large pieces of land. On weekends, even though they are probably the most popular places in Reno, the shopping malls are far from "crowded." Merchandises sold in K-Mart and Wal-Mart are considered relatively cheaper than other stores. The quality of items, however, may not be as good as those in stores like Target, which has some better selections of items and better quality. Depending on what you can afford and want, you can negotiate between price and quality to find out a real buy. As seasons change, for example, sometimes you may get a good deal even at Meadowood Mall. Home Depot is another big chain store that sells all sorts of household items such as: flowers, trees, wood, kitchen facilities, swamp coolers, bathroom facilities, paint, furnitures, tools, etc.
Theaters
Major movie theaters in Reno/Sparks are: Century-14, Century Complex, Cine-4 Theaters, Keystone II Cinema, and Greenbrae 8 Theaters. Tickets usually cost about $7.5 a person. Of course, this does not include popcorn and soda, which are irresistible "junk foods." A movie theater often consists of several small showrooms-It's rare that a showroom can hold 200 audience. Whenever a movie is to be on shown, there will be a preview of the movie.
Church | A Glimpse at the church