Bellingham is more than just a college town. Many students make Bellingham their home after graduation. It is a community with a strong identity of its own, and like Western, it has a friendly and familiar flavor that is attractive to people from larger cities and smaller towns. Most parks are only open from dawn to dusk, and have specific rules pertaining to pets, motorized vehicles, boats, and alcohol. It is important that you read and obey all park rules.
Many students choose to open an account at a local bank.
There are several banks in Bellingham. It's important that you open a savings account at a bank. Most Americans do not carry large amounts of cash with them. It is safer to withdraw money from t he bank as you need it. If your parents need to send you money during the program, the two safest ways are international money orders, or by international wire transfers.