Location

The town of Lewisburg is beautifully located in a rural area of Pennsylvania — rolling hills, green grass and trees, and fresh air. The town lies along the Susquehanna River and is very picturesque. Lewisburg is part of a greater area known as the Susquehanna Valley with many small towns and boroughs sharing the country landscape.

The campus is located within walking distance of downtown Lewisburg where quaint shops and restaurants line the main street along with a rare art deco cinema. For all of the positive features of life in this small town, there is no public transportation in Lewisburg except for one local taxi service. While first year students are not allowed to have cars on campus because of space constraints it isn't too difficult to find an upper-class student for transportation, as many will have cars by their sophomore year. International Student Services and the Office of Campus Activities and Programs will organize free transportation to the grocery store and area shopping malls. Trips to major cities such as New York, Washington D.C. and Baltimore are very popular and occur most weekends throughout the year for twenty dollars.

Weather

You can expect all kinds of weather in Lewisburg throughout the four seasons. The temperature range might go as low as -10F (-23C) and as high as 90F (32C), but is more moderate than extreme. It rains, it snows, it gets hot, and in the summer it is often humid. The one good thing to say about the weather is that if you don't like what's happening today, just wait a few days and it will change!

Packing

Bring an umbrella or raincoat, or plan to purchase one when you get here. Also, bring or plan to buy a heavy winter coat and boots because it can get very cold in the winter. It may be cheaper to buy a wool or leather jacket at home, but if you come from a country that doesn't have snow, you may want to wait to buy things here that will be the appropriate weight and length for the local weather conditions. Generally, people dress very informally, however, occasionally you may be invited to dinners or receptions and then more formal clothing is appropriate.

It is also suggested that you bring a pillow and bed linen. Your residence hall room is not equipped with these items. A shopping trip is planned the second day of your arrival. Bed linen, pillows, and blankets can be purchased for a modest cost at the local shopping mall, but if you must have a pillow and linen for these first few nights you should pack accordingly.

Consider buying a laptop computer if you plan to have a computer at Bucknell. Electronic storage at the University is limited.