java tutorial from Sun is always a good resource to consultFirst q: t is an local variable, t.MyString is accessing a member variable of t via t. Thus it is nothing related to public/protected/private limitation. Second q: static initialization blocks are used for initilize a class member. Note declaration also do the initialization for class member/instance member: byte,short,int,long -> 0 float, double, -> 0.0 bool -> false char -> empty character object -> null If you really want to access the thing in static{}, put static statements before define class member. Seems you are doing SCJP, if yest, better read Java tutorial carefully.