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GRENOBLE 2015 Handbook Welcome

So you are planning on studying in Grenoble? I am very pleased to hear it, and I would like to give you some more information about what to expect. You will take language courses at the Centre Universitaire d’Etudes Françaises, which is part of the University of Grenoble and is attended by students from all over the world. Advanced French Studies and science program students will also take courses at the University of Grenoble, which attracts students from all over Europe. Our academic advisor, Patrice Terrone, is a popular professor at the University. Together, we will help you select your courses and encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities to get more familiar with French BU in Grenoble culture.

We work very carefully to match you with the French 1 Getting Ready to Go 7 Arrival family whose everyday life you are going to share. You Your Time in Grenoble Travel Arrangements will meet them shortly after your arrival. This part of Language Preparation Orientation your experience probably makes you feel a little nervous A Sense of Purpose right now, but I can assure you it will almost certainly be Personal Growth and 8 Housing the most positive part of it. Cultural Awareness French Households Helpful Websites Family Housing Regulations Grenoble is a great place to spend a semester, year, or Recommended Reading Property Damage summer. This medium-sized city will make you feel comfortable right away. It is surrounded by beautiful 2 Academics 9 Life in Grenoble mountains. And outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and Spring and Fall Semester Food/Dining bicycling are easily accessible and very reasonably Courses Shopping priced through the University's sports clubs. Culturally, it Summer Term Program Museums is very dynamic and has one of the best fine arts Libraries Entertainment museums in France (outside of ). It is located in the Other University Facilities Cultural Reimbursements beautiful Rhône-Alpes region with spectacular scenery Academic Policies and Mail and great ski resorts. Thanks to the TGV (high speed Procedures Internet Access train), Grenoble is less than three hours from Paris and Media three to four hours from Provence, with its Roman 4 What to Bring Transportation: Getting monuments, etc. You will be able to discover the many Handbooks Around Grenoble different aspects of France and of its culture. Passport and Student Visa Grenoble -Area Hotels and Student Identification Hostels We are all looking forward to meeting you and helping Computers and E-mail Outside of Grenoble you make the best of your time in Grenoble! Textbooks Clothing 12 Names and Numbers Cordially, Appliances Prescription and Drug Store Marie-Eve Scheibling Items Director, BU Study Abroad Grenoble Miscellaneous Items

6 Money Matters Program Cost National Health Insurance Currency Banking Cash Getting Ready to Go “Mon grand-père possédait une vieille maison située dans la plus belle position de la ville, sur la Place YOUR TIME IN GRENOBLE Grenette au coin de la Grande rue, en plein midi et The Grenoble programs are designed to give you the ayant devant elle la plus belle place de la ville, les opportunity to develop your language skills and to gain a deux cafés rivaux et le centre de la bonne unique cultural experience. Think of your semester in Grenoble as one to which you have a to bring, and that compagnie.... Nous faisions de longues promenades will yield skills and experiences that you can bring back to ensemble, surtout vers la tour de Rabot et la . your home campus. Once you arrive in Grenoble, try new things; don’t be shy. You’ll see that new experiences can La vue magnifique dont on jouit de là, surtout vers change your whole outlook on life. derrière lequel s’élèvent les plus hautes Alpes, élevait notre âme...“ Remember that the French lifestyle differs from that to which you are accustomed. Keep in mind that experiencing and learning about these cultural differences is the reason you — writing about his birthplace, Grenoble. are in Grenoble, and remember—it’s not wrong, it’s just different. If you enter the experience with the attitude that the components of French life are wrong or inferior, you will A SENSE OF PURPOSE have a difficult time. However, if you arrive in Grenoble There’s more to preparing for your semester in Grenoble than expecting that things will be different and therefore deciding what to pack or brushing up on your French. You’ll interesting, you will profit greatly. also need to identify your own goals and objectives:

We suggest finding out as much as possible about Grenoble • Establish some general priorities before you go— and France before departing. Talk to friends who have been academic, personal, and professional—and try to keep to France, or past Grenoble study abroad participants. Learn them in mind throughout the semester. something about the history, political structure, family • Think about what you hope to accomplish while you’re in organization, religion, and art of the region. Read up on Grenoble. current events and issues in Grenoble and France. Find out • Think about how you might accomplish those goals. what the principal sites, monuments, and scenic areas are • Remember to keep an open mind. Learn from all of your that you absolutely should not miss. experiences.

LANGUAGE PREPARATION PERSONAL GROWTH AND CULTURAL Though you will enroll in intensive French language courses AWARENESS in Grenoble, you should try to hone your language skills During your time abroad, you can expect to experience much before you leave the US. This will make it easier to change which will challenge your sense of order. Consider communicate with your host family from day one and help the following list of factors in the physical and cultural you to navigate the city, and your language studies will have environment that vary from place to place: climate, language, a greater impact. For those of you in the Grenoble French non-verbal communication, market life, religion, family life, Studies Program, in particular, you should begin reviewing use of space, entertainment, recreation, food and drink your French early. Listen to French conversation videos online etiquette, expression of emotions. and review the grammatical structures you have studied in the textbooks you used in previous courses. Converse with a Culture shapes and molds our thoughts and actions, telling language partner and begin to familiarize yourself with us what is important and what is right. You may find certain idiomatic and colloquial French. If you would like to brush up aspects of a culture hard to adapt to. It is important to keep on your reading skills, pick up French newspapers and in mind the distinction between adapting and adopting. You magazines to read. You might even try watching French do not have to change, but try to understand. The first movies and French news. Boston University Students can person you meet in a cross-cultural interaction is yourself. view films at the Geddes Language Center located on the 5th floor, 685 Commonwealth Avenue. For more information, call 617-353-4575.

www.bu.edu/abroad 1 “Living in a foreign culture is like playing a game Academics you’ve never played before and for which the rules haven’t been explained very well. The challenge SPRING AND FALL SEMESTER COURSES is to enjoy the game without missing too many plays, learning the rules and developing skills as Grenoble French Studies Program you go along.” Level I: Intensive French Language In cooperation with the University of Grenoble’s Centre Universitaire d’Etudes Françaises (CUEF), Boston University —Robert Kohls provides an intensive French language curriculum that enables students to complete three semesters of French in HELPFUL WEBSITES one semester. Boston University students may thus finish their language requirement. Level I students also take a • The French Library and Culture Center, Boston course in French civilization and culture taught by the www.frenchlib.org Director. • The French Embassy—Cultural Services www.ambafrance-us.org Students are tested and placed at an appropriate level of • The French Consulate—Boston instruction with other CUEF students, who come from many www.consulfrance-boston.org different countries. Class size is limited to fifteen students • Le Monde—French Newspaper per section to allow for close supervision by specialized www.lemonde.fr instructors. Emphasis is on oral expression (vocabulary, • Grenoble—Isère ( - France) pronunciation, and grammar) through the use of audiovisual www.grenoble-isere.com activities including language labs, newspaper articles, TV and • Lonely Planet—France radio broadcasts, videotapes, Internet articles, films, and ads. www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/eur/fra.htm Each class meets for four hours per day (three class hours • EVE—Espace Vie Etudiante and one lab hour), five days per week. Depending upon http://asso-seve.org previous course work, students will receive credit for one of • Integre—Student Organization for Foreign Students the following three sequences: CAS LF 211/212/303, LF www.integre-grenoble.org/website 212/303/304 , or LF 303/304/306 (twelve semester-hour • ERC Language Link credits for each sequence). All students in Level I will also www.bu.edu/erc/ link enroll in LF 261 —French Civilization—taught by the Director. • Radio France www.radiofrance.fr Grenoble French Studies Program • Les Clés de l’actualité Level II: Advanced Studies www.clesactualite.com Level II is made up of two components: courses taken at the • CUEF CUEF and courses taken at the Faculté (Fac), the French http://cuef.u-grenoble3.fr/english-version/ university. Also in cooperation with the CUEF, Boston • Grenoble News University offers Level II participants a Travaux Pratiques www.grenews.com course similar to that of Level I. Students are tested and • French YouTube placed at an appropriate level of instruction with other CUEF www.dailymotion.com/f r students. Class size is limited to about fifteen students per section to allow for close supervision by specialized instruc - RECOMMENDED READING tors. Emphasis is on the refinement of oral expression • Asselin, Gilles and Mastron, Ruth . Au Contraire : (vocabulary, pronunciation, and colloquialisms) and written Figuring out the French (International Press). expression (vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure) • Beaudry, Pascal , French and Americans: The Other Shore through the use of language labs, newspaper articles, TV and (Les Frenchies, Inc.) radio broadcasts, videotapes, Internet articles, films, and ads. • Cornes, Alan. Culture from the Inside Out: Travel and Students give presentations in class and frequently write Meet Yourself. (Intercultural Press, 2004). short essays. Each class meets either eight or ten hours per • Fenby, Jonathan. France on the Brink (Arcade Publishing) week depending on your level. A semester-long research • Hall, Edward T. and Mildred Reed Hall. Understanding project, conducted under the supervision of the Director Cultural Differences: Germans, French, and Americans and/or the Academic Advisor, is also required. (Intercultural Press, Inc.) • Nadeau, Jean-Benoit, and Julie Baron, Sixty Million At the CUEF, students may also take two to three liberal arts Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong: Why we love France but not courses in various areas of study. All classes are taught the French (Sourcebooks Trade) completely in French. Each class usually meets once a week

2 Boston University Study Abroad Grenoble for about two hours, and your grade is based on a mid-term and a final exam. Classmates in these courses will be other As an American looking to participate in the international students. French university system, it is important to keep one thing in mind: the two systems are The second component of the Level II program is the one or very different. To get the most out of your two courses (depending on how many CUEF courses you experience as a student at a French university, take) taken at the Fac. Boston University program partici - you must be flexible in adapting to your new pants enroll in coursework in the Université Stendhal academic environment. Do not expect the (Humanities) and Pierre Mendes France (Social Sciences). French University experience to mirror the American one, nor for French professors to Classmates in Faculté courses will be French. Classes usually meet once a week for between two and three hours, and the adapt to the American system. grade is based on a paper and a final exam at the end of the semester. Insofar as possible, students on the program are assigned to a French student who is either enrolled in the CUEF language courses correspond to the following French same course or who has taken it in the past. language courses offered by the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures at Boston University: CAS Grenoble Science Program LF 111; LF 112; LF 211; LF 212; LF 303; LF 304; LF 306. All students in this program will be enrolled in an intensive Students are tested and placed at an appropriate level of French language course for four credits. French courses are instruction with other CUEF students, who come from many offered at various levels. Additionally, students will enroll in different countries. Class size is limited to fifteen students three math/science/culture elective courses taught in per section to allow for close supervision by specialized English, each worth four credits. Upon successful completion instructors. Emphasis is on oral expression (vocabulary, of this program, students earn 16 –18 academic credits. For pronunciation, and grammar) through the use of language more information please refer to: www.bu.edu/abroad labs, TV and radio broadcasts, newspaper articles, /programs/grenoble-science-program videotapes, films, and ads.

Grenoble Engineering Program Language Levels (Track I and Track II) Students in this program are required to take an intensive The prerequisite for Level I is completion of second-semester French language course (offered at various levels), as well as French or placement test results. Level I students enroll in a course on French culture. Additionally, students must take one of the following course combinations: CAS MA 226 and ENG EK 307 and choose one of the following two electives: CAS PY 313 and ENG BE 209. • LF 261/LF 211 Content courses will be taught in English. Upon successful • LF 261/LF 212 completion of the program, students will earn a total of 20 • LF 261/LF 303 academic credits. For more information, please refer to: The prerequisite for Level II is fifth-semester French or www.bu.edu/abroad/programs/grenoble-engineering placement test results. Level II students enroll in one of the following:

SUMMER TERM PROGRAM • FR 342/LF 304 During this intensive summer program, you will take two • FR 342/LF 306 four-credit courses. LF 261, LF 342 and MA 213 are taught by the Director and by local university faculty members during Course titles with a brief description of the courses can be the first four weeks of the program. Several local field trips found on our website: www.bu.edu/abroad . and visits are integral to these courses. LIBRARIES The civilization and culture courses are taught in French with You may use the university library for a slight fee/deposit. course readings that focus on cultural and social trends in There are also several public libraries which students can join France, French identity and how it differs from the rest of at no charge with their student IDs. Recent past students Europe, and in the advanced level course, how each topic have found the public libraries useful and convenient, though presents itself in French literature from the seventeenth to with limited hours. twentieth centuries. Taught in English, the rigorous statistics course covers elementary statistics concepts, stressing OTHER UNIVERSITY FACILITIES understanding and theoretical manipulation. There are inexpensive student cafeterias and sandwich shops Your second course will be taught at the University of on campus. There are also athletic facilities with a pool, gym, Grenoble’s Centre Universitaire d’Etudes Françaises (CUEF) and weight room. Physical education classes are available. during the last four weeks. Private gyms, as well as judo, karate, ballet classes, etc. are available in Grenoble.

www.bu.edu/abroad 3 ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURE Academic Conduct Code’s contents and to abide by its provisions. The Academic Conduct Code can be found at Registration for Your Semester Abroad www.bu.edu/academics/resources/academic-conduct- You will be registered for your courses once you are in code . Grenoble.

Transfer of Credits What to Bring Please make sure that your credits will transfer to your home university before you leave—we cannot stress enough how HANDBOOKS important this is. Approving transfer credit is ultimately your Bring this handbook and the Student Handbook with you to home institution’s decision. Grenoble. You may need to refer to them during your semester abroad. Attendance You are expected to attend each class session, field trip, and PASSPORT AND STUDENT VISA any other course-related event. You will be required to You must have a valid passport and visa for your semester in account for undue absence either by personal explanation to France. Students staying in France for longer than 90 days the course instructor and/or to the Director, or by written must apply for a long-stay visa. US citizens should refer to statement from another authority. the “Visa Instructions” that can be found amongst the materials for the program at www.bu.edu/abroad/accept If you have been absent excessively from a course, you may under “France.” be required to withdraw from that course without credit. If you expect to be absent from a class, you must notify your For students participating in the Grenoble summer program, instructor and the Director in advance, preferably in writing. followed by another program in France in the fall, please If you are absent from class for more than two days for contact Mary Ogburn ([email protected]) at BU Study Abroad medical reasons, please seek medical attention. to review the visa requirements that will apply to students taking part in French programs for two consecutive Coursework semesters. You are expected to turn in all course assignments on time. Turning in assignments late will have a negative effect on Very Important Note: If you are not traveling on a US your grades. passport, please contact the nearest French consulate as soon as possible to confirm visa requirements. If your travel All academic commitments must be completed before you plans entail a layover in a country other than France, you leave Grenoble; no incompletes are permitted. Students who must check with the appropriate consulate to see if a visa is do not complete a course on time will be given an ‘F.’ In required—you may need to secure a transit visa. Likewise, if addition, students are not permitted to audit courses or to you intend to travel outside of France during your stay take courses on a pass/fail basis. abroad, you should also check to see if you will need a tourist visa for the country in question.

Dean’s List Parent Passports Students studying abroad should be aware that differences in Encourage your parents to have a passport in the unlikely the academic calendar at Boston University and at your event of an emergency that would make it necessary for international program site may mean that grades from your them to travel to France. semester abroad are reported after the computations for the Dean’s List have been made. As the semester abroad may STUDENT IDENTIFICATION end later than the semester on the home campus, grades for Bring your student I.D. card; it’s always helpful to have an some programs may not arrive in time to be counted extra form of photo identification. towards the Dean’s List. In this case, students are advised to notify the office of Student Records or the Dean of Students’ COMPUTERS AND E-MAIL office in order to request the grades earned on a BU interna - Computers are not available at BU’s Grenoble facilities, but tional program be counted towards the Dean’s List. It is the wireless internet is. Wifi is also available in all homestays student’s responsibility to bring this to the attention of the and in many places in the city. student records office. We strongly urge you to bring your laptop with you. If you do Academic Conduct Code opt to bring your own laptop computer, keep in mind the All students participating in a Boston University Study following: Abroad program are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity. It is the responsibility of • Don’t have your parents send you a portable computer in every student to be aware of the Boston University the mail, as it can get caught up in customs.

4 Boston University Study Abroad Grenoble • Make a complete backup of all the information/software Linens on the computer. If the computer has one, bring along the Bed linens and towels are provided, but you should bring a computer system maintenance or operation system disk. towel for travelling. • Computers should be insured, under your family’s general household policy or a specialized student insurance policy APPLIANCES to the full value of the computer. Check with companies Leave electrical appliances (especially hair dryers) at home. such as Safeware (www.safeware.com ) or National Fairly inexpensive models can be purchased overseas, and Student Services (www.nssi.com ) for specialized you won’t need to worry about adapters or converters. coverage. • Double check that your computer has a built-in Alarm Clock transformer which can handle voltages of 110 (US) to 220 A must so you can be on time for classes. Be sure to bring a (Europe)—most newer computers are equipped with this. small battery-operated alarm clock. An electric clock will If so, all you need to get is an adapter. take up outlet space, is vulnerable to power outages, and will • If in doubt, consult your computer’s manufacturer or the need its own adapter and converter. You should consider instruction manual for information on using your bringing a spare set batteries with you as they tend to be computer abroad. more expensive in France. • Make sure that you are entirely familiar with the workings/programs of your computer, as we do not have a technical or computer support department in our PRESCRIPTIONS AND DRUG STORE ITEMS Grenoble office. You should be sure to bring copies of prescriptions for any • You must ensure that your computer is loaded with medications you may need and for glasses or contact lenses up-to-date anti-virus software. Boston University students if you wear them. Since it can sometimes be difficult to get can either visit the Boston University website to download the appropriate equivalent medication, we recommend that free software for both Mac and PC laptops, which is you bring an adequate supply of whatever medications you available at www.bu.edu/tech , or visit Common @ Mugar may use while abroad. Any medications you do bring should to configure their laptops. be in the original, properly labeled bottles. You should also bring an extra pair of glasses (or contact lenses) if you wear TEXTBOOKS them. A supply of contact lens solution is a good idea, since In most cases, you will purchase your textbooks in Grenoble, it is very expensive in France. A wide variety of over-the- as well as a good French-English dictionary. You might want counter drugs and toiletries is available in France. to purchase a guidebook to bring with you. This is a good way to begin to familiarize yourself with the city and all that Please note that you will not be able to refill your US it offers from museums to shops. prescription medications in France. Contact your pharmacy and/or doctor to arrange to pick up prescriptions in advance Please note that students on the Science and Engineering of your semester abroad. Programs will need to buy textbooks in the US, prior to leaving for Grenoble. Your program manager will send you textbook information via email. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS • Guidebooks to France and Europe CLOTHING • A gift for your host family. You could bring a book with The most important thing to remember when packing photos from your hometown, a calendar or anything that clothes is that whatever you pack will probably be more than represents the city or state where you are from. you will need.

You will do best to bring clothes that are easily mixed and “Dragging unnecessary clothing around, in and out matched. It is a good idea to bring more dark colors than bright ones. Dark clothing does not show dirt and wear as of taxis, on and off of crowded buses, up and down easily as light clothing does and therefore may require less countless flights of stairs, or the worst, over washing. The main component of French students’ cobblestones, was the biggest mistake I made and wardrobes is blue jeans, and students from past semesters have found there was little occasion to wear dressy clothes. taught me the lesson of how to pack light! Don’t However, casual wear in Europe is less “casual” than here, so expect anyone to help you with your stuff; if you you should be prepared with some semi-dressy clothes for an occasional invitation “out.” Sturdy and comfortable can’t carry it, don’t bring it....” walking shoes are needed for city life as well as for travel. It’s also a good idea to bring a money belt to carry passport and money. —Former Program Participant

www.bu.edu/abroad 5 Insurance will be paid on-site once students arrive in France. Clothing and Climate The current cost is 165 euros, approximately $200. In general, the clothes you will need in Grenoble will be about the same as what one would need CURRENCY in Boston. Grenoble can be cold (20˚F–30˚F) and rainy during the winter months so you French currency is based on the euro, issued in both paper notes and coins, with one euro equal to 100 cents. The should remember to bring along plenty of warm smallest unit of currency is the one cent coin. Start now to clothes. During the summer, it is generally warm familiarize yourself with the currency, both notes and coins, (80s–90s°F) and can be rainy during June and as well as the exchange rate. Check at your bank or for the July. The temperature in the mountains is always exchange rates at www.xe.com. cooler, so if you plan to go hiking, you should remember to bring along some warmer clothes, BANKING as well as sturdy shoes. Layers of various weights are the best way to have a warm and Bank Accounts flexible wardrobe both indoors and out. Make Students are given accounts at the LCL where their monthly sure you bring rain gear and an umbrella, as it stipend will be directly deposited. Students can use their rains much more frequently in much of Europe French ATM card to withdraw stipend money directly. This than in Boston. card is provided with the LCL account and has a chip and pin number which is the most widely accepted type of card in France.

Money Matters ATM and Credit Cards Many students rely on a combination of an ATM card and PROGRAM COST credit card. Remember to bring both types of cards with you, as a card will be useless if it becomes demagnetized, For information about the program fee and personal damaged, or lost. With your ATM card from home, you will budgeting guidelines visit: www.bu.edu/abroad/aid be able to withdraw funds from your US checking account. /finances.html . Although there will probably be a fee for each transaction at another bank’s ATM machine, you will be charged the bank’s Room and Board exchange rate in effect on that day, which is typically better Your room and board are included in the cost of the program. than the one used for normal currency exchanges. US banks You will receive a monthly stipend to cover meals not taken vary widely in the charges they attach to foreign ATM with your host family and local transportation expenses. The withdrawals; shop around before leaving and consider stipend is provided through the day of the student’s last moving your account based on what you learn. examination, but not during semester breaks. For example board will not be covered during the mid-winter or spring Credit cards are a very good emergency money source. breaks and between semesters. Also, for students partici - Students have found that VISA and MasterCard are the most pating on the Grenoble/Paris Academic Year program, note widely accepted in France. that housing and board are not provided in the interim period between programs. You will need to inform both your bank and credit card company that you plan to use your cards abroad so that they Field Trips and Program Activities can put a travel alert on your account. Be sure to get You are expected to participate in all orientation and field trip information on service fees and restrictions. If your Personal activities, the costs of which are covered by the program and Identification Number (PIN) is not four digits long, change it are not refundable. The schedule for these activities varies to four digits before you leave the US. Many European and is at the discretion of the Director. machines cannot accept a longer PIN, and many keyboards may not have letters indicated. NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE CASH The French government requires students studying in France The obvious danger of losing your cash or having it stolen for a period of six months or more to subscribe to the does not make it a good option to carry large sums of money. National Health Insurance (Sécurité Sociale). This additional No student should ever keep large amounts of cash in requirement regarding French health insurance concerns all his/her room or on his/her person. However, it is very helpful students participating on the Grenoble Academic Year to have some Euros for arrival, as well as on a daily basis in Program. The obligatory fee for the National French Health Grenoble.

6 Boston University Study Abroad Grenoble Cash for Arrival You should plan to exchange US dollars (approximately How much should I take? $100) into euros before you leave the US so that you will Depending on your own standard of living and have money when you first arrive in France, especially for the how much traveling, shopping, and dining out taxi ride to the BU Grenoble office. Small denominations are you do, your expenses (exclusive of tuition, best. room, and board covered by your program fee) will vary. In the past, students have spent from Cash for Small Purchases $2,000 to $3,000 during the spring and fall In France, small stores, shops, and cafes strongly prefer cash for small purchases, and may not accept debit or credit cards semesters and between $1,500 to $2,000 at all. If possible, it is also appreciated when you pay with during the summer term. Keep in mind that exact change. Therefore, remember to carry some cash with your buying power is directly related to the you at all times. strength of the dollar. Keep in mind as well that these amounts are estimates only reported to us by recent past participants of the program. Arrival Independent Travelers TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS If you are participating in the fall or spring program and you You will receive separate information for a proposed group intend to make your own travel arrangements to France flight via email. rather than take the group flight, you must notify BU Study Abroad in order for your student account to be credited in All students must be in Grenoble on arrival day by 4:30 p.m. the amount of the designated group flight fare. Otherwise, at the latest at the BU Grenoble Office: 56, boulevard the credit will not automatically take place. Please note that Gambetta. airfare is not included in the summer program.

Students not on the group flight must notify the Grenoble ORIENTATION program office in writing of their travel plans. All students On-site orientation begins on arrival day and lasts through will need to make arrangements to get from their arrival the first few days. During this time you will participate in airport to Grenoble as ground transportation to Grenoble is orientation activities designed to introduce you to your new not included in the program fee. Please plan accordingly. surroundings and to the academic expectations of the program. You will have the chance to meet the program staff, There is a shuttle bus that runs every hour on the half hour to become acquainted with program facilities and resources, from the airport to Grenoble. The shuttle costs 18 euros and to learn more about daily life in your new environment. (if you ask for the under 26 rate) and takes one hour. Students should then take a taxi to the BU Grenoble program Boston University places all Grenoble students in French office (approximately 8 euros). Students will be picked up by households. Placement is based on the information you their host families at the BU Grenoble office on the evening provided on the Housing Questionnaire. Every effort is made of arrival day. to place you in an environment commensurate with your interests and preferences. However, housing is very tight in Be sure to have the phone number of the Grenoble program Grenoble, given the large student population in and around office with you while you are traveling to Grenoble. While the city. Some flexibility is therefore required of all students. you are in transit, communication with the Boston You will find out your housing assignment by email about University staff in Grenoble is critical in the event of flight two weeks before the program begins. delays, cancellations, etc.

If you arrive in Grenoble earlier than the official arrival date and/or stay later than the official departure date, you will need to make your own housing arrangements. Anyone arriving in Grenoble prior to the start of the program should contact the program office in advance for suggestions on local accommodations or check the section on Grenoble area hostels and hotels.

www.bu.edu/abroad 7 Housing On-Site Contacts Marie-Eve Scheibling , Director. FRENCH HOUSEHOLDS Oversees all academic, financial and student French households who host Boston University students vary services issues. She is also there to help you in size, age, and lifestyle. Some are middle-aged couples with with your transition to life in Grenoble. children; others, widows; still others, single mothers; and so on. No matter where you live, you will be given a French Patrice Terrone , Professor at the University of breakfast each morning in addition to ten evening meals per Grenoble; Academic Advisor. month. This arrangement gives you independence from the household. Some families are willing, even eager, to serve Assists students with course selection and additional meals for students; others are not. Access to the works closely with the Grenoble French Studies kitchen will be a matter of your hosts’ preference, but Program. (Summer program only.) generally you will at least be able to prepare coffee and tea. Boston University does not place you in a household with the Céline Bellissant , Housing Coordinator and expectation that you will become a family member, and Program Manager. cannot make any guarantees as to the quality of your Responsible for the placement of students in personal relationship with the family. Rather, it places you in local households as well as monitoring and a household to facilitate your language acquisition and to assisting you in your relationship with your integrate you into French society and culture. This living host family. arrangement places you in a hospitable French-speaking environment in which you live as if you were French. In many cases, students form warm and long-lasting friendships with FAMILY HOUSING REGULATIONS their hosts. Shower Meeting Your Host Family You can take one shower a day. However, you must respect For most students, meeting their French family for the first your host’s lifestyle, particularly in the morning when your time can cause anxiety. So if you find your stomach turning a host has to get to work on time. bit on your way to meet your family, do not be alarmed—you are not alone. Our best advice with regard to your family is 1) Phones stop worrying; and 2) don’t expect anything. You may be Phone privileges are to be worked out individually, between assured that much time and concern has been put into the students and host families. Boston University will not be selection of your family and that each family has been responsible for arranging such matters. Some hosts will allow carefully screened. The housing questionnaire which you fill you to receive and make calls (if using your own calling out will play a key role in the selection of the host family best card), and others will prefer not. It should be noted that suited to your needs and requests. customers pay service charges for both local and long- Be prepared to face differences between the situations to distance telephone calls . Please respect the rules of your which you are accustomed at home and the situations which host family’s home, whatever they are. you will encounter abroad, and know that problems will occasionally arise. Expect to adapt, to change a few habits All students should buy thieir own cell phone or SIM card in here and there, and above all, to keep an open mind. A good France, and it is the best way for you to contact friends or to rule of thumb for the first few days of French family life is not be contacted in case of an emergency. Cell phones which to touch or to use anything without first asking, including the operate on a pay-as-you-go system can be purchased for family television or stereo, the washing machine, or the around 35–50 euros. Students who are finishing their telephone. Learn to communicate with your family. They semester in Grenoble often sell their cell phones to incoming cannot read your mind and cannot be expected to know your students. Contact the Grenoble office by e-mail for more preferences unless you voice them from time to time. information: [email protected]. Please note that when calling from the US to France it is much more expensive to call a Living with a French family French cell phone than a land line. Since you will be living in a French household, it is best not to think of your French home as a hotel. Rather, think of yourself On many newer American cell phones that can be unlocked, as a guest and as a boarder. Keep your room neat, make your you may be able to purchase a chip (“SIM” card) in France bed, clean up the bathroom after using it. These may seem and recharge with minutes. Check with your cell phone like obvious points, but they do mean a great deal to the company before traveling to Grenoble. To call the U.S., people with whom you will be living. students use Skype or a similar Internet-based service, which is the most budget-friendly option.

8 Boston University Study Abroad Grenoble Laundry Your host family will provide the possibility to wash your Life in Grenoble personal laundry or have it washed once a week. Linens and towels are provided by the host family. Clean towels should FOOD/DINING be provided once a week and bed linens should be changed every two weeks. Eating Out It may take some looking, but cheap eating in Grenoble is Keys possible. Restaurant prices run from 9 to 15 euros for a full You will be provided with a key to the house and should take meal. But if you are frugal, eating can easily be cheaper: great care not to lose it. Most Europeans are very careful sandwiches and kebabs can be had in centre ville for 3-4,50 about security matters in their homes, and expect that you euros. You’ll get the best deal at the restaurants universi - will exercise that same responsibility. Never carry your key in taires where a meal costs about 3,65 euros. Café prices the same place as your host family's address. If you should range from 1,50 euros for an espresso to 2,50 euros for hot lose your house or apartment key, it is up to you to make chocolate and 2,50 euros for beer or soda. arrangements to replace it. Bars and cafés Going out and Coming Home Each semester, students leave us a list of their favorite bars You are free to come and go from the house or apartment of and cafés at the office. You can consult it when you arrive. your host family as you like, but we ask that you be consid - But we strongly encourage you to discover your own erate of your host family, and inform them if you plan to favorites! spend the night outside of the home. Similarly, the family must notify you of any of its absences. SHOPPING

Visitors Department Stores Policies on visitors and guests are left up to each individual Monoprix and Galeries Lafayette are in centre ville near the family, and is a subject that should be discussed when you office. They’re open all day and don’t close for lunch. first move in. Some families will want you to ask in advance when you plan to bring guests, while other families may not Bookstores want you to have guests at all. Students should not invite Arthaud, la , and la Librairie de l’Université are the best friends over without having previously received permission bookstores in Grenoble. from the host family. Markets PROPERTY DAMAGE Every morning except Mondays, you can find open markets You are responsible for the repair or replacement of any throughout Grenoble, especially in and around centre ville. household item you damage or destroy. Boston University Ste. Claire les Halles , at the stop of the same name declines all responsibility. Failure to settle these charges with (and not far from La Maison du Tourisme ) is probably the your host family prior to departure from the program site will most well-known. result in appropriate charges being assessed to your Boston University student account. It may also result in inability to register for courses; inability to have grades assigned; MUSEUMS transcript holds; and delays in processing financial aid For those of you interested in art, culture & history (all of you awards for future semesters. we hope!), there are some very interesting museums in Grenoble, such as Le Musée de Grenoble (one of the most Personal Property Insurance prestigious modern art museums outside of Paris), the Each student is encouraged to review his or her family’s Musée de la Résistance (WWII history of this area), Le personal property insurance coverage. Boston University or Musée Dauphinois (history of the region), Le Muséum any of its officers, agents or representatives shall not be d’Histoire Naturelle (botany, insects...), and the Musée St liable directly or indirectly for loss and/or damage to Laurent (religious history and archaeology). personal property by fire, theft, or other cause.

Security ENTERTAINMENT Although France tends to have much less crime than the Movies and Nightlife , Grenoble is not immune to the problems of a Movies cost approximately 6.60 euros for students. Fees for big city. Treat Grenoble with the same respect as you would nightclubs are 8 euros. any large city. Always lock your door behind you and make sure all valuables are in a safe place. When out and about in Clubs the city, be aware of your surroundings at all times, use There aren’t many Americans who join clubs in Grenoble, so common sense. as one student put it, you become almost a “curiosity.” You

www.bu.edu/abroad 9 will be amazed at how warm the French can be, once they get to know you. There are many activities offered by the Dietary Restrictions CUEF. Some good choices are: Vegetarianism • French cooking classes Students who indicate on their housing • Sports teams—the GUC ski club, the basketball questionnaire that they are vegetarians should team, hiking, scuba; there are lots to choose from. realize that vegetarianism is less common in • Physical education classes at the university are a Europe and it may not be easy for your hosts to great option as well. adapt to your needs. Be as specific as possible Skiing in defining your dietary restrictions on the Ecole de Glisse des Universités de Grenoble is a ski and questionnaire. If you are a vegetarian, does this snowboard club. Membership is quite cheap (20 to 30 mean you do not eat any red meat, chicken, or euros). Assuming you have skis, a day trip costs between 20 fish? No dairy products? In any event, keep in and 25 euros (transportation by bus and lift tickets). Renting mind that you will learn a great deal about skis runs around 20 euros/day (all equipment included) or France—its history, culture, agriculture, you can rent for the season for around 100 euros. Ski equip- geography, trading patterns—by exploring its ment is less expensive in France, so many students buy cuisine. equipment there. However, if you have skis and boots, it is recommended that you bring them (especially students who will be in Grenoble during the spring semester). Ask your Keeping Kosher airline if your skis count as one bag of your luggage Keeping Kosher can mean different things to allowance. different people. If you keep kosher, does it mean that you don’t eat pork or shellfish? Does The Mountains it imply restrictions on food preparation? You La Maison de la Montagne, located behind the Maison du will want to be as specific as possible on your Tourisme, rue , sells maps, books and guides housing questionnaire. pertaining to the mountains, including biking, skiing, canoeing, mountain climbing, and equestrian information. The Housing Coordinator does her best to CULTURAL REIMBURSEMENTS place vegetarians and students who keep A listing of movies, concerts, exhibits, etc. can be found in kosher in homestays that have previously the “Petit Bulletin,” a free cultural events newsletter hosted students with similar dietary require - published every Wednesday, and available on campus, in ments. movie theaters, cafés, etc. You will be reimbursed for cultural events or visits for up to 20 euros a month, as long as the event is in French and you keep the receipts. INTERNET ACCESS Wireless internet access is available in a growing number of MAIL public places in Grenoble. Since the end of 2008, the whole You should use the program address until you are settled in city has been equipped, the first city in France to do so! your household and can notify family and friends. Airmail At the university there are computer labs with internet takes about one week to get to Grenoble. Boston University access and the BU office has wifi for student use. will not take responsibility for mail which arrives before the start of the program or after the program ends. MEDIA Sending packages Newspapers and Other Publications We recommend that packages be sent via the US Postal You can pick up any of the numerous daily and weekly Service, UPS, FedEx, or DHL. No matter how the package is French newspapers ( Le Monde, Le Dauphiné Liberé, Le sent, be aware that gifts—particularly clothing — can incur a Figaro , etc.) at any Tabac, which are numerous and hefty customs fee, payable by the student, regardless of how conveniently located. Reading the newspaper is a good way it is declared. Packages should be clearly marked as, “USED to improve your French reading skills and also provides PERSONAL ITEMS NOT FOR RESALE”, (for clothing) or, interesting topics to talk about with your host family. Of “UNSOLICITED GIFT”, (for a birthday present). Packages are course, you can also access these publications online. inspected by customs agents, and duty will be collected from the student if forms are not filled out correctly. It is best to avoid having packages shipped to you altogether.

10 Boston University Study Abroad Grenoble Television and Radio There are 18 television stations in Grenoble which offer news, Making French Friends current affairs, sports, and an assortment of both French and French students have a different lifestyle. Many retro-American sitcoms, soap operas, and dramas. Cable is go back to their parents’ homes on weekends also available, but few people subscribe to it. As for radio, and even during the week. You may initially find there are numerous stations offering everything from it challenging to meet French people, but with a classical and opera to contemporary pop/rock. A good little effort, the French can become great suggestion is for students to listen to France Info , which friends. summarizes the main stories in the news every fifteen minutes and is readily accessible in an app. This is a good way to improve your French listening comprehension skills The best way to meet your French peers is to . join sports teams and university clubs, and to TRANSPORTATION: visit cafés and pubs which the locals frequent GETTING AROUND GRENOBLE in their leisure time. You may want to ask your Wherever you live, you should expect to use public host family for help in meeting people. transportation, which is quite good during the day and early evening. At night, students who live outside central Grenoble must rely on taxis. The amount of your monthly stipend will Grenoble; Phone: 011-33-4-76-47-48-49. cover a local transportation pass and some money for taxis if * Hôtel du Moucherotte, 1 rue Auguste Gaché, you live far away. 38000 Grenoble; Phone: 011-33-4-76-44-62-52.

The University of Grenoble is in a suburb which is a short OUTSIDE OF GRENOBLE tram ride from downtown Grenoble; there are buses which go directly from the several suburbs to downtown or the You will travel outside of Grenoble during the semester University. Students may commute up to forty-five minutes through program field trips. You may also have some long each way to the University. Transit buses are generally weekends to do some traveling on your own—but remember, punctual, unless there’s a strike! your travel plans must not conflict with your academic requirements. Local Transportation and Travel While abroad, you should remember that public transporta - As a student you can buy train tickets at a reduced rate, from tion is the way the great majority of local residents get 25–50 % off the normal price. More information will be around their town and country, and so it should be a part of available in Grenoble. your experience as well. For that reason, and for reasons of safety and finances, we strongly discourage students from renting automobiles or other motorized vehicles while abroad.

GRENOBLE-AREA HOTELS AND HOSTELS There is one hostel in Grenoble, which is far from the downtown area, and can be reached by tram until midnight. The address is:

Auberge de Jeunesse Grenoble-Echirolles 10 avenue du Grésivaudan 38130 ECHIROLLES France Phone: 011-33-4-76-09-33-52

Some area hotels are listed below (one in each category; from most expensive to modest). Most are located downtown. Addressing Mail Name of Student **** Hôtel du Park, 10 place Paul Mistral, 38000 Boston University in Grenoble Grenoble; Phone: 011-33-4-76-87-29-11 . 56, boulevard Gambetta *** Hôtel d’Angleterre, 5 place Victor Hugo, 38000 38000 Grenoble Grenoble; Phone: 011-33-4-76-87-37-21. FRANCE ** Hôtel Ibis Centre, 5 rue de Miribel, 38000

www.bu.edu/abroad 11 Names and Numbers Emergency Telephone Numbers Students experiencing any kind of emergency while overseas should contact Professor Marie- BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDY ABROAD Eve Scheibling. GRENOBLE 56, boulevard Gambetta Parents who need to contact their son or 38000 Grenoble daughter overseas in an emergency should first FRANCE contact him/her at home. If he/she cannot be reached there, parents should contact Professor Phone: 011-33-4-76-51-78-87 Scheibling directly. Fax: 011-33-4-76-42-81-39 E-mail: [email protected] During Weekday Office Hours Marie-Eve Scheibling, Director 011-33-4-76-51-78-87 Prof. Patrice Terrone, Academic Advisor, (Program Office/Professor Scheibling) University of Grenoble (Summer program only.) Céline Bellissant, Housing Coordinator/Program Manager Evening and Weekend Emergencies 011-33-6-82-81-70-95 (Cell Phone/Professor Scheibling)

You will be notified of any changes in the emergency contact numbers.

Please remember the time difference. Grenoble is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

* If calling from within France, omit the international access code (011), as well as the country code (33), and place a “0” in front of the whole telephone number (ex. - 04-76-51-78- 87 for the Grenoble office).

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