Paris Information Guide Everything You Need to Know While in Paris!

Paris Information Guide Everything you need to know while in Paris!

Contents Contact Information ...... 4 Our address ...... 4 How to get there ...... 4 Office Hours ...... 4 The MICEFA Team ...... 5 Communication ...... 6 Student Mail and E-mail ...... 6 Cell Phones ...... 6 Cell Phone carriers ...... Erreur ! Signet non défini. Transportation ...... 6 The Paris Metro system (RATP: Régie Autonome de Transport Parisien) ...... 6 Carte Imagine “R” ...... 7 Carte Navigo découverte ...... 7 Passes ...... 7 General Information ...... 8 Electrical Appliances ...... 8 Budgeting ...... 8 Cost of Living in Paris ...... 8 OFII Residency Permit ...... 8 Books ...... 8 Meals ...... 8 Personal Expenses ...... 8 Employment ...... 9 Entertainment ...... 9 Travel ...... 9 Housing ...... 9 Finding permanent housing with MICEFA ...... 9 Types of Housing ...... 9 Key Housing Terms ...... 10 Final steps for your visa once in France ...... 11 For North American Students ...... 11 Travelling and your visa ...... 11 Further Information ...... 11 Additional Procedures: Renewing your visa ...... 11 Cultural Adjustment ...... 12 Signs of Culture Shock ...... 12 Coping Strategies ...... 12 Safety ...... 12 When in Paris, do as the Parisians ...... 14 Tone of Voice ...... 14 Politeness ...... 14 Cultural Relativity ...... 14 Dating and Sex ...... 14 Some useful vocabulary and information ...... 14

Pharmacies ...... 15 Clinics ...... 15 Academics ...... 15 Class Attendance ...... 15 Teaching Methods ...... 15 Teacher/ Student Rapport ...... 16 Useful Academic Information ...... 16 Student timeline ...... 17 August/September ...... 17 September/October ...... 17 December/January ...... 18 Before returning home ...... 18 Emergency Contact Info ...... 19 Emergencies ...... 19 Emergency Contact Numbers ...... 19 Medical Emergency Contact ...... 20 English Speaking Doctors ...... 20 Miscellaneous Information ...... 22 For Traveling ...... 22 For Clothing, Appliances, etc...... 22 English Bookstores ...... 22 Reasonably Priced Bookstores ...... 22 Cheap Theater Tickets ...... 23 Librairies ...... 23 For Court Approved Translators ...... 23 Banking Information ...... 23 International Student Organizations and Activities ...... 23 Get Involved: Volunteer! ...... 24 Getting involved in Paris ...... 24

Paris Information Guide Everything you need to know while in Paris!

Contact Information Our address MICEFA Commission Franco-américaine 9 rue Chardin 75016 Paris France How to get there Métro: (line 6) Passy Bus : (line 72) Pont de Bir-Hakim

Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9:30am - 12:30pm; 1:30pm-5:00pm Wednesday: 9:30am - 12:30pm

NB: Please note that the office may exceptionally close for meetings. Please stay up to date with office closures by checking your emails, MICEFA Facebook, and Twitter.

Office Phone: +33 (0)1 40 51 76 96 Emergency Cell: +33 (0)6 70 50 87 05/ +33 (0)6 31 26 71 79 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.micefa.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micefa/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/micefa1

The MICEFA Team

Jean Fournier Academic Director [email protected]

Katia Nossenko-Hercberg Language Coordinator [email protected]

Rebecca Procak Student Affairs Coordinator [email protected]

Annika Godefroy Program Coordinator [email protected]

Véronique Phi Program Assistant [email protected]

General Inquiries MICEFA [email protected]

In case of an emergency during office hours, please call the MICEFA office.

Outside office hours, please call the emergency cell numbers. Leave a message on the voicemail if nobody answers. We will make sure to call you back.

Remember – this number is to be used for emergencies ONLY: i.e. severe injuries, illness or serious emotional disturbance, so use your good judgment and common sense before calling.

Keep the MICEFA phone numbers on you at all times. Program them into your cell phone as soon as possible, just in case!

Students from Miami, SUNY, and CSU-IP, please contact your Resident Directors as well.

Communication a month. You can cancel at anytime. Unlimited monthly plans usually cost around Student Mail and E-mail 20€. We do communicate most of our important • The second option involves buying a pre-paid information updates by e-mail. Be sure that we cell phone and then purchasing pre-paid cards have a current e-mail address on file for you and (carte mobile) to charge your phone credit as please be sure to check your e-mail regularly, needed. Card values are in the amounts of 5, including your spam box. 10, 25, 35 euros and up. If need be, there is a student mailbox in the Note: In France, you do NOT pay for incoming calls MICEFA office where you can pick up your mail or text messages. (letters onliy, no packages). If you would like your mail sent to you at the 06 and 07 numbers are cell phone numbers. MICEFA, please have them be addressed in the 01 numbers are home phone/ land line numbers following format: in the Paris region, Ile-de-France. 09 numbers are internet phone service numbers. Your Name (LAST NAME, First Name) 02, 03, 04 and 05 numbers are around the C/O MICEFA country (outside of Paris and its suburbs). Commission Franco-américaine 9 rue Chardin The main carriers in France are Bouygues, Orange, 75016 Paris FRANCE SFR, Free, and Virgin.

Bouygues: http://www.bouyguestelecom.fr/ If you plan to receive packages at your home address, be sure to inform friends or family B&You: members to mark your goods as USED or https://www.bouyguestelecom.fr/forfaits- PERSONAL ITEMS to avoid customs fees. mobiles/sans-engagement Orange: http://www.orange.fr/portail Cell Phones and Carriers SFR: http://www.sfr.fr/ Free: http://www.free.fr/adsl/index.html The MICEFA requires that you have a cell phone, RED : https://www.red-by-sfr.fr/ charged, turned on and with you at all times while enrolled in our program so that you can be reached quickly in the event of an emergency. Free is the most popular option for SIM cards amongst students. Unlimited plans cost 19.99€ If you plan to use your current cell phone, make (without a contract) and 15.99€ if you sign up for sure it is unlocked and able to accept other internet, cable and landline services: providors’ SIM cards BEFORE leaving your home https://freemobile.toosurtoo.com/forfaits/tarifs/ country. You can purchase your phone plan during They also have a Free center where you can buy a your first days in Paris. SIM card with your American bank card. The There are several cell phone service providers address: 8 Rue de la Ville-l'Évêque, 75008 Paris available and 2 types of billing plans: • The first is a standard “monthly plan”. Some require that you to set up a bank account, Transportation others simply need a credit card with a chip in The Paris Metro system it. You will then be billed directly each month. (RATP: Régie Autonome de Transport Some companies such as Free and SFR offer Parisien) plans without a commitment for as low as 2€

North American students are always impressed available in many Metro stations, RATP vendors, with the efficiency and quietness of the Paris and TABACS. You don’t need any documents to Metro system. During rush hours, trains arrive get it besides an ID picture. The card itself costs every two-three minutes (unless there is a “grève” 5€ and can be charged with monthly or weekly (strike)). It is very easy to change train lines by pass at any Metro station. making a “correspondance”. You may check the RATP website for train times, scheduling Passes information, and itineraries: www.ratp.fr. The “pass hebdomadaire” (weekly pass) is the The metro service runs from around 5:30am to best if you arrive earlier in August or January. around 12:45am during the week (the last train Weekly passes are good for 7 days from Monday of every line leaves its point of origin at 12:30am) to Sunday. The price is 22.80€ for unlimited and 1:40am on weekends. Bus service varies from anywhere on the RATP network. line to line. The “pass mensuel” (monthly pass) allows you to There is a night bus system called the Noctilien travel for a calendar month on the RATP network. that runs virtually throughout the city between Recharges can be done at the station or directly 12:30am and 5:30am. The Noctilien departs every on the RATP app. The price is 75,20€. hour on the half hour from Châtelet, and every hour on the hour from the outlying points of Other options include a carnet of ten tickets for Paris. NEVER travel alone on the Noctilien and 16,90€. Individual metro tickets cost 1,90€. You always watch your belongings to avoid any can purchase these at any Metro station. You can complications. also buy single tickets directly on the bus from conductors but they cost 2€ and the ticket does Metro maps - “Petit Plan du metro de Paris” - are not allow transfers. available in the Metro stations. Every metro station also has a large metro map displayed near You will always need to valider your ticket or the guichet, the platform, and a plan du quartier Navigo pass when you take any public (neighborhood map) near the sortie(s) (exit(s)). It transportation. This means munching in a ticket or is all very easy, and you will master the metro in swiping your pass of the reader. Transportation no time at all. fines are hefty in Paris and can run up to 200€, so be responsible. Carte Imagine “R”

This is a yearly pass for students under 26, which allows you unlimited use of the metro, buses, RER and tramways in the entire Ile-de-France area at all time.

It also offers access to special train rates, as well as other benefits including discounted movie tickets. The price starts at 350€/ year, that you can pay at once (via a French check), or monthly (38€/9 month).

Carte Navigo découverte

As opposed to a yearly card, this card can be purchased for 5€ and recharged monthly. It is

General Information Once you have found permanent housing, MICEFA will help you with the OFII process Electrical Appliances online: Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’intégration. This process is mandatory and You will need a converter/ transformer to convert must be completed within the first 3 months French 220V to 110V for your small appliances. of your arrival. See page 11 for more details. Otherwise, leave them at home or bring travel appliances that are designed for both currents. Books Adapters and converters can be purchased throughout Paris at the following stores: FNAC, 50 - 75€ per semester. Second-hand books Boulanger, Darty, BHV. (“occasion”) could be a cheaper option.

Budgeting Meals

Check out the MICEFA Estimated Budget online : Students can find reduced priced complete meals https://micefa.org/north-american-students/paris- from the University restaurants around Paris exchange-budget/ (CROUS): from 2,70€; non-university restaurants are more expensive but you can find offers in all price ranges. Food at the grocery store costs Life in Paris is can be expensive. Buying your own about the same as in Northern America. Plan on about 75€ per week (depending on your eating food to eat at home or eating in the student habits). restaurants around Paris (CROUS) is MUCH cheaper than eating in a café. If you do go to a Some grocery stores to keep mind (from least café, standing at the counter is cheaper than expensive to most expensive): LIDL, Casino sitting at a table. Also, in both cafés and bars, Franprix, Carrefour, Monoprix. drink prices tend to go up after 9pm. Tourist hot spots, such as the Champs-Elysées or the You may also find good deals at French open-air Boulevard Saint-Germain, charge much higher markets. prices than the neighborhood cafés where the French Open-air Markets local Parisians go to “prendre un verre” (have a https://www.paris.fr/pages/les-marches- drink). parisiens-2428

CROUS restaurants around Paris: African Markets http://www.crous-paris.fr/restauration/les-lieux- http://biendansmacuisine.com/les-plus-18eme- de-restauration/ goutte-dor/

Cost of Living in Paris Asian Markets http://www.parisculinaire.com/fr/boutique/chino Exchange rate is.html http://www.chine- July 2021: 1€ = $1.17 (500€ = $589) informations.com/guide/supermarches-et- $1= 0,84€ epiceries-asiatiques-a-paris_1940.html If you need to exchange cash between currencies, Personal Expenses exchange bureaus are lockated throughout the city but avoid touristy areas where rates are not Clothing, postage, miscellaneous articles and great, such as the Champs Elysee or the Louvre. entertainment: 150 - 250€ per month. OFII Residency Permit

79€

Employment https://www.oui.sncf/. Certain discounts are available to students through this website. Many students have obtained English teaching/ tutoring jobs earning up to 300€ per month. When you travel, please inform the MICEFA office via e-mail about your dates of departure, your Under the conditions of your student visa and accomodation, and a phone number so we can titre de séjour, you have the legal right to work up reach you in case of emergency. to 20 hours per week. You may choose to do “petits boulots” like baby-sitting or tutoring. Housing Useful links for jobs: Finding permanent housing with • Babylangues: https://www.babylangues.com/ MICEFA • Family Sphere: http://www.family- sphere.com/ Multiple options for housing exist with MICEFA: • FUSAC: http://www.fusac.fr/ Host families, demi au pair, student residences, • Jobetudiant: http://jobetudiant.net and a listing of around 100 landlords all proposing • L'Etudiant.fr: a wide variety of offers (studio, apartments, http://www.letudiant.fr/jobsstages.html maid’s room all over Paris).

You may also find jobs in English-speaking Some options are available if you want to have your housing arranged before arrival (host establishments around Paris, such as bookstores, families, demi au pair, and sometimes student restaurants, and pubs. residence). Bear in mind that spots may be limited. Entertainment If you have not done so already, you will be able There are many fun activities to do in and around to choose your housing with the help of our Paris. Get in the habit of asking if there is a “tarif housing assistant onsite and use the listings at the étudiant” (student price). Movies cost about 10€, MICEFA office. The housing search is not as but students and Carte Imagine R holders can complicated as it may seem from abroad – it is purchase tickets for 6€ to 8€. Concerts can be 30€ really a way of exploring and getting to know or more but there are many places with concerts Paris. The city has many different in bars that are cheaper. Drinks in bars can cost neighborhoods, options and prices. Given the anywhere between 5€ and 15€+. Look for Happy excellent transportation system, it doesn’t take Hours or Student Night (often Thursdays). You more than half an hour to get to most places in may also check out your Parisian university’s Paris. student center for student discounts. Please note, although it can be very useful to Travel start your research before arrival, we do NOT recommend you rent an apartment without Flights from the US/ Canada depend on your point visiting it first from a stranger. of departure! A weekend ticket to London on the Eurostar is about 120€, depending on when you If you have any question regarding this, please reserve. The price for a roundtrip flight to Berlin send an email to [email protected] or Rome would run about 240€. Depending on how well in advance you book a flight with low Types of Housing cost companies, such as Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) or Easyjet (www.easyjet.com), • Student Residence (CROUS): Individual dorm- flights can be as low as 50€ each way. style rooms. To be arranged with MICEFA depending on availability: 480-680€ Trains around France vary. Check the SNCF website for further pricing information:

• Maid’s / Student’s rooms (Chambre de upon arrival. Always ask for an “état de bonne): usually located on the top floor: lieux,” especially for furnished apartments, to sometimes without an elevator: 480 - 890€ avoid having money deducted for damages or • Studios: 670€ minimum replacements from your security deposit. This • Flat Shares: 2 rooms, meaning two bedrooms: is a precaution both for you and your 670€ and up per student. landlord. • Renting a room in the home of a family: 600- st 950€. • Loyer = monthly rent, due on the 1 of each • Demi au-pair jobs: Free room in exchange for month. 12-15 hours of tutoring/ babysitting per week. • Quittance de loyer = receipt for your monthly rent payment In addition, you MUST buy renter’s insurance for any type of lodging. Ask your landlord or the • EDF/ GDF / Engie = Electricité de France/ Gaz MICEFA Assistant for more information. This may de France (electric/ gas companies) = Also ask range from 30€ to 120€ for the year. your landlord about who is going to pay your electricity consumption.? If you have to pay Also, ask your landlord about who is going to pay directly, you will need to open an account your electricity/utilities. You may need to open an with Electricité de France (or another account with Electricité de France (or another provider); it could cost you up to 50 euros a provider). It will cost you up to 50 euros a month, month, depending on the size of your place. depending on the size of your appartment. • Impôts locatifs/ taxe d’habitation = taxes Key Housing Terms paid on an annual basis for apartment rentals. Your landlord or the person subletting usually • Studio, F1 = one room studio apartment assumes these charges or may ask you to pay your share for the months that you rent the

• F2, F3, etc. = one room, two room apartment. In some cases, you may receive a apartments, etc. bill for these taxes addressed directly to you, to be paid in December or January. Make • Sans ascenseur = no elevator, walk-up sure you know if you are responsible for this (extremely common in Paris) charge. • Salle d’eau = shower (not bath or bathtub) • Gardien/ Concierge = the French version of a room building superintendent. This personer may be able to receive packages and deliver the • WC = toilet mail. • Sur palier = on the floor landing, outside the • Assurance habitation = renter’s insurance is room itself, in a shared area the responsibility of the renter (not the landlord) in France. You are required by law • Bail = lease (please make sure to read this to purchase renter’s insurance for your VERY carefully) apartment or studio. There are generally • Caution = security deposit, usually two-three special student rates. An inexpensive option is months’ rent, with or without charges Matmut, which offers a student rate of 40€ reimbursed at the end of your stay once the per year security check has been done. YOU MUST (http://www.matmut.fr/assurance/etudiants- MAKE SURE TO GET A RECEIPT FOR YOUR assurance-habitation.asp). DEPOSIT. If you fail to do so, you are putting Propriétaire = landlord yourself at RISK! •

• Etat des lieux = a document describing the condition of the apartment and its contents

Final steps for your visa Additional Procedures: Renewing your visa once in France France has outsourced their visa service to VFS If you wish to renew your visa, you must proceed Global for American Students. Students must first as follows: register with Campus France and then can apply First, you must receive approval from your for their in-person visa appointment through • home campus agreeing to your extension. France-Visas.gouv.fr. Canadian students will file for their visa • After obtaining these documents, the MICEFA appointment through the Canadian consulate or administrative assistant will help you fill out embassy closest to your home region after your visa application. Once these steps are completed (letter of motivation + certificat de applying through Campus France. scolarité + application), the MICEFA For North American Students administrative assistant will be able to send your file to the Préfecture de Paris. Once you’ve secured your permanent housing, the MICEFA staff will assist you in completing your • This request must be submitted to the MICEFA OFII process. Everything is online now and the at least two months before your current visa expires, if requests are not made within the process is a simple 3-minute procedure and fee. time constraints provided above, students wishing to renew must apply for a new visa in Travelling and your visa their country of origin. NO EXCUSES or EXTENSIONS WILL BE MADE! Please note that Schengen area: You can travel in the Schengen this process takes time, therefore your area without restrictions and outside of the patience is necessary. Schengen area by showing your passport and visa. Please note that Great Britain and Ireland are NOT Please note that there is no grace period in part of the Schengen area. Make sure that you France - when your visa is over you have to leave carry your OFII documentation and passport no France, especially if you are not an American matter where you go. citizen. Otherwise you will be illegaly on French soil and in case you are requested for ID, you Further Information could be transferred to a detention center.

The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries that have relaxed passport and immigration controls at their common borders:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Please find a map at the following link: http://www.axa- schengen.com/fr/pays-schengen

Great Britain and Ireland are NOT part of the Schengen Area. COVID requirements may change current boarder controls.

Cultural Adjustment Coping Strategies Observe cultural differences, but do not judge them. Remember, none of what is going on around you is directed towards you personally; even the cultural stereotypes which many of the French apply to Americans or others have nothing to do with who you are.

Keep an open mind and a sense of humor. Since Signs of Culture Shock you’re going to laugh about most of these confrontations one day, why not start out by If you don’t experience some degree of “culture refusing to take them seriously now. shock” during your first weeks in France, you’re either not getting out enough or you’re just not You might want to record your experiences in a paying attention! diary; it will help you get a grip on them, learn from them, and will be a wonderful reminder – Under what may at first appear to be a years from now – of your stay in France! recognizable social structure lies enormous differences in personal and social rules of Get out and meet people by doing things you like behavior, family structure, student/teacher to do or have always wanted to do but couldn’t. relationships, norms of friendship, political Look for ways to pursue your interests, hobbies, attitudes, sexual relations, approaches to or favorite sports. Go to public places, cafés, cleanliness, time, space, diet, health, moral codes, clubs, concerts, etc. many of which you will notice immediately and be Get plenty of rest and try to avoid excessive able to adapt to fairly easily. alcohol consumption. Especially in the first few At a less conscious level, you may come to feel weeks, over-tiredness, with or without the threatened, frustrated, angry and destabilized by dehydrating effects of alcohol, can compromise subtle conflicts that occur, especially since you your normally resistant immune system and may be unable to express yourself fully or be fully mimic the symptoms of depression. understood by people you need to deal with. Above all, DO NOT REMAIN In the first few weeks especially, the combination ISOLATED: TALK to people in the of culture shock and the readjustment of your body clock to changing time zones may lead you group, or to others at the MICEFA to feel that coming to France was a big mistake. office. Don’t believe what your emotions and body rhythms are telling you, but don’t ignore them Safety either. Once you recognize the source of your feelings, you will be able to put them into The more you know about your new environment, perspective. the better you will be able to ‘neutralize’ but not necessarily eliminate, safety risks. You should not Two books that we recommend are Au Contraire: allow a sense of delight in your new surroundings Figuring Out the French by Gilles Asselin and Ruth to BLIND you to the risks and the need for Mastron and Cultural Misunderstandings: the COMMON SENSE. French-American Experience by Raymonde Carroll. They could really help you in understanding this First of all, you should be aware that THEFT, phenomenon. especially petty theft, is rampant throughout

France and that tourists and foreign students are MICEFA concerning travel advisories put out by prime targets. Be careful with your handbags and the U.S./Canadian government. wallets: pick pocketing has been a high art in Europe since Roman times and its practitioners The electrical current that comes out of the are often talented and swift. Favorite hangouts outlets in your dorm room or apartment is 220 for pickpockets are crowds, buses, subways, train volts, twice as strong as in the U.S./ Canada. An stations, stores and ATMs (distributeurs de electrical shock at that voltage can be lethal. Do billets). If you have a problem at an ATM, do not not touch any electrical cord, plug or appliance accept help from strangers or new acquaintances. that looks damaged; call your landlord or other It would be best to walk away and come back responsible party. when there is no one around. (Also, it is always Politics is a French passion. You may find yourself best to use your ATM card outside a bank during in some very heated political debates in which office hours only; if the machine should swallow you cannot hope to change anyone’s strongly held your card, you can always go inside to inquire opinions. It is best not to criticize too strongly the about how to retrieve it). government of a country where you are a guest, Do not give your address to strangers or new nor to vaunt your own country’s moral or acquaintances or allow people to read over your economic superiority. At the same time, shoulder in the bank or post office. If you feel you remember, you are not responsible for every act must give someone your address, you may use of your government nor do you have to defend the MICEFA office address. everything about your own country. Most important, do not get involved in political Violent crimes, such as rape and muggings are no protests or demonstrations. Should a more prevalent in France than elsewhere (the demonstration lead to violence you could get murder rate is 5 times lower than in the U.S.), but injured or arrested, in which case your visa may you should not let statistics lull you into letting be revoked. your guard down. Women in particular are advised to avoid public parks and certain Paris **You can find links to safety packets with suburbs after dark; walk in groups at night; do not additional information on our website. do your laundry alone late at night; and do not walk home alone at night. In order to avoid complicated situations, do not let strangers into your house.

Pedestrians do not have the right of way in France! Be very careful, even when you have the green light or are standing on the curb. By North American standards, many French drivers are aggressive and undisciplined. Do not expect them to be on the lookout for pedestrians. Please don’t imitate Parisians when crossing the road.

When traveling between cities, you should take a train or a bus rather than planning on driving or riding a motorbike. Be suspicious of invitations from new acquaintances to drive you to out-of- town destinations and do not hitch-hike! Before making travel plans, please check in with the

Venereal diseases, including AIDS and HIV, are as When in Paris, do as the common here as in the U.S./ Canada and, in large Parisians cities and university towns, foreign students of both sexes may be perceived as easy prey for

sexual tourism in reverse. It is advisable to use Tone of Voice informed discretion in choosing partners and to ALWAYS use condoms (préservatifs), familiarly There are a few things that the French say that and fondly known as “capotes”. They are widely make Americans stand out, and the first thing available in drugstores (pharmacies) and at the they often say, is that we are loud. In France, a distributeurs automatiques in the streets, even in conversation you are having in a public place, metro stations. especially on the metro, should be at a level at which you are not subjecting the people around Some useful vocabulary and you to have to listen to you. If you are doing it information correctly, the person you are talking to will be close to you and has to listen attentively to hear Emergency Contraception - you. The "Morning-After Pill" Politeness In the event of contraceptive failure, an emergency contraceptive pill (la contraception Politesse is extremely important to the French. To d'urgence), called NorLevo, is available. ensure a positive interaction, begin a conversation This emergency contraception is available at with a stranger with Bonjour Madame/Monsieur. pharmacies: without a prescription (unreimbursed When asking for help, if you can remember the by social security) as well as with a prescription phrase, "Excusez-moi de vous déranger", it will go (reimbursed by social security). The unreimbursed a long way. cost is €4-10. It is free for minors. Cultural Relativity Termination of Pregnancy Practice cultural relativity. We interpret the Termination of pregnancy (IVG) is legal in France actions of others by our own "rules", which are up to 12-weeks after conception. made up of all the ways of being we are taught, There is a one-week period of compulsory and that we assimilate by being raised in our "reflection" prior to termination, except in an culture. The French have a different culture, and urgent case where this can be reduced to two so it is no use to judge them using our rules. days. Observe and compare, but do not judge. Being upset at the French for being French will do you Single women do not need to provide the no good. If you do not enjoy the cultural agreement of the partner. A non-resident visitor differences, this is an excellent opportunity for to France may legally have a pregnancy you to discover what your own programming is: terminated while in France. what is important to you, and what do you take for granted at home? A woman may begin by visiting the doctor of her choice, a public hospital or a private clinic Dating and Sex practising abortion (you can find this information at the Planning Family Clinic). After this initial Dating codes and sexual signals here may take consultation, certain laboratory tests may be some getting used to. A woman who smiles at required. strangers in the street is thought to be flirting or inviting an advance. Men, on the other hand, can For those registered with the French social be quite persistent and without fear of crossing security system, 100% of the cost is covered by the line of sexual harassment. the system. For the non-residents in France, it may be possible to receive reduced rate medical assistance (though not all hospitals or clinics will

do so). Some clinics and hospitals will ask the Clinics patient to sign a non-binding certificate stating they intend to remain in France, others will Centre de Planification et d’Education Familiale request that they show they are or will live in (Hôpital Cochin-Port Royal) France for at least 2 months. Consultation gynécologie 123 Boulevard de Port-Royal, 75014 • abortion = l'avortement RER (B): Port Royal • condom = préservatif Tel.: 01 58 41 39 39 ou 01 58 41 38 66 • morning after pill = la pilule du lendemain For further planning familial and other clinics in • birth control = la pilule contraceptive Paris, please visit the following links: • sexually transmitted disease (STD) = Infection sexuellement transmissible (IST) https://www.planning-familial.org/fr/le-planning- familial-de-paris-75 Pharmacies https://www.paris.fr/pages/centres-de-depistage-76 Most Paris neighborhoods have numerous pharmacies easily recognized by flashing green crosses. **Remember MICEFA is here to help you with any and all needs. Most pharmacists speak English and can provide you with over-the-counter medications (e.g. pain relievers or cough syrup). Academics Class Attendance You'll need to head to a pharmacy for most over- the-counter medications. Antibiotics must be The MICEFA requires regular class attendance. An prescribed by a doctor. Some medications are important factor in calculating your final grade easily obtained in the US; however, this may differ in France (eg. Allergy medication). will be your assiduité (attendance). For each class, there are no (=0) non-excused absences Most pharmacies are open during normal each semester. All non-excused absences might business hours (Mon-Sat). result in the student receiving an F. If you are sick, bring a medical certificate to your instructor If your local pharmacy is closed, look for the name and keep a copy for yourself in case of and address of the "Pharmacie de Garde" posted misplacement (papers of this sort tend to on the pharmacy door. A Pharmacie de Garde is “disappear” in the French administrative system). the the closest late-night pharmacy. Otherwise, you can call the nearest police station that will be able to provide you with this information. Teaching Methods

Pharmacies closing late in Paris: You will soon notice that the approach to teaching at French universities is different from what you • Publicis Drugstore (from 8:00AM to 2:00AM) are accustomed to in North America. It originates 133 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8e in long-standing traditions in the French Tél: 33(0)1 44 43 79 00 educational system that stress theory and analysis Métro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile, Georges V over practical, hands-on knowledge. This change in emphasis may be disorienting at first and may • Pharmacie des Champs (24 hour pharmacy) require you to re-think some of your learning 84 avenue des Champs-Elysées (passage des strategies. As you do this, you will gain insight Champs), 8e into how the educational background of the Tél: 33(0)1 45 62 02 41 French often leads them to think and react in Métro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile ways that are different from what you might otherwise expect. In addition to learning or

perfecting another language, this practical You should not expect to have as much experience in cultural adjustment may be the interaction (except perhaps in conversation most valuable lesson you learn from your time classes) as you do with your professors at home, abroad. and you should not expect the instructor to stay after class to answer questions, unless he/she has Teacher/ Student Rapport specifically indicated his/her willingness to do so. (French professors do not have campus offices, so You may find the rapport between you and your they have very limited office hours.) instructor distant at best and antagonistic at worst if you cannot adapt to the rules of the In conclusion, French education is demanding, but game. French professors, even in the lycée (high it is also rewarding. Take advantage of it during school), have worked many long years to achieve your time abroad in Paris! the academic degrees and status they enjoy and have earned their positions through a series of extremely competitive examinations and Useful Academic Information concours. Thus, they are strongly committed to creating a challenging, and rigorous learning Levels: environment. Although they take full France North America responsibility for delivering the content of their License course, they do not feel that it is up to them to L1 Freshman/Sophomore entertain and motivate their students or to L2 Sophomore/junior reward them for anything but the very best work. L3 Junior/Senior Master You are expected to be present, to listen, to M1 Senior/Graduate absorb, to study, to produce work, and to take M2 Graduate tests, but not necessarily to be rewarded profusely for your efforts. You may, in fact, find yourselves the brunt of a time-honored French Credits: pedagogical approach known as motivation ECTS* - European Credit Transfer System *This system does not transfer for North through ridicule, or even harsh criticism. You may American students. MICEFA reports credits based hear expressions such as “C’est ridicule!”, “C’est on contact hours. nul!”, but in all cases, remember: do not take it personally! French professors may repeat Number of Contact expressions they themselves heard throughout North American Credits Hours per semester their training; and they feel it’s the best way to make you work harder and better and let you Under 18 hours 1 credit know what is expected of you. 18 hours 1.5 credits 24 hours 2 credits You, on the other hand, are expected to treat your instructors with formal respect. You will 36 hours 3 credits address them, and they will address you, as 48 hours 4 credits ‘vous.’ You should use the Monsieur and Madame

(followed by their last name) each time you address them. You must arrive in class on time Grades: (or at least apologize for your tardiness), and you Grades in France are usually on a scale from 0 of may not eat or drink in class. Also make sure to 20. Here, the lowest grade acceptable for you to dress appropriately for class. Dress can be casual, obtain a degree or pass a course is 10 out of 20. but it should be appropriate (no “beach wear” for example).

The following table lists the MICEFA • Partiel = Mid-term exam recommended grading equivalency between the • Rattrapage = Make-up exam period French and American systems for MICEFA courses • Thèse = Thesis and French as a Foreign Language (FLE) courses in • Tutorat = Tutorial/ tutoring Paris. This table is adapted from standards determined by the Franco-American Commission NB: If you have a problem regarding your course for Educational Exchange. logistics (aka room number or campus) please report this to the MICEFA office asap and we will Confirm with the MICEFA office or with your assist you. Please note that each professor resident director if the following equivalence structures their course differently, so keep an applies to your case. open mind.

A+ 16 and up A 15 Student timeline A- 14 B+ 13 August/September (Year/Fall students) B 12 January (Spring Students) B- 11 C+ 10 Arrival, settle into Paris by choosing housing, C 9 opening a bank account and attending your C- 8 MICEFA Intensive French Language Program and D+ 7 visiting your Parisian university host campus. D 6 You'll find your bearings in Paris soon enough! D- 5 F below 5 September/October (Year/Fall students) February (Spring students)

Mainstream courses with regular French students Course Registration Form: may be converted more leniently, with +1 inflation. That is, a grade of 15 and up would then MANDATORY: You will have to fill out your be equivalent to an A+, and so on. Course Registration Form. You will need to turn it in to the MICEFA office by the SECOND WEEK of French Academic Vocabulary: class. The Course Registration Form will need to • CM = cours magistraux (lectures) include ALL courses from both MICEFA and your • TD = travaux dirigés (discussion group) French university. This document is VERY • TP = travaux pratiques (lab or practice group) IMPORTANT. It enables us to process and create • Assiduité = attendance your transcript and to TRACK DOWN YOUR GRADES when you are back in North America. You • ABS = absence injustifiée (unexcused must indicate all requested information, name of absences) professors, title and code of courses, level, and • Contrôle continu = a set of graded the number of hours of class per week. Please assignments added to your final exam, understand that we won't be able to find the attendance is included grade you got from that "tall blond professor with • Contrôle terminal = Final exam a cute accent" (yes, it has happened...). You will • Cours particuliers = Tutoring soon understand that the French university Défaillant(e) = Fail • administration is not always very efficient and

• Désistement = Withdrawal that's why every paper we ask from you to fill out • Devoir = homework is VERY precious to us. Thanks in advance! • Devoir sur table = In-class written exam • Dissertation = essay Please remember that ECTS, meaning European • Dossier = project / file of work Credits, has nothing to do with North American • Examens = exams/ finals credits!

Add/Drop Form: from our website: http://micefa.org/north- american-students/downloads-documents/ MANDATORY: You will need to submit your Add/ Drop Form completely and concisely no later than Before returning home your FOURTH WEEK of class at the French university. Since the French university does not Cancelling contracts: have an official add/drop period, you will need to let your professor know that you would either like Please schedule an appointment with the bank to add/drop the course verbally or via e-mail. If branch to close your account. This closure you do not submit your MICEFA Add/Drop Form procedure is very important. You will also need to by the deadline indicated above your transcript cancel all service contracts (phone, internet, ect.) will include all the courses submitted on the that you signed up for while living in France. Course Registration Form. Please note that one month's notice is usually required to cancel any kind of contract in France. Cancelling contracts in France is usually conducted in writing, therefore a cancellation *You can download above forms from our letter is needed. You will need to send this letter website: http://micefa.org/north-american- to the cancellation services (services de students/downloads-documents/ résilisation) with a proof of mailing (avis de réception) from the post office. The avis de réception will serve as proof that you sent in your December/January (Fall students) cancellation properly to the carrier. You can find a model letter on the MICEFA Student Workspace. May/June (Year/Spring students) If further assistance is required, please address If you need to leave early to begin your home the MICEFA office. university’s semester, obtain a summer job, attend summer school, etc., you may need to Housing: negotiate your early departure with your Before moving out, you will need to notify your professor. Please understand that some landlord of your departure with one month's professors may refuse such a short attendance in notice. Make sure to confirm that this is their class and may not allow you to take the final understood clearly and concisely with your exam in advance. We prefer that you stay until landlord to avoid any confusion. Communication the end of the semester whenever possible. is key! Once again, a departure letter may be Evaluation Forms: required. In order to ensure that you receive your full deposit back, make sure to read the fine lines You MUST give an evaluation form to each of your of your contract and to leave your place clean professors (except your MICEFA professors since without any damaged property. we will have direct contact with them for your grades), together with a pre-addressed pre- Transcripts: stamped envelope addressed to the MICEFA: 9 It is very important to provide the MICEFA with Rue Chardin, 75016 Paris. You may also download your Course Registation Form and give your the evaluation form and submit it electronically to professors the Evaluation Forms. These your professor. Your professor may then submit documents are at your disposal under the your evaluation form via e-mail to Downloads and Documents section on our [email protected]. website. If these documents are not submitted on This will speed up the procedure and will help you time, it may cause a delay in processing your get your grades and your transcript faster. These transcripts upon your return home. evaluations will come to MICEFA directly and we will then be able to process and create your transcript. This form can also be downloaded

General Information: home campus. We need your help, please follow these procedures in order to get a transcript at Don’t forget to confirm with the MICEFA office to the end of your stay. see if everything is in order and to obtain your “certificat de fin d’études”, which will be How to Request a Transcript at a important to cancel contracts and to close your later date bank account. Before leaving Paris, make sure to fill out our Exit Survey, so we may receive your • Email [email protected] feedback for your stay in Paris and to better serve • Tell us how many official copies, the address our future exchange students. We will also be of where they should be sent (include happy to wish you a farewell and to inquire about attention of, etc.) and if you need them sent your experience with us in Paris. on a rush basis • The first official copy costs €10 and additional How do I get my transcript? copies are €2 each • You will be sent a paypal invoice for payment An official transcript will be made by MICEFA and and once your payment is received, we will sent directly to your study abroad office at your send the transcripts

Emergency Contact Info Emergencies

You will be given a list of all necessary emergency numbers. Keep this list in your cell phone contact book so that it is accessible at all times. In case of a serious emergency such as an accident or imminent danger of physical harm, a life-threatening medical condition or psychological crisis, immediately call one of the police or hospital numbers that you have been given, as well as the MICEFA office or emergency cell. If you leave Paris overnight, make sure to e-mail the MICEFA staff and let us know where you will be and how we can contact you in case of an emergency.

Emergency Contact Numbers

European Emergency Number 112 La Police 17 Les Pompiers (firemen, more efficient than the police) 18 Le SAMU (ambulance service for emergency transportation to the hospital) 15 SOS Médecins (24-hour service for a doctor to come to your home) 01 47 07 77 77 Centre Anti-Poison 01 40 05 48 48 SOS Help (Depression, suicide) 01 47 23 80 80 Association des Alcooliques Anonymes (AAA) 01 46 34 59 65 https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/paris/healthcare/support-groups/aa-meetings

Centres de dépistage VIH/STD https://www.paris.fr/pages/centres-de-depistage-76

The Counseling Center at the American Cathedral 01 47 23 61 13 LGBT Paris: http://www.centrelgbtparis.org 01 43 57 21 47 SOS Homophobie (Mon-Fri 6pm-10pm and Sat 2pm-4pm): 01 48 06 42 41 Femmes Info Service (battered Women): 01 40 33 80 60

Rape crisis hotline (Mon-Fri 10am-7pm): 0 800 05 95 95 Family Planning Clinics: https://www.planning-familial.org/fr Drug Info Service: 0 800 23 13 13 Narcotics Anonymous: 01 43 72 12 72 AIDS/HIV Info Service: 0 800 840 800 Objets trouvés (Préfecture de Police – Lost and Found) 01 55 76 20 00 Carte Bleue volée ou perdue (24h/24h) 08 36 69 08 80 Emergency MICEFA Cell 06 70 50 87 05 06 31 26 71 79

(Call this number ONLY in an emergency; otherwise call the MICEFA office during business hours.) Medical Emergency Contact The American Hospital 63, Blvd Victor Hugo 01 46 41 25 25 Has special agreements with Neuilly-sur-Seine (Ask for Dr. Michael J. some American insurance Métro: Pont-de-Neuilly Specter or Dr. John providers. Bus: 83/92 Relland.)

English Speaking Doctors General Practitioners: Dr. Anne-Valerie Meyers 10, rue Royale (Stairway C, 4th 01 42 66 47 82 Floor) 75008 Dr. Nancy Salzman 1, avenue Lowendal, 75007 01 45 63 18 43

Dr. Jurgen Tredup 27, rue Saint-Ambroise, 75011 01 43 55 03 21

Dr. Agnès Bryn 01 49 83 94 70 11, rue de Pot de Fer, 75005 01 55 43 30 80 Dr. Olivier Wong 45, rue Saint Lambert, 75015 01 45 31 81 31

Dr. Jean-Pierre Aubert 32, rue Hermel, 75018 (takes appointments on 01 46 06 92 82 Métro: Jules Joffrin (Ligne 12) Saturdays)

Gynecologists: Dr. Guy Bercau 276, bd. Saint-Germain, 75007 01 47 53 81 64 Dr. Emmanuel David- 60, avenue d'Iéna, 75116 01 47 20 50 68 Montefiore Dr. Christiane Lorphelin 45, avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 01 45 00 40 30 Dr. Patricial Rérolle 20, rue Daniel Stern, 75015 01 43 06 60 00

Dentists: Dr. Jona Andersen 15, rue Freycinet 01 47 23 01 00 Dr. Patrick Bauer 71, avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, 01 42 25 76 30

75008 Dr. Ariane Brunet 75, rue de Turenne, 75003 01 48 87 62 56/ 58 Dr. Eric Edwards 88, avenue Foch, 75006 01 45 01 91 71 Dr. Davarthana (dental surgeon) 36 rue de Lubeck, 75016 01 53 70 36 36

Physical Therapist: Mr. Paul Beurskens 34, rue Dauphine, 75006 01 44 07 04 97 Radiologist: Dr. Antoine Hakime 5, rue Antoine Arnauld 06 21 39 60 36

Therapists:

Mme. Monica Frankel- 06 09 24 60 66

d'Alençon [email protected]

01 47 20 40 11 7, rue Saint Senoch, 75017 06 13 50 82 60 Dr. Rosemarie Bourgaul rosemarie.bourgault@wanad oo.fr

Cindy Davis 75011 06.49.33.92.30 Justine Duplessis-Nelson 06 17 92 62 50 11, rue Bosio, 75016 (specialized in eating disorders) [email protected] 218 bis Rue des Pyrénées Emmanuelle Gira 06.63.78.84.30 75020 Paris SOS Help: English-Language http://www.soshelpline.org/ 01 46 21 46 46 Listening Line in France community.html

International Counseling Service 10, rue St. Louis en L'Ile, 75004 01 45 50 26 49 http://www.icsparis.com

Sharon Korman 91 rue du Théatre, 75015 06 50 02 30 66

Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists: Dr. Daniel F. Brasnu Hôpital Européen Georges 01 56 09 34 79 Pompidou/ 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Dr. Gerald Fain 32, avenue Matignon, 75008 01 42 27 27 76 Dr. Jacques Huart 44, rue d'Alésia, 75014 01 43 27 18 31

Chiropractors: Ms. Nadine Steinik Foresman 22, rue des Canettes, 75006 01 43 54 26 25

Nutritionists: Dr. Hervé Grosgogeat 108, rue de Bac, 75007 01 45 49 07 06 Dr. Catherine Serfaty- 8, rue Jean Richepin, 75016 01 45 04 34 34 Lacroisniere

For further specialty areas please refer to the following link under "Doctors and Hospitals": http://france.usembassy.gov/living_in_france.html • Tati, (cheap clothing store) the main one is 4, Bd Rochechouard, 75018, Métro: Barbès- Miscellaneous Rochechouard Information • Celio, (reasonably priced mens clothing), there is one Bd St-Michel, Métro: St Michel

• Le Printemps and Les Galeries Lafayettes, Bd For Traveling Haussman, Métro: Chaussée d’Antin or RER: Auber have great sales for a few days every 2

• OTU, there is one 139 Bd St-Michel 75005 or 3 months. Métro Port Royal main tel 01 40 29 12 12 • Surcouf, (large computer store) 139, Bd (they have cheap international students’ rates Daumesnil 75012, Métro: Gare de Lyon train tickets called ‘billets WASTEEL’) • Club Alliance Voyage, 99 Bd Raspail 75006 English Bookstores Métro: Rennes 01 45 48 89 53 • SNCF (Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare St- • Village Voice Anglo-American bookshop, 6, Lazare, Gare Montparnasse, Gare de Lyon) rue Princesse, 75006 https://www.sncf.com/fr • Shakespeare & Co, 37, rue Bucherie, 75005 (in front of Notre-Dame) RER: St-Michel- Lowcost Airlines: Sorbonne • Brentano’s, 37 av. de l’Opéra, 75002, Métro:

• Easyjet: www.easyjet.com Opéra

• Ryanair: http://www.ryanair.com • WH Smith, 248, rue de Rivoli, 75001, Métro: • Lastminute: http://www.lastminute.com Concorde

• Opodo: http://www.opodo.com/ • The Abbey, 29, rue Parcheminerie, 75001, • Transavia: http://www.transavia.com/fr- Métro: St Michel FR/accueil/ • Tea and Tattered Pages, (used books in English) 24, rue Mayet 75006, Métro: Duroc For Clothing, Appliances, etc. Reasonably Priced Bookstores • BHV, (Dept. store, in basement US electric and phone plug adaptor), 52 rue de Rivoli • FNAC, there is one in Les Halles (niveau-3), 75004 -Métro: Hôtel de Ville (Barnes & Nobles equivalent for books, music, • Darty, (cheap home appliances), at the Forum stereos, cameras...) des Halles-Métro/RER: Les Halles • Gibert Joseph, (new and used books) 26, Bd • La Centrale des Affaires, (cheap home St Michel 75006, Métro: Odéon, RER: St appliances), 85, rue d’Amsterdam, 75008, Michel Sorbonne Métro: Place de Clichy • Gibert Jeune, (new and used books) there is • Stop Affaires, (cheap home appliances), 20, one at 15 bis, Bd St-Denis, 75002, Métro: rue Belgrand, 75020, Métro: Gambetta Strasbourg-Saint-Denis • Go Sport, (for cheap sporting goods), at the Forum des Halles, Métro/RER: Les Halles

Cheap Theater Tickets bank account easier than it would be if you weren’t a MICEFA student. • CROUS also has cheap deals. http://www.culture-crous.paris/ You will get a normal bank account that will • Kiosque jeunes Canopée 10, passage de la include a Carte Bleue (your debit card). Canopée75001 Paris Depending on which package they offer you, you • Kiosque Jeunes Champ de Mars 101 quai may also receive a second account that can act as Branly75015 PARIS a savings account. • Kiosque Jeunes Goutte d'or 1, rue Fleury 75018 Paris You will need to go into an appointment at the

bank to create your account. Please note that Librairies MICEFA only has a relationship with this particular branch, if you report to another branch or bank, • La Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF) 01 you must set up your account independently. 53 79 59 59 11, quai Mauriac, 75013, Métro: Setting up a bank account independently will Bibliothèque F. Mitterand, require further fees. • BDIC, Université de Nanterre, RER: Nanterre Université, 01 47 21 40 22 PLEASE BRING: You MUST bring your passport • Bibliothèque Saint-Geneviève, 10, place du and a certificat de scolarité (Ask for one from the Panthéon, 75005, 01 44 41 97 97 MICEFA). You may also need a birth certificate • Institut du Monde Arabe, 1, rue Fossés St- including the city and state/providence where you Bernard 75005, Métro: Jussieu 01 40 51 38 38 were born. • American Library in Paris, 10, rue du Gal Camou, 75017 01 53 59 12 60 Hours of Operation: • BPI Beaubourg, rue Beaubourg in the Centre Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 09:00am – 06:00pm Georges Pompidou, open from 12 pm to 10 Thursday: 10:00am – 06:00pm pm. Saturday: 9:00am – 4:00pm NB: for local library locations in Paris please visit: http://www.paris.fr/pratique/bibliotheques/autre International Student s-bibliotheques/p5730 Organizations and Activities

For Court Approved Translators MICEFA encourages its students to take advantage of the opportunities for cross-cultural Christelle Nely exchange presented by being a study abroad 06 62 35 68 19 student. The following organizations offer [email protected] opportunities to travel throughout France and Europe as well as opportunites to meet and For a complete list of translators, please visit: interact with other international students in Paris. http://france.usembassy.gov/translations2.html Echanges Internationaux à Paris: Students with birth certificates originating from outside the U.S. must call the embassy of the EIAP is a group of over 1500 students from around country they are from to get info about the world. EIAP organizes excursions throughout translators. France and Europe as well as acitvities and soirées in Paris. Please visit their Facebook page for more Banking Information information: https://www.facebook.com/EIAP2019/ The MICEFA has a special agreement with a local Paris bank. They will make opening your French

Club Internationaux des Jeunes à Get Involved: Volunteer! Paris: Below is a list of volunteer associations in Paris. CIJP is an organization of international students in Now go out and change the world already! Paris. CIJP organizes excursions throughout France and Europe, as well as conversation http://www.paris.fr/benevolat workshops, visits to Parisian neighborhoods, http://www.espacebenevolat.org/ museums, exhibitions, movies, theatre, concerts… http://www.francebenevolat.org/ Visit their website at: http://www.club- http://www.paris.catholique.fr/-Benevolat-.html international.org/cijp/index2_anglais.htm http://www.acparis.org/ http://www.secretsofparis.com/volunteer- Other student association websites: opportunities-paris/

• [email protected] Getting involved in Paris (Sorbonne Nouvelle) Paris is a city of endless possibilities. Whatever • [email protected] (Sorbonne) your interest is, you are likely to find something to • [email protected] (Pierre do in Paris. Remember, keeping active is one of et Marie Curie) the best ways to deal with culture shock and • [email protected] adaptation, as well as an excellent way to meet (Pierre et Marie Curie) people and improve your French. Here’s a list of • [email protected] things that former MICEFA students have done in ou 06 75 54 89 85 the past. Maybe you would also like to…. • [email protected] (Paris-Diderot) • Sing Mozart's Requiem in the • [email protected] Sorbonne Chapel? (Paris8- Vincennes - Saint Denis) • Teach English to French children? • [email protected] • Study French gastronomy and learn to (Paris Est Créteil) cook some local specialties? • [email protected] • Visit the European Parliament in a (Paris Nord) course field trip? • [email protected] Run the Paris Marathon? (Paris Nord) • Bike to Giverny? • [email protected] ou 06 48 30 15 13 (Evry) • Represent your University on the • Opération Tandem : 01 44 39 52 11 (Institut fencing team? Catholique de Paris) • Volunteer in a soup kitchen? • Centre LGBT Paris: • Rollerblade to Versailles with a http://www.centrelgbtparis.org/ thousand other students, or every Friday night in Paris? Additionally, http://www.etudiantdeparis.fr/ • Volunteer in the LGBT Center in Paris? offers many resources for both French and • international students in Paris, including information about concerts, museum exhibits, theatre, and other activities. Furthermore, be Welcome to Paris!!! sure to check with your Parisian university’s study Bienvenue à Paris!! abroad office (the Bureau des Relations Internationales) for more information!