Transportation
| Housing | Meals | Cultural
| Money
Communication | General
Transportation
Do I have to take the AIFS flight?
No. However, bear in mind that if you purchase the AIFS transportation
package, the transatlantic flight will be provided with round-trip
airport transfers. You will be met at the airport on arrival
and taken to your residence. At the end of the program if you
leave on the group flight on the group departure date, you will
be picked up from your residence and taken to the airport.
Can I make changes to my AIFS flight request after
I have sent in my application form?
Possibly, but a penalty applies. Once your application form
is received, AIFS will book and confirm your flight. It may
be possible to make changes after your application has been
accepted, and before the ticket has been issued, but a $50 change
fee will be levied. It is not possible to change the outward
portion of your ticket after it has been issued by the airline.
Can I change my return flight once I am in Paris?
Maybe. For a fee and subject to airline approval and availability,
you may try to change your return flight. You must contact the
airline's ticketing office directly, but please note that not
all airlines have a ticketing office in central Paris. You may
have to take a trip out to the airport to make any flight changes.
Only date changes are allowed; there can be no changes to the
routing, and there will be an airline-imposed fee which could
be as high as $150. If you have a connecting flight in the US,
you must check whether you are able to change that, as some
cannot be changed. Please note that once you receive your ticket,
it is your property and therefore AIFS staff cannot make the
changes for you.
Housing
Where will I live?
There are two housing options. The main option is the FIAP (Foyer
International d'Accueil a Paris). Students are housed mainly
in twin rooms with an en suite bathroom comprising of shower,
sink and toilet. Each room is designed in such a way so that
each student has their own section with bed, wardrobe, desk
and shelves giving as much privacy as possible. The rooms are
small as is the case with most Parisian accommodation but they
are modern and nicely furnished. There may be the odd triple
room due to unequal numbers but they are furnished in the same
way.
Option two is to stay in a limited number of small, self catered
flats within a twenty minute walk of the FIAP. Two people will
share a room with private bathroom. There is also a small kitchen
area where students may prepare their own meals. Once again,
the rooms will be compact as is most Parisian accommodation.
Can I have a single room?
There is sometimes a limited number of singles available for
a supplemental fee. Students should contact the AIFS Connecticut
office with individual requests. Single rooms are allocated
on a first come first served basis.
Can I move into my accommodations before the program
starts if I am arriving in Paris early?
AIFS cannot supply you with accommodation until the official
start date of the program, however, if you do arrive early you
are welcome to make a reservation at the FIAP as a private guest
and pay them directly as you would any hotel or hostel.
Can I cook in my accommodations?
Cooking is an option, depending on the type of housing you have
requested. If you stay at the FIAP then you are automatically
part of the meal plan and have meals provided - there are no
cooking facilities in the FIAP for students. If you choose to
stay away from the FIAP then you will have limited cooking facilities
and not be part of the meal plan. Students may buy meals at
the FIAP should they so desire. Added to this students should
note that there is to be no food in the bedrooms and certainly
no alcohol.
Can I choose my own roommate?
Yes. Simply write the name of the person on your AIFS program
application form and make sure your friend does the same. Alternatively
if you decide to room with someone after your application has
been submitted write a letter to the AIFS Connecticut office
stating your roommate choice.
How is my roommate chosen?
We allocate roommates based on the information given on the
AIFS program application forms filed in by every student. Firstly
we look to see if a student has requested a particular roommate,
if they have we house them with that person. We then put students
with similar routines together i.e. those who get up early,
go to bed late etc. taking particular care not to room smokers
with non-smokers. Finally we look at the interests people mention
on the application form and try to match them with those who
share them. This is why students should always fill out the
housing section of the application form honestly and with as
much information as possible.
When will I find out who my roommate is?
Rooming and apartment assignments will be handed out upon arrival
in Paris.
Are the rooms co-ed?
No. Male and female students may share the same corridor in
either of the accommodation options but the actual rooming assignments
will be same sex. If you have a friend of the opposite sex coming
on the program please note this on the application form and
we will try and place them in a nearby room.
Is there a curfew?
Yes. The FIAP closes its doors from 2am until 6am. This is for
security reasons. The reception is open 24 hours if you do require
anything during the night.
Can I have overnight guests?
No. For security and insurance reasons only authorized occupant(s)
are allowed to sleep in AIFS accommodation. Staff can help you
make reservations for guests in suitable places nearby. Security
guards do patrol and will ask non residents to leave the building
if they are found on the accommodation floors. Visitors are
welcome in the ground floor common areas until midnight.
Meals
Are meals provided?
Once Again it depends on your chosen housing option. If you
choose to stay at the FIAP you will have breakfast everyday
and 5 other meals (lunch or dinner) a week. Breakfast is in
the restaurant on the first floor called the Francilien. It
is a typical continental breakfast and consists of cereals,
breads, croissants, juice, tea and coffee. Every week you will
be issued with your meal tickets and you should hand one in
to the waiters whenever you have breakfast. Your other meals
will be in the European restaurant on the ground floor. This
is a self-service restaurant and again you will have tickets
to hand into the cashier. Each ticket is worth 20 points and
the food items available are then given point values. For example,
a small starter can be 3 points, cheese 2 points, a main meal
with vegetable accompaniment 10 to 14 points, drinks up to 5
points and desserts from 2 to 5 points. You just select what
you want to the value of 20 points. If you want more you can
pay cash but if you have less than 20 points you will not receive
any change. 20 points gives you a lot of food.
The food is of a high standard for cafeteria style cooking
but students should realize that the food will be different
than back home. French cooking has a lot of rich sauces and
there may be things on the menu that you are not used to eating,
however, do experiment most people find there is always something
they like in the selection.
If you decide to stay away from the FIAP then you will not
be part of the meal plan. You will still be able to eat at the
FIAP but will need to pay on a meal by meal basis (The Self
Service Restaurant accepts Cash and Credit Cards). There are
numerous cafes, sandwich stores and places to eat close to the
FIAP study center.
Is bed linen provided?
Yes. Linen is provided and changed at least once a week in both
housing opt ions.
Are towels provided?
Yes. These are changed at least once a week. However, they are
only for use within your Paris residence. So if you are traveling
please bring your own for use in hostels etc.
Are there laundry facilities available?
Yes. In both residences there is a small laundromat in the building.
Tokens and powder can be bought on site. There is also an iron
and ironing board available. However, there are only limited
machines so you may have to wait. It is often more convenient
to pop to the larger laundromat approx. 5 minutes walk away.
Will I have a telephone in my room?
Yes, this is principally for incoming calls. Please note that
the reception desks of the residences will not put calls through
to your room after midnight because other people are sleeping
so please make friends and family are aware of this. People
do forget especially when they do not take into account the
time difference. If you do wish to make calls from the phone
in your room you can ask at reception to open the outgoing line
by placing a minimum of 10€ or a credit card onto your
account. They will give you a personal code so you and your
roommate can use the same phone but still have individual accounts
and pay separately. This means there is less confusion and no
cause for payment disputes. To check your credit, simply enquire
at reception. You can use calling cards in conjunction with
this system but do need to open the account with 10€ or
a credit card even if it is unused and reimbursed at the end
of your stay. Pay phones are available in your residence and
on the street nearby. These pay phones take cards (not coins)
that can be purchased from nearby stores or from a vending machine
at the FIAP reception.
Will I be able to use my electrical appliances e.g.
hairdryer in Paris?
Only with an adapter and transformer. Appliances designed to
operate in the US may not operate in Paris unless they are fitted
with a dual voltage switch or used with a converter. Also the
electrical sockets are different in Europe so you will need
an adapter plug to fit in the appliance. If you are unsure how
to convert equipment it is essential that you seek advise from
an AIFS staff member before using it. It may be better to purchase
an inexpensive hairdryer/travel iron of the correct voltage
and plug once you have arrived in Paris instead of bringing
them with you. You may be able to get something for about $25
and why not share the cost with your roommate.
Can I choose to make my own living arrangements instead
of living in AIFS accommodation?
This is only possible if you have close friends or relatives
living in Paris. There is a reduced fee for arranging your own
housing, but the money saved will not be adequate to pay for
housing you would find on your own in the short term rental
market. If you wish to choose this option, you must first provide
details of your relatives or close friends to the program coordinator
at your school. The program coordinator must authorize the living
arrangement. You must also notify AIFS on your program application
form that you do not require housing and provide a contact address
in Paris to enable us to reach you in an emergency.
Can I change my housing option after I have sent my
application form to AIFS?
No. We have to book accommodation very far in advance and it
is not possible to make changes after applications have been
accepted.
What is the FIAP?
The FIAP (Foyer International d'Accueil a Paris) is an international
welcome center aimed at students. It has space for 500 overnight
guests, has many classrooms, conference rooms, 2 restaurants,
a café bar, TV rooms, tourist information, terrace and
many other facilities. It welcomes many international students
throughout the year and is an ideal environment to live and
study in. Not only will you meet many foreign students but you
will also see various conferences, art exhibitions and musical
evenings all in the FIAP.
Where is the FIAP?
The FIAP is at 30 Rue Cabanis. It is in the 14th arrondissement
in Paris and is just south of the Latin Quarter. The nearest
metro station is "Glacière"
Cultural
What events will be on the cultural calendar?
There will be a large variety of events on the calendar making
use of all the resources Paris has to offer. Included will be
opera, ballet, walking tours, concerts, cheese and wine evenings.
Are these events good value for money?
Yes. The ticket prices are subsidized by your program fees and
the original price that we pay is also lower than you could
get on your own due to us being able to book in advance, get
group discounts and using our contacts in Paris.
Will there be trips?
Yes. We plan to offer a weekend trip to Normandy and the D-Day
beaches and another to the Loire Valley. You can sign up for
these trips once you arrive in Paris and you must pay in Euros.
We will try to get the best possible price for these trips and
believe them to be good value. Full itineraries will be available
once you arrive in Paris and sign ups will begin in the first
week so we know how many people we need to book for. There will
also be various day trips such as Chartres and Giverny.
Money
How much money will I need?
This very much depends on individual tastes. However, AIFS recommends
that students budget $550-$675 per month for day to day needs.
This would allow for some theatre visits and excursions but
not for extensive overseas travel or expensive purchases.
In what form should I bring money?
Travelers' checks, credit cards and ATM cards are the safest
and simplest ways to carry money. If you do not already have
a credit card we recommend that you get one and make sure you
get a PIN for it in case you need to make emergency cash advances.
Perhaps the most efficient method of accessing your money is
the use of cash dispenser networks. The American Plus, Cirrus
and Star networks can be accessed from the cash dispensers of
several of the high street banks in France, allowing cash to
be withdrawn from a US bank account if you have a card which
is linked to one of these systems. You should check with your
local bank for ATM capabilities in Europe and make sure you
get a four digit PIN number from them before leaving the US.
However, do not rely on this method as your only means of accessing
money. Bring Traveler's Checks and a credit card and use a combination
of all three.
If you run out of money while you are in Paris, AIFS staff
can give you detailed information about how to have money sent
quickly from the US. Money Orders can take up to six weeks to
cash, but Western Union offers a service called Willcall that
will transfer money from the US to Europe in half an hour. Although
there is a transaction charge this is a very useful service
if you need money quickly. You can get further details on this
service from Western Union 800 325 6000.
Communication
What is my mailing address?
The address of the AIFS study center/classrooms is:
Name
C/o AIFS
FIAP Jean Monnet
30 Rue Cabanis
75014 Paris
France
There are alphabetical mailboxes at reception where mail and
messages from AIFS staff, other students and faculty will be
left for you. There is also a notice board by the office that
you should check daily. This will tell you if you have received
a parcel, a fax or a phone message has been taken for you.
How should people contact me?
You can receive mail as indicated above and you can also receive
faxes free of charge at the reception. To send a fax from the
US, your friends/family should dial 011 33 1 43 13 17 07. You
can also send faxes to the US from the AIFS Student Services
office. Prices will be given to students upon arrival.
If people wish to call you they should call the reception of
your residence (Numbers will be given on arrival). When they
get through they should clearly state your name and room number
and the staff will transfer the call to your room. This will
not be done after midnight due to noise problems and if you
are not in the staff will take a message 24 hours a day. Most
reception staff speak English but please remind friends and
family to talk clearly and slowly if leaving a message so that
it is taken correctly.
Will I have access to a computer/e mail?
T here is a small computer lab in the FIAP. This is designed
for e-mail/internet access rather than word processing and your
faculty will usually accept hand written work. There will be
a charge to use the internet and email. Full details of times
and costs will be given to students upon arrival as will details
of the various internet cafes around Paris.
General
Do I need a visa?
If you are a US citizen you do not need a visa to study in France
if they are only staying 90 days or less. If you plan on staying
in Europe longer then you will require a visa and should consult
your nearest embassy. If you are not a US citizen you should
check with the French Embassy in the US to see if you require
a visa to visit France. All students should check to see if
they need visas for any countries they may want to visit during
independent travel. US citizens do not currently need a visa
for any of the countries visited on the optional orientation
tour of Europe.
What should I take with me?
Not too much! Paris is a crowded city and closet space in the
FIAP is limited. Every term students find that they bring clothing
that they never wear and toiletries etc. that they could have
easily bought in Paris.
If you are on medication you should bring enough to last you
for the program as well as a prescription in case you lose any.
The weather in Paris can be unpredictable in Spring so you should
bring some warm clothing with you. It is best to bring clothes
that you can "layer" so that they are appropriate
for all weathers. You should also bring a waterproof coat and
possibly an umbrella.
You will probably do a lot more walking than you are used to
so you should bring comfortable shoes. You will not need much
"dressy" clothing but do bring a couple of outfits
for the opera or ballet. Full evening dress is not required
but it is nice for females to wear a dress and men not to wear
jeans.
It is a good idea to bring an ATM card (see Money Section) and
an AT & T card, or equivalent, if you have one.
More detailed information about what to bring will be provided
at the pre-departure orientation.
How will I travel around Paris?
Paris has a very extensive bus and subway network (metro) which
makes traveling around very easy. You will be given a metro
map when you arrive and information on how to use the system
and routes to take. Also when you arrive in Paris AIFS staff
will give a "Carte Orange". This is a travel pass
that allows unlimited travel on the metro and the buses in Paris.
This does not give you access to the suburbs, you will have
to pay extra if you want to travel outside of the center but
staff will explain this in more detail when you arrive.
In order to purchase the travel passes in advance we must have
a photo. Therefore it is essential that, as requested in the
program application information, you send in recent passport
type pictures with your application form. If we do not receive
you photos in advance, we will be unable to purchase the pass
and it will not be ready for you upon arrival in Paris.
Can I buy textbooks and course related materials in Paris?
You can buy paper, files etc in Paris, but we do advise you
to purchase your textbooks in the US and bring them with you.
Paris does have some English language bookstores but it is doubtful
that they will have the exact edition that your faculty requires.
They will also be more expensive than your campus bookstore.
Your campus store may also buy back your books when you return.
Enquire when you make your purchases.
What happens if I get sick while I am in Paris?
If you need to see a doctor while you are in Paris, you should
contact the AIFS staff who will make an appointment for you.
We have lists of the English speaking doctors in Paris and also
the local ones near to the FIAP. If you see a French speaking
doctor a staff member can accompany you if you want help with
translating. All students have the AIFS medical insurance which
is valid for the duration of the program. You should carefully
read the insurance information sent to you after your application
is accepted as there are some conditions which are not covered.
The main exclusions to the policy are pre-existing conditions,
self-inflicted injuries, pregnancy testing, abortion or related
complications and mental or nervous disorders. This is not an
exhaustive list so read the insurance carefully. There is a
deductible of $50 per accident/illness on this policy.
When you arrive in Paris, you will be given details of the
insurance policy procedures. You will need to pay up front for
any treatment and medication you receive and then claim it back
minus the $50 deductible.
What sports facilities are available?
Other than table tennis the FIAP does not have any in-house
sports facilities, however, there are a few gyms near by and
swimming pools. Details will be available to any interested
students from the AIFS Student Services office. Please note
that gyms can be a lot more expensive in Paris than what you
are used to paying back home. There is also a park nearby for
those who like to run and some basket ball courts. Student Services
can also look into other sporting facilities for students who
have specific interests.
Can I work when I am in Paris?
It is illegal to work for money in France unless you have a
work permit. If you do want to stay and work after the program
you will need to apply for a work permit before you leave the
US. It cannot be done once you are in France.
Will I meet French students?
Yes, if you want to. Although you will be in class with your
fellow American students, these classes are all held in the
FIAP. The FIAP has students of many nationalities visiting including
French students from other regions.
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