Arrival In France - Middlebury College

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C.V. Starr - Middlebury School in France Centre Madeleine
23 rue d'Anjou - 75008 Paris
Tel: 011.33.1.43.20.70.57 ; From Within France: 01.43.20.70.57 http://www.middlebury.edu/sa/france Office hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Director, Graduate Advisor, and Bordeaux/Poitiers Program Advisor
David Paoli
dpaoli@middlebury.edu Assistant Director and Paris Undergraduate Program Advisor
Amy Tondu
atondu@middlebury.edu Student Life Coordinator
TBA Administrative Assistant
Patricia Lemeunier
plemeuni@middlebury.edu Bordeaux & Poitiers Program Assistant
Sandra Gaborit
sgaborit@middlebury.edu Advisor for the School in France, International Programs and Off-Campus
Study
Susan Parsons
International Programs and Off-Campus Study
sparsons@middlebury.edu
Please note that information in this Handbook is subject to change.
Copyright 2014 by Middlebury College. All rights reserved. No part of
this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photographic, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
Middlebury College. Table of Contents
Pre-Departure Information 1
Approximate Program Costs 1
Expenses 1
Student Visas 1
Customs 3
International Students 3
Registering with the Department of State 3
Travel to France 3
TSA Regulations 4
Airline Luggage Regulations 4
Checklist of things to pack 4
General Packing Suggestions 5
Clothing 5
Linens 5
Toiletries 5
Prescriptions 5
Electrical Appliances 6
Technology 6
Gifts 7
Arrival In France 7
Immigration 7
How to get to Downtown Paris from the Airport 7
Travel to Bordeaux 9
Travel to Poitiers 9
Getting Settled 10
Temporary Lodging 10
On-Site Academic Orientation 13
Academic & Administrative Matters 13
Program Sites 13
Credit 14
All Undergraduates 14
Middlebury Undergraduates 16
Students from Other Colleges or Universities 16
Selecting courses and registering for classes 16
French-Style Education 19
Course Format 19
Academic Expectations 20
Grades 21
Professors 21
Exams 21
Resources 21
Tutorials and Academic Support 22
Learning Outside the Classroom 22
1) Credit Internships 22
2) Volunteer Work 22
Other Co-Curricular Activities 23
Living in France 24
Validating your visa 24
French National Insurance 25
Housing 25
Eating in France 28
Local Transportation 28
Traveling within France 29
Health and Safety 31
Sexual Assault & Harassment 31
Drugs 32
Water 32
Safety Tips for France 32
Hospitals & Medical Services 32
Psychological Health and Counseling 34
On-Site Money Matters 34
Currency Exchange 34
Money &Banking 34
Emergency Cash 35
Credit/Debit Cards 36
Communication with Home and Friends 36
Communication and Immersion 36
Language Pledge 36
Mail 37
Internet & E-mail 37
Skype 38
Phones 38
Fax/Xerox 38
Emergency Numbers 39
US Embassy Contact 40
LOCAL INFORMATION: Paris 41
LOCAL INFORMATION: Poitiers 43
LOCAL INFORMATION: Bordeaux 44
APPENDIX A: Grade Conversions 49
APPENDIX B: Des bibliothèques de Paris 50
APPENDIX C : Academic Calendar 56 Bienvenue à l'Ecole en France de Middlebury College! Our School in France staff has prepared this Handbook to assist you as you
make preliminary preparations for study in France. You should find answers
to many of your basic questions in the material presented here, and so we
ask that you review it very carefully and bring it along when you leave for
France. Along with its benefits, life in France can present challenges. It
requires independence, maturity, and a sense of humor that will enable you
to accept the inevitable difficulties and frustrations that go along with
living in a different culture. Succeeding in your experience will require effort on your part to do
everything you can in order to speak French and integrate into French
culture. Honoring Middlebury's Language Pledge is essential for you to
take full advantage of your experience in France. You should not expect France to have the same academic nor social
environment you are used to in the U.S. For example, libraries in France
have limited hours so all-night studying isn't possible, and you may
encounter an environment with less structure and expediency than you're
used to back home. Your experience in France will test you in new ways and will reward you
beyond your expectations, but again, it will require concerted effort,
independence, and measured flexibility on your part. We stress the
importance of "informed participation" throughout the study abroad
experience. Starting with this Handbook, we will do all that we can to
help you with this approach. As you prepare for your experience abroad, please remember that our office
welcomes your emails, phone calls, and inquiries. Best wishes as you head out on this exciting adventure! We look forward to
meeting you in France soon! Sincerely,
David Paoli
Associate Professor and Director
School in France
Pre-Departure Information Approximate Program Costs Please click the link below for an estimate of program costs for full and
half-year students for 2014-2015. http://www.middlebury.edu/sa/france/fees Please remember that Middlebury College only bills you for the tuition
portion (and the $1,400 per semester study abroad fee for Middlebury
College students); the remaining expenses will be out-of-pocket. Figures
may vary depending on individual lifestyles and situations. Please note
that the "Personal" figure covers some basic necessities (local
transportation, cell phone, bank fees, program-sponsored excursions, etc.)
and does not, and is not intended to include students' discretionary
spending (e.g. entertainment, fitness, and travel). For financial aid
budgeting purposes, the exchange rate is 1E = $1.38. Fluctuating exchange
rates make advanced planning of costs challenging. We advise that you
overestimate your costs to accommodate these fluctuations.
Expenses Keep in mind that the amount of money you spend ultimately depends on the
lifestyle you choose. Remember to budget extra for first month's expenses
in France (rent, museum passes, transportation, personal items), and if you
are planning to travel before or after your program. Plane tickets can be
more expensive than in the U.S., although several airlines now offer low
fares for specific travel periods, from which you may be able to benefit.
Train travel is also an option. If you are accustomed to spending more on leisure activities, please
account for this when budgeting your money for the semester or year.
Students who plan on regularly sampling the nightlife should budget extra
money for taxis. Public transportation usually stops operating around 1:00
a.m.
Student Visas All students are required to obtain a student visa before they enter France
(except those with European Union passports). Additionally, all students
are required to register with CampusFrance prior to applying for a student
visa for France. Please note: International students who are applying for their visa outside
the U.S. may or may not have to register with CampusFrance -- check the
CampusFrance website for your home country. After you register online and
submit all necessary fees and documentation, CampusFrance will send you an
"attestation" that you must take (+ your CampusFrance ID number and proof
of payment) to the French Consulate when you apply for your student visa. For more information about CampusFrance, please visit:
http://www.campusfrance.org/ Visas are affixed into passports and must be obtained at a French Embassy
or Consulate. Students should apply for a long stay (over 90 days) student
visa. Do not apply for a regular long stay visa; follow the student
requirements instead. All students studying in France for one semester or a full academic year
must apply for a Long Stay student visa; you will then be required to
validate this visa upon your arrival. Students will receive assistance with
the application to validate their long stay student visas from the School
in France during orientation. The French Consulate in Boston knows our program and is prepared to handle
applications expeditiously, provided the dossier is complete. You must
apply for your student visa in-person, and you must schedule a visa
appointment online. Be sure not to leave this until the last minute.
Given past visa application delays, we recommend that you begin the process
at least 2 months prior to departure. In any event, be sure to find out
well ahead of time what documentation you will be requir