Summer Program F.A.Q.

Costs

(See home institution for cost or contact the Summer Program course leader).
Includes accomodation and food, cultural excursions and organized outings, field trips, academic material, transportation.
Does not include : airfare, personal expenses, insurance, passport fees, home university fees and costs.

- Examples :
Sandwich : 5 €
Fast-food : 7 to 8 €
Restaurant : 10 to 20 €
Coffee : 1 to 2 €
Tea, water : 2 to 3 €
Cinema : 7 €
Theatre : 15 to 30 €
Museum : 6 €
Newspaper : 1 to 6 €
Doctor : 25 € (generalist) to 50 € (specialist)
Hotel ** (one night) : 60 to 80 €
Hiring cars per day : 80 to 100 €
Gasoline : 1,10 to 2,20 € / liter
Bus ticket : 2 €

Do's and Don'ts

Due to cultural differences, students sometimes have difficulties adjusting the first couple of days. This is very normal to feel homesick or midly depressed. The following are some tips to help you have a more enjoyable trip.

- Packing:
Do : pack comfortable walking shoes
Do : pack at least one nice outfit (business casual) for visits to the European Commission and City Hall. (Men : button up shirt, tie and slacks. Women : a casual dress or skirt).
Do : pack a spring jacket, a sweater, jeans, and some long sleeve T-shirts. The weather in France can be unpredictable, it is best to pack clothing that can be layered.
Do : bring an umbrella. However, an umbrella can be purchased for about 10 euros ($9)
Do : not over-pack. Students always bring way to much "junk"
Do : make a copy of your passport to leave at home with your parents. Also, do not carry your passport with you at all times. Put it someplace safe and carry a copy with you. See your passport for more safety information.
Do : France outlets are a higher voltage. So do bring converters or you may buy your appliances.

- Below is the list of essential terms:
Sneakers or comfortable walking shoes
Toiletries (i.e. shampoo, toothpaste, razor, lotion, etc...)
A light jacket
A sweatshirt or sweater
One nice outfit
A duffel bag or a back pack for weekend trips
An umbrella
Lots of short sleeve and long sleeve T-shirts
A couple pairs of jeans and pants
A notebook and a pen
A pocket sized French to English dictionary
Towels
Aspirin
Cold medicine
Upset stomach medicine

Layer, Layer, layer ! The weather can be unpredictable, like spring weather in New England. It can be cool and rainy for a few days and then warm and sunny.

Money Do : bring Plastic. It is helpful to have a visa check card as your source of funds. Sometimes students have trouble getting cash with their ATM card. Cirrus is a system, however, that is widely accepted in Europe (look on the back of your ATM to find out). Using a card is much easier, and you get a better exchange rate. Also you do not have to pay a fee to convert funds. All around it is just easier. Check with your local banks at home to see if your credit or debit cards will work in French or European ATM machines.

Do not : bring large amounts of US currency. Some students have had trouble exchanging $100 bills (US) due to a recent counterfeit scandal. Again, plastic is easier.

Do : check with your bank in the US to see if they have online banking. You can check your balance and pay bills while in France. French banks open at 9 a.m. and close at 4 or 5 p.m.

Cultural tips

Do not get "fubard" or "raise hell".
Be respectful.
Remember, you represent your country.
Don't be late for class.
Do : attend all classes.

FAQ

Q. How do my parents call me from the United States ?
A. To make an international phone call from the US, you dial 011 for an international call, plus the country code 33 (France) plus your phone number in France, minus the first zero. Example : my number in France is 02.41.72.58.85. From the US, you dial 011.33.2.41.72.58.85 Telephones are not provided in the University residence rooms.

Q. What should I pack ?
A. See the Do's and Don'ts section for information on packing

Q. Will I be able to check my email ?
A. Yes. Any student attending the program will have access to a computer

Q. Can I bring my cell phone from home ? Will it work in Europe ?
A. Your cell phone will not work in France, unless it has a sim card. So check with your phone provider before coming to Europe. If you are interested you can purchase a cell phone for around $60 and then charge the phone with minutes from a mobi-carte (a pre-paid card). When you purchase a mobile phone in France, you do not purchase a package as in the US (i.e. 300 minutes for $40 month).

A. 1 Euro ˜ 1 USD. For up to the minute currency conversion information check out the website http://www.xe.com

Q. Once I am in Paris how do I get to Metz ?
A. From Paris / Charles de Gaulle Airport, take an Air France shuttle to downtown in Paris. Then use the metro to go to Gare de l'Est and take a train to Metz. Once in Metz, someone from the program will be at the train station to greet you.

Schedule

The full program schedule is available on downloads category (right panel).