Because I love you, here's a break down of how you can set yourself up for success:
Getting here: No big deal as this is pretty straight forward. The sooner you buy your ticket the better, as the further out you buy it the cheaper it gets. Keep in mind how long you're going to be here for. Either 6 months or less, or 6+ months. This will make a big difference later. I flew from Vic to Ottawa, then Montréal to Paris direct for $1100 round trip. Here's a personal hook up:
mike.higgi
Mike is my brother and he'll get you there, cheap, easy and in style. He works at the broughton st location, behind the bay centre.
Getting papers: Welcome to the part where you get to prove to the universe how bad you want to go to Paris. This is a whole new kind of pain. First you need to get your documents in order. You'll need your:
MSP #
Pharmacare #
Health Insurance Card, luckily for you this provided by CCSS, and we have an excellent plan at
Camosun and you can get card mailed to you after signing up at either campus. And the signed copy that comes with it.
Passport valid until the end of your stay.
Letter of Acceptance Signed by Thevi 'Big Deal' Pather
Letter of Acceptance from Inseec
Round Trip Plane Ticket
Proof of Finances: this is a bank account statement, letter of support, student loan docs, basically anything official that states you'll have at least $1000 cad per month that you're here.
4 Passport style pictures
(Available from the student application pdf)
2 Copies of your Application form
Liability Affidavit
(Available from Campus France)
Letter of Proof of Registration from Campus France (attestation d'inscription)
DAP form (Attestation de Préinscription)
*********SUPER IMPORTANT*********
Now first thing you'll notice is that the Campus France website is hyper complicated and confusing, this is your introduction to french bureaucracy, welcome. Now what you need to do is, in order:
Register for a Campus France Account:
(https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/cef/html/dos/crd/creationDossier.html?codeCef=CA&LANGUE=en_ca)
Pretty straight forward, you fill in your whole life, and follow the windows.
Once you're done you'll be able to print out your attestation d'inscription.
Next is where it gets sticky: you need to get the Attestation de Préinscription.
You need to find and then download the guide for cas particuliers (its on the website), as Campus France has streamlined the procedure for students like us.
(http://canada.campusfrance.org/en/campusfrance-canada/b-font-color=-ff4500-registration-visa-mandatory-procedures-to-read-font-b/simplified-procedure-for-particular-cases-exchange-french-scholarship-beneficient-217.html)
Now this is do or die time.
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO FILL THIS OUT.
I'LL SAY AGAIN,
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO FILL THIS OUT!!!!!!
It cost me a changed plane ticket, three trips to montreal and a whole lot of stress to learn this lesson. The website is kind of wonky, so make sure you have a good connection and that you're focused.
Then login and follow the windows by the guide step by step.
I don't know exactly how this works, whether you get your attestation instantly (you should) or if they reply back to you. But either way this is how you do it, in one shot.
Then you have your pdf for your attestation de préinscription.
Lastly, you have to make an appointment at the consulate. I did mine in Montreal, but there's an office in Van City.
(http://www.consulfrance-vancouver.org/spip.php?article399)
Follow the steps to make your appointment here:
(http://www.consulfrance-vancouver.org/spip.php?article370)
Once you're booked in then you get a RDV pression (letter of appointment registration)
Print this out and put all the paperwork in a nice little package.
Clean yourself up, make sure you're there with all the documents I've mentioned, and smile at the person behind the glass. Be nice, as these 15 minutes decide what happens next.
This was by far one of the most stressful episodes of my life, so start now. Right now. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can see what I'm talking about when I say go to Hideout Bar in the Bastille for happy hour ;)
Getting sheltered: Welcome to pain in the ass #2.
Paris is one of the best cities in the world. I've been to many, but Paris is the most visited in the world.
Why?
Remember being in love? Take that feeling and build a city on it.
So naturally everyone wants to live here.
That makes it hard to find a place to live.
C'est logique, non?
Step 1:
First find out how much you can afford per month.
If it's less than 400E a month, go buy a baguette and some red wine and pretend you're in Paris, cause even if you find something cheaper than that, you're so far out of the city, you'll waste half your time on the trains.
Now average for a decent place to live is between 450E and 800E, and really, here in Paris you get what you pay for. This one of the most expensive cites to live in (http://www.meilleursagents.com/prix-immobilier/paris-75/), and they charge for space per metre. So here's how you start:
Get a cell phone. All you need is valid ID and find a provider, Orange, Bouygues or SFR. You can pick up a ghetto phone for 30E, if not bring your cell and buy a SIM card for it. Either way you need a way to be reached (this is 2010).
Next get online:
These are private listings, also called 'Petits Annonces'
craigslist.org
pap.fr
topannonces.fr
To find a roommate:
appartager.com
koloc.org
colocation.fr
(you might have to pay for some of these, but they do work)
Also, as with anything in life, it's all about who you know: I found my place through a friend. Ask around, ask your parents, ask God, cause you will need help on this one.
If you have the money to spend > usually one month's rent, then you can go to an immobilier, they are real estate agents and have links to some nice places. You're paying for convenience.
Come early and get your hunt on, this is the prerequisite hurdle, but also you'll get to meet some interesting people and get a good idea of Paris.
Expect to pay 1 month's rent as a caution/deposit, and if you have to sign a lease, you'll need all sorts of paperwork: resident card, bank account, and proof of finances, ex: bank statement, parental caution, etc...
Be smart, and follow your instincts, and take a nice long walk around the hood before you sign anything. You're all grown ups, you know what to do.
Finally when you get your keys, go down to the local hypermarché, call your friends from erasmus on the way, buy 5 bottles of champagne, go back home and party in your new house.
Also, you now have the right to sneer and judge tourists, as you are a Parisien, and all these people visiting your city and clogging up your metro is annoying. Practice saying under your breath with disdain: Putain Touristes. (Puu-tayn Too-ristes)
You can also get a freebox (cable-wifi), internet, etc....but I can't do everything for you now can I? Let's just say, for everything 'official' you need ID, proof of finances and patience bloody patience. Decide what your life looks like and get stuff as you need it. Try and hook up with some students that have been here for a while and they can give you all the good info you need.
Getting clothed: Upon coming to Paris, you will feel shame. You might as well be a country bumpkin that doesn't own a mirror. This is the first step in realizing you are in the fashion capital of the world. Now I came to Paris in the winter, so everything was a little more subdued, but this is how I got my game up:
Step 1:
Know yourself.
What do you represent?
Who are you?
What you wear on the outside should always reflect what is on the inside. (write that down)
Step 2:
Open a separate savings account. This is where the bulk of your money goes, and you transfer cash in as per your budget. Otherwise, you will end up asking for change in the Metro stations. Paris is expensive.
Step 3: Get excited. At this point you're dedicated to evolving yourself and you have a whole city of fashion to do it with. I rode the subway for a week and wrote down things that I liked about various people's styles. So that when I went out with cash in pockets, I had a good idea of what I was looking for. This will keep you on budget and sane.
Step 4: Faire les courses: Alright, where do you go in huge Paris for shopping?
Ladies First
So ladies, this is the dream. This is what your life looks like as a Tv show. Time to be your own Carrie Bradshaw. Paris is the fashion capital of the world and you need to understand what time it is. Don't worry, the reminders will be there. In fact, they will be everywhere. From the metro, to the boulevards, to your crazy sexy cool new friends. And you will profit from this.
The beauty of living in such a large cosmopolitan city is the options. So let me share some of them with you.
First and foremost, you have to know what you're going for. Otherwise, you will get lost in all the racks and go way over budget. Head down to the 4e or 5e to see what's fresh, buy some magazines, or go check some fashion shows. This is your opportunity to be original and creative, if you want to look like a typical french student however, type H&M into google maps and stop reading here.
High-end Styles:
Champs D'Élysée: Chanel, Dior, Gucci, and all that have their flagship stores on the boulevard. Interesting to visit, especially the Louis Vuitton store, balling to the Nth degree. Another option, is heading out to Val D'Europe (near disney) and there's a massive outlet mall there. Brand names, massive selection, much cheaper prices. But learn kung-fu before you go, as this type of shopping brings out the worst in humanity. Watching some middle aged women over one bin reminded me of the lions in the planet earth video.
Mid Range Style:
This is where things get interesting. You can find anything in Paris. So, I highly recommend Les Halles. This is where you can join the masses of people in what could be described as an orgy of consumption. A close friend came to visit, and her and I went shopping. I have never seen so many shoes. Stores and stores and aisles and aisles. Also head down to Le Marais, le 6e, and le 7e for some interesting shops and big name stores alike.
Bottom of the Pyramid:
This is where you can truly get creative. Buying cheap and making it work together is the mark of a true fashionista. So, to get regular socks and other expendables, check out Tati. Massive department store with locations everywhere. Another option is checking out the Chateau Rouge area for some ethnic vibrations. My favourite place by far, was Les Puces. Flea markets take on a whole new brilliance in Paris, its where my favourite locals took me. I'm not sure of the days, but there's two I visited, the one at Clignantcourt and Porte de Montreuil. Epic prices, haggling, weird magical items. C'est Mortelle.
Gentlemen:
Place de Clichy, Les Halles, and Les Puces. In that order, is everything you need.
General Notes: Listen boys and girls. Paris is amazing. Everywhere you go and every new metro stop you will find magic. Keep your eyes and hearts open, and you will find not only what you want, but what you need.
Bonus Points:
I heard from a little bird, that there is a bus tour of the fashion houses. Where you can get exclusive gear cheap and direct from the couturiers. Do your homework and get rewarded.
Food:
Here is the greatest irony about Paris and I find it rather funny. Girls, get ready to put on some weight, and boys get ready to lose some. This is the way it is. There is something in the air. And that is the scent of fresh bread wafting through the air. But alas, it goes deeper than this. France is a culture based on the quality of life. And eating well is one of the greatest pleasures humanity has. Your palette will be ravished daily with some of the finest cuisine in the world. Lucky, lucky, you.
Cafés offer various plats du jour, truly a special experience. You will find the most intimate and romantic restaurants and a wide range of price points. If you are a foodie, then I leave this voyage to you.
Also, almost as if by proxy, you will become a better cook. Why, you ask? Three reasons: you will see food as art, your palette will improve and you will have access to better ingredients.
Now Paris is expensive. Let's be honest though, it is worth it. You will have to get your culinary scheme on point. Hyper-Marchés are scattered around every quarter and you will find your own middle path between convenience and value. By far, the cheapest and largest is Carrefour. Go there whenever possible for your staples. Also, in an attempt to not to victimize mother earth you either buy a bag or bring your own. Do this. For me, grocery day became a celebration. Trying out new recipes, cooking for friends, and generally not starving. Stay away from Monoprix, while Ed is not bad.
Now that you've survived your shop for the staples you can really do yourself a favour. The artisans are the point and pride of France. Fresh baking from the boulangeries, amazing meats from the boucherie and there are stores devoted to cheese. So refreshing to discover the old ways. Doing business with the actual people who produce and supply your food. After a few months, the bakers near my house knew me, chose baguettes for my tastes and I would time it so I could get the freshest bread possible. Fresh fruit from the market, and then your eating well.
Coming soon:
Getting school handled
Getting cultured
Getting kissed
