Advice for Studying Abroad in France
This is mostly targeted towards Americans (as I’m an American who studied abroad in France though much of this advice can be universal)
Two years ago, I had the best semester of my life studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence, Fr. I’ve compiled a list of things I learned throughout the whole trip and hopefully they will help you out, whether you’ll be there for a week or a year. Hold on tight because this post is a long one.
Prescriptions: Call your health insurance company and get approved for an advance of a 90 day supply of whatever prescriptions you’re on. Odds are you will not be able to easily refill abroad so it’s best to take a long-term supply with you.
Banking: Now that the days of travelers checks are over, you’ll need to figure out how you will be handling your money while abroad. Swiping a credit or debit card in another currency will result in a currency exchange fee for every swipe and every ATM withdrawal will not only have the exchange fee, but also the fee for using an ATM that is not affiliated with your bank. Certain banks have international locations/affiliates, find out who has locations in the area you will be in and talk to a bank representative about setting up a simple account so you can avoid losing money unnecessarily.
Bank of America has an agreement with BNP and Barclays, HSBC say’s it’s “banking globally” but it’s mostly business banking and not for individual accounts.
Applying for your visa: If you’re in a position like me, the closest consulate is 9 and a half hours away so getting everything right is critical. Bring a ridiculous number of copies of all the documents they require, the consulate will not print or photocopy anything for you but they will recycle extras so better to be on the safe side. Paperclip all you papers together and put them in a manila envelope so nothing falls out. Double, no triple check you have everything because the consulate gets busy in the summer as people prepare for trips and it’s hard to get a second chance.
Process Documents ASAP: If your trip is anything like mine, you will have to be accepted into your study abroad school, present the acceptance and a processing fee to Campus France so that you can be allowed to pay for your visa. It’s dumb and annoying and I’m sorry but there’s no way around it. Because there’s so much document processing, start the process immediately. If you don’t even have a passport, the whole thing will take two to three months to get the passport, CampusFrance and visa.
Course Credit Approval: If you are responsible for the choice of courses and their transfer credit equivalents, do this before you go abroad instead of after. Getting transcripts is a hassle, don’t make it worse by risking the chance that your school won’t even accept some of the credits.
Choosing your classes: Keep in mind that when studying abroad, the emphasis is on the abroad. Don’t try to give yourself the same courseload you would back at home. Employers and Universities are fully aware that studying abroad is less about the studying and they don’t care. Give yourself a schedule that will allow you plenty of free time to explore and travel because that’s what this is all about anyway, being able to live in a totally new environment and not being scared to step out of your comfort zone.
Pack light and leave room: Fashion in France is way different than in the United States in the sense that they have the tendency to own a few good items that can be worn different ways rather than having many lower quality items. Pack a bag that’s too large, that way you’ll have room for the things you buy abroad and won’t have to face a midnight purge the night before your flight home. Bring a few staple items, enough for about 10 days. Leave the t-shirts and leggings behind. A chef who moved from San Francisco to Paris said it best when it comes to Parisian clothing
“I knew I was Parisian not when I arrived in Paris, or when I got annoyed with tourists, no, it was when I changed out of my pyjamas into ironed, creased pants and a shirt just so I could take my trash out”
Here are some things you should make sure to include in your luggage:
1-2 active outfits for days when you get the chance to hike, play sports or even long travel days
1 nice outfit: a good dress/shirt and slacks if you’re a dude. This is in the event that a nice dinner or event is organized for you
1 pair of nice shoes to go with that nice outfit you brought
2-3 pairs of jeans. Shorts aren’t too common in France, bring a couple pairs of jeans, you’ll notice people wear them even in the summer as it doesn’t get nearly as hot in France as it does in some parts of the USA.
A scarf or two-the French love scarves, even the boys
1 pair of crappy flip flops for the beach if you’re near one and for walking around a hostel/showering in a hostel
1 pair of boots if you’ll be there in the winter/rainy season
This isn’t a complete list, but I think it’s a good start. Obviously you tweak it as much as you need depending on your style.
Clothes aren’t the only thing you’ll bring, make sure you also have these items in your luggage
a journal, even if you don’t journal, start. It’s so much fun to read through old travel journals and relive some of those fun memories
adaptors for your electronics. You probably won’t need more than 2
travel-size toiletries for traveling while you’re abroad-or if you have a 6 hour layover in Munich and you’ve already been flying for 15 hours and desperately want to brush your teeth.
1 box of compact tampons-the variety kind or whatever size you need. Most tampons in France are non-applicator and idk about you but that’s just uncomfortable. Just take them out of the box and put them in a bag or scatter them around your luggage to save space. Better yet, if you’re on birth control, certain types allow you to skip your period so if that’s a route you want to take, contact your doctor and see if that’s a safe option for you.
deodorant: Most deodorant in Europe is the spray on kind and is usually just deodorant and not antiperspirant, this is one of the few toiletries that I would advise bringing. You can buy toothpaste, shampoo, soap etc while you’re there so don’t worry about packing those.
a planner. It will safe your life when organizing trips.
A scan-proof wallet/purse. This is for protection against pickpockets with scanners. They don’t need to steal your card anymore, they can discreetly hold up a device that takes your information through your wallet or purse unless you have one that prevents this.
A luggage scale. On your way home you’re going to be tired and distressed from packing and leaving all these cool places and people behind. Don’t add to your stress by having an overweight bag, have a scale and use it to keep your weights under 50 lbs.
A gift for your host family. It should be somewhat representative of your hometown/region. I’m from Kansas so I brought my host mom a wine glass and tea towel that had sunflowers on it (little did I know Provence was also known for sunflowers but w/e).
One book or magazine in your native language. If you are doing the trip as a means of learning/improving a foreign language you will be exhausted by the end of the day. It’s insane how tiring immersion is for the first few weeks. One treat you can give yourself is having one book or magazine in your native language. I can’t tell you how many times I read about Angelina Jolie’s wedding dress but I can tell you it was nice to have just a moment of English at the end of a long day.
Prepare to be treated unfairly. You’re the American, to them, you represent all of America which means you represent a country where a candidate named “Deez nutz” pulled and Donald Trump is a presidential nominee. Always be polite, and take everything with a grain of salt.
Stay away from Americans: It is so easy to stick with other Americans during your trip. It’s comforting and familiar but that’s not what you’re there for. Challenge yourself to be totally immersed by associating with French people.
It’s hard to make Friends in France: They have different views about friendship. In the United States, we make friends quickly but they can be dropped quickly too. In France, friendship takes a long time to form but once it is formed, it lasts forever. Don’t be discouraged if it seems like people you thought were good friends seem distant from you. It’s not being rude, it’s just how they treat friendship.
Don’t buy water at a restaurant. It’s not free. Be French, drink wine.
Public restrooms don’t exist. Sure, there are some little box things in tourist areas where you can pay a euro to pee but those are weird and gross. Just learn to hold it because you can’t just walk into a grocery store or restaurant and expect to find a restroom. If it’s an emergency, American fast food restaurants are your best bet though you may have to pay like 10 cents to use those.
Save money for experiences. Sure going out is fun but I promise it’s not the end of the world if you skip a night or two of clubbing so you can save money for a nice meal. A nice, expensive meal is way more memorable than a night where you don’t remember what happened from 1:00 AM-4:00 AM.
Go out with a group of people. I repeat, GO OUT WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE. Never go out alone. You are vulnerable, you are the friendly, trusting American. People will take advantage of that. Stick with your group the entire night. If you’re a boy, make sure you see any girls you were with go into their apartments before you leave for yours.
French men are fiends. The general idea is that American girls are easy. They will hound you in a club, another reason why you need to always be with a group.
No doesn’t really mean no. That whole “fiend” thing? I’m serious about that. No doesn’t mean no to French men, it just means try again. The chase is what they’re about. They’ll follow you around the bar all night unless someone else steps in. I’m being serious, one time, a guy followed me out of a bar, down a street that was packed full of people and to my group of friends. He didn’t believe that I had a boyfriend/probs didn’t care until one of the guys I was with lied to him and told him he was my boyfriend, and that wasn’t even enough. I had to make out with this friend in front of my French admirer and even then, it took him about 5 more minutes to leave. The lesson here is, don’t even respond to them. They’ll tell you you’re beautiful, they’ll start a seemingly innocent conversation but there’s always a motive and they’re very determined.
Don’t be the loud, drunk American. We have a very drunk friendly culture here in America. If someone has had too much, we’ll help them out, we’ll call an uber or set them up on the couch to sleep it off. Be sure to be responsible while you drink and don’t expect strangers to help you out. They’ll leave you in a bush across the street (this happened to one of my classmates).
Be SUPER careful about drugs. Maybe you like to smoke, maybe you’re a fan of clubbing with your friend Molly. Before you get crazy, be aware of the laws. Some places are insanely strict about drugs while others are more lax. The last thing you want is to get caught and face a judge that hates Americans. Also, if you’re buying from anyone, don’t. Not unless you know them extremely well and have no reason not to trust them. While I was visiting Amsterdam there was a problem with dealers giving people heroin and saying it was Molly.
Take buses and trains. Sure flights are quicker but they’re more expensive. Trains and buses are great ways to travel in Europe and they’re way cheap.
Hit up the grocery stores. Don’t put yourself in a position to have to eat out for every meal, that really adds up. Pick a night or two during your little excursion to eat out and use grocery stores for the rest.
Ask locals where to eat. TripAdvisor is good but it’s heavily influenced by American reviews and tourist locations. Ask people in the bus/train stations, people working at your hostel or even someone on the street where to go to get a good meal. People love showing off their country and will be happy to recommend a bomb place.
Print two copies of tickets if you can. This means any bus/train tickets you order online or even museum/sightseeing tickets. Don’t be like me and leave your Parc Guel ticket in the hostel and have to sit on a bench for an hour while your friends see an amazing work of art.
Only bring a backpack when traveling. Wheeling luggage through metros is a hassle and makes you a target for pickpocketing.
Don’t think you have to go where everyone else is going. If you’re comfortable traveling alone, do it. Some of my best times abroad were the days I just said “fuck it“ and hopped on a bus to another city. Be extra careful though and only do this if you feel comfortable.
If anyone looks sketchy, they are. Hindsight is 20/20 and you don’t want to find out too late that the shady looking girl on the metro just swiped your wallet. We’re not used to pickpockets in the US so you have to be extra careful while abroad. Don’t cause a scene-speaking loudly in English on the metro, carry a fanny pack and wear socks+berks. We know what tourists look like, don’t bring attention to yourself by looking/acting like one because you will be targeted.
Keep your important things in a place where pick pockets can’t get them. That means also separating things. Spread the important things out so that if a pick pocket does get something, they won’t get everything.
Make an effort to know how to say a few things in the language of the country you are going to (if you don’t already speak that language). People from the Czech Republic know that not everyone speaks Czech but it’s a nice gesture if you give them a little dobry den before you ask for help, they’ll probably be even more helpful to you if you do!
That luggage scale I told you to pack will save your life.
Put all your heavy items in your carry-on since it does not have weight restrictions. That way you can fit more things in your checked luggage and keep it under weight.
Wrap breakable things up in clothes and make sure they are tightly packed in your suitcase. If you’re extra worried they’ll break and they are things you can bring onto the plane (i.e. not liquids) then put them in your carry-on if you can.
Leave behind anything you don’t care about to make room for the stuff you bought abroad. You can give them to your school if they’re things you bought just for the trip and now some other future student can use them. If you have a terrible host mom like I did, just leave them in her house so she can deal with them.
American customs takes forever, I know you’re ready to be home but just anticipate standing in line and rechecking your bag.
Once you’re home, people will want to hear all about your trip and I know you’re excited to tell the stories. You have about a month or so to just word-vomit on people. After that, no one cares and would actually prefer it if you kept your mouth shut. Stories beginning with “Well, when I was in France…” Get really old for people who haven’t been able to study abroad. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, find other people who are recently back from abroad because you’ll understand each others pain in just wanting to word vomit every single story.
That’s all I can think of for now. Add on any of your own and message me any questions you might have! I’m happy to help :)
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