What they should have told you before moving to Paris
As an Erasmus student in Paris, I thought it fitting to give some advice and tips to those who plan to be living here for a while...
1. Bring a smoke detector. In France, houses and flats are not legally required to have smoke alarms, and if you happen to live in an old apartment block like myself, the likelihood that it will have one is very slim. So bring one with you because like most things in Paris, they are overpriced.
2. Paris is not under attack! Last Wednesday my flatmate and I were watching TV when we heard an alarm sound. Now, Paris being a city is alike most, where you will hear ambulences, police cars and fire engines regularly. This one however was what you can only describe as a war siren. Naturally, we got slightly worried about the prospect of a war, so we checked online and found that on the first Wednesday of every month, the war siren is tested. (Just in case of nuclear war)
3. Stand on the right, walk on the left. There's nothing more annoying when you have somewhere to be in a hurry and people are blocking the left hand side of the escalator in the metro.
4. Be aware of scammers when looking for a flat. If you are planning on renting an apartment in Paris, there are a lot of scams and con artists looking to make a quick buck. Sites like craigslist are the worst and I unfortunately feel victim to it. If someone starts spinning a story about how they can't show you the apartment because they are out of the county, (usually because a relative has died or very ill) do not under any circumstances trust them. Even if they send copies of passports with a tenancy contract which the family laywer has created, it is fake
5. Tenancy laws are different than in the UK. The tennant has much more responsability when it comes to maintaining the flat. Here's a link so you know your rights: http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/working-in-france/letting-property/tenant-repairing-obligations/
6. The weather changes constantly. I'm from Northern Ireland, so I'm quite used to terrible weather, but in Paris you could leave the house and it's snowing and on your way back be buying an ice cream. So be prepared and dress accordingly.
7. The French are helpful and friendly. A lot of people are under the impression that the French are rude, and I'm sure it's true in some cases but most of my experiences with the public have been positive. Especially if you are lost, don't be shy. One woman even called up some service for me which if you tell them where you are they give you directions to where you want to go.
8. A little bit, generally means fluent. The French are very modest when it comes to their english skills. There are times when you cannot be bothered to embarrass yourself speaking French so "est-ce que vous parler anglais?" is a quite useful phrase to learn. If they say a little bit, it usually means they are close to fluent.
9. There is a New Look in Paris! For those who are familiar with New Look, and are sick of H&M, go to Les Halles, a massive underground shopping centre. They have a decent sized New Look and other good shops.
10. Le Grand Epicerie de Paris. It can be hard to find some grocerys in Paris. I struggled for weeks trying to find black beans, but I eventually stumbled upon this supermarket where there have food sections by country and quite a varied selection of products. It is the waitrose of Paris though, so more expensive, but if you ever crave some shortbread, it's the place to be.
