How to survive in Paris

Welcome
But what else do you know about Paris? In the end,
we were forced to pull our head off the cloud facing
the other side of the city. We are young, wild and
There are so many things to worry about while we are
in Paris. Hence, we would sometimes easily lose our
inspiration at points of frustration. It is the big letdown
with the French bureaucratic paper work system, lack
like to write about our experiences and pass it to the
future international students, so that Paris would stay
forever a true good idea.
Authors
Welcome
Paris, as we know it, is the city of lights and the cradle
of artistry, as well as the inspiration for young souls.
It is considered to be the most romantic city. What
could be elegant than having a café noir with hot fresh
croissants in a little café on the side of Seine river? Or
taking your lover to the love padlocks bridge putting
a lock there to remark your affection?
Index
Index
Part I - Preparation
Accommodation
What should I bring to Paris?
Arriving in Paris
5
10
13
Part II - Living
Public Transportation
Bank Account
Phone Contract
CAF
Grocery
Health Insurance
2
21
25
27
28
30
33
Index
Part III - Student Life
French Culture
French Courses
Job Forums
Book Stores
Libraries
37
40
43
45
47
Part IV - Entertainment
Hidden Paris
Classic Sights & Attractions
Cafes & Restaurants
Bars, Pubs, & Clubs
Annual Events & Festivals
51
54
58
62
65
3
Preparation
4
Part I
Preparation
Accomodation
1. Residence Ampere
RER: Noisy Champs
Preparation
Renting in ESIEE Paris Residences
Single:
T1 studio of 23m² or of 27m²
composed of a main room with
a kitchen area (sink, cooking hob,
fridge, cupboards, ovens) and
a separate bathroom (sink with
cupboard, shower, and toilet)
Price: €468 - €526
Shared:
The residence also offers shared accommodation made up of 2
individual bedrooms (of 24,50m² to 30m²) with a shared equipped
kitchen, bathroom (sink, shower) and toilet.
Price: €404 - €486
All the bedrooms are furnished with a bed (80x190), a desk, a sofa, a
book case and a cupboard with shelves and clothes rack. The heating
is electrical.
Duration:
For this residence, the rules of subletting are implemented from the
1st September to the 31st of the following August. For management
reasons, the annual rental payments are asked for with 10 payment
notices, with payment in arrears (from September to June).
Therefore, there is not a payment notice in July and August, but the
accommodation is still available to you and you can receive APL for
these two months.
5
2. Residence André Devambez
RER: Neuilly Plaisance
Preparation
Your accommodation:
Studio T1 of 17m² to 23m²,
composed of a main room with
a kitchen area (sink, cooking
hob, fridge, cupboards) and a
separate bathroom (sink with
cupboard, shower, and toilet).
Price: €422 - €540
All the bedrooms are furnished
with a bed measuring 90x200 (12
studios are equipped with beds of 140x200), a desk and a work lamp,
a sofa, a book case and a cupboard with shelves and clothes rack.
The heating is collective (gas heating).
3. Residence of Noisiel
RER: Noisiel
Your accommodation:
Studios T1 of 18m² and studios
T1bis of 24m², composed of
a main room with a kitchen
area (sink, cooking hob, fridge,
cupboards) and a separate
bathroom (sink with cupboard,
shower, and toilet)
Price: €407 - €439
All the bedrooms are furnished
with a bed measuring 90x200 (12 studios are equipped with beds
of 140x200), a desk and a work lamp, a sofa, a book case and a
cupboard with shelves and clothes rack. The heating is collective
(gas heating)
6
4. Residence of Val d’Europe
RER: Bussy St Georges
Preparation
Your accommodation:
Studio T1 of 13m² to 21m²,
composed of a main room with
a kitchen area (sink, cooking
hob, fridge, cupboards) and a
separate bathroom (sink with
cupboard, shower, and toilet). All
the bedrooms are furnished with a bed measuring 90x190, a desk
and a work lamp, a sofa, a book case and a cupboard with shelves
and clothes rack. The heating is collective (gas heating)
Price: €410 - €484
Staying with a French family
It is possible to stay with a family as a paying guest. There are a
number of entities that can arrange accommodation with a host
family prior to your arrival. While this system is somewhat more
expensive than the conventional rental arrangement, it offers an
opportunity for immersion in French language and culture. If your
budget is limited, you could opt for an arrangement whereby you
are given accommodation in exchange for services.
Accommodation with a family, which is more suitable for short stays,
involves renting a furnished room in a family home. The minimum
stay is generally one week.
Price: €400 - €600
Renting a private home
You may be able to rent a room or appartment in Paris or near Noisy
Champs. The price of renting in Paris is expensive and it will take you
a lot of travel time from your place in Paris to Noisy Champs when
you go to ESIEE daily. However you can enjoy your time in Paris
more and do not worry about the time when train RER close.
Studettes (small studio): also called “chambre de bonne” (attic
and are often furnished. Generally, the toilets are on the landing
7
Preparation
and must be shared with a few neighbours. Please note that not
all attic rooms have a shower. Do not forget to check : surface :
approximately 9 to 17 m². Price : €350 - €600.
Studio: studios have a main room and a bathroom. Please
note that “studettes” are sometimes called “studio” by their
owners. surface : approximately 18 to 35 m². Price: €350 - €800
share the rent. Near Noisy Champs and ESIEE there are many
private houses for renting. Price: €400 – €550 (includes bill)
You must know that prices vary according to the neighbourhood.
What about shared apartments and room-mates?
listed above (especially the American church and the Swedish church)
but also on these specialized web sites.
Useful websites:
www.koloc.org
www.colocation.fr
www.appartager.com
Tips from Survivors
“Always organise a viewing before
agreeing to rent a room.”
“Do not trust landlords/users that
claim that no viewing is possible.”
“Do not send any money via Western
Union, Moneygram or by cheque.”
8
Temporary Options Before Finding Permanent Housing
If you have not found accommodation before your arrival, it might take
Hostels
French youth hostels offer cheap
Preparation
on the time of year you arrive. If you have friends or relatives living
in Paris, it may be best to stay with them while you search for a
permanent place to live. Alternatively you may stay at hostels, bedand-breakfasts, or hotels.
open to all young people and
often provide an opportunity to
exchange with other international
students.
However,
please
note that hostels offer shared
accommodation in dorms, have
fairly strict timetables, and will
often only let you stay for a limited period of time. Prices start at €20
per night and vary with standing and location.
Useful websites:
www.aijparis.com
Bed-and-breafast
Bed-and-breakfasts may be a more comfortable option in that
they usually provide individual rooms while being less expensive
than hotels for an equivalent standing. Additionally, they offer an
opportunity to experience French culture and get a glimpse of
Parisian ordinary life. Prices run from €30 per night.
Useful websites:
www.bedbreak.com
www.fac-paris.com/us/index.php
Hotels
less expensive hotels with prices running from €30 per night.
9
What should I bring to Paris?
Preparation
An umbrella
A set of crockery
Warm clothes for the winter
Glasses and contact lens
French dictionary
Medicine and your prescription
Bottle of water
Bed sheets
10
Adapter 220V
List of documents
Copy of your passport & identity card.
in French/English (also explanation of grading system can be
added).
Preparation
French and English.
score report if you will study in French.
EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) for the European students
and for non-European citizens any documents relating to your
health (see list below).
Copy of documents for visa (only for non-European students)
Driver license (optional)
If you have any health problems (diabetes, allergies, etc), please ask
your doctor to prepare a document (translated into French if possible,
if not, in English) with the following information:
a list of any medicines you need to take
a list of any allergies or other information which would be useful
or life-saving in an emergency
and for general information:
a list of your vaccinations (with date)
any recent x-rays, scans, or MRI scans (if necessary)
any other useful medical informatio in case of a health problem
in France.
It is very important to translate and certify all documents!
: If your parents are paying your expenses
statement certifying that you will receive a minimum monthly
stay; OR if you are staying with a friend or family, you must submit a
11
Preparation
12
letter from your host certifying that you will be lodged free of charge,
along with a copy of his/her identity papers, in which case a monthly
allowance of €215 will be accepted; OR if you have personal income
then you must submit your last three bank statements, along with a
letter from AGS stating that room, board, and tuition are fully prepaid.
Tips from Survivors
“It is always better
to bring light weight
objects with you to
avoid unnecessary
burden and
overweight fees on
your trip here.”
Arriving in Paris
Preparation
You will most likely arrive at one of the three international airports
that serve Paris.
east of Paris
Orly (ORY) airport is slightly closer to the city and located 13km
(8 miles) to the South
last airport only serves Low Cost Airlines.
Transportation from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports to Paris:
Taxi
Paris airport shuttle
RER B train
Air France Bus
RATP airport bus lines
Beauvais Airport has only bus and taxi.
13
Getting from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Preparation
By Train
The fastest and less expensive way to get to Paris from Charles de
Gaulle Airport (CDG) is by taking the train RER B. You should check
your destination before going. The total time of traveling will be at
least 50 minutes from Airport to center of Paris, depending on your
destination, and the total cost is about €9.25.
Notice at the airport the blue overhead signs; those will point to
Gare SNCF / Railway Station, Paris par Train / Paris by Train. Follow
these signs to make your way to the train station located right within
Terminal 2.
Step by step going to ESIEE:
Line => RER B
Buy ticket at Billet Ile-de-France Aéroport CDG - Paris (Zone 5 Zone 1)
Cost about €9.25
- Friday)
Direction to Paris: Robinson, Antony, St-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
Arrival Stations: Gare du Nord, Châtelet les Halles, St Michel/
Nôtre Dame, Luxembourg, Port Royal, Denfert-Rochereau, Cité
Universitaire.
Stop at Châtelet les Halles
Change to RER A
Direction to Marne la valle-Parc Disneyland
To get to ESIEE stop at Noisy-Champs station.
14
By Taxi
the baggage reclaim area of your
arrival terminal.
Preparation
Another way to get to ESIEE or
Paris from Airport Charles de
Gaulle (CDG) is by taking a Taxi,
centre is approximately €50, travel time should take approximately 40
minutes, it can vary and it could up to 50% longer or more depending
start the meter from the moment the taxi driver leaves to pick you up,
so when the taxi arrives, the meter will already show more than the
minimum charge. Fees vary according to time of day and your point
of origin or departure in the city.
Additional charges include approximately €1 per piece of luggage
as well as an airport fee of approximately €1. Many drivers will not
taxi is authorized to charge an additional fee for the fourth passenger.
Aeroports de Paris
www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-GB/Passagers/Access-maps-carparks/Paris-CDG/Access/by-taxi/
15
By Bus
Preparation
Charles de Gaulle airportis served by the Air France bus, the RATP
bus and a Night Bus. Transfer time is approximately 45 minutes
follow the signs in the airport to the bus stop and then purchase a
ticket at the stand or from the driver.
Air France has two bus lines running from Charles de Gaulle airport
in Paris: Place de l’Etoile and Porte Maillot.
The second Air France bus stops in Paris at Gare de Lyon and
Montparnasse. The Air France bus has a cost of €17/person.
The RATP bus also called RoissyBus, departs from all terminals every
15 minutes. It arrives in Paris and stops at Place de l’Opéra alongside
The Noctilien Night Bus runs hourly from approximately 00:00 5:00AM between Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris. This bus
arrives in Paris at the Gare du Nord and Gare de L’Est train stations,
two other lines serve the Paris suburbs. Travel time from the airport
16
Getting From Aiport Orly (ORL)
By Train
Preparation
The fastest transportation from Orly International
Airport (ORL) to central Paris is by train. After
arriving at ORY, take the OrlyVal train from either
Orly South (OrlySud) or Orly West (OrlyOuest) terminal towards Paris.
You have to change to RER B when you arrive at the OrlyVal station:
Antony. From Antony, take the direction of Mitry-Claye or towards
Aéroport Charles de Gaulle.
Travel time between Orly South and central Paris at the station
Chatelet Les Halles is at longest 25 minutes. The travel time from
Orly to Antony is 8 minutes., the cost of both trains is about €10.90
(RER+Orlyval).
Step by step going to ESIEE:
Get OrlyVal Tram from Airport
Change to Train RER B at Antony
Terminal)
Direction to Paris: Mitry – Claye or Aéroport Charles de
Gaulle
Average travel time around 35 minutes
Cost about €10.90 (RER+Orlyval)
Change Trains RER A at Châtelet les Halles
Direction to Marne la valle-Parc Disneyland
To get to ESIEE stop at Noisy-Champs station.
17
By Taxi
Preparation
If you traveling with more than 1 luggage you will probably need
to take a Taxi, but don’t forget that aditional charges include
approximately €1 per piece of luggage as well as an airport fee of
approximately €1.
For taking a taxi from Airport Orly You will generally need to wait in
line on one of the two different taxi lines, one for Paris and the other
to Les Banlieues (suburbs).
your destination address written on a piece of paper. The name of
are not well known.
Travel time to Orly airport is approximately 30 minutes and price is
You can also book a taxi with time from Airport Orly by going to the
By Bus
From Orly Airport there are two
buses available to get to Paris,
The Air France bus and the RATP
bus (also called Orly Bus).
The Air France bus stops in Paris are adjacent to Metro stations
Montparnasse and Invalides this bus costs €12 and transfer will last
The RATP or Orlybusbus provides a link between Paris (DenfertRochereau station) and Paris-Orly, the total time of travel will be 20
to 30 min, the Fare is €7.
18
Getting From Aiport Beauvais
Step by step going to ESIEE:
Take Bus at Navette Bus
Change to Metro M1 at Porte Maillot
Direction Chateau de Vincennes
Cost €1.7
Change to train RER A at Charles de Gaulle- Etoile
Direction to Marne la valle-Parc Disneyland
To get to ESIEE stop at Noisy-Champs station.
Preparation
From Beauvais airport to Paris you are only able to get Navette Paris
- Porte Maillot Bus Transfer, which is a station located in the 17th
district of Paris. From Prote Maillot station you can change for others
Metro lines to go to Paris.
Please keep in mind that Beauvais airport is the farthest airport from
Paris and driving time is approximately one hour. When arriving in
arrivals. There is no other scheduled transportation to Beauvais
airport, so if you miss the bus you will need to arrange your own
transportation.
The cost for the Navette Bus is about €13 and travel time is 1 hour
and 15 minutes to Paris.
19
Living
20
Part II
Living
Public Transportation
Living
Transportation for students in Paris is mainly about the RER train,
because it’s not only more costly but also less convenient compared
to public transport, especially during rush hour. For example, it will
take a whole hour driving from the Arc de Triomphe to La Defense
while normally it only takes you less than 10 minutes if you travel by
RER or Metro.
Île-de-France is separated into 5 zones, central zone 1 and 2 are the
Paris center, zone 3, 4, 5 are the surrounding regions. Ticket one
turn from zone 1 to zone 4 (ESIEE Paris is in zone 4) costs about
€4 depends on your departure. The cost for using transportation in
government when they use Navigo and ImagineR card.
21
Living
22
ImagineR:
Living
ImagineR cards are for students aged from 12 to 25 years old; this
card will greatly reduce the amount of money you have to pay for
daily travel, therefore it should be bought straight away after your
bank account has or, if possible, even sooner by asking someone to
help you pay with their bank account.
It is obligatory to subscribe for ImagineR for one whole year (12
months) at the rate of:
2 zones: €314
3 zones: €435.80
You can get an ImagineR form from any RATP
the package will include a form, a guide book and an envelope with
You can use the Navigo and
ImagineR cards on all the public
transportation as long as you are
in the correct zones.
If you possess a valid Navigo card
or ImagineR card, you can travel
freely during all public holidays
and
weekends.
(Christmas,
winter holiday, spring holiday, summer holiday in July and August).
You should check on the RATP website to know exactly when you
can access free zones.
Buses number 34 and 130 goes to Noisy Champs from Gare de Lyon,
at night.
23
Living
Area 94 (Val de Marne) is considered the less wealthy region
therefore the price for an imagineR will be discounted to half (even
better). Hence, if you have a friend living there you can ask him/her
to sign up using their address.
Navigo:
By possessing a Navigo card, it will allow you to purchase a weekly or
monthly pass for a more affordable price when you travel frequently,
this type of card is recommended for students above 25 years old
since you won’t be eligible to apply for ImagineR anymore. The
weekly rate is:
2 zones: €19.15
3 zones: €24.85
4 zones: €30.25
5 zones: €33.90
Tips from Survivors
“When you subscribe for
Navigo, remember that
it will expire after the last
day of the week/month.”
“Smartphone users can
download RATP application to check for train,
metro and bus schedule.”
24
Bank Account
Living
Once you have opened
a bank account in France
you can have a cell phone
plan, an internet plan, and
an apartment in France,
not to mention you can use
it to pay for things without
getting charged a foreign
transaction fee. Because
you can do all of this and
more with a bank account,
opening one is not exactly
easy.
There are many special offers for international students because
study abroad programs has agreements with some local banks.
These special offers will be changed every year.
At ESIEE, for example, students who open an account with Banque
Société Générale receive a gift deposit of €50 into your Checking
Account and €50 gift deposit into your Saving Account, you will also
not be charged for commissions and fees for 2 years, to obtain all
of these you will need to go to the agency, which is just opposite of
ESIEE named Champs Sur Marne.
The three requisites to open a bank account in France:
Passport or ID for EU Residents
A bill in your name if possible (gas, telephone, electricity)
For many foreigners arriving in France, it is either too early to have
received any bills yet, or the bill is not in their name because utilities
are included in the rent. This happens often with short-term rentals.
25
Be prepared to simply show your documents to the banker and make
an appointment to come back to sign all the paperwork, there is also
Living
The next day after you deliver all the documents you have to
appointment in English at the bank , the banker will take you through
each document and make sure you understand what you are signing.
After a week, the banker will give you a credit card which in French
is called a Carte Bleue and RIB (Relevé d’Identite Banquaire). RIB
functions like a voided check and is required to start a cell phone or
internet plan. Once you have a bank account and are able to access
it online, you can print RIBs out yourself.
When you open a French bank account ensure you are given a
chequebook, as you will need this to pay a number of fees whilst you
are here; notably, to pay your social security. It is necessary in order
to set up any kind of payment plan, such as a direct debit for a phone
contract, for your accommodation or if you pay your tuition fees in
monthly installments.
In the case that you prefer another option it is a good idea to research
banks online before approaching one in person. Common French
banks include Banque Populaire, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, and
HSBC.
Tips from Survivors
“Banks do not open on
Monday!”
“Only BNP’s ATM support
cash depositing.”
26
Phone Contract
Living
There are 4 big mobile network
operators in France: Orange,
SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free
Mobile. You will spend more than
12 months in Paris, so it is worth
subcribing to a pay-monthly plan
(abonnement).
When choosing a pricing plan
(forfait), it is best to opt for one
that gives you more minutes
than you may expect to use, as service providers charge heavily for
minutes used beyond what you’ve been allotted (hors forfait). If you
month, you can always switch to a less expensive package.
When you decide to settle down on a certain contract, next step is to
going to the chosen provider and sign up for it. Documents needed
(generally):
Tips from Survivors
“You can buy an
international call card at
grocery stores. (there is
one near ESIEE, next to
Residence Ampere.”
27
CAF
Living
Every student whether French
or foreigner is entitled to have a
their personal resources.
Housing assistance is provided
by a public organization: The
d’Allocations Familiales (CAF).
In France, here is how the housing
your application is accepted your rights will be taken into account on
For example:
You move in on September 1st
Your rights are taken into account on October 1st
You are paid on November or December. It depends on the time
you apply CAF.
strongly suggests going through all the formalities in order to take
advantage of the CAF allowance!
There are two ways of applying CAF: online or bring your documents
Noisy Champs station. Our advice is you should bring all neccessary
28
some letters from CAF to require you send more documents to them.
Living
List of documents (translated in French):
“Attestation de loyer“ written by your landlord and CAF document
A copy of your passport/French ID card (Carte de Séjour) if you
are non-Europeen; or only your ID card if you are Europeen.
A copy of RIB (Relevé d’Identité Bancaire) – it is a statement of
banking identity in French.
documents or you can download from CAF website.
Go to CAF website (www.caf.fr)
Look at left menu and click to Pratique: étudiants, faire en ligne
votre demande d’aide au logement
Then click to Télécharger un formulaire
Click Métropole then Aide au logement
Finally you tick the statements which are suitable for your situation
(ie. you are a tenant or owner, you live with your family or not)
Click Valider to download your CAF document.
After one month (might be longer, don’t panic!) you will receive a
letter from CAF which includes your online account. You can access to
CAF website to check the time and budget you will receive monthly.
And.. congratulations!
Tips from Survivors
“Be patient! The paperwork is
processed slowly in France.”
“Do not miss any neccessary
document if not you will have to wait
for a long time after you submit them
again to CAF.”
29
Grocery
Living
When you come to live by your own as a foreign student in Paris, it
do grocery since most of us don’t own a car and the only mean is on
foot or Trains.
Carrefour
The second biggest supermarket
chain in the world and the biggest
super market chain in Paris you
need here with standard price.
Near ESIEE:
Carrefour de Champs Sur Marne
Torcy
Bussy Saint Georges
Noisy Le Grand Mont d’Est
Open: 9h – 22h Mon –Fri, 8h30 - 22h Saturday
Super U
Super U is also one of the popular
super market chains in France,
its juice brand is also better
than Carrefour’s in our personal
preference and some of the
sweet is cheaper here.
Near ESIEE:
Can be found right after exiting
the Noisy – champs RER train
station by Sortie 1 Quatier du champy.
Open: 8h30 – 22h30 Mon –Sat, 9h – 13h Sun.
30
Near ESIEE:
Neuilly plaisance
Address: 1-9 Avenue du Maréchal Foch 93330 Neuilly-sur-Marne
Web: auchan.fr
Living
Auchan
Auchan is another French well-known international supermarket
chains, you can found the food in Auchan with more quality and
fresher than the mentioned above super markets with slightly higher
price.
Opening: From Monday to Sunday 9h – 22h
Tang Frere and Paris store
The two biggest Asian stores in Paris, they are capable of providing
almost everything for the Asian taste from rice to instant noodle soup,
as well as some rare found vegetable and fruit in France. The pricing
of the two are very similar as well as the food range: from Chinese to
Thailand, Vietnamese, and Laos etc.
Near ESIEE:
Tang Freres - Bussy Saint Georges. It is in front of the Carrefour market
Open: 10h – 13h30 and 15h – 20h Mon – Fri, 10h – 20h Sat, 9h30 –
13h Sun
Paris store - Noisiel
Address: Centre Commercial La Ferme du Buisson, Cours du Buisson,
rue Louis Logre
Web: www.paris-store.com
Tel: 08.99.70.22.81
Open: 9h – 19h30 weekdays Mon- Sat, 9h- 13h Sun.
Paris store - Bussy Saint Georges:
Address: 9-11 Boulevard Pierre Mendès France
Web: www.paris-store.com
31
Open: 9h30 – 19h30 weekdays Mon- Sat, 9h30- 13h Sun.
Living
There are also many traditional food market around Paris. When
bargain your way for cheaper price as well as more fresh food, Paris
traditional food markets must be the right place for you. There are
numerous of this kind of market spreading all around Paris districts,
and how to get there also: marches.equipements.paris.fr/
32
Health Insurance
Living
EU students
Non-French EU-nationals are exempt from the above if they have a
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). More about this card on the
EU website.
Non-EU students under 28
Students under 28 are required to take out French student medical
insurance, referred to as “Sécurité Sociale” or “Social Security”. This
entitles the student to a reimbursement of up to 70 % of the standard
price of medical expenses incurred. Prescriptions, eyeglasses and
dental expenses are subject to different rates.
Coverage for one year from October 1 to the following September
30, regardless of when the student enrolls, costs €207 for 2012-2013.
Students may also subscribe to a top-up (complementary) health
insurance policy to ensure optimal reimbursement of healthcare
expenses. These policies may cover up to 100% of the difference
between “Sécurité Sociale” coverage and the actual medical
expenses.
Such insurance policies may be subscribed to through ESIEE Paris at
one of these two organizations:
LMDE
SMEREP
Non-EU students over 28
Special conditions apply to students who are 28 years old or older.
LMDE offers a special plan covering 100% of the standard price of
33
medical expenses, at a higher annual rate than the “Sécurité Sociale”
for students under 28 (which covers up to 70% of medical expenses).
This plan is entitled “International Student Cover”.
Living
These students may also subscribe to an optional top-up plan to
ensure optimal reimbursement of their medical expenses. One
possible such insurance for is www.assistance-etudiants.com.
LMDE International Student Cover
You must register with the general social security scheme at the
Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) closest to your place
of residence. You may be entitled to the CMU (Universal healthcare
coverage) after 3 months of living in France. Students in this situation
are strongly advised to take out health insurance in their home
country to cover this 3-month period.
What is the CMU (Universal Health Coverage)?
If you are older than 28 years of age on 1st October and have been
resident in France for a minimum of 3 months you can apply for the
CMU. Its basic cover is free if your income is below an annual income
be asked to pay a pro-rata contribution. Students who apply for the
CMU must have been to the OFII for their medical visit and are not
from a European country. To apply for the CMU you must go to the
CPAM
Tips from Survivors
Do not forget to bring all your
medicines and prescriptions if you
need them.
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Health at School
At ESIEE a state registered nurse is available to provide treatment
and vaccinations that have been prescribed to you by a doctor. The
Living
Contacts:
0172
(Situated behind the Marcel Dassault lecture Hall)
Hospitals near ESIEE
There are two big hospitals near ESIEE:
Hôpital Saint-Camille
Telephone : 01 49 83 10 10
Hôpital de Lagny
31 avenue du Général Leclerc, 77405 Lagn-Sur-Marne Telephone :
Medicines
Don’t forget to bring all your medicines and prescriptions from your
country, in France the cost of medicine may vary a lot according
pharmacies, also remember that antibiotics can only be bought with
Emergencies phone numbers
SAMU (medical emergencies): 15
Police emergency: 17
Fire service emergency: 18
European emergency line: 112 (English)
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Student Life
36
Part III
Student Life
French Culture
Student Life
Greeting
You can always use Bonjour for good morning, good day and good
afternoon, while in the evening you should say Bonsoir. For informal
use, you can say Salut which literally means “Hi”.
You also can always greet one person by saying “how are you?” like
English. Formally Comment allez-vous? Or informally ça va?
In French, you should always greet people with one of the above,
unlike other countries, you can simply smile or nod your head, these
actions are considered to be rude, when entering a building or a room
The French bise (cheek kiss)
French family and friends exchange kisses on alternating cheeks
upon meeting and separating. Two people introduced by a mutual
friend may also faire la bise, particularly kids and young adults.
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Student Life
Whether to faire la bise or not depends mainly on how close the
two people are and their gender. Generally speaking, two women
who are close enough to tutoient each other will exchange bises.
One woman and one man usually will too, unless for some reason
the woman is uncomfortable and chooses not to. Two men are less
likely to faire la bise; if they aren’t family or very close friends, they
probably won’t. No matter the reason, whenever two people do not
faire la bise as a greeting, they shake hands.
Escalator
Stay on your right if you want to stay still, the left is when you want
to hurry up and walk up.
Public transportation
on the Metro or other public transportation; we hardly saw them
giving their seat to other people, including old people and women
with children.
When the train is crowded, it’s
impossible to move without
pushing your way through the
crowd. A mere Excuse-moi will
never be enough; people will not
normally listen to you or ignore
you.
Break Lunch/ Café
Lunch break will normally last
for about the whole hour, also
French people expect café breaks from time to time.
Cigarette
If you are a smoker, and are used to smoking while walking on the
street, you will occasionally be asked by strangers for a cigarette. For
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Food
It is said that you won’t be able to stay in Paris without having
cheese; cheese is served with bread or other dishes in French’s every
day meals. Pastries and cakes are also popular among the French
community, the croissants, chocolate and other breads such as
Student Life
many countries this behavior may be improper or can be considered
as an act of intimidation, however this is very normal for the Parisians,
you can simply say no or politely hand them a smoke and lend them
your lighter, it will be appreciated.
Time elasticity
Don’t be surprise if you have a rendezvous with a French man and he
comes late without feeling anything, it’s very normal here.
Sunday is observed to be completely spent with family.
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French Courses
Student Life
As soon as you arrive in Paris,
don’t forget to start practicing
French no matter what your
level may be. It is very important
language every day. At ESIEE,
in the MOTIS program all your
Master courses will be in English.
However, every Thursday you will
have 3 hours of French class. It
is necessary not to skip any of
these classes because it will be
have to wait for an entire week to
start over again.
of ESIEE. There are plenty of classes for everyone from beginners
to French conversational levels in France. You can visit their sites to
check for class times, size, and prices.
Sometimes smaller classes may be better, but in some of the smaller
schools when there are not enough students, they tend to group
people in a class with people at various levels if there are not enough
students enrolled. In this case, you may be with people more or less
advanced than you are.
keep in mind that if a school is too far away, you might not be so
motivated to go to class if it takes 5 metros to get there.
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Students can choose from a wide range of classes tailored to nonstudents of non-Latin native languages, improving written expression,
Student Life
F.L.E courses (running by Mairie de Paris)
Municipal courses for adults include F.L.E. or “French as a Foreign
Language” classes in several districts of Paris. They are available for
people over 18 years living in Paris, regardless of their professional
status or their nationality.
requires the validation of skills acquired in the previous level. There
are also preparation classes for exams such as the Diplôme d’études
Education. Catch-up classes, spelling, grammar and literacy classes
are also available for native French speakers.
This Course usually takes place in the evening and are organized
varies according to course length (annual or half-year classes) and
forms in each arrondissement town hall and in the reception area of
the City Hall (4th arrondissement).
4, bis boulevard Diderot
75012 Paris
Alliance Française courses
The Alliance française in Paris offers a range of French language
classes for different levels. The centre has more than sixty classrooms,
a multimedia centre, a press area and a cinema room. Prices are
a little bit high but are a worldwide well known school for French
language.
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Alliance française de Paris
101, boulevard Raspail
Student Life
French courses in Universities
Some universities in Paris offer French lessons, their prices may vary
according to the time and duration.
There are two well recognized universities in French courses for
foreigners.
Université de la Sorbonne
Université René Descartes
We also suggest you to try to speak French as much as possible
(even if you know few words/phrases) wherever you are (at shops,
school, cafes and etc.), it will really help you to improve your skills
in language and also to overcome cross-cultural differences. And of
course it will help you to meet new people in Paris, which is one of
the best ways to learn a new language. Watching French movies
with subtitles is also a good way of practicing when you are at home.
Each morning you can read French newspapers and magazines to
improve to read faster. Try to learn 5-10 new words per day and by
the end of the semester you will be amazed.
Also choosing to live with a French family can be a good opportunity
to learn French, plus it can adopt you to French culture. Don’t forget
same interest who will push you to speak in French.
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Job Forums
Student Life
learn the language. It will be good if you have the basic level of
French before you arrive Paris. Then, you can practice your language
and move on to the next level. You should be prepared to attend
interviews in French. However, the actual work which you do might
be in French or in English.
It is advised to keep your resumes short and precise (one page). The
French people do not prefer them to be long. The dress code for
work is strictly formal.
Often, there are many job fairs found for students in Paris. It is good
if you are a part of some student networks to improve contacts with
others and try to take advantage of such events. Some of the job
Forum CIFRE
(Conventions Industrielles de Formation par la REcherche)
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The company offers internships for Master’s students. Also, they give
advice to Ph.D. students.
Student Life
Forum Paris pour l’Emploi
October at Concorde in Paris. Large number of students attend this
event in search of jobs.
Forum Descartes
This was an internship recruitment event conducted by PRES
Université Paris-Est and its partners, in ESIEE PARIS. This 15th
edition of Forum Descartes was held on November 8th, 2013. For
the event, there were about 70-80 stalls in the ESIEE corridor each
of them representing their company. The companies ranged from
large MNCs to SMEs from various sectors (information technology,
of communication used was mostly French. The representatives
gave an insight into their company, clearly expressed their needs,
addressed the skills they are looking from the students and also gave
them brochures and goodies. Some of them took interviews where
the students had submitted their resumes and are contacted later for
personal interview. Also, the student recruitment associations such
as ‘L’etudiant’, ‘StudyRama’, etc. marked their presence. They have
given free books listing the major contact details for the companies.
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Book Stores
WH Smith
An English bookstore with a great choice of books, magazines and
gifts. Here you can also meet foreign people such as expats and
students, along with tourists.
Student Life
Parisians are fond of reading, so their city is full of ‘Librairie’s
(bookstore in French). Of course, it is impossible to put all of them in
the list. So, we chose some places which are most attractive for us.
Address
Phone
Website
Opening hours
Métro
Tea and Tattered Pages
Fun little book shop, selling used English-language books of every
kind. There is also a cozy little tea room at the back of the shop
offering simple refreshments.
Address
Phone
Website
Opening hours
Métro
The Abbey Bookshop
A Canadian bookshop around the corner from Shakespeare & Co.,
social science sections, plus knowledgeable and helpful staff — and
free coffee.
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Student Life
Address
Phone
Opening hours
Métro
Librairie Galignani
and magazines.
Address
Phone
Website
Opening hours
Métro
8, 12)
Shakespeare & Company
Probably, the most famous bookstore in Paris. It is a paradise for
booklovers with long shelves of books. This place attracts a lot of
people not only by great choice of books, but also by its atmosphere
and décor.
Address
Phone
Website
Opening hours
Métro
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Libraries
Student Life
Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève
like Literature, History, Philosophy, Art, Religion, Esotericism, Social
and Legal Sciences, Exact and Applied Sciences. Open for public.
Address
Phone
Website
Opening hours
Métro
Bibliothèque Publique d’Information, Centre Georges Pompidou
reference collections. Also, it has an on-line catalog. It is open for
public and you can accesss WiFi for free.
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Student Life
Address
Phone
Website
Opening hours
Métro
(Line 1, 4, 7, 11, 14, RER A, B, D)
Bibliothèque Couronnes: Public lending library open to all and
with a large foreign language books section for adults and children.
Magazines and newspapers. WiFi access.
Address
Phone
Opening hours
Métro
Bibliothèque Trocadéro: Public lending library open to all and with
a large foreign language books section and music section for adults
and children. Magazines and newspapers. WiFi access.
Address
Phone
Opening hours
Sat 10h00-18h00
Métro
Bibliotheque Edmond Rostand
all and with a large foreign language books section. Magazines,
newspapers and Wi-Fi access.
Address
Phone
Opening hours
Métro
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Student Life
Universitaire Paris-Dauphine
Universitaire Sorbonne Nouvelle
Universitaire Panthéon Sorbonne
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Entertainment
50
Part IV
Entertainment
Hidden Paris
The statue of Liberty
Do you know there are some statues of Liberty’s sisters in Paris? If
you are interested in them, you can go to Jardin du Luxembourg, Île
aux Cygnes and Musée des Arts et Métiers to enjoy.
Entertainment
If you want to really get to know Paris, you would be wise to shun
the tourist traps and head off the beaten track a little. So read our
hidden sights and start discovering a side to this great city that only
the most “in-the-know” would be able to tell you about
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Entertainment
Je t’aime wall (I love you wall)
The wall is a monument dedicated to love erected in the romantic
garden of the Square Jehan Rictus Place des Abbesses in Paris
Montmartre. The work of art, created by Frederic Baron and Claire
Kito has become a meeting place for lovers. For a walk, an unusual
step for your date, the discovery of a missed spot, for saying I love
you in different languages, to stroll in the most romantic place in
Paris.
The Canal Saint-Martin
With its footbridges arching
gracefully over a canal that
feeds into the Seine River,
the Canal Saint Martin area
offers equal parts greenery,
lyricism, and urban grit.
Don’t miss the Canal SaintMartin for activities like
strolling, picnics, offbeat shopping, and scenic biking.
This unusually relaxed corner of Northeastern Paris is a hotspot for
fashion-conscious bohos and parents in search of a little repose. It
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has also made famous appearances in movies like Amélie.
a sculpture—a man’s head, upper
torso and right leg—mounted on
a stone wall, and looking as if
the man were emerging from the
wall. And that is exactly the idea,
for this sculpture is a portrait of
the well-known Parisian writer
Marcel Aymé.
Entertainment
Le Passe-Muraille
In a small square near the top of
Montmartre is one of the oddest
sculptures you could ever hope
of Allée des Brouillards and Rue
Norvins, 18th.
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Classic Sights & Attractions
Entertainment
The Louvre
To learn the Louvre in and out, you might need a lifetime. The site of
the world’s largest and most diverse collection of pre-20th century
one of Paris most attractive places. Not forgetting the Mona Lisa and
ticket is free for everyone.
Notre Dame Cathedral
architecture. One of the most singular and beautiful cathedrals of
Europe is guaranteed to take your breath away. Notre Dame took
over 100 years of hard labor to complete. Climbing the North
tower to see Paris from panaroma view is essential. You will soon
understand why Notre Dame is one of Paris top attractions.
Eiffel Tower
More than any other landmark, the Eiffel Tower has come to represent
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Entertainment
an elegant and contemporary Paris. The iron tower, which was
Gustave Eiffel, was wildly
unpopular with Parisians when it was unveiled, and was nearly torn
down. It however would be hard to imagine Paris now without it. The
tower crowns the Paris night sky with its festive light, and glitters up
a storm every hour.
Arc de Triomphe
Emperor Napoléon
I
and triumph. It was built in an age when leaders erected monuments
in their own honor, and scaled to their egos.
`The Sorbonne and the Latin Quarter
The Sorbonne University is the historic soul of the Latin Quarter, where
small group of theology students, the Sorbonne is one of Europe
oldest universities. It has hosted countless great thinkers, including
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philosophers René Descartes, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de
Beauvoir.
Entertainment
Opera Garnier
Also known as the Palais Garnier or simply the Paris Opera is an
architectural treasure and essential spot for the city’s ballet and
classical music scene. Designed by Charles Garnier and inaugurated
in 1875 as the Academie Nationale de Musique -Theatre de l’Opera
(National Academy of Music - Opera Theater).
Montmartre
Montmartre is one of the most historic and interesting neighborhoods
in Paris. The name Montmartre was originally Roman meaning
“Mount of Mars” but was later changed by less pagan French to
“Mount of Martyrs” or Montmartre. Sitting on the crest of the hill is
Basilica of Sacre-Coeur (the big white church). We recommend you
start at metro Blanche (Moulin Rouge) or metro Anvers and gradually
climb the streets. This will make it feel more like a pilgrimage toward
the place that nurtured most of the great artists and writers living in
France this past century. You will see famous Moulin Rouge when
exit the metro Blanche. Go uphill you can visit a church which is
even more interesting historically the Church of St. Pierre, one of
the oldest in Paris and even contains some original Roman columns.
Across the street is the Place du Tertre where the legends of 20th
sketchers and caricaturists.
Tips from Survivors
“If you want to visit famous attractions
in Paris, you should go in the
weekdays to avoid the tourist crowd
and long queues.“
“Bring your student card and passport/
ID because many monuments and
museums are free for students under
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Cluny Museum - National Medieval Museum
Rodin Museum
Musée Carnavalet - Museum of Paris History
Musée du Luxembourg
Musee Jacquemart-André
Entertainment
List of best art museums in Paris
The Louvre
National Museum of Modern Art at the Centre Pompidou
Musée d’Orsay
Petit Palais
List of best chateaux in Paris
Louvre Palace
Palais du Luxembourg
Palais-Royal
Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Sceaux
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Cafes & Restaurants
Entertainment
The Café culture
The Pavement Café has been one of the Parisian’s iconic cultures since
the beginning of the 20th century. Pavement Café shops have always
been a perfect place for debates of young bright philosophers as
well as a source of inspiration for poetries and artists including Ernest
Hamingway, Pabblo Picasso and etc.
Below are the most traditional Café suggested by the Guardians and
Go Paris, though expensive, but still worth-experiencing.
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Café de la Paix
Opened at a historic site by the
the well-known legend of this
Entertainment
this café is the setting for many
paintings and poems. Enjoying a
Café and a croissant looking out
over the crossroads at the Place
of the Le Grand Hotel, which was built in 1858 by the same architect
as the sumptuous Opera Garnier, so be sure to at least have a look
around the incredible interiors of the Café and the splendid Winter
Garden in the hotel itself.
Café de Flore
Across the street from the rival
Les Deux Magots, while it has
become a hotspot for tourists
and upwardly mobile types,
and no longer attracts as many
students and artists, it still merits
a visit for the ambiance. Loved
by Parisians in general as well as
known for hosting Sartre and de
Beauvoir’s passionate debates. Although the price is higher than the
usual market, it still is a sentiment experience which you should try at
least once in your life if you have chance to go to Paris.
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Les Deux Magots
vGrab a newspaper and a café
Entertainment
sunny terrace while you “imagine
the days when Ernest Hemingway,
Albert Camus and Pablo Picasso
rubbed elbows in this very spot.
The Café des 2 Moulins
Claim to fame came in the form
of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s instant
it as the heroine’s charmingly
vintage place of employ. Ten years
still pop in on their pilgrimage
tour of Amélie’s Montmartre, but
it has largely gone back to being
been nixed in favor of more sitting rooms. The scatter of tables and
bright red chairs on the sloping pavement is the perfect vantage
point from which to observe the lively street market.
La Contrescarpe
Just off the rue Mouffetard, one
of the most touristed streets in
Paris, La Contrescarpe provides a
decent environment for working
or otherwise.
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from the famous Louvre and Japanese quartier, this mignon place
of Stella and her husband will be a good place to rest your feet
after a long walk in the museum.
Entertainment
Chez Stella
Providing the best traditional French dish out there with reasonable
Pho 14
main course approx).
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Bars, Pubs & Clubs
Entertainment
Panic Room: The excellent Goldrush collective
has live acts and DJs blasting the sound system
in the basement, while upstairs friendly barmen
serve affordable cocktails behind a concrete
counter. The indie crowd and occasional
House, techno and electro, Drum ‘n’ bass and
dubstep, Clubs
Le Zéro Zéro: One of the most popular bars in Paris, where music
plays every day. This place has a great atmosphere, enthusiastic
young staff and great choices of cocktails. The main drink is the Zéro
Zéro, a drink with rum-ginger base with their secret recipe, price of
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4 Elements: The main weapon of the
place is décor. Each part of the bar
represents one of four main elements
techno and electro
Entertainment
is always temporary photo or drawing
21h
UDO Bar: The rowdy bar with Berlin touch, easy-going atmosphere
and, of course, German beer and currywurst (traditional German dish
with sausage and French fries).
Café Oz: Popular chain of
bars with international appeal,
Australian and New Zealand beer
and dancing on weekends.
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Entertainment
Le Zobra: A little bistro where
you can have early breakfast or
continue drinking with friends in
a quiet atmosphere.
du Temple, 10e
Aux Folies: The Folies is named
after an 18th-century watering
hole at the gates of Paris, in then
then-rural quarter of Courtille,
famous for the annual debauches
of the city carnival. In summer,
the terrace crowds spill out on
to the narrow Rue Dénoyez,
and on weekends on the semipedestrianised street the art
galleries set out stalls, bands
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Annual Events & Festivals
Entertainment
Paris, the most visited city in the
world, truly enthralls everyone
by portraying its authentic art
and culture in the form of annual
events taking place in the city.
Here is the list of the free main
Fete de la Musique
(Paris Music Festival)
This is a famous ‘Paris street music
festival’ which takes place each
year and starts in the evening June 21st (the day of summer solstice).
A great number of musicians make the ambience lively by playing
different types of music across various streets in Paris and this will
continue till dawn. The buses and metros in Paris are completely
packed with people at this time, so make sure you have the map of
Paris with you.
Bastille Day
Paris celebrates Bastille Day
on July 14th marking the day
when the French Revolution had
to as ‘Fete Nationale(National
Celebration)’ or as ‘Le Quatorze
Juillet(The Fourteenth of July’).
On this day, there is a huge
military parade along the
Champs-Elysées. In the late
the Eiffel Tower which is absolutely spectacular.
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Entertainment
Nuit Blanche
This event began in 2002, with a
goal of spreading art and culture.
It is an all-night arts festival
Saturday in October. On this
day, all the museums, public and
private art galleries and city halls
provide free entry to the public
with performances and concerts which attract thousands of visitors
every year.
Paris Plage (Paris Beach)
There is no way to miss the Paris
beach in summer. Some of the
areas in Paris are made into
temporary beaches, each has
their own theme. Also, lots of
free activities and concerts are
available for the public.
Journées du Patrimonie (European Heritage Days)
In the third weekend of September, people are allowed to visit
the buildings which are generally closed for public. For example,
politician houses, backstage of theatres, private crypts and cellars,
some museums also. The main attractions include ‘Palais de l’Elysée’,
house of the President.
International Pillow Fight Day
As the name explains, it is an
event which takes place in
various parts of the world on the
fun and interesting to take part in
this event.
66
Authors
Fabiana FORTUNATO
She is currently completing a
master degree in Management of
of experience in the pharmaceutical
Anastasia AZAROVA
She is a MOTIS student at ESIEE Paris
from Moscow, Russia. Previously
she got a Bachelor degree in
Business Informatics and passed two
internships in UC RUSAL and MTS
Group. Also she worked as leader
and coordinator of educational and
creative junior camps. Anastasia is
an active person who always takes
part in different social projects,
sport events and etc. And now one
of Anastasia’s goals is to become a
project manager in an international
company in 5 years.
Thang CU HUY
Earning Computer Science bachelor
worked for Neopost Research and
Development center in Hanoi for one
year as a software developer. He also
took part in the project Stock Trading
System in Habubank Securities
company in 2010. His main role
was building migration system and
support related departments about
the business cases. His ambition is to
become a leading project manager
in Information Technology. He
currently study Master of Science in
ESIEE Paris.
mature, positive and hardworking
atittude and always striving to
achieve the highest standard
possible. She also has a Graduate
Diploma in Business Administration
and Marketing which best describes
how she accomplished her good
interpersonal skills beside of her
strong technical skills in Systems.
Hema PENTAKOTA
Hema PENTAKOTA holds a Major in
Computer Science & Engineering.
She had worked for one year in HSBC,
as a customer service executive. She
decided to go further by pursuing
higher education in a multicultural
International environment. She now
studies in ESIEE Paris in Management
as a mother tongue and has a good
working knowledge of French.
Tuan Anh DANG
He obtained a B.Sc in Information
Science during his 7 year stay in
New Zealand. He worked as an
Company where he functioned as
the web and system administrator of
the company’s website. He has the
ambition to become an elite project
manager in Information Technology.
Currently, he studies for an M.Sc in
Management of Technology from the
prestigious ESIEE, Paris.
Authors
at ESIEE, after graduated a B.Sc
System Engineering in Caracas,
References
References
escp-europe-paris/
ants-au-conseil-dadministration-du-crous
taire-paris
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