North Orange County Community College District
not your school?
AIFS Partnership Programs: Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Transportation
Can I change my return flight once I am in Paris?
Maybe. For a fee and subject to airline approval and availability, you may be able to change your return flight. You must contact the agent directly. Only date changes are allowed and there will be an airline-imposed fee. There can be no changes to the routing. If you have a connecting flight in the US, you must check whether you are able to change that, as some cannot be changed. Please note that once you receive your ticket, it is your property and therefore AIFS staff cannot make changes for you. Please also note that if you are planning on staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, it is your responsibility to make sure you have all the correct paperwork before leaving the US. Visas cannot be obtained once you are in Europe (see below).
Housing
Where will I live?
You be sharing a twin room in an apartment with other students from your program. All apartments have cooking facilities and will be provided with bed linen.
Or you may choose the home-stay option. In this case, you will be staying with a French family in a twin room shared with another student from your program. You will have your own key and bed linen will be provided. Breakfast will be provided daily and dinner will be provided 5 days a week. You will share the bathroom with the family.
All the home stay families are different. They will not necessarily be a traditional family with a mom, dad and two kids. They are just as likely to be an older couple or a single person. All of the families have been carefully chosen and assessed. A small gift from your home town for your host family is usually much appreciated.
How far is the housing from school?
Typical travel time to the Study Center is approximately 30 minutes by public transportation. You will receive a transportation pass a part of your program package.
Culture
What activities will be included?
A weekly program of subsidized cultural activities such as museum visits, cooking classes, soccer matches, theater shows and day trips will be arranged. You will have the chance to sign up for events once you arrive in Paris. All activities will be offered at a significantly reduced rate to what you would expect to pay as an individual.
Are there any optional AIFS excursions?
Your program includes a three-day, two-night optional trip to Normandy, a coastal town in the North of France. This trip costs $495 and includes round trip transportation, 2 nights’ accommodation in a centrally-located hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, a trip to the D-Day beaches, entrance to and a guided tour of the Cean Memorial and a group meal and the services of an AIFS Tour Manager.
Also a three-day, two-night optional trip to Bordeaux, a port city in Southwest France. This trip costs $495 and includes round trip transportation, 2 nights’ accommodation in a centrally-located hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, a trip to Saint-Emilion, including a guided walking tour and visit to a vineyard. Group meal and the services of an AIFS Tour Manager also included.
Money
How much money will I need?
This very much depends on individual tastes. However, AIFS recommend that students budget $700-$1000 per month for day-to-day needs. This would allow for some theater visits and excursions but not extensive overseas travel or expensive purchases.
How can I get money in Paris?
Before departure, make sure you get a PIN for credit cards (Visa and MasterCard, not American Express). If you do not already have a credit card, we suggest you get one before you leave.
For checking accounts, try to get the CIRRUS or STAR system on your card. You can ask your bank for a list of banks that will accept your cards. Do not take their word that it will be accepted everywhere – this is often not the case. Also, double-check what their charges are for withdrawing cash abroad.
Make sure you tell your bank that you are going to be in Europe so that they do not block your card.
If you run short of money, or in the unfortunate event you have your wallet stolen, AIFS on-site staff can give you details of how to have money wired to you from friends and family in an emergency situation.
Communication
Will I have internet access?
The AIFS Study Center has free WiFi access. We also endeavor to ensure that all apartments and homestays have WiFi. However, it is important to remember that these will be slower connections than you are used to at home.
Nowadays many cafés offer free WiFi with the purchase of a coffee. AIFS recommends that you bring your laptop in order to take advantage of the wireless networks available – but please make sure you have adequate insurance for it.
How can people contact me when I am in Paris?
You will be given the address of the Study Center where mail can be sent to you. AIFS staff will be able to advise you on getting a cell phone or on which calling cards to use to call home. Most home stay families will let you use their phone to receive incoming calls but do not assume and always ask permission first.
General
Do I need a passport?
You will need a valid passport to travel abroad. If you have a passport that will expire during your program or within four months after the end of your program, renew it now. You will not be able to board your flight without a valid passport in hand.
If you are applying for your first passport, go to
www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html.
If you need to renew your passport, go to
www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html.
To obtain a passport you will need:
- Passport Application Form DS-11
- Proof of Citizenship
- Current Identification and Photocopy
- Application Fee
- Two Passport Photos
Do I need a visa?
Not unless you are planning to stay in Europe for more than 90 days. If you are planning to stay longer and travel extensively after the program you will need to contact your nearest French Embassy or Consulate to apply for a visa. Unfortunately, visas for travel purposes are virtually impossible to get as 90 days is considered to be enough time for travelling within Europe. Bear in mind that applying for a visa is a lengthy and expensive process and chances are you will not be given one for travelling after the program. If you are not a US citizen please talk to your nearest French Embassy or Consulate about visa requirements. Do not forget to obtain visas for other countries you may wish to visit, if applicable. It is not possible to do this once in France.
What should I take with me?
Not too much. Every year students find that they bring clothing that they never wear or toiletries they could easily have bought in Paris.
If you are on medication, you should bring enough to last you for the program, as well as a copy of the prescription in case you need a refill. Since most products at the supermarket and other stores will be labeled in French, a small French dictionary or phrasebook is always useful. The weather can be unpredictable so bring warm clothes – it will almost certainly be much colder at the beginning of the program than at the end. It is best to bring clothes you can layer to be appropriate for all kinds of weather. You should also bring a weatherproof coat. You will do a lot more walking than you are used to so bring comfortable shoes. Remember to leave space in your suitcase for souvenirs you will buy.
What happens if I get ill abroad?
There is a 24-hour English-speaking doctor service available. They are available for appointments or home visits. You will have to pay for everything up front including the doctor’s visit and medication, and then you may make a claim on your AIFS medical insurance. For this, you must make sure you have filled in all the medical forms correctly and have all receipts. You will receive a refund back in the US for all costs exceeding $50. No pre-existing conditions are covered. Dental care is not normally covered. Please read your insurance information for conditions that may be excluded.
Will my hairdryer/iron work in Paris?
In theory, yes. However, you will need to bring the correct outlet adapter and voltage converter, and even then, past experience has shown US electrical items to work for a short while before failing. The voltage in Europe is greater and the outlets are also different, so you need to be 100% sure before plugging things in. A basic hair dryer can be purchased in France for approximately $25, and you can share the cost with your roommate.
Can I buy textbooks and course-related materials in Paris?
You can buy paper and other materials in Paris. Paris has many large bookstores that include English language books but unless your professor has asked them to order your books in especially they may not have the exact editions your professors require. Your professors will be able to let you know where they have been ordered.
What sports facilities are available?
Paris does not have as many sports facilities as you may be used to back at college in the US. There are gyms all over town, but they will be smaller and more expensive than you are used to. Swimming pools can be found in each neighborhood, with the option of purchasing a pass for multiple visits. Remember, Paris does offer some beautiful parks for running.
Can I work when I am in Paris?
It is illegal to work in France unless you have a work permit. If you do want to stay and work after the program, you will need to apply for a work permit before you leave the US. It cannot be done once you are in France.
