The Center put together the following tips for travel to France, Italy and Spain to help St. John's students preparing for their DTW trip. These tips were forwarded to the Office of Global Studies to be included in the package given to students prior to departure..
Practical Tips for your Study Abroad Experience in France:
Time difference: 6 hours (when it is 6am inNew York, it is 12 noon inParis). From March 15 to March 31 the difference is only 5 hours.
Currency: The euro. Currently the euro is wort h $1.25 (show examples of coins and banknotes)
ATM s will charge you a small fee for each transaction. About 3 Euros
Internet cafés: For a fee you can access your emails and the internet. Public libraries also have computers which will allow you to do the same and print documents, generally free of charge except for printing for which a small fee will be charged
Converters for digital cameras, iPods and laptops are necessary for passage from 110 Volts to 220 and different plugging configuration. To buy extra memory for your digital camera and for electronics: discount store DARTY or large supermarkets
Telephone: International code for Europe 011, for France 33. International code from Europe to the US: 00, for the US: 1. Emergency Numbers: Medical; [SAMU}15, Police: 17, Fire 18
Politeness Etiquette: When entering a store say “Bonjour” and “Au revoir” when you leave. Address a lady as “Madame”, a man as “Monsieur” and an unmarried young woman as “Mademoiselle”
When invited by people in their house for a few days do not go and help yourself in their refrigerator. Do not eat just at any time, stick to set meal times.
You may walk on public lawns except if they are surrounded by a very low metal fence.
Noise: No noise after 10 pm except in large cities
Cell Phone Etiquette: It is not advisable to use your cell phone on trains or at the movies except in designated areas.
Garbage Disposal: Do not throw empty cans and bottles or trash anywhere except in garbage disposal containers. The same is valid on the highway.
Entertainment, Food and Shopping:
Museums: The Louvre is free the first Sunday of the month
Movies: There are special rates for students for the movies. On Tuesdays there are reduced rates for everyone.
Restaurants: Outside ofParis and large cities meals are served between 12 and 2pm for lunch, and 7 to 10pm for dinner, except in cafeterias and cafés and brasseries where it is more flexible.
Stores: Are not open 24/7 outside of theParis area and in large cities. They close for lunch as do banks. They are closed on Sundays. Week days they open generally 9-12 and 2-7pm.
Large supermarkets (hypermarchés): You can find lots of things from food and drinks to clothes, shoes, books, electronics, cosmetics
Drugs are only available in pharmacies upon giving a prescription or for over the counter drugs. A pharmacy is indicated with a large lit green cross
Books: Available in large discount stores like FNAC or Virgin
Size equivalences: Women clothing from 34 (XXS) to 44 (XXL) shoes from 35 to 42 (5 to 10.5)
Men’s jacket sizes 46 (XS) to 56 (XL), shirts 37 (141/2) to 46 (18), shoes 38 (5.5) to 47 (12.5)
Tipping: In restaurants, cafés and taxis a service charge is included. (you will see the acronym TTC -Toutes Taxes Comprises- on the bill). If you are extremely satisfied with the service however you may add a gratuity but it is not compulsory as in the U.S.
Transportation:
Subway and buses: Special rates are available for cards for one week or more.
TGV (High Speed Train): There is no extra charge for those trains which can take you very fast to Brussels,London, Germany, Geneva, Marseille, Spain etc, except for a mandatory reservation fee. IMPORTANT: Before boarding the train you need to validate (composter) your ticket at a machine located in the train station or at the beginning of the platform in large Paris stations, otherwise you will incur a substantial fine when the conductor checks your ticket.