Studying Abroad in France

If studying abroad is wonderful then studying abroad in France is wondrous.

Here are some treasures on how to best explore one of the most beautiful countries on earth in between all of those pesky tests and papers...

1. Don’t bring anything that might have to be dry cleaned! You will find doing your laundry in a Laundromat quite expensive compared to the States, the prices for dry cleaning are astronomical, as it’s still not a very common practice. Should you discover a red wine stain on your favorite ‘dry clean only’ shirt that made its way into your suitcase against better advise, look for a Pressing or Blachisserie and ask for a “nettoyage à sec” (TIP: Before forking over for a dry cleaning bill, the best way to get a red wine stain out of clothes is by pouring it’s friend white wine all over it, honest!)

2. Because the water in France is a lot “softer” than in the States, your hair and skin may not feel as clean even after washing. For this reason, it’s best not to bring your own products from home, but to buy products here that are specially adapted and produced according to the minerals in the water. You can go to any of the beauty supply stores and talk to a sales lady about it and they can direct you to a product that’s right for you.

3. For a truly interesting movie going experience in Paris, be sure to visit La Pagode. The manager of the store Bon Marché imported a real pagoda from Japan for his wife to use as a ballroom! Unfortunately they soon divorced, and it was turned into a movie theater that makes for a brilliant experience…be sure to ask for the salle japonaise. (57 rue de Babylone 75007)

4. When headed to the cinema, the matinees are always cheapest. But pay attention to the rules of each movie house, because in some this may be any film played before noon, but in others it may just be the first film of the day. Many theaters also have reduced ticket prices on Mondays and Wednesdays. (TIP: Be sure the film is in VO, version originale, played in English with subtitles and not dubbed over in French, VF!)

5. If you are studying abroad in Nice, be sure to visit one of the few internet cafés in the city, located at 8 Rue Vincent, just at the corner of Rue Pontin in the Old Town. They have wi-fi and cable TV, great food and snack, and Happy Hour for drinks starting at 5 pm. Plus it’s run by a lovely Englishman who has been living in Nice for over 15 years, and is a great resource on where to go and what to do in the city.

Kevin Browne studied in Strassbourg, France while attending Holy Cross College. Kevin is the founder of TravelGuy! http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/travelguy which shares intricate local French knowledge with students looking to study abroad in France in the hopes that they will fully take advantage of their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.