Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012

1. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Important Documents • Passport • Birth certificate • 3 months overseas medical insurance • Academic records • Medical records (in case of a medical condition) • Address book • Photographs • Note: Leave an entire set of photocopies with your family.

2. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Budgeting • Living expenses: ~ 600 to 800 € /month • Student Loan • Accommodation • Health Insurance • Books & Supplies • Transport • Telephone • Postage • Personal Expenses • Recreation & Travel

3. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Packing • Airline Baggage Allowance • Packing list • Start early • Put clear and precise identification tags on your bags • Small items - airfreight / post • Shipping by sea is slow (less expensive) • Bilingual dictionary • Music • Food • Camera • Essential Medicines • Souvenirs

4. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Arrival in France • Send OFII form to the local office • Report to University/Institution for registration formalities (Inscription administrative/ Inscription Pedagogique) • Open a Bank Account • Buy a social security + insurance cover • Called “Mutuelle Etudiante” • Must for Indian Students under 28 yrs of age • Limited percentage (basic cover) provided by government – “Carte Vitale” • Choice of several service providers for the rest: • LMDE, SMEREP MEP, MGEL, SMEBA, SMECO, SMENO, SMERAG, • SMEREB, SMERRA, VITTAVI • Cost €200/year (approx.) • Can apply for housing aid: • Called “Aide Personnalisée au Logement” (APL) • Managed by Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) • (www.caf.fr ≈ 30% of rent paid by the State)

5. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • General Information: • Small businesses are open daily, except Sunday and sometimes Monday. Hours 9:00 am ~ 7:00 pm, Midday break 1:00 pm ~ 2:00 pm • Banks 9:00am ~ 1:00 pm & 2:00pm ~ 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday or Tuesday to Saturday. Exchange services may end 30 minutes before closing time. • Post Office 8:00am ~ 7:00pm (weekdays) , 9:00am ~ noon (Saturday) • SupermarketsMonday ~ Saturday, 9:00am ~ 8:00pm • Small food shops are mostly closed on Sunday and often Monday too, so Saturday afternoon may be your last chance to stock up on certain types of food (eg. cheese) until Tuesday. • Restaurants keep the most convoluted hours of any business in Paris, so you'll need to investigate each one separately. • Museums are closed one day a week: usually Monday or Tuesday. Some museums have a weekly nocturne in which they remain open until as late as 10pm one night a week • The Louvre (Wednesday and Friday) and the Musée d’Orsay (Thursday). • All museums are free the 1st Sunday of every month

6. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Holidays in France: • The French enjoy 11 national holidays annually • Bastille Day (July 14th) • Armistice Day (November 11) • Labor Day (May 1) • Every French citizen is entitled to 5 weeks of vacation Bastille Day

7. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Indian in France – International Lifestyle • Culture Shock – difference of habits • Religious perception: private matter, no public display • Affection: public display • Success in 3 points: • Observe, listen, analyze • Experiment • Be open, don’t judge

8. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • At the University • Regular attendance to courses • Be active, reactive, proactive: with professors or other students • Be autonomous • Learn, read, search, be open to new methodology Organize your timetable • Time for studies, for yourself, for your friend(s) • Use methodology prescribed • No « Google essay » (copy-paste) • Study with French friends • Different marking schemes and evaluations by French universities. Take time to understand – don’t panic ! To Analyze is the key to success in France, • to learn by heart is useless!

9. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Useful Websites and Contacts • Campus France , New Delhi • Alliance Française de Delhi • 72, Lodhi Estate, Lodhi Road, New Delhi • Tel: +91 11 43048128 • Email: • newdelhi@india-campusfrance.org • registration@india-campusfrance.org • Embassy of France in India • 2/50 E, Shantipath, Chankyapuri, New Delhi • www.india. campusfrance.org • www.france-in-india.org

10. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Embassy of India in France 15, Rue Alfred Dehodencq 75016 – Paris Tel. : +33 1 40 50 70 70 Fax : +33 1 40 50 09 96 After arrival, please mail your name, Institution and contact details to: educ.techwing@wanadoo.fr http://www.ambinde.fr/

11. Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 • Make a Successful Stay! • Be POSITIVE • Study, Travel, • Network • Be receptive • Be independent. • BON SEJOUR!