Advice:
o come early to acquaint yourself with the city b/c you’re going to be
busy with forms and setting everything up once school starts. Also
it gives you a chance to set up your place and buy all those
essentials
o
in France it goes: day/month/year
o “lu et approuvé” means “read and approved” and you may be
required to write it before your signature on some forms.
o Show your student card everywhere because they give discounts
for students. Especially in Chambéry, there’s usually a normal rate
and then a student rate for everything.
o Buy an international student card before you come to France
because you won’t get the one from your university right away, but
you need a student card for almost everything (bank, phone, etc),
as well as all those deals. At McMaster you can buy it at Travelcuts.
o Never be afraid to ask questions or ask anyone to repeat anything.
The most important thing is that you’re clear. People in Chambéry
were very helpful, especially with directions, they might even say
“follow me and I’ll show you”
o Speak French from the get go. It’s hard at first and intimidating, but
it WILL GET EASIER and people are much more receptive to you
because you are at least attempting to speak French.
o Scotiabank and BNP Paribas have an agreement that you can take
money from their machines free of charge, but transfers do cost
money.
o Grocery Shopping If you buy from the little shops, the “boulangerie,
épicerie, boucherie, etc” it will cost more than at a bigger grocery
store. The good ones in Chambéry are Monoprix, Leclerc and
Carrefour (in order from the most expensive to the least). You can
buy everything there, food, wine, pots, pans, phones, etc.
o To use a payphone, you need a “télécarte” for “une cabine
téléphonique”
o The shopping is great! I wish I brought more toiletries and stuff like
that and less clothes just to give me an excuse to go shopping.
o Big sales all of January – it’s like boxing week all month long, and
almost everything is like half off!
o