Louisville Montpellier Cultural Exchange

France has an infamously long list of emergency numbers for different services but there is a pan-European emergency number that can also be called for any type of emergency.  When you call the pan-European number, the operator will direct you to the appropriate French department.  They have interpreters as well. Pan-European emergency number:  112 Ambulance and emergency services (SAMU):  15 Fire Department ( les sapeurs pompiers ):  18 Police ( Police Nationale, Gendarmerie Nationale ):  17 The French government has launched an app to alert users about natural disasters and terrorist attacks in France.  You can download the app to your smartphone.  The app is called  SAIP  for S ystème d'alerte et d'information des populations. This information was gathered from  Expatica

The French are known for their etiquette and love of la politesse .  Below are a few things to remember while staying in France, which may be very different from what you're used to in the US! Note:   Do not get grumpy if the meal is taking too long.  Americans are used to eating a quick meal, even when at a restaurant, but the French consider a meal a pleasant luxury to be enjoyed.  Take your time and remember - you are having an amazingly delicious meal in the south of France! Eating at Someone's House Bring a gift for the host such as a bottle of wine (French, of course), chocolates, or a small plant or flowers. Arrive 15 minutes late, which gives the host time to finish preparing.  If you'll be later than that, call or text. When toasting, always look your toasting partner in the eyes and never cross arms with someone. Do not start eating until your host says, " Bon appétit! ". Keep your hands on the table at all times. Always use the fork...

While you are in Montpellier, you will meet new people and greet some you've already met.  Here's how to not look like a fish out of water. General Rules Say " Bonjour ."  When you enter a shop, say " bonjour " to the shopkeeper.  In the morning, greet your co-workers with a cheerful " bonjour " as well. Say " merci " and " s'il vous plaît ".  Use these terms liberally because really, you can't use them too often in France.   Use titles.  Always address people as Monsieur, Madame , or Mademoiselle unless invited to call them by their first name.  Madame is generally used for women over 18 years old and Mademoiselle for a minor.  The exception is with female servers in a restaurant, who should be addressed as Mademoiselle .   Faire la Bise The famous cheek-to-cheek kisses are done with friends and family, almost never with someone you've just met, although they may be done when meeting frie...

At some point during your stay, you'll have to do laundry.  Most likely several times.  How and where? At the Dorms There is a laundry room on-site at Les Arceaux.  There are a limited number of washers and dryers available to everyone.  The good news is, most of the regular students will be on summer break and not on campus, so there will be a better chance of being able to run a load or two. Be mindful not to leave your wet or dry clothes in a machine for an extended period of time.  Your fellow students will be thankful that you aren't hogging the machines.  Each machine (wash and dry) typically takes about an hour each to complete.   You'll need to pay for the usage of the machines as well as detergent and fabric softener.  You can purchase the soaps in the laundry room or buy your own.  Plan on doing at least 4-6 loads while you're there, possibly more if you have beach towels or don't bring too many clothes.  The mach...

You may have some questions about what your dorm room will be like while in Montpellier.  This list of Things To Buy  when you get to Montpellier has more information.  This checklist of  Things To Bring  has some great information too. The rooms are private, single-occupant rooms with a private bathroom.  Scroll to the end for some pictures of a dorm room from previous years.  You will be provided some things, but you will probably want to purchase or bring a few things as well. You will be provided 2 handtowels (we suggest using them as your bathmat).  You will want to bring or buy a bath towel or two as well as washcloths or poufs. You'll have fitted and flat sheets on your bed as well as a bolster pillow with pillowcase.  The pillow is small and flat, so you may want to buy a pillow and pillowcase when you arrive. There is no air conditioning in the dorm rooms so most students buy or borrow a fan or two for their stay...

It is important to know that most stores and some restaurants are closed on Sundays.  You will be able to find some things open in the tourist areas, such as at la Place de la comédie, but they may have shorter hours.  Most, if not all, places around Les Arceaux are closed on Sunday.  You'll need to plan ahead if you are going to stay in your dorm for the day because you'll need to have food for Sunday meals. Some tourist attractions are open on Sundays.  But all in all, Sunday is a perfect time to stroll through the streets, go to a park, or head to public monuments such as the Promenade de Peyrou.

In Montpellier, you can't run to Target or Kroger to pick up a loaf of bread or a bottle opener.  So, where can you shop while you're here? Casino - this is sort of like a Wal-Mart; you can get most/all things here Darty - electronics, appliances, (last resort to find a fan for your room) Carrefour - groceries, miscellaneous household items SPAR - groceries, miscellaneous household items Marché - farmer's market for fresh produce, meats, cheeses, breads, and even clothes From Les Arceaux: The closest grocery store is a small one called SPAR.  If you exit Les Arceaux dorms on Avenue de Lodeve (the same street as Tram Line 3) and walk down the hill, it will be on your left.  You can walk back up the hill, or walk just a bit further down the street past SPAR to the Tram stop La Cabane and take it up the hill to the Les Arceaux stop.  This is a handy trick if you have heavy shopping bags! The marché is on the other side of the dorm...

When you first arrive in Montpellier, it will most likely be at the train station.  Or you may have opted to fly into the airport.  When you arrive in Montpellier at the train station, named Gare Saint-Roch, your host family may or may not meet you there. From Gare Saint-Roch to Dorms via Tram If you are on your own to get to the dorms, the exits within the train station can be a bit confusing.  To get to the tram, you will need to take an escalator down at the sortie Centre-ville / rue Jules Ferry .  When you exit the station, this is your view: The middle (straight ahead) has a little park.  There are streets, including tramlines, on either side of the V-shaped park in the center.  The street on the left of the garden will have the tram line 3 , which will take you directly to the dorms. You won't have a tram pass yet (you'll get that on Monday morning, at the Maison des Relations Internationales), so you'll have to buy one.  At the tram...

When you are ready to get your dorm room, you will need to first stop at the front desk to check-in and get your key.  They may also give you a checklist to go through to note any pre-existing issues in your room so you won't be held responsible for them after your stay.  You'll need to turn this in within a couple of days of your arrival. When you check-in, ask when you need to pay for your room.  You pay per day so if you arrange to arrive early and/or stay late, you will have additional days on your bill.  You can pay for your room with a credit card for ease. During the last week of your stay, head to the front desk to make an appointment for someone to do a once-over of your room on the day you leave.  Before your appointment, clean your room by wiping down the sink and removing any spots from the floor.  Don't forget the fridge!  They can be picky about it so make sure your room is propre so that you don't get charged for additional cl...