An American Spcnet-er in Paris

[pemberly]

I just wanted to let you guys know that I will be moving to Paris from Boston in about a month. Some of you know about my MBA journey, and it has taken me to France. I speak no French, and have never lived so independently before. Any advice would be appreciated. Especially advice on how to rent an apartment, get a cell phone, find dim sum, etc. in a country where you don't know the language at all.

[xJadedx]

You are such a lucky person! Paris is one of my favourite places in the world. It's a very cultured and historical city, but also now very modern and vibrant and fun.

I've heard both good and bad things about living there though. It's mostly because of the actual people there, who can be a bit snobby and may treat you differently if you don't speak any French. But then I've heard that it's not so bad.

I suggest just trying to pick up some basic French for daily usage. French itself is not that hard of a language to learn (the pronounciation can throw you offguard sometimes, but it's otherwise pretty straightforward).

Does your MBA program offer any insights? Do you know of others who have done the same? Maybe you can get in touch with them and see how they've done it.

[PJ]

Enjoy your new adventure

How long are you in Paris for?

[pannonian]

La Tour Eiffel? C'est par la.

[pemberly]

I suggest just trying to pick up some basic French for daily usage. French itself is not that hard of a language to learn (the pronounciation can throw you offguard sometimes, but it's otherwise pretty straightforward).

I want to, but I just don't have any time. I'm still working, and traveling to Chicago next week. The shortest classes I could find were month long ones.

Does your MBA program offer any insights? Do you know of others who have done the same? Maybe you can get in touch with them and see how they've done it.

as soon we start, they make us take french classes. which is great! hopefully, there will be other noobs like me so we can be nooby together.

Enjoy your new adventure

How long are you in Paris for?

The program is for 16 months, but I plan on doing an exchange in China. I'm looking at Tsinghua or Fudan, or maybe a school in HK. I haven't researched indepth yet, so this could totally change and I may go to NorthWestern or something.

La Tour Eiffel? C'est par la.

I'm at work so I can't watch this. I hope it shows french pastries!

[xJadedx]

Get a book and tape for basic lessons. Or see if you can buy beginner language learning books. Those are very helpful.

[jay_z]

No advice to offer. Good luck and enjoy the adventure. Oh, don't forget to keep journal/blog of your trip. It is fun to read it ten from now.

[Bangs]

Wow, all I can say is have fun and be safe!

[pemberly]

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. I'm now in my final week in the US. So far, I have no apartment, visa, or insurance. Hopefully all this will change in the next few days. Or I'm going to be in some deep doody.

Hopefully everything will work out, and in a year and a half, I'll be working at Hermes.

[Guo Xiang]

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. I'm now in my final week in the US. So far, I have no apartment, visa, or insurance. Hopefully all this will change in the next few days. Or I'm going to be in some deep doody.

Hopefully everything will work out, and in a year and a half, I'll be working at Hermes.

Good luck and have fun in Paris, Pembie!

[KeongJai]

good base for travelling all around europe.
That's my advice. - Travel all around europe during your time there. even if it's just weekend trips.

[pemberly]

good base for travelling all around europe.
That's my advice. - Travel all around europe during your time there. even if it's just weekend trips.

i have class on saturdays, and nothing is open on sundays. traveling will have to be reserved for long weekends. T_T

[pemberly]

in France now! woot!

Life here is ... different. There's a public transportation strike, so the buses and trains are hardly running. Everything is closed on Sunday. I give people blank stares when they speak to me in French. My apartment is a big empty room, and I sleep on an air mattress now. And the food is unfamiliar and will take some getting used to. And I know why french ppl are so thin. I bought ham in a pack of 4 SLICES and it cost me 2.50 euro. i was going to buy bananas until i saw how much they cost. so going out to eat is not so much more expensive.

oh, and i have an orientation weekend in the french alps this weekend. last weekend, i was walking around the eiffel tower and the petite palais.

[Guo Xiang]

in France now! woot!

Life here is ... different. There's a public transportation strike, so the buses and trains are hardly running. Everything is closed on Sunday. I give people blank stares when they speak to me in French. My apartment is a big empty room, and I sleep on an air mattress now. And the food is unfamiliar and will take some getting used to. And I know why french ppl are so thin. I bought ham in a pack of 4 SLICES and it cost me 2.50 euro. i was going to buy bananas until i saw how much they cost. so going out to eat is not so much more expensive.

oh, and i have an orientation weekend in the french alps this weekend. last weekend, i was walking around the eiffel tower and the petite palais.

Woot! Sounds like you had fun!

[ByTmE]

in France now! woot!

Life here is ... different. There's a public transportation strike, so the buses and trains are hardly running. Everything is closed on Sunday. I give people blank stares when they speak to me in French. My apartment is a big empty room, and I sleep on an air mattress now. And the food is unfamiliar and will take some getting used to. And I know why french ppl are so thin. I bought ham in a pack of 4 SLICES and it cost me 2.50 euro. i was going to buy bananas until i saw how much they cost. so going out to eat is not so much more expensive.

oh, and i have an orientation weekend in the french alps this weekend. last weekend, i was walking around the eiffel tower and the petite palais.

OMG....you're so cute. Well, I'm sure you'll get used to the food like you said. What's important is that you have a roof over your head LoL! Sounds like you're going to some exciting places. Keep us updated!

Oh yeah, have you noticed what the men look like there yet? I usually have to spend a couple of weeks in a country before I can start to tell them apart.

[pemberly]

the french guys are cute! tall and cute. which is important bc i'm 5'8" so it's hard to find guys taller than me, but the guys here all are. woot!

my closest friends here so far are french guys, haha. i found that very useful bc i can just go, translate this. what is this? how do i do that?

there are a bunch of chinese students here, and they pretty much stick to themselves. which is dumb bc 1) you're in an international school for a reason. mingle. and 2) why would you want to just group together with other ppl who don't know what the hell they're doing? dumb.

i had my first experience with a french keyboard yesterday. i was like, where the F is the m?!

[levendis d'orange]

Keep us posted of your wanderings in France, pembie.

[LuNaR]

the french guys are cute! tall and cute. which is important bc i'm 5'8" so it's hard to find guys taller than me, but the guys here all are. woot!

my closest friends here so far are french guys, haha. i found that very useful bc i can just go, translate this. what is this? how do i do that?

there are a bunch of chinese students here, and they pretty much stick to themselves. which is dumb bc 1) you're in an international school for a reason. mingle. and 2) why would you want to just group together with other ppl who don't know what the hell they're doing? dumb.

i had my first experience with a french keyboard yesterday. i was like, where the F is the m?!

5'8 isnt tall

[ByTmE]

5'8 isnt tall

Do you live with Amazonian women? LoL Pembie is 8 inches taller than I am..dats quite a long way up I'd have to look to talk to her in person!

[pannonian]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_des_Buttes_Chaumont