Living in Aix-en-Provence

Before you go Overview

Budgeting

Contacting the IP Office

Contacting Aix

Housing Research

Packing

Traveling Information

Passports

Visas

Budgeting

Keeping a Watchful Eye on Your Money

  The IP Program will give you a paper with the amount of money it will cost for the year. This is only an estimate and it is only for the student.  Your cost will also be based on the price of the euro.  Each day you can check the exchange rate on www.oanda.com/convert/classic. 

  The euro can change drastically during the year so be prepared.  While I was living in Aix, it fluxuated between $1.09 and $1.35.  At its highest point, we were really taking a hit to the pocketbook.  For example, if I went to the teller to take out 300 euros, I was really taking out almost $400 American.

  It is best to think about what you spend on each child (school supplies, clothes, furniture, food and extra curricular activities) while you are here living in The States.  You will have those same expenses in France, but the cost will be some what higher due to the strong euro and because goods and services tend to be higher over there.

Contacting the IP Office

Contacting the IP Office in Long Beach

  The IP Program will send you all the information you need for your stay in France. This information is only for the student and not for your dependents.

  You must let the IP Program know you will be taking your dependents with you. IP will send you the paper work required for obtaining and paying for your dependents’ insurance. Fill out all forms and send them back to the IP Office in Long Beach with a check. The amount will vary depending on how many dependents will be going with you. The amount is a one time payment and your family will be covered for one school year in France (ie, the day you arrive in France until your last day of classes).   This paper work must be complete before your dependents can get a visa. The insurance papers must be brought with you to the French Consulate in order for your dependents to receive their visas.

Staying in France a Second Year

  If you choose to stay in France to study for a second year, you will need to fill out new forms. During this time, if you choose to remain in France during the summer, you will not be insured. Your insurance for the next year will start the first day the new IP students arrive.   You might want to check into getting travel insurance or overseas insurance that will cover you and your family for those summer months.

  It is also important to know that the budgeted amount the program tells you to pay is only for you and NOT your dependents. You must pay their insurance and all other expenses incurred over the school year out of pocket.

Contacting Aix

Contacting the IP Office in Aix

  You might want to contact the IP Office in Aix-en-Provence.  Every one or two years there is a new director, but the assistant director is always the same person. Her name is Sophie Bussenius.  Let her know you will be coming with your dependants and she can help with finding an apartment. (I have listed some places to stay in the Housing Research section.) She is very friendly and helpful and can make some phone calls for you if your French is not so good. 

The office is located at:
5, rue du Quatre Septembre
13100 Aix-en-Provence
The telephone number is:  442. 26.73.52
There is also a fax number: 442.38. 34. 57   Email: csu@univ-aix.fr

  The office is open August-June. The hours are usually 10am-5pm but with the budget cuts this might change.  They have a small library, a table for relaxing and having a bite to eat and English newspapers.  You are allowed to send a fax, free of charge, if it is for school business. Your school mailbox is located in the office behind the door.

  This is how IP keeps in touch with you through out the year. During the year, if problems arise or you just need a little help with something, Sophie is always willing to help. She has lived in Aix her whole life and can basically answer all your questions.  Use this office as much as possible. They are there for help and support and are a valuable resource.

  When you stop by for the first time, tell Sophie that Ashley says "Hello".

Housing Research

Finding the Right Place to Live

  One important thing about housing is to do some research before leaving.  All IP students live in the dorms provided for the first two weeks after arrival.  It is important to know that these dorms are for students only, NO dependants allowed.  This means you will need to arrange a place to stay before you leave The States. 

  The best contact is Sophie.  She works in the IP office in Aix-en-Provence.  Every year there are a few apartments for rent which can hold up to six accommodations.  Call her starting in August since the office is closed the month of July.  The apartments are usually the same ones rented each year.

Apartment in Town

  I know of three places off hand you can try. The first one is a large family owned house in the center of town. The first year I lived in France, I lived here with my two girlfriends.   The house has been converted into apartments. They are owned by Monsieur and Madame Faillard.  The family is use to having children around and there is a very small garden in the front.  Madam and her husband and children live on the first floor (the second floor for us Americans).  Most of the apartments are for 1 or 2 people, but she does have 3 apartments that will work for a family of 4.  She is an artist and gives art lessons throughout the week. She has a studio on the ground floor where she does expositions.

  Her oldest daughter lives in an apartment on the second floor (third for us Americans again).  She has a theatre group for adults and children. Rehearsals are held in the studio. The address for this house is:

4 Traverse Notre Dame
13100 Aix-en-Provence
The telephone number is:
442.23.09.04 and cell is 611.22.80.12
She also has email: Monique.faillard@wanadoo.fr

  You might want to write to her ahead of time and reserve a place.  They are well kept, but are more on the expensive side due to the fact that the location is in the town center.  She speaks only a few words of English so you might need someone to help with the letter.  Sophie knows her too and she will be able to help with the details.  The husband’s name is Dominique and he speaks English very well and so do their 4 children.

  It is mainly Madame that you will be doing business with.  She is very motherly and if you are lucky she will invite you over for dinner and holidays.  This is very good for your French and she is a wealth of information.  She is always willing to help if you are having trouble getting around.

Large Apartment Just Outside the Center of Town

  During my second year in France, my husband and I and our 4 children stayed in an apartment on the outskirts of town.  The agent’s name for this apartment is Monsieur Roux.  He also works with our program and Sophie knows him.  His office is located in the center of town but the apartment is at the north end and located in a giant complex.

  It is very peaceful and there is a large garden in the back and a small park just one block over.  The apartment is located on the third floor (4th) and is three bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 watercloset, a living room, and kitchen.  There is a washing machine in the apartment but no dryer.  The French don’t use dryers like we Americans do.  It also has two small balconies. One is a view out the front of the complex and you can see St. Victoire, the famous mountain that Cezanne painted. The other balcony gives you a lovely view of the garden.

The concierge (the family that takes care of the complex) lives on the ground floor and around the backside of the complex in building A2.  Their names are Freddy and Odile Gunther.  The have two boys Eddy and Bastian.  During the year we lived there, we became really good friends with this family.  This is always a plus. Odile was an immense help with French and she was always helping me with work that I didn’t understand.  In just a few months of meeting her, she was inviting me over and we would have coffee and speak French.  This did wonders for me in learning the language as she speaks no English.  Her son Bastian is the same age as my son and the two were soon inseparable.  Needless to say my son’s French really got good that year. They are a very kind family and are a great resource if you are living in this complex.

The address for the apartment is:
30 Avenue Alfred Capus
Batiment D-2
Les Balcons D’Entrement
13090 Aix-en-Provence

Monsier Roux’s agency is located at:
26 rue Aumone Vieille
13100 Aix-en-Provence
His telephone number is:  442.26.26.57 and his cell is: 670.51.67.02

  He speaks no English so it might be better to contact Sophie and she can help you with the arrangements. When I lived there we paid 1000 euros a month and the apartment is 1000 square feet.

Pharmacy, Bakery and Small Store Close By

    Across the main street there is a pharmacy, a newspaper store and a bakery.  The man who owns the newspaper store is very friendly.  He and his wife have twins and he loves to just shoot the breeze.  He also sells nickel and dime candy and the highlight of my children’s Saturday afternoon was to take their allowance and run over to “The Press”.  There are all kinds of magazines and newspapers to choose from as well as a small selection of cards.  He will also make quick copies for you and send a fax.  The faxing is expensive, though, so try to go into town if you have time.  Use his fax only in an extreme emergency.  The same goes for the copies. Go to him for maybe one or two if it is an emergency. As with all stores, he is not open on Sundays.

Taking the Bus Into Town from the Apartment

  To get into town you just have to go straight out the complex and veer up to the main street. The number 13 bus stops there and will take you directly into the center of town. The drop off is in front of the Office of Tourism and the famous “Rotonde”. You can also walk into town.  This is what I did most of the time to get to class or into town.  It takes about 30 minutes but is a nice walk and great exercise!

House With a Yard for Rent

  The next place I know of is a small house in town.  It is owned by a veterinarian. His name is Dr. Brackman.  I personally did not live in the house but a good friend of mine did.  The house has a yard and it has two bedrooms and 1 bathroom with a living room and a kitchen.  There is a small 1 room house also on the property, but it is usually occupied by a French student.     It is in a good location with proximity to town.  Just outside the gate is the stop for the number 15 bus and the number 2 bus.

Packing

What to Bring

  You will want to make sure that you have a few summer outfits to get you through the last half of August and all of September. After these two months it starts to get really cold.  You will want to have plenty of sweaters and long pants. Once it gets cold in France, it pretty much stays that way until April or May. 

  Do not listen to what anyone tells you when it comes to the winters in France. Even though Aix is by the Mediterranean, it gets unbelievably cold in the winter, sometimes as low as -7C.  Though it doesn’t really snow in Aix (2 times in the two years I lived there), it does have a freezing wind called the Mistral. Generally, it blows in 3, 6, and 9 day increments. This wind will drop the temperature a few degrees in a few seconds. I didn’t believe it until I lived there and watched everyone become sudden statues as it picked up.  Bundle up good if you look outside and the wind is blowing!

Buy Your Winter Items When You Are In Aix

  You will probably want to buy your heavy jackets when you get there. Make sure that you invest in scarves, gloves and hats. You will be wearing them every time you leave the house.  The key to staying warm is layers.

  Try to bring only those things you can’t live without.  Don’t buy a lot of your kids’ winter clothing in the states and pack it.  It will make your luggage too heavy and chances are you might not pack what is needed. We Californians don’t know how to dress for a real winter! Buy most of their clothes after you arrive. 

  There are some good and inexpensive places around (look under Shopping) and the clothes are better made there to suit the environment. They will also be in style with the other French kids!  Have the kids pack a few of their favorite toys and things. For my kids, they each got two suitcases.  One was for their clothes and the other was for their toys. They also were given a backpack for a carry-on which contained their lunches and what they wanted to do for amusement on the plane.

  If you use a hair dryer or iron, don't bother packing it.  Those items and other small electronics are easily found at the hypermarkets.  They are inexpensive and this way you don't have to ship them or buy the adapters.
    

Traveling Information

Traveling to Aix

  Once you arrive in France, there are many ways to get to Aix-en-Provence.  If you bought tickets at the group rate and are making the trip with the other IP students, then the program will have a bus waiting for you and will drop you at the dorms.

Taking the Train

  If you choose to fly with your family separate, you have several choices.  You can fly into Paris and then take the TGV to either Aix or Marseille.  The web site to buy your tickets is www.voyages-sncf.com Once there, scroll down to the bottom of the home page and click on the British flag.  The site will then be in English. This site is not only for the TGV but for all other trains and means of travel.

  There is also a passenger guide. (See Trains) This is useful if you will be traveling throughout France. Kids love this option because the TGV is very comfortable and you will get to see the French country side if you arrive early enough from the states. Tickets will vary in price depending on the day and the time of day. The trip takes between 3 and 4 hours. I recommend arriving at the Aix TGV station.  It is brand new and very nice.  It is not in the center of town, however, there is a bus that will take you to the bus station that is located in the center of town. 

  If you choose to arrive in Marseille, you will need to catch another train that will take you to the Aix station which is in the center of town. This is not a TGV train and it does make stops in each town along the way. The trip on this train takes about 30-40 minutes.  There is also a bus from Marseille to Aix, but I do not recommend it on your arrival trip.  It is outside the station and you would have to walk about 10 minutes with all of your luggage.  Even though France is a very safe country, Marseille is not one of the safest areas. Stay cautious at all times.

Planes

  Another option is to book a Paris-Marseille connection flight.  If you have really small children this is the best way to go simply because there is less steps involved and you can buy the tickets ahead of time.  When landing at the Marseille airport, which technically is outside Marseille, you will either need to take the bus into Aix or take a taxi.  Both are conveniently located just outside the airport entrance.

Taxis or Bus

  If you decided to take a taxi it will probably run about 50-60 euros. Keep in mind that the French have smaller cars than us.  If you number more than 4, you will probably need two taxis.  They do have mini vans but with a lot of people plus luggage it still might take two. This is worth the price, though, since they will drop you at your door.

  The taxi service I always used was TAXIS RADIO AIX-EN-PROVENCE.  Their web site is www.aix-en-provence.com/taxisaixois. It is in English and French. The bus is cheaper but make sure that you board the one that says Aix-en-Provence.  Let the driver know that you are going to the center of town and sit as close to the front as possible. The driver will let you know when to get off. You will then have to walk to your place.

Know Where Your Apartment is Located Before You Leave the States

  Make sure you know where you are staying (try mapquest) before you chose which type of transportation you want. If you are living close to the bus station then at five euros a person, the bus makes sense. If, however, you are in the middle or the other side of town, take the taxi.  The money you spend will be well worth it.  There is also a taxi service at the train stations.

Passports

How to Get a Passport

  If you and/or your children do not already have a passport, you will need to obtain one before going to the French Consulate for your visas.  Do this a few months in advance as it can take some time for you to obtain your visas once the paper work has been done.

  Passport pictures are easily obtainable. You can take them at Costco, One Hour Photo Shops, Kinkos FedEx, and independent mail stores.  A great site that will walk you through the steps of getting passports is www.itseasypassport.com.  At this site, click on the link that says passport and it will guide you through all the steps that you need.

Traveling With Children Under 14 Years Old

   The above site had all the forms you need to download and they will tell you the nearest office to go to for signature verification. Just a note, if your child is under the age of 14, both parents must be present in order for the child to receive a passport. If that is not possible, there is a consent form that the absent parent must sign. This form and all the information about it is also available on this site. Just click on the link that says New Child Passport.

  I recommend getting all forms and information through this site and then going to the post office nearest you that has a passport service center. The U.S.government charges around $120 to process your passport. The fees on this web site are in addition.  Use them if you are running out of time to get your passport.

  The applications for getting a passport can also be found at your local post office or on their web site www.usps.com/passport. If you apply early enough, you can get your signature verification at the post office. It will be cheaper that way. Before heading there make sure of the days and hours that the service is available and at what post offices, since not all of them provide this service. They usually have specified days and hours for issuing passports.  In any case, read both sites and then choose the one which best serves you.

Visas

Getting a Visa

  Once you have obtained your passports you can now go to the French Consulate to get your visas. Their web site is www.consulfrance-losangeles.org or www.consulfrance-sanfrancisco.org.

  Once there, click on the button at the top that gives you the site in English. Then click on the link for Visas in France. These sites will tell you which consulate you need to go to depending on where you live.

  You can download all forms from here also. You will need the form that is for long term visas for students over 18 years of age. The forms for your spouse and children are the same. Please copy and read CAREFULLY the instructions for student visa requirements for U.S.citizens over 18. They will ask for all the information in those instructions so make sure you have done everything that is asked. Your spouse and children will be able to obtain a visa easily because they are going with you. Please note days and times for getting a visa and arrive as early as possible. The lines can be quite long! Most likely it will take several hours, so be prepared!

  Also, be sure to have photocopies of EVERYTHING. Make about 5 copies of each document that you have. This can be costly, time consuming and make for a lot of paper work to carry around, but the result of not having it is worse. If you don’t have enough copies they will make you get out of line and go make them. When you return, you are again at the back of the line and by then they might close on you and you will have to come back another day.  Bring everyone with you who is going to be traveling to France. Security has been tightened and they are very cautious.

Proof of Funds

  You will also need to show proof of income, sufficient savings, or a letter of financial responsibility which has been notarized by a family member residing in the United States.  For proof of income the consulate will want copies of your last 3 months banking statement or savings statements. If you do not have either one, they will accept a NOTERIZED letter of financial responsibility from a family member. This lets the French government know that if you run out of money during your stay, the person who signed the letter will send you some when needed.