Summer in France
What Should I Bring?
Passport and ID's
You will of course need a current passport, and you must carry it with you at all times (however unlikely it is that you will ever be stopped by the police, if you do not have your passport on you, this could land you in enormous trouble). You should also have another form of identification, and I STRONGLY recommend the International Student Identification Card (ISIC), available at Council Travel outlets. Not only are these cards inexpensive and handy, but they also provide insurance that the Institut requires and would otherwise charge. In addition, you will need to provide me with three ID-sized photos well in advance of my departure. Two are required by the Institut (one for their files, one for your Institut de Touraine student card) and the third is for your Tours bus pass. Clothing Summer weather in France is extremely unpredictable, so you should pack accordingly. The summer of 1999 was marked by record heat, with temperatures way up into the 30's and 40's (90's and 100's F). The summer of 2000, on the other hand, was one of record cold, with rain nearly every day (though usually spotty) and temps in the mid-teens (low 60's F). Make sure that you are prepared for either of these eventualities by packing clothes that you can layer, including at least one warm sweater, and also a light raincoat. I recommend long pants or jeans for both men and women (Europeans tend to wear shorts only when exercising), and skirts for women as well. There will almost certainly be the opportunity to dress more formally with the program, and potentially with your host family, too, so I would bring at least one dressier outfit. Don't' forget to bring an umbrella that you could carry with you every day if necessary!
Cash
I have found that the most convenient and inexpensive way to get money abroad is through a debit card that can access your bank account via ATM machines, which exist all over France. The advantages of the debit card over travelers' cheques are that (1) only very minimal fees, if any, may be charged, and (2) you do not have to have ALL of your money tied up before you go. The disadvantage of the debit card is that there is a chance that your home bank will not recognize or honor the transaction. (This happened to me in 1999. I opened an account at Commerce Bank to get a debit Visa card specifically for the purpose of getting cash at ATMs in Europe. It worked just fine the first time, and then never again at ATMs—I had to go into the bank to draw cash. This was not more expensive, just inconvenient, and rather maddening. Fortunately, I had a back-up debit card with me which worked perfectly every time. It was my parents' card, but my withdrawals in Europe were clearly marked on their statements, so I just kept sending them checks. The following year I just used my ESU Credit Union Honor Card—a plus system card—and it worked like a dream.)
Credit
The most convenient way by far to pay for things in France is with a credit (or debit) card. Plastic is accepted almost everywhere, and credit card companies consistently give the best exchange rate. School Supplies I would recommend a small French-English dictionary that you can carry with you for emergencies, although I suggest that you use it is infrequently as possible.The Institut will provide workbooks that include all of your classroom activities. If you feel you need to take a notebook and folder to class with you, I suggest buying these in France—French school supplies are of excellent quality, and European paper (A4) does not fit into American 8 1/2x11" folders.
For your Seminar in French Culture, you will need a large notebook in which to record your cultural observations every day. In addition, you will need some place to record notes on the Princesse de Clèves and other readings/discussions.
Required texts: Madame de Lafayette, La Princesse de Clèves , Livres de Poche edition. You may purchase this on-line before you go if you want to get a head start on your reading. It is also available in France at any bookstore.
Michelin Guide Vert 10: Les Châteaux de la Loire . Available on-line and at Borders in Kansas City in English, available in French and many other languages almost everywhere around Tours.
Gift for Host Family
In France it is considered impolite to go to someone's home without a token gift—when invited for dinner, guests will bring wine, flowers, or something from the pâtissier. Since you will essentially be a guest, you will need to bring with a small gift for your family, preferably something that "says" where you are from, literally or figuratively. A pretty picture book from your hometown, if not too expensive, would be ideal. You do not need to spend over $15 for this gift.
Prescription Drugs
If you have prescription drugs that you require or feel you might need while abroad, please take enough to last the entire trip, as it is nearly impossible to get a prescription refilled in France. I also recommend that you carry this in your carry-on bag for the flight over. While the chances are slim that your bags will get lost, we do not want to take the chance that you will be without needed medicines for any period of time.
Glasses or Contacts
If you wear glasses or contacts, it would be smart to bring along an extra pair or at least your current subscription, just in case. Also, contact-wearers should bring as much saline, cleaning, soaking solutions as they will require for your stay. American products are not always available in France.
Toiletries
If you have a favorite soap, shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, etc. that you simply cannot live without, be sure to bring enough with you for the month, as the products you can buy here are not always as available in France as in other European countries such as Spain.
Transformers and Converters
If you plan to bring any electronic device that must be plugged in, please be aware that French outlets are shaped differently from American ones, and American plugs will not fit them without a converter (available at Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) IMPORTANT: Changing the plug does not change the voltage! If your shaver or hair dryer does not have a switch that changes it from 110V to 220V when you arrive in France, your machine will immediately fry itself unless you attach a transformer. P.S.: This is not the best way to get into the good graces of your new host family.
Camera and Film
Make sure to bring plenty of film with you when you come to France. Film is readily available, of course, but it is more expensive (even with a favorable exchange rate) than in the States. Film is light and takes up little room in a suitcase, and students as a rule take many more pictures than they anticipate—averaging about 10 per day!—so come prepared. Also, film processing in France is incredibly expensive, so please hold on to your rolls until you return home. How do I know if I have over-packed? You will be the one carrying your bags this summer, so make sure that you do not pack more than you can carry. You should also be aware that you will invariably have more to carry on the way home than on the way there. An old trick to knowing if you've packed too much is to pack EVERYTHING you plan on taking, including your carry-on luggage, a day or two before your departure. Take all of that luggage outside, and carry it around the perimeter of your house or apartment building twice, and then come back in and remove what suddenly appears inessential!
Send Questions to Elizabeth Locey, Program Director