From: betsys@cs.umb.edu (Elizabeth Schwartz)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.french,rec.travel,rec.travel.air
Subject: Re: HELP! PARIS INFO NEEDED!
Date: 16 Aug 92 07:09:36 GMT
Organization: University of Massachusetts at Boston

In article <Bssn96.A9A@news.udel.edu> davidc@brahms.udel.edu (David Casper) writes:

>Paris, France (or nearby).  I have a girlfriend of 3
>years who is leaving for France on September 3, 1992
>and I am very concerned for her safety...She intends
   First, calm down. Paris is a big city, but probably safer
than New York or Washington DC. My gut feeling after a month tour 
of Europe solo is that a lone woman can expect many more pickup
attempts and other approaches by strange men than you get here, but
that it is far safer to walk the streets. Try not to get lost at night
in a dark alley, but really, it's fairly safe.

>   DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY SAFE AND AFFORDABLE (FOR
>   A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE NOT-YET EMPLOYED) PLACE
>   TO LIVE IN OR NEAR PARIS, FRANCE?
   Try the youth hostels. There's a good list in Let's Go and they 
have weekly rates. Not luxurious but full of travelling students many 
of whom are job-hunting. Good source of gossip and local information.
    Also, remember that in Europe it is VERY COMMON for students to
spend six months or a year in another country, as it is cheap for
them. There are MILLIONS of students and backpackers floating around,
and a LOT of accomodation for them. It is much easier for a traveller
to get information and help than it is in the states. Every train
station has a change booth, tourist info, and in the big cities a
youth hostel/student travel info booth. 

>What can my girlfriend expect to pay for a modest (only
>safety and healthy-sanitary conditions are important,
>not luxury of any kind) one-room apartment with a
>bath or shower?  Are there any less expensive suburbs
>surrounding Paris?
   That is an unusual accomodation for Europe. It is MUCH MORE common
to have single rooms or studios with a shared bath in the hall.
Private baths are mostly luxury class. When in Europe, live as the
Europeans do. 

>125lbs.  Is this true?  What tips/advice are available
>for somehow bringing the correct belongings to survive
>for 6 months?  Is it too expensive for me to mail things
>to her once she has arrived (does the French government
>allow this?)?  How can my girlfriend avoid be taxed on
>possesions that she owned BEFORE arriving in France 

    Again, it is really not that big a deal. Dont' bring ANYTHING that
you wouldn't bring for a similar move within the states. And then
bring half of what you planned. Paris has department stores and
groceries and even your favorite American brands. The only thing I
noticed was that Europeans don't seem to wear the flourescent "beach
style" clothing that is popular here. Colors are a bit calmer. 
  Also, nobody is really interested in hassling students about their
stuff. Remember they see millions of students....Paris is, well, it's
Paris! World center of learning, hundreds of thousands of foreign
students in residence. Unless you have more than one of something, or
it is a brand new and VERY expensive object, they won't care. If your
GF is bringing diamonds, that might be another matter.
    The only thing I can think of that you might want to mail are
books, and maybe CD's or tapes. There are several big English
bookstores in Paris, but the prices ARE high. Ditto for music and for
newspapers. Maybe a university will have a library and a book swap...
I found myself craving English-language light reading, mysteries and
such, and paying full price for them was a shock. Also, if your friend
is planning to visit OTHER countries, there's a much bigger selection
of English travel information here in the States. With a six-month
visit she will definitely have time to travel around! It's only 2
hours to Brussels, maybe 5 to Amsterdam or Cologne, and overnight to
just-about-anywhere! 

Gosh I'm jealous. I loved Paris! Made me want to change careers just
to have an excuse to study there! 


PS:  mailing stuff out is expensive.... I found out the hard way that
sending one 3kg package costs MUCH more than two 2-kg packages.

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