Facts and Figues

WORK WEEK

The official work week in France is 35 hours/week. Most institutions work from 9.00 to 12.30 and 2.00 to 6.00 pm. The lunch hour is a venerable French institution; few institutions are open between noon and 2.00 pm.

SCHOOL BREAKS

They occur approximately every two months. The most important are: All Saints Day (November 1st), Christmas holiday, Winter break (February), Spring break (April), summer holiday (July and August).

TRANSPORTATION

Large cities have underground transportation, known as the métro. It is the fastest and simplest way to commute. Paris has also a dense rail network, known as Réseau Express Régional (RER) that links the city with its suburbs. Buses and tramways provide also public transportation.

France’s dense rail network is operated by the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer (SNCF). The High-Speed train (TGV - Train à grande vitesse) competes with airlines for long-distance trips including London (UK).

MONEY AND BANKS

The French currency is the Euro (€), the unique currency adopted by the European Union members.

OPENING HOURS: Banks are normally open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm (5:00 pm at some branches). Some banks are open on Saturday mornings or all day Saturday, in which case they are closed on Monday.

OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT: If you are staying in France for more than three months, you are entitled to open a bank account.
If you are staying for less than three months, you may open an account at a Savings Bank (Caisse d'Épargne) or at the Post Office (La Poste). The Savings Banks have a large network of branches and there is a post office in most French communes.

TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT YOU NEED THE FOLLOWING:
- Valid passport
- Residency card (carte de séjour)
- Student card
- Proof of residency (rent, electricity/gas, telephone payment receipt)

Allow 2/3 weeks to receive a cheque book and/or a credit card
Notify immediately your bank if the check book and/or credit card are lost or stolen. Notify the Lost and Stolen office of the Banque de France if your bank is closed.

TELEPHONE

French telephone numbers consist of 10 digits. The first two are the code for the area in which your correspondent is located.

To make an international call FROM FRANCE to the Philippines, dial: 00 + 63 + area code or mobile phone code + your subscriber’s phone number.

Area codes:

2 - Manila
32 - Cebu
33 - Iloilo
34- Bacolod
62 - Zamboanga
74 - Baguio
88 - Cagayan de Oro
82 - Davao

Mobile Phone Codes:

916; 917; 915 - Globe / Touchmobile
918; 919; 920; 921 - Smart / Talk and Text
927 - Sun

To call France FROM ABROAD dial:
00+ France country code (33) + Area code in France (1 for Paris) + your subscriber’s phone number without the leading "0".

Cheap international phone calls – le décaler par rapport au Tel
Subscribe to a call back service or by a pre-paid calling card (télécarte). They can be found in post offices, cafés with tabacs, railroad stations, and metro stations in some cities.

HEALTH SERVICES

MEDICAL INSURANCE: All French students under 28 years of age who are registered in a French academic institution can be medically insured through the National Health Plan (Sécurité Sociale). An international student can opt to subscribe to the French medical plan. Select physicians that participate in the National Health Plan. You can subscribe to Student insurance companies to get complementary help insurance and to be reimbursed up to 100 % of medical expenses. Students 28 years and older are responsible for their own medical plan.

EMERGENCY SERVICES: Consult the daily local newspapers and check for physicians and pharmacies on call.

THE CITY HALL - MAIRIE

The city hall is an important centre providing you with information about local government agencies, social services, job offers available, certified translation service, recreational facilities, etc.

FRENCH CONVIVIALITY

The French have always had a love affair with food and fine cuisine. Meals are prepared carefully and enjoyed leisurely, usually accompanied by different wines. Animated discussions, generally on political topics, are also part of gatherings.
Cream and butter, cheese and wine are the inseparable companions to a typical French meal. 400 different kinds of cheese are made in France and the consumption of red wines confirm the medical opinion saying that red wine is good for your health.

THE FRENCH ARTISTIC TOUCH

International festivals of music, theatre, and movies are available in any major city of France or in the country. The movie theatre is a French invention due to the Lumière brothers. Museums and historical sites attract millions of people from around the world. Louvre, Versailles and the Musée d’Orsay alone receive around 15 million people each year.
There is certainly no shortage of leisure and cultural pursuits in France, as well as in Europe, given the proximity of other European countries.
Students have discounts for theatre performances, movies, museums, travel, and accommodations.

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