Follow the jump links to learn more about France:
Lifestyle and Family Living
Teen Life
Dress and Appearance
Diet and Meals
Educational System
Geography and Climate
Population
Language
Government
Religion
Spending Money
Safety and Support
Fun Facts
Lifestyle and Family Living
The French are extremely proud of their language, culture, heritage and nation but they like to learn about other countries too. Expect a lot of questions about the history, customs and government of your country.
French people like to laugh and joke with everybody; they may make fun of the way foreigners speak French or of customs that are unfamiliar to them. They do not mean to be unkind, it is just part of their culture.
Traditionally, the wife cares for the children and manages the household, while the husband is more occupied with work outside the home. Immediate family is the most important element of French society. The father is the authority figure and is treated with great respect. Most AFSers are placed in rural areas where this traditional family structure is likely to exist.
Children are required to observe the rules of the household, to help with household chores (even if not directly asked to) and to participate in their family’s leisure activities.
Showing feelings, expressing satisfaction and gratitude are customary in France.
AFSers should be aware that most French families have pets who spend at least part of the time in the house.
Host families in France, like all AFS host families worldwide, are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
Teen Life
Because schools place a heavy emphasis on academics, few extracurricular activities are offered during the week. However, limited sports and drama opportunities are available. Soccer and Rugby are popular.
French teens, like most teens, enjoy socializing by going to the movies or getting together at each other’s homes or in local cafés. You can also ask your host family or local volunteer about local community organizations. This is a great way to learn more about your community and make new friends.
Dress and Appearance
French teenagers usually follow fashion trends, and the clothing standard at school is casual.
For the winter months, you will need warm clothing such as a heavy jacket, sweaters and a raincoat.
For summer, bring lightweight casual clothes and a bathing suit. An umbrella will also be useful.
On special occasions, more formal dress is expected: for girls a dress or blouse and skirt; for boys a jacket, slacks and tie.
No uniform is required for school.
Diet and Meals
Food is very important to the French. They like to eat and drink, and when they are not eating, they enjoy talking about food! You should be ready to taste different varieties of cheeses as well as local specialties like foie gras, escargots de Bourgogne, crèpes and cassoulet.
In France, there are three main meals: breakfast is the smallest meal of the day and consists of coffee, tea or hot chocolate with toast, butter, marmalade and sometimes cereal. Lunch is usually between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
A very light meal, the goûter is very often available after school for children. It’s made of bread, butter, chocolate and juice.
Dinner is the most important meal. The whole family eats and socializes together, between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Lunch and dinner are warm meals and consist of three or four dishes served one after another: first course (soup or salad), main course (meat or fish and vegetables), cheese and/or dessert.
The French observe certain table manners such as not helping yourself before having been invited to do so, not leaving the table before the end of the meal and helping to clear the table and wash the dishes.
Educational System
School is probably the best place for you to meet people and make friends during your stay in France.
The course load in a French Lycée (high school) may be heavier than what you have been used to. Some courses, in particular math and science, are taught differently from presentations in other countries. The teacher-student relationship is quite formal.
The school day is from 8:15 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. and there is a half-day session on Saturdays. The school year is divided into seven-week terms separated by brief vacations in late October, mid-December, mid-February and mid-April.
Students are enrolled in either the Séconde (10th grade), Première (11th grade) or Terminale (final year), depending on their age, school background and knowledge of French. Students with a limited knowledge of French will likely be placed with younger classmates.
The Baccalauréat at the end of Première is an oral and written examination of one’s knowledge of the French language. The second part of the Baccalauréat, which covers other specific subjects studied during the year, is given at the end of Terminale. Students who speak fluent French can take the French part of the Baccalauréat or all the exams.
You may be able to obtain a transcript or certificate of attendance, but you must attend school and classes regularly, complete the course work, do the homework and sit for the tests given during the year. While you attend school, you will also receive a report card at the end of each quarter.
Geography and Climate
France is located in the center-west of Europe. It is bordered by Spain to the southwest and by Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east. It is slightly smaller than Texas.
In the Alps near the Italian and Swiss borders is one of Europe’s highest peaks, Mont Blanc. The Vosges Mountains, which are covered by forest, are in the northeast, and the Pyrénées are along the Spanish border. Except for extreme northern France, the country may be described as four river basins and a plateau.
France has a variable climate depending upon where you are. In the south, the climate is very hot and dry in the summer and cool in the winter. Northeastern areas have a more continental climate with warm summers and colder winters; the northwest is temperate but very humid due to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. In the mountains, the weather is much colder with snow for many months of the year. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year.
Population
The French number about 62 million. The population has diverse origins including Celts, Romans, Germans, Russians, Asians, Africans and North Americans.
Language
French is the official language but local languages are also spoken: Provencal, Breton, Catalan, Corsican, Occitan, Basque, Alsatian and Flemish.
Government
France is a Republic, with a parliamentary democracy and strong presidential power.
Religion
Eighty-three percent of the French population is Roman Catholic.
Spending Money
The euro is the local currency.
Your program and country information packet (provided in the months prior to your departure) will give you an idea of how much spending money is appropriate and whether you should arrive with any amount of the local currency in hand.
Host families pay only for ordinary family events in which you are expected to participate. When you do such things as shopping for yourself or going out with friends, the expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about $100-$300 per month.
Remember: never travel with large amounts of cash. Instead, bring travelers checks or follow the advice in the country and program information packet. Another option for obtaining money while overseas is to use a debit card linked to a checking account back home (but try not to use a debit card for daily purchases since there are ATM and currency exchange fees). Or, you can transfer money using wiring services such as Western Union.
You and your parents should determine a budget and preferred money transfer plan before you depart so that you are not caught without spending money while abroad.
Be conscientious of your spending since conspicuous consumption may not be viewed favorably and spending more than your peers and family may create a distance between you and them.
Safety and Support
AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging participants throughout the world for 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
AFS maintains a network of experienced staff and trained volunteers who provide support in each country. In the event of an emergency, 24-hour assistance is available to students, their parents, and the host families. Furthermore, your AFS tuition includes comprehensive medical insurance coverage to ensure that medical care is available to our participants anywhere in the world and at all times.
While we have the above support structures in place, we also encourage you to take responsibility for your own safety and we give you the guidance to do so. Many of the AFS orientation activities, both at home and abroad, are intended to give you the tools to stay safe. We also provide country-specific safety tips to each participant prior to departure.
Learn more about the AFS safety and support network.
Fun Facts
- Did you know that the Statue of Liberty, located in New York, was conceived, designed and cast in Paris?
