Marist-Mod’Spe: “Goodbye letter”

Marist International Programs PLEASE LEAVE A COPY OF THIS LETTER WITH A FAMILY MEMBER. Bring this letter with you. As you prepare to leave for France keep the following in mind:

• The Marist Office of Student Financial Services has posted Fall 2013 invoices. Please call Financial Services if you have questions about your bill: 845-575-3230. Payment is due prior to departure from the USA.

• We trust your France student visa application was successful.

• If you take medication: arrange to have enough to last your entire stay. Carry medications in the original

container, with a copy of the prescription clearly written with the generic name of the drug. Do not plan to have medications, health, or electronic devices shipped to you. Arrangement for an adequate supply of meds should be worked out with the prescribing practitioner -- some insurance providers will cover a “vacation supply.”

• Health Insurance: Your MIP fee includes medical insurance coverage for virtually anywhere you travel outside your home country. An HTH Worldwide Insurance card was sent to you, and the summary of coverage is available in the pre-departure page’s General Information section. Read the HTH letter, explore the HTH website, and note recommended physicians before you leave the USA.

• Carefully read all the enclosures carefully – take copies with you and leave a copy with a family member.

Also review your MIP Student Handbook and other info on the PDP: http://www.marist.edu/international/modspejmp.html

• A Marist-ModSpe handbook regarding academics and additional student policies will be provided to you during

your group orientation.

• Group Orientation: Professor Radley Cramer, Fashion Program Director, and Kristina Mossessyants, Marist/Mod-Spe Project Coordinator, will be organizing your orientation once on-site in Paris. Director Cramer will already be in Paris. If you need emergency assistance prior to orientation, Radley’s international cell phone number is 845-453-9221.

• We strongly recommend that you carry a mobile phone while abroad and consider this very important for

communication with family and program administrators. Your USA cell phone may not function abroad unless it is designed or adaptable for overseas use. Please share your overseas mobile phone number with Radley.Cramer1@marist.edu and James.MorrowPolio1@marist.edu

• Getting to the Residence from the Paris airport: You will be responsible for getting yourself to Citadines

Montmartre. See the last page of this document for transport options. MIP recommends grouping together with students who are arriving at similar times to take a taxi to the residence. It will be far cheaper and less of a hassle than the Metro, and splitting the taxi fare between your peers will save money.

• Electronics: Remember to bring an electrical converter in order to use American products in France. For computers, it is recommended that you bring your own laptop, although computers are available for use in the Mod-Spe computer lab. Computer key assignments are different in France, compared to US keyboards. You will be instructed in how to use French keyboards during you time at Mod-Spe. WiFi is available both at St. John’s and Mod-Spe.

• Paris Metro: You will be provided with a rechargeable transit card that works as an electronic “pass” for use of the subway, buses, and some RER trains. Passes will be distributed and explained during group orientation. They will be charged to cover the first week of use, and thereafter may be “topped up” (paid for by the user).

Marist-Mod’Spe: “Goodbye letter”

Marist International Programs

• Check your airline’s web site for baggage allowances, flight status, and other info.

• Register with the US Dept of State before departure. “Smart Traveler Enrollment Program” info is enclosed. http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_4789.html

• E-mail important info/documents to yourself: scanned passport/visa; credit/ATM cards details, electronic tickets, itineraries, telephone and e-mail contacts; any data you may need in case of loss/theft or emergency.

• Call your credit/debit cards provider(s) to inform that you will be using your cards overseas. Obtain Euros before you leave the Paris airport. Banks in France may be closed on the weekend; airport currency exchange desks and ATM’s are normally open to accommodate travelers.

• Monitor your Marist e-mail regularly, and ensure that your mailbox does not fill up/block new mail.

• We will be in touch with you in the fall with reminders and instructions for Marist course registration and

housing for spring 2014. Mod’Spe Paris Info:

• Mod’Spe School o 9, rue bleue, 75009 Paris – France o Phone: +33 1 48 24 23 80 o Website: modspeparis.com o E-mail: modspeparis@modspeparis.com o Closest metro stations:

Gare de l’Est Gare du Nord Cadet Bonne nouvelle

• Citadines Montmartre Housing

o 16 Avenue Rachel, 75018 Paris, France o Phone: (+33) 01 44 70 45 50 o Closest metro stations:

Blanche Place de Clichy

• Emergency contact in Paris:

o Kristina Mossessyants, Marist/Mod’Spe Project Coordinator o kmossessyants@modspeparis.com o Phone: (+33) 01 48 24 82 58

• General Emergency numbers:

o Paris General emergency: 112 o Paris Police: 17 o US Embassy in Paris (+33) 01 43 12 22 22 o Marist International Programs Poughkeepsie Office Daytime phone: 001 845 575 3330 o Marist College After-hours Emergency number (Office of Safety and Security): 001 845-471-1822

Marist-Mod’Spe: “Goodbye letter”

Marist International Programs

Calling overseas:

• To call the US from abroad: o 001 + US area code + number

• To call FRANCE from the US:

o 011 (international code) + 33 (France code) + 1 (Paris code; drop zero) + local number o Example: 011.33.1.48.24.23.80

Time Zones:

• Paris (GMT +1) is currently 6 hours AHEAD of the US East coast (GMT -5) o http://24timezones.com/local_world_time.php o Remember to consider the hour overseas before calling!

Climate:

• http://www.paris.com/tourism/climate o Paris temperatures will range during your stay

I recommend wearing your larger clothing items Remember that some clothes can be purchased in your program location If you plan on bringing things back to the United States, remember to leave space in your luggage

Marist-Mod’Spe: “Goodbye letter”

Marist International Programs Getting to Citadines Montmartre Paris:

• 16, avenue Rachel 75018 Paris, France Telephone: (+33) 01 44 70 45 50

From Paris Orly Airport:

• By Taxi: It takes approximately 40 minutes by taxi and costs between 50€ and 80€ to get to the residence. • By Bus & Metro: Take a Air France bus line 1 until Charle de Gaulle Etoile, then take the metro line 2 until Place

de Clichy. It takes approximately 45 minutes and costs 13.20€.

From Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport:

• By Taxi: It takes approximately 45minutes by taxi and costs between 50€ and 80€ to get to the residence. • By RER & Metro: Take the RER B until Gare du Nord, then take the metro line 2 at the station La Chapelle until

Place de Clichy. It takes approximately 1 hour and costs 8.40€.

From Gare du Nord / Gare de l'Est:

• By Taxi: It takes approximately 10 minutes by taxi and costs about 15€ to get to the residence. • By Metro: Take the metro line 2 at the station la Chapelle until Place de Clichy. It takes approximately 10 minutes

and costs 1.70€.

From Gare Montparnasse:

• By Taxi: It takes approximately 20 minutes by taxi and costs about 25€ to get to the residence. • By Metro: Take the metro line 13 until Place de Clichy. It takes approximately 20 minutes and costs 1.70€.

From Gare de Lyon:

• By Taxi: It takes approximately 30 minutes by taxi and costs about 35€ to get to the residence. • By Metro: Take the metro line 1 until Champs Elysées Clemenceau, then take the line 13 until Place de Clichy. It

takes approximately 50 minutes and costs 1.70€. Nearest public transport from Citadines Montmartre Paris

Train station: Montparnasse and Saint-Lazare (direct metro). Gares de l'Est, du Nord and de Lyon, fast links. Underground station: Place de Clichy, Blanche (5 minutes walk) Taxi stand: 5 minutes on foot.

Marist-Mod’Spe: “Goodbye letter”

Marist International Programs

Meilleurs vœux and have a safe and successful semester! James Morrow-Polio Assistant Coordinator James.morrowpolio1@marist.edu