Comprendre la France, la culture française, les Français et apprendre le français. Welcome to France!
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When your children go to school, they need an “assurance scolaire”. It is not compulsory but highly recommended. In some cases, teachers won't allow your children to take part to the school activities if you cannot prove you have an insurance. Why do...
Difficile question ! En France, on peut serrer la main ou "faire la bise". Serrer la main est plus formel mais c'est aussi plus poli. Je vous conseille de serrer la main quand vous rencontrez quelqu'un (même entre femmes), vous ne prenez pas de risque...
With the beginning of this new year, you will receive and send "Season's Greetings" (des voeux). If you need to send yours, you can find a special postcard. If it's for some of your friends, you can also send an e-card. What do you write ? I show you...
Champagne is very famous but very expensive too. A « mousseux » is a sparkling wine very tasty and sweet. So, if you don't want to spend too much money, buy a « crémant » or « blanquette » or « clairette ». Different choices : sec (dry), demi-sec, doux...
Apéritifs If you are invited, people might ask you if you want to drink a « vin cuit ». A vin cuit is an aperitif made with wine, alchohol, sugar and fruit. Drink it like that, with or without ice. There are many different « vin cuit » : Vin de noix (wallnut),...
Les jours fériés Jour de l'an : 1 janvier (January) Lundi de Pâques : the date changes every year because it depends on the moon. Pâques takes place between 22 mars (march) and 25 avril (april). Jeudi de l'ascension : this day that is also a religious...
« Le premier avril » is a special day aimed at having fun. On this day, children make paper fish and try to tape it on their friend's back. When this trick is discovered, they yell « poisson d'avril ! ». On TV and on the radio, journalists also make «...
A few words you need : A la carte : more expensive than a menu because you choose your own menu and might have 2 entrées if you are very hungry, no dessert if don't like... Menu : usually you choose between at least 2 or 3 menus. Some menus have no «...
Réserver / to book : « Bonjour, je voudrais réserver une table pour deux personnes s'il vous plaît - Oui, pour quand ? - Mardi vers 19 heures. » Questions you might be asked : - pour quand ? (when) - (pour) combien de personnes ? (How many people) In...
Sorry, I'm very late for this article. But as I am in Japan right now, I sometimes miss French events. Anyway, if you don't know what to do this weekend, here is a suggestion : les journées du patrimoine. Once a year, you can visit for free many places...
Go to the « mairie » town hall of the city where people will stay. You must do it (as you must organize it from France, it's you, the person already living in France who is responsible for this). If you live in Paris, Lyon or Marseille, as they are big...
If a friend of a member of your family wants to visit you in France, this person needs a « attestation d'accueil ». Is it important ? Who needs one ? It is compulsory if your friends or family need a visa to come in France. Without this attestation they...
Avec un peu de retard je vous souhaite une bonne et heureuse année, j'espère que votre séjour en France se passe bien, n'hésitez pas à me contacter si vous avez des questions, j'y répondrai le plus vite possible. I wish you a Happy new year and hope you...
The Ascension Day is a religious feast that celebrates the salvation of Christ after his death and his rebirth. The Ascension Day takes place 40 days after Easter. It is a public holiday in France, as it's on a Thursday, people take a day off on Friday...
Si vous aimez cuisiner, je vous invite à venir nous rejoindre dans le groupe créé par Loul@. Un groupe d'échanges, de convivialité : Le rassemblement fictif, pour les expatriés et ceux qui aiment cuisiner en général. Pour passer un bon moment, échanger,...
Madame, Monsieur, Date Je vous informe par la présente que je refuse les nouvelles conditions tarifaires de votre établissement. En effet, j'ai constaté une augmentation de certaines prestations que je refuse de payer. Espérant de votre part une réponse...
Madame, Monsieur Date Je me permets de vous contacter à propos d'un incident survenu le *** (write the date of the « incident »), concernant *** (write the cheque number or the standing order number), d'un montant de *** (the amount). Then specify that...
F irst advice As the rules are quite difficult to understand and banks not so easy to deal with, the first thing to do if you have any problem or question is to contact a « association » specialized in consumers' rights, especially some trying to help...
How ? Just go to a bank and ask : « Bonjour je voudrais ouvrir un compte en banque » They won't do it immediatly, they will give you an appointment and you'll have to bring some documents, at least : - your passport, - a « justificatif de domicile »....
Everything begins with the "notification of birth" « déclaration de naissance ». It is at the time of the notification of birth that will be drafted the birth certificate « acte de naissance ». Afterward you can get yourselves "complete copies of birth...
If you already own a home and want to buy another house or another apartment, your bank can help you financing your 2 housing for some time. Thanks to your « prêt relai » you can buy your new home without having sold the first one. In general, for the...
You should take out insurance on credit, ie coverage which guarantees that your bank will be repaid even in the event of death « décès », disability « invalidité » (if you can no longer work after an accident or illness). In some cases they can also offer...
It is the document that your bank sends you with your loan details. You receive the loan offer by mail. The bank swhich ends you a loan offer must maintain the same conditions for at least 30 days. You have 10 days of « réflexion ». You can not accept...
If you need a loan to finance your purchase, the amount of your repayments can not exceed 30% of your total income. The various loans « prêts » - « Prêt à taux fixe », - variable rate « taux variable ». Attention, a variable-rate credit can lead to significant...
That means you do not need a special form of a special paper but you can take any piece of paper to write the document you've been asked for. So if you have an accident, you can write your « constat amiable » « sur papier libre ». If your insurance asks...
