Here are some general rules, tips, and expectations to help you become accustomed to your new home!

Every housing placement is different with different pros and cons. Your accommodations will be different than what you’ve come to expect in your home country. In general, be prepared for a relatively small living space in an older building with very basic amenities. Now is the time to open your mind and get ready to experience something different; this attitude is in the spirit of your decision to study abroad. Please also remember, that when you are abroad, you will be representing your home institution and your home country; behave appropriately.

Though there are no housing changes allowed during the first 2 weeks of the program, the on site staff are there to help with any concerns. There is a natural adjustment period to life abroad and making any housing change decisions during this time is usually premature.

Students in Aix-en-Provence live with host families in “homestays.” Homestays might just be the best opportunity for you to experience French culture during your semester abroad as well as being an excellent opportunity to improve your French language skills!

Most homestays are approximately 15 to 35 minutes away from university classrooms by foot. Accommodations farther from the city center are likely to be more spacious. You should check with the housing coordinator if you have any questions or concerns regarding your homestay arrangement.

Housing coordinators make periodic visits to the hosts to ensure that the cleanliness and comfort meet appropriate standards. Most students feel that living in a French home is far preferable to living independently for a variety of reasons. Living with a homestay can dramatically assist your French language speaking ability as well as comprehension. It also can aid in your awareness of current events, cultural customs, and political outlook within the country.

One of the other highlights of living with a homestay is the food! Dinnertime in itself can provide an excellent learning opportunity and great insight into the French culture. Provided you come with the willingness to be flexible and open-minded of your French household, your attitude will be rewarded greatly.

As a part of your home stay experience, you will be offered a meal plan. This includes daily breakfast and six dinners per week. You can work out with your host family which day of the week will not include dinner. While all linens will be included, you will need to bring a towel.

Check out read through IAU’s Housing FAQs for additional insight into Aix homestay life!

 

Below is a breakdown of the policy in France.

Cleanliness:
Keep your room and the common areas clean; this is especially important when you are sharing a bedroom, apartment, residence, or dormitory.

Noise:
In order to avoid disturbing the neighbors or housemates, please use headphones when listening to music, or keep the volume low, and please keep your voices down.

Utilities and use:

All utilities are included in program fee.

• Heating and air conditioning should be used sparingly. NEVER leave heating or air conditioning units while you are not home. If you must have them on when you are sleeping, keep them low.
• Always turn off the lights when you leave the apartment and when you are not in the room.

Safety:

• You should lock the apartment door at all times. Also, when leaving the apartment, make sure the windows are closed and locked. Neither CISabroad nor IAU will be responsible for any stolen items.
• If the keys to the apartment are stolen, lost or misplaced, all locks to the apartment will have to be replaced at the student’s expense, including key copies for all apartment members.
• If the keys are left inside the apartment/bedroom and the locksmith has to open the door for the you, you will have to pay for this service.
• It is strictly forbidden to throw any object or substance from windows, balconies, terraces or roofs. This includes keys, cigarette butts or anything else big or small.

Guests and Alcohol Policies:

• Disrespectful behavior related to alcohol consumption will end up in dismissal from the housing and you will have to find your own housing at your own expense.
• Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the apartment.
• The consumption of drugs, as well as keeping or dealing with them, is absolutely prohibited

Financial Liability:

• You will have to pay for any damage done to the apartment (doors, walls, floors, furniture, kitchen supplies, washing machine, etc.).

Helpful tips for living with other people:

• Respect your hosts and the other people that live in the building.
• Remember that you are not on a college campus and not in your own home. Respect the property and get out of the “college campus” mentality.
• Talk to your roommates if they do something that bothers you. Talking it through is the easiest way to solve a small problem before it gets bigger.
• Talk to the staff if a problem arises and you cannot work it out with your roommates.

Warning process:

• If any of the above rules are broken, you will receive a first verbal warning. This warning will also be written and sent to your sending study abroad program and your home school.
• The second infraction of any of the above rules will result in you being evicted from your apartment. You will need to find a new place to live at your own expense.
• Please read through all of our behavior policies noted in the CISabroad Policy Handbook, linked inside of the attachment to your acceptance email