Here are some general rules, tips and expectations to help you become accustomed to your new home!
Students will mainly be staying in hotels during this trip, but will be staying in a homestay for a few nights as well!
Hotel Accommodations:
- Rated between 3-5 stars, with breakfast included every day. There are also a number of dinners included in the program.
- Students will be placed in double and triple occupancy rooms, European style, where each student will have their own twin bed.
- See full hotel information below.
Homestays:
- Students will be placed with 1-2 other students in homestays while visiting Aix-en-Provence.
- Aix-en-Provence is home to IAU College, and the homestay families have been working with the school for many years.
- It is customary to bring a small gift for your host family to thank them for their hospitality. Examples of gifts include something that is representative of your region of the country, such as a special candy or product that is made locally in your hometown.
Homestay assignments should be coming out soon!
Please exercise your best judgment in the following areas, especially while you are a guest in the homestays. You are representing not only your country, but your home institutions, and you want to be as respectful as possible.
- Noise – Rules will vary depending on hotels and cities. This will be discussed more in depth when you arrive on site.
- Cleanliness – Please clean up after yourself as a guest in the homestays and while sharing hotel rooms with others.
- Utilities – Be mindful of utility usage while in homestays. Avoid taking long showers, leaving lights on, etc.
- Safety – Travel in groups if going out at night, be aware of your surroundings and always use your best judgment! This will be covered more in depth once you arrive on site.
- Alcohol Policies – While the alcohol policies are more relaxed in Europe, do not abuse the privilege to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with meals or in social settings.
- Financial Liability – If there are damages to your hotel or homestay rooms, you will be responsible, and it will come out of your $500 housing deposit.
- Living With Others – You will be traveling in a large group with many unfamiliar faces. Your days will be jam-packed and tiring. Please try to be respectful as possible when someone needs space or down time.
January 2018 Hotel Schedule
Friday, January 2nd – Sunday, January 4th
Aix–en-Provence: Two nights
Host families, Housing Coordinator: Margaux Hofstedt
Tel: (011 33) 06 87 68 70 18
Sunday, January 4th – Wednesday, January 7th
Rome: Three nights
Hotel Columbus, Via della Conciliazione, Roma 3300193, Italy
Tel: (011 39) 06 6865435
Wednesday, January 7th – Sunday, January 11th
Paris: Four nights
Hotel Ibis Gare de Lyon Diderot, 31 Boulevard Diderot, Paris, France, 75012
Tel: (001 33) 1 43 46 12 72
Sunday, January 11th – Wednesday, January 14th
London: Three nights
Royal National Hotel, 38-51 Bedford Way, Russell Square, London WC1H 0DG, United Kingdom imperialhotels.co.uk
Tel: (011 44) 20 7637 2488
Wednesday, January 14th – Sunday, January 18th
Prague: Four nights
Novotel Praha Wenceslas Square, Katerinska 38, 120 000 Prague, Czech Republic
Tel: (011 420) 221 104 999
Please note that although CISabroad makes every effort to provide your preferred form of housing, we cannot guarantee that all personal preferences will be met. We have carefully selected safe and adequate housing for each student and each living arrangement is distinct and special in its own way.
Every housing placement varies, 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 while you are abroad, you will be representing your home institution and your home country; behave appropriately.
Below is a breakdown of the policy in Spain.
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:
- Heating and air conditioning should be used sparingly. NEVER leave on 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 the study abroad company nor the housing company 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 any other items.
Guests and Alcohol Policies:
- Disrespectful behavior related to alcohol consumption will end up in dismissal from the housing and you will have to find other 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 damages in the apartment (doors, walls, floors, furniture, kitchen supplies, washing machine, etc.).
- FOR PROGRAMS WITH HOUSING DEPOSITS: If extra time is needed to clean the apartment, or if items are damaged or missing, you will be charged and those charges will be deducted from your housing deposit. Housing deposits will be returned 8-12 weeks after the program has ended.
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 violated, you will first receive a verbal warning. This warning will also be in writing and sent to your study abroad program and your home institution.
- 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, included in the attachment of your acceptance email.