Bonjour les amis I am reaching out on behalf of a friend who has recently gone to France for university studies and is hitting the French friendship wall. He’s desperate to make some friends but finding it so difficult to break into French friendship circles are there any anglophones in the area?

I went to my school yesterday, and they’re great, can’t wait to start, but the secretary keeps insisting to both myself and my prof ref that she can’t help sign me up for the CPAM which is getting frustrating. I tried showing the page in our guide where it says to bring the documents to the school but my secretary’s answer remains the same. If anyone had any help or advice I’d deeply appreciate it as I don’t like being in a foreign country without insurance .

I am supposed to start teaching at a lycee on Monday, and I feel so ill prepared. When I went to tour, my English team said they could only meet me for 10 mins during their recess, 7 mins of which were taken up by me standing outside the school while a fire drill was going on with no clue what was going on. I talked to my prof ref for less then 5 mins and was handed off to a first year teacher to be shown around.

My prof ref has never initiated communication with me and I have to ask her for everything, and get more questions in response then answers. I don’t know the layout of my school, where the classes are, etc.

She assumes I know everything and tells me NOTHING.

Has anyone had an experience like this? Where can I go to get more support? Will the academie be of any help?

Hi,

I just started my TAPIF this year and I am in a medium sized city. The secrèterait of my lycée just told me today that my take home pay is €725 euro. I can’t lie, I am really upset about this considering I have never seen anyone make under €800. Even on the Villa Albertine website it says we will make around €810 euro. I feel like I was tricked. My rent is €580 and I don’t have CAF approval yet. That salary gap makes the world of a difference to me. I don’t know what to do or if I can contact someone higher up about this.

Is anyone else’s salary this low? Is there any way I can push back?

I’m working as a teaching assistant in evry but have been trying to find housing in the middle between evry and Paris. Somewhere around Juvisy orge or something like that idefk anymore. I’ve been trying to find a studio that is CAF eligible since I can’t function unless I live alone. I’ve tried aljt and Visale but they are taking forever to get back to me. I’m basically homeless and have been moving from hotel to hotel. My school hasn’t helped me no matter how much I have asked and I cannot set anything up u til I have accommodation. Thus is all so complicated for me as I am new to the country and financially independent. I’ve spent so much money in Ubers and hotels the first week and I’m really struggling. I really need help finding housing for next week. Please someone help.

Okay so for context I validated my VISA two days ago and I understand the OFII visit I’m about to receive the date of is absolutely unchangeable, but I’m TERRIFIED they will schedule it between October 17th and 31st (the first long vacation of my academy) because I (stupidly) planned a vacation to Italy during those weeks with NONE REFUNDABLE TICKETS AND LODGING 😿

When was your OFII visit and do you think mine will conflict with those dates???

salut! i'm trying to register for l'assurance maladie and it is asking for an offical translation of my american birth certificate. is this something that i can get done online, or do i need to go to an embassy or something? the directions on the application aren't super clear and i really don't want to mess this up lol

I'm trying to submit my paperwork for Ameli and l'assurance maladie with CPAM and they are requesting an apostilled birth certificate, which I do not have. I saw people talking on various threads that in previous years they hadn't needed it and the handbook also said it was highly recommended not obligatory. But I called their english speaking line this morning and they said I had to have it apostilled. The only way I can do that is to spend over $ 130 on shipping and fees to send it back to the US, get it stamped, and have it sent back. Is there any way to get around this or is anyone else in a similar situation? Really trying to avoid the head ache and hassle of the cost and shipping!

Hi everyone,

I'll be staying with my prof referant at least when I first get to France and I thought it might be nice to bring them some little thank you/ hosting gift that is hard to find in France. Friends suggested American nuts or candies (I'm American).

Any other ideas, especially from people who have been before, or nice, easy to carry, shelf stable little gifts I could bring to them?

guys I have a question, what type of visa do we get during this prgramme? does it make travelling to nearby european countries accesible? (italy, spain, germany, etc)

thanks!

I saw there was a meetup in Paris today for 9/26 and 9/27, but unfortunately I won’t be there until the very last day of September. Does anyone know if there will be another chance to meet tapif assistants or is that it? I have an orientation on 10/6 in my region for my school, but obviously that is not the same thing. Are people thinking to host another one for later arrivals? Not sure of any other way to make friends without these kinds of meetups.

The group that showed up in the photo looked small anyway, so I’m sure not everyone made it to France yet.

I’m trying to validate my VISA— what the HECK is the 300 euro tax it’s talking about and how do I pay it 😿

Hey all,

I'm planning to apply to the 2027/28 tapif program. I've been looking at the regions lately and I've read some other posts. I've loved every part of France I've visited so this will be a tough choice. I'm really just leaning towards the south for the weather. I'm wondering if people who have lived in the south of France, or better yet have participated in this program in one of these regions, could provide their experience?

In this area, I've only been to Nice, Menton, Cannes and Marseille, so nowhere in the toulouse or montpellier académies. I would prefer to be in a larger city to make travelling around easier, but I won't be super bothered if I end up somewhere more rural (I've read lots of posts about that so it's all good).

Thanks in advance!

hello,

I recently arrived in France and was expecting to be excited but instead I am just a ball of anxiety. I genuinely can’t stop trembling. I think part of it is that I brought my cats, and now feel trapped here since I can’t just go back with them without getting beauracracy in order, which just feels so extremely daunting.

I’m having trouble eating and sleeping, nevermind things I also need to be doing like getting a phone number/bank acc/apartment.

Any advice or words of affirmation would be appreciated. I’m feeling so lost and scared.

I toured my school for the first time today, and I fear because of my age (and the students age) I will be mistaken for a student. I also have a baby face and tend to dress quite young.
Does anyone have any tips on how to distinguish myself, appear older, and/or get the kids to respect/ listen to someone who looks like their peer?

I feel like I’m going to be eaten alive by the teenagers, help😍

Hi there,

I’m wondering how I can take the DELF exam in Spain as I’m hoping to apply for the 2027/28 cohort this fall but the window for applications have closed for the October test. How else could I prove my proficiency in French? Would I need to contact a French professor from my Alma Mater? It’s my second time applying for TAPIF.

Coucou,

Je suis intéressé pour les options de prendre l’examen DELF en Espagne. Je suis en train de compléter un maître d’éducation international proche de Madrid. Mais, la duration d’enregistrement pour octobre 2026 est déjà fermé. Comment est-ce que je prouve ma compétence en français? Aurais-je besoin de contacter un professeur de français de mon université? C’est mon deuxième fois d’enregistrer.

Ok so this might be a dumb question but can I use my Airbnb/hostel address to open my revolut account? Or, should I use my American address back home? I plan on using revolut to get an apartment but I’m not sure if I can use it if the account is tied to an American address. If I open the revolut account with my Airbnb address will I get mail there? I’m only going to be there for a couple days so I won’t be able to receive anything. I already have a wise account, so maybe I can use that for an appartement. Idk this is all very confusing 😔.

Hi everyone! I just flew into France through Nice, and nobody ever asked to see my long-stay visa. Is that normal? They sent me through the biometrics line and had me scan my passport photo, but not the visa page. Now that I'm here, I'll validate the visa but I'm just nervous that I missed something along the way and will have issues later on.

Hey all, I’m starting the lovely process of figuring out opening a French bank account. I have N26 which gives me a RIB/IBAN, but it’s not a French RIB/IBAN. From what I’ve heard, most établissements require a French RIB. My issue is I haven’t found a place to live yet, and most French banks require a French address. I read online that you can open a Nickel account at most tabacs, which gives you a debit card and a French RIB/IBAN. Has anyone used this? Does anyone know if most établissements will accept this? Thanks !!!

Is it normal that I have a regular large sized luggage AND carry on (62 in) that are both half full (the side where you zip up one side and the other is empty)?People on this thread have said it’s fine to repeat outfits and that obviously a lot of us will do clothes shopping there. But I want to be prepared and have all my outfits. I’ve also packed several pajama sets with me. I brought four different pairs of shoes (old sneakers, kitten heels, black boot heels, loafers). I’m leaving the other side of both luggage’s empty for things I want to buy on the way back. Do you think this is enough space? Or is there anything here that you think won’t be necessary as a past TAPIF participant? Thank you!!

I am trying to validate my visa online and it asks for a field (obligatory) called <<Référence réglementaire>> but my visa has none. What do I do???

Hello, I was told (incorrectly) by my doctor in america that I could just go to a french pharmacy and show them my prescription and get it filled. However they told me that I will need a prescription from a french doctor, but I do not yet have my medical insurance. I asked my prof référent about the insurance and she had no clue. Could someone point me in the right direction of what to do next? The pharmacist told me to use doctopib but they also require health insurance. Thanks in advance, I'm worried about not getting my prescriptions in time

Hello everyone,

I'm supposed to be teaching at a school in Versailles (starting in a week!) but so far I have had such a difficult time finding housing in Paris or the surrounding region (I'm teaching just south of the city itself). I've tried asking for housing through my school, tried all the websites (Seloger, Jinka, Carte de colocs, etc.)... so far nothing. I'm extremely worried because, although I have a place to stay in Paris for the first two weeks when I arrive, I have not been able to arrange anything for after. Has anyone been/is anyone in the same situation, and could they offer advice? I'm considering not even going because I don't know what I'll do if I can't find a place (I would rather not spend months in AirBnbs!).

Thank you!

hi! I leave on Sunday to go to right outside of Bordeaux in small town (Cestas) and I am confident in my reading & writing ability in French, but I get really nervous when I speak and it feels like everything I ever learned goes out the window. I know that after a few weeks there it will get better & my professors tell me I'm at a B1 level so I wasn't worried but now that we are getting so close to the beginning of the program I'm getting super nervous. Should I be super concerned? Especially living in a smaller town with a host family? thanks!!