Transcript Pre-trip Preparation

Student
Exchange
Programme
French Language Immersion Award
Pre-departure Briefing
Agenda










Visa & Paperwork
Travel Plans
Insurance
Accommodation
Transportation
Finances
Arrival
Things to bring
Once you’re there
Preparing for home
Lyon
Pre-trip Preparation
Visa & Paperwork
 Passport with 6 months or more validity
 Singaporean students do not need a visa to enter
France for a stay under 90 days. Bring the letter from
INSA Lyon (email notification to pick up from IRO) and
the NUS financial sponsorship letter in case of any
issues
 Students from other countries are ‘short term visa
students’ and need to complete the short stay
Schengen Visa application and submit the
requested documents including the INSA
Lyon letter and make an appointment online
 Take note of visa requirements for other
countries
Pre-trip Preparation
Travel plans
 Buy your flights early online or through a travel agent
 Check for student fares with your travel agent
 Sign up for frequent flyer mile programmes to
accumulate mileage
 Take note of the time you will be arriving at your
destination. If it is late at night, are you comfortable
getting around the city alone and do you have
somewhere to stay? Consider traveling in groups
 Check your airline’s baggage allowance before packing!
 If you need to take a train to your final destination,
please ensure you are not rushing to catch
the last train
Pre-trip Preparation
Insurance
 Get insurance – Insurance must be valid for travels in
Europe, and must include health insurance (healthcare is
expensive) in Europe and civil liability
 Email a copy of insurance to Wei Lin by 30 May 2012
 Get travel insurance in case of lost luggage or delayed
flights
 Please bring along the proof of insurance and coverage for
reference. Do check for minimum requirements before
purchasing
 Check with your insurance company on claiming procedures
 Get your prescriptions and jabs, glasses changed,
teeth checked, etc - here!
 If you are taking medications, please continue
Pre-trip Preparation
Accommodation









On-campus stay from 3 June to 29 June
Details on early and late stay will be advised
Same gender roommates will be allocated randomly
Breakfast, lunch & dinner will be provided from Mondays
to Fridays
Bed linen will be provided but towels, toiletries are your
responsibility
Laundry facility will be available
Guests may not be allowed – check with INSA Lyon first!
Communicate with your advisor – advise of any
travel or missed meals
Get to know other students from the dorm, use
French as much as you can!
Pre-trip Preparation
Transportation
 To reach Lyon: Train (TGV) from Paris, Plane to SaintExupery Airport from Paris, bus or car
 Around the city: Subway, tram (INSA Lyon has 2 stops),
bus, bicycle or foot. You may wish to get a bus card so
please bring a few passport photos. Taxis are expensive!
 Walking!
Pre-trip Preparation
Finances
Big Mac index
1USD = S$1.44
USA – 5.14
France – 6.37
Singapore – 4.45
Recommended
monthly budget:
Paris – €1,000
Elsewhere - €800
www.economist.com (published March 17 2010)
Pre-trip Preparation
Arrival
 You must arrive by Sunday, 3rd June at INSA Lyon
campus
 You will be provided with the name and number of a
coordinator in case your arrival is delayed
 Students arriving before 3rd June are recommended to
stay in the Auberge de Jeunesse du Vieux-Lyon
 We recommend traveling after the programme instead
of before to allow sufficient time to get your visa
Find out about..
 The weather - To bring tee shirts or wool coats
and mufflers? What about humidity?
 Time difference
 Exchange rate
 Reporting the loss of your passport or credit cards
 Getting around: especially from airport to your
accommodation. Taxis are expensive!
 Meet & Greet services
 Recipes of your favourite home-made dishes
 NUS and Singapore!
Things to Bring
1. Important Documents




Passport
Letter of acceptance from partner university
Proof of funding
Copies of your insurance policies
Please make copies of all important documents and keep
separate sets in different places. It is also a good idea to
leave one set at home so that these documents can easily
be sent to you in the event that you lose those with you.
Things to Bring
2. Other Essentials
 Enough cash to last you until you can visit an ATM
 Medication for personal use (prescription drugs
should be kept in their original packaging with your
name on it, and be accompanied by a doctor’s note)
 Travel adaptors and multi-plug adaptors
 Laptop (do you need it?), camera and cell phone
chargers
 Umbrella or raincoat
 First-aid kit
Things to Bring
3. Daily necessities
 Towels, Toiletries, alarm clock, hairdryer, clothes,
footwear
- be prepared to walk long distances
 Take note that the products you are used to may not
be available overseas, or may be very expensive
4. Fun Stuff




Digital camera
Photos of friends and family
Souvenirs from Singapore
Recipes, spices and “food mixes”
– you need to learn to cook!
Pre-departure Checklist
Docs and Prep
Things to Bring
 Valid passport and visa
 Appropriate clothing
 Proof of acceptance at PU
 First aid kit
Proof of financial support
 Medication
Insurance
 Adaptors and chargers
 Credit card/cash
 Umbrella/raincoat
 Confirmed flight ticket
 Toiletries/alarm clock/ hairdryer
 Emergency Contacts
 Footwear
 Vaccinations and checkups
 Digital camera
 Exit permit for NSmen
 Photos and souvenirs
 Foodstuffs
 Passport photos
Once You’re There
1. First things first
 CALL HOME! Ensure that your family members
can contact you and inform them if you are
going to travel - we do not want them calling us
about your whereabouts
 Acquaint yourself with the campus and city
 Singaporeans should register themselves on the MFA website,
other nationalities should contact their country’s diplomatic
missions
 Find out who you should call in times of emergency – police,
ambulance, or campus security
Once You’re There
2. Settling In
 Familiarise yourself with your new surroundings
 Keep yourself updated with the daily local news
 Immerse yourself in French – movies, shows,
anything!
 Talk to new people – don’t keep to
yourself
 Please don’t just stick to Singaporeans!
 USE YOUR FRENCH – don’t be afraid, this is why you
are there!
Once You’re There
3. Safety
 Be safe – don’t wander around alone at night
 Look out for nearest security posts/police
stations near home
 Beware of pickpockets – guys should keep
their wallets in their front pockets and girls
should keep their bags tightly clasped under
their arms
 Be mindful of your surroundings
 Don’t leave your valuables lying around
 Don’t leave large amounts of cash in the room
 If confronted, give up your valuables and
do not resist
Once You’re There
Alcohol, drugs, partying, etc






Be comfortable and don’t be pressured into anything
Be smart
Know when to say no
It’s not okay just because everyone is doing it
Always know your limit
Something that is legal there may not
necessary be acceptable in Singapore
Once You’re There
4. Culture Shock
 Anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation,
confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an
entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a
foreign country.
 1. Honeymoon Phase
 2. Negotiation Phase
 3. “Everything is ok” Phase
 4. Reverse Culture Shock
 Recognise and talk to friends about it
 Be open-minded, and prepare yourself well by
reading up about your host country beforehand
Once You’re There
5. Your Classes & Advisors
 Your classes are not meant to be a ‘fast track’
for your NUS French courses, but instead a
chance to really USE your French
 Respect is extremely important in the French
student-teacher culture – be respectful!
 Be patient with your roommate and expect
cultural differences
 You cannot leave before the end of the
programme
 Classes are on INSA Lyon campus but few
local students are around – get off campus or
spend time with local students during the
social activities
Once You’re There
Tips to make the best of your time
 Finding out as much as you can – the more you know,
the more comfortable you’ll be
 Talk to people who have done the same thing. Learn &
adapt – don’t copy
 Be open-minded and make the effort – to explore,
experience new culture and places
 If a problem arises, try to resolve it. Good for you!
 But also know when to approach others for help
 After your time abroad, be inspired!
Once You’re There
Be mature and recognise differences
 Be prepared that things may be done in a different
way and speed than what you are used to
 For example the French…
 are generally private people, free to be themselves only with
close friends and family
 don’t rush meals or drinks, they’re to be enjoyed
 aren’t loud
 use titles and address others politely
 dress well
 Respect others & act in ways to be respected
too
Preparing for Home
 Say your goodbyes and thank you’s (Intl Office
included!)
 Confirm your returning flight details
 Keep speaking French!
 Complete feedback survey
 Continue your 2nd year of French when back
in Singapore
 Prepare to apply for SEP
Important Contacts and Links
 INSA Lyon will provide a document sharing site with
general information, check your email for update on
this
 Contact at INSA Lyon
Nina Arnesen, [email protected], +33 472 43
89 99 (office), +33 6 33 06 51 82 (mobile)
For questions related to the French courses :
Delphine Fradois, [email protected]
 Embassies/High Commissions : www.mfa.gov.sg
 Local emergencies number : 112
 Credit card and bank telephone numbers
 NUS Emergency Contact +65-6874 1616
Important LIA
Reminders
Important Reminders
 You must complete 4 LPP modules (including French for Academic
Purposes) before going for SEP
 Dropping out of FAP = Dropping out of the LPP
 You are advised to go for SEP in Year 3 so that you can complete the
LPP according to the regular schedule
 If your degree programme does not allow you to do 4 modules of LPP
or if you are not able to go on SEP in your Year 3, DO NOT apply for
the French LIA
 Your obligation includes meeting your faculty’s SEP criteria so that
you can go on exchange
Important Reminders
 Accepting the LIA constitutes an agreement to go back to a
particular university/region for exchange – if you do not do so, you
will have to pay the penalty amount of $3000
 Accepting the French LIA constitutes a commitment to go on SEP to
France/Switzerland/Belgium for 1 or 2 semesters in Year 3!
 Accepting the French LIA for INSA Lyon constitutes a commitment
to go on SEP to INSA Lyon for 1 or 2 semesters in Year 3!
 To go on SEP in Year 3 Sem 1 or 2, please apply at the end of 2012
Questions?
Yap Wei Lin
[email protected]