Check list before departure

Get ready – This is my checklist

Just in case you might forget one important point, here is a checklist of what seems important to us.

CIVIL ADMINISTRATION

1.       My passport is valid in the host country for the whole duration of my student exchange.

2.       I need a student visa to enter in the country of my student exchange.

3.       I have a list of required documents for a student visa and I am currently collecting them.

4.       The papers requested for the student visa have already been sent over.

5.       I have a student visa.

6.       I have registered my stay at https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fildariane/dyn/public/login.html

7.       J’ai une idée des cours que je souhaite suivre dans mon université d’accueil et je sais qu’il faut les faire valider par ma coordinatrice à Kedge (via le Learning agreement) avant mon départ

TRANSPORTATION

1.       I have put an alert on a website (Kayak.com, etc.) to find the cheapest plane tickets.

2.       I am in contact with a student travel agency.

3.       I have booked my plane tickets + s’informer sur les transports entre l’aéroport et le premier lieu de résidence (bus, taxi, navette, quelqu’un…) cela évite des arnaques. Attention aux taxis, s’informer de la « couleur officielle ». Généralement elle existe.

4.       I have checked if an international driving licence is required by the host country.

5.       I have checked where the university is and how to get there.

HEALTH

1.       I have checked on CLEISS.fr if the host country has any health agreement with France.

2.       I need to get cleared from the “sécurité sociale” in France.

3.       I have collected all information needed to subscribe to the local health system when arrived.

4.       I need a special medication or a special treatment therefore I have checked with immigration office if I can import it with me or the price I may pay if I need assistance (teeth, glasses, etc.)

5.       I have contracted a private insurance (April mobilité, europassistance) to cover any medical situation, as if I were in France.

6. Je connais les vaccins à prévoir pour mon pays d’accueil

HOUSING/DAY TO DAY

1.       I have already made plans for a short stay while looking for an apartment/roommates (international youth hostel, motel, hotel, B’n’B, Airbnb, etc.)

2.       I have all information about local landlords and the lease (insurance).

3.       I have checked if I can use my smartphone in the host country (bandwidth, etc.)

4.       I have all requested information to open a new line for a smartphone and/or internet.

5. J’ai vérifié le budget à prévoir pour l’année en cours (car le coût de la vie est très variable d’un pays à l’autre) entre frais personnels, logement, repas, transports etc

6.       Ne pas hésiter à s’inscrire sur les groupes “les Français à ville/pays” et le groupe de KEDGE à l’étranger :

BANKING & INSURANCES

1.       I have checked if my bank has any partnership. BNP Paribas and Globalliance for instance which allows free banking withdrawals.

2.       I have checked the insurances offered with my credit card (car leasing, etc.).

3.       I know the immigration office requested a specific banking funds proof.

4.       I know how to open a bank account in the host country.

5.       I have checked in the host country the most utilized means of payment (cash only, credit card, local credit card, debit card)

6.       S’informer du taux de change / Partir avec (un peu) des devises du pays en question, pour éventuellement pouvoir payer le taxi/le bus en arrivant…

WORK/TAXES

1.       I want to work in the host country.

2.       I have checked if I need a work visa.

3.       I have checked on impots.gouv.fr if I need any clearance when working abroad.

4.       I have checked on impots.gouv.fr or local embassy website if the host country has an agreement with France to avoid paying (income) taxes twice.

SAFETY/TIPS :

1.       Localiser l’Ambassade de France (ou autre bâtiment diplomatique)

2.       Si possible avoir un portable de secours (l’unique fonction appel suffit), avoir les accessoires en double (ex : un chargeur universel), avoir un ou des adaptateurs de prises électriques universelles

3.       Si possible avoir un portefeuille léger ou porte-carte, pour qu’il soit discret lorsqu’on se balade

What about Australian culture?

According to Hofstede:

Autralian cultural etiquette: 
http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_au.htm

Deakin University - Australia

Deakin University is a public university in Victoria, Australia. Established in 1974 with the passage of the Deakin University Act 1974, the university was named after the second Prime Minister of Australia, Alfred Deakin.

The Melbourne Campus:
The University's largest campus is in Burwood (37.8479°S 145.1143°E), about 45 minutes by tram (route 75) from the Melbourne CBD. Located alongside Gardiner's Creek parklands between Elgar Road on the north-west border and Mount Scopus Memorial College on the east border. The campus has around 27,700 (2017) undergraduate and postgraduate on-campus students.

Transport, healthcare, banks

Health Care:
United States immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirements, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Influenza type b (Hib)
• Measles
• Meningococcal
• Mumps
• Pneumococcal
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Rubella
• Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
• Varicella

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/vaccinations.html

Stereotypes & clichés

Wilmington:

Mix of southern hospitality and relaxed beach lifestyle

Laidback, Chill

The majority of companies here, whether it's restaurants, general contractors, painters, whatever are just doing the bare minimum to survive off of tourists, and could care less about doing a good job

lack of diversity in the job market. It's very much a service town.

Wilmington feels very segregated. It's got a ton of poverty, dilapidated housing and an unrepresented class of people. 

It felt like being on vacation perpetually. That was cool for months but then wore off and then I felt isolated in a place where I didn't feel was best for my ambitions.

Wilmington is a place old rich people move to to die.

For young people looking for jobs or careers, it's a hellhole.

Grumpy local

Charleston without the city

MJ's hometown

North Carolina
 NC folks appear to be country, friendly people, with southern accents. Carolina cooks are known for their soul food dishes.
North Carolinians will fight you over the best way to make barbecue, and their tea is never sweet enough.
North Carolina is famous for counting many right-wing parties, as well as numerous racists. 

North Carolina best represents the evolution of the old ways of the Deep South and the new thinking of a business-minded state. Its small coastal towns like Edenton and Wilmington are still rooted in their colonial traditions, while the western Appalachian towns maintain their own unique folksy traditions. In the large cities in the east and Piedmont it’s all about high-tech research and business. But no matter where you go in North Carolina, these people cherish their rich heritage and important role in the formation of America.

Politically and socially, North Carolina has always been a fairly conservative state, formerly run by conservative to moderate Democrats and since around 2010 by conservative Republicans who used gerrymandering to assure their dominance and to try to disenfranchise Democrats and African-Americans.

Pronounced rural/urban divide. In the urban areas, the culture is distinctly progressive, especially in areas like Durham and Chapel Hill, but also in Charlotte, Raleigh, etc… There is a lot of diversity, along pretty much every measure you can envision - race, sexuality, enthnicity, gender identity, religion… Not too different from the liberal Northeast US.

Once you head out into the country, North Carolina becomes very southern and very conservative. In the rural areas, religion and conservative politics have a strong grip on the culture. Tolerance is not nearly as pervasive as in the urban areas.

Most recent shift in Southern cultural influence and demographics has occurred in North Carolina. The state's metropolitan areas, notably that of the Research Triangle, have a more liberal tendency, while the rural piedmont, coastal and appalachian regions remain strongly conservative.

Many new residents have come for work from the North and Midwest, especially from the New York City and Cleveland metropolitan areas. The Charlotte and Raleigh–Durham areas have attracted the most new residents because of economic growth: banking/finance in Charlotte; universities and high-tech in Raleigh-Durham

Stereotypes about French people in the USA/North America:
France Has Delayed The End Of The World:
http://www.comedycentral.co.uk/the-daily-show/videos/france-has-delayed-the-end-of-the-world-the-daily-show-trevor-noah-macron-le-pen-french-election 

French people are lazy.
French used to eat frog. Called "Froggies" or "FroggenFresser".
Le béret, la baguette, la marinière et le vin.

French people are skinny and women doesn't shave them.

How american see french

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pbze1o9TG8

easy punching bag.  

Their society seems rather chaotic in spite of many rules and regulation

Beautiful country with fantastic landscapes, architecture, food and culture

Strikes

French people wear berets

French people stink (lot of onions or stinky cheese, no AC)

French people are rude

French people only listen to accordion music

French women don’t shave

French people hate Americans

Frenchmen are the most romantic people in the world

The French always surrender

The French are intellectuals

The French always eat gourmet meals

The French all have poodles

All French people love to eat frogs’ legs

French people can’t or won’t speak English

How french see american

Many French don't understand our devotion to our careers and consider us workaholics that just drone on about work and what we do.

Most French don't understand or support the rather extreme capitalistic nature of the American society.

uncultured

Hate the way they express their opinions and emotions

+ Generosity, Optimism, Hardworking

-  Obesity, Obsession with guns, Materialism, extreme capitalism, over consumption, racism and racialism, environmental ignorance, nationalism, military zeal, workaholic culture

LA BISE by PAUL TAYLOR :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-VWbV6TJxU 

France vs Québec: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgGyWh2cWT4

Housing/Day To Day

FOR UNCW

Academic Calendar (including exams)	Calendar to be confirmed for 2019/2020 Orientation program : Mandatory It will take place few days before the classes start Fall semester : mid-August / Mid-December Spring semester : Early January / Early-May
Public/Private School	Public school
Campus location	Wilmington
Campus size	13 000 students for the whole University 2 000 students for the Business school
Campus Facilities
Housing	Information on http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/housing/ On campus Students are eligible to register for on-campus housing after they have been admitted. Space on campus is limited, so students will be placed in the few remaining open spaces. All rooms will be double-occupancy (with a roommate). Students will be emailed instructions for applying for on-campus housing after they are admitted. Off campus Exchange students are allowed to live off-campus (not suggested), but the international programs office cannot help you make those arrangements. Student may use the UNCW Off-campus housing service to help locate an apartment.
Disability Support	Yes, special facilities for housing and others
Estimated Living Expenses (including housing)	Estimated budget per semester (2018/2019) – These fees may increase for 2019/20 Details: Housing application fee : $105 On-campus housing : $3200-$3900 Food (either on-campus dining or preparing own food) : $2000 Student ID : $20 Health insurance : $1300 Mailbox : $11 Books & supplies : $350 Miscellaneous : $1600 Be aware that books’ costs may be costly See : http://www.uncw.edu/international/isss/exchangeapp.html#costs
Health Insurance	UNCW’s health insurance is mandatory (about $1300 estimated per semester)

what about US American culture?

According to Hofstede

American diplomacy: cultural etiquette 
http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_us.htm