Emergency Numbers
European Emergency calls: 112
Pompiers: 18
Gendarmerie Nationale: 17
SAMU (Ambulance): 15
Anti-Poison Centre: Paris 01 40 05 48 48 (or check your local Yellow Pages – www.pagesjaunes.fr)
SOS Amitié (Paris): 01 42 96 26 26
SOS Help – Confidential listening line in English: 01 46 21 46 46
Moving to a new country can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. Moving to a new country where people speak a different language doesn’t make it any easier. Each daily task now requires a little more effort. Then when you’re ready to relax and socialise there’s the matter of meeting new people. At times, all this newness can be a little overwhelming.
Even after living here for a while, unique challenges will still arise. Luckily for English speakers in France there is SOS Help, the non-profit group whose purpose is to provide an empathetic ear to people experiencing these exact things. From 3 to 11 pm daily, anyone can call the line anonymously and talk about what’s on their mind – no matter how big or small – to a non-judgemental volunteer.
SOS listeners help by just doing that – listening. They don’t offer magic solutions but sometimes just talking about what’s bugging you can give you perspective and help solve the problem. Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone is all you need. SOS Help is manned by volunteer expats who have been through many of the same things as the callers. They know what it’s like to be new in a country and what it’s like just to want someone to talk to in English.
Since 1974, their trained listeners have been listening to callers in France. They know that simply hearing the voice of someone who understands what you’re going through can sometimes be the most helpful solution. The greatest relief is learning you not alone.
- Maybe you’re a student who is having a difficult time adjusting to the French university system.
- Maybe you relocated for your job and are having a hard time meeting anyone outside of work.
- Maybe you’re in a bi-lingual relationship and having communication problems due to the language or cultural barrier.
- Maybe you’re just alone with no-one to listen.
If you’re feeling worried, lonely, depressed or suicidal, you can call SOS Help 01 46 21 46 46 from 3 to 11 pm daily. www.soshelpline.org
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Education in France – Introduction
French state education is well organised, well funded and with generally average to high standards in comparison to other European countries.
Since 1967, school has been obligatory for all children between the ages of 6 and 16. The school going community of about 13 million pupils is educated through a unified system, the general structure of which (schools, lower secondary schools and lycées) was gradually established in the 1960s and 1970s. Since the 1970s, France has also witnessed a salient development in pre-school education; all children aged between three and five years can attend nursery schools
The French system is complemented by a comprehensive network of private schools including international schools. Most of the private schools are supervised by the Ministry of Education and account for about 15% of pupils in primary education and 20% in secondary education, the bulk of which has remained stable in the past decade. Many schools are run by the Catholic church in partnership with the State (which pays the teachers). Private schools with no such contracts account for less than 50,000 pupils and depend on considerable financial contributions by families.
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Paris Motor Show 2008
By the look of the latest crop of concept cars to be unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, automakers remain fixed on pursuing alternative fuels and smaller, lighter vehicles. We expect at least 17 new experimental vehicles will be shown to the world for the first time there.
The Paris show is Europe’s biggest auto event this year and is expected to attract more than 1 million visitors and 500 manufacturers from 30 countries. It is held at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and is open to the public from October 4th until October 19th.
More on driving in France: car of the year comment blog login register
Categories: Motoring Tags: Europe, Île-de-France, Motoring, Paris, Paris Motor Show
French Fashion
Fashion has been important industry and cultural export of France since the seventeenth century, and modern “haute couture” originated in Paris in the 1860s. Today, Paris, along with Tokyo, London, Milan, and New York City, is considered one of the world’s fashion capitals, and the city is home or headquarters to many of the premier fashion houses. Historically, many of the world’s top designers and fashion houses have been French, including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Chloé, Hermès, Guy Laroche, Yves Saint Laurent and shoe designer Christian Louboutin. The Paris fashion houses also attract many foreign designers
- French fashion
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