france (1 Viewer)

[sophx]

hey guys
it's my absolute dream to go to france. I've never been overseas and i am dieing to go.

Do you think a gap year is the best time to go? or once i've finished uni?
i dont know its hard cause if i go for like a year i may not want to go back to school etcccc everyone knwos the drill?
i just feel like im missing out on so much and i'm scared if i go straight to uni i'll never get around to it.

i'm thinking of just flying their tomorrow and backpacking and staying in youth hostels hahaha. but seriously!!!!!! its my dream

pointless post,but any feedback at all id love to hear.
even anything amazing about france you'd love to tell me to make me feel like i've been there haha.
xxxx

 

[michael1990]

Well, you should really have heaps of money to travel.
I mean i wouldn't travel at the moment, not until our dollar strengthens. And my worst fear is not havng enough money, but parents would always help

 

[chicky_pie]

I'm glad I went to Europe when our dollar was mighty strong compared to now (2007)


I suggest you settle for a Bali holiday.

 

[pushkin]

did you study french at school? would you consider home stay at all? it's the best way to learn the language, but it sounds like you're more interested in seeing the sites.

france is my favourite country. paris is absolutely magical and i would live there in a heartbeat if i could. the french have charm all wrapped up. the food, the people, the language, the architecture...sigh.

 

[Darryl Kerrigan]

I'm glad I went to Europe when our dollar was mighty strong compared to now (2007)


I suggest you settle for a Bali holiday.

yep...nows the perfect time to go to Indo know isn't it? Maybe we can synchronise departure and arrival right down to the second them bali bombers get their heinys blown to another dimension.

Checking the cross rates:
$1 AU = 7000 rupiahs = 2 westerners.

thank fuck you're not a travel agent.

 

[PSAG]

What I'd reccomend you do is take the gap year, but for the first 6 or so months, work flat out, save up as much money as possible ie. 10+ grand. Then for the 2nd half, head over to France and you no doubt visit other countries while over there too.

If money isn't an issue, ignore me.

 

[i.am.amanda]

I'm so exited! I'm going to France in 66 days with school. We are going on a tour of the Western Front... for a history fanatic like me its like winning tatts lotto a thousand times over

I'm paying for my spending money, and my mum is paying for the trip (I intend to pay her back in full, eventually!). My family is wayyy against me taking a GAP year so this is the only chance I will really have to go overseas untill I finish Uni.

 

[*Baby-K*]

If you don't speak french I suggest that you learn at least something. For example- Parlez vous anglais? etc.
I came back from Paris in December where I spent 10 days. I did french at school so it was much easier for me. I can point out the fact that french are very self-centered and they admit it- on the way back I went through London so I caught the EuroStar train where 2 parisian guys started talking to me, they honestly admitted that parisians are wrapped up in their own lives and often aren't interested in helping some poor tourist out.
I don't know what degree you are looking to do or which uni but have you considered learning a language at uni and then going on exchange to France- it would make your life easier plus you will be graded for it?

 

[housah0lic]

i wouldn't mind working as an au pair in france.
or an escort.

i just know that i will live in france eventually


edit: hah baby k . they are so stuck up. they really are. they're reknowned for having poles up their asses constantly.

 

[Funky Monk]

Pfft the french are not that stuck-up. They just don't tolerate dickheads (a large proportion of Australian and English tourists). I spent some time living in a french village in 2005 with a french mate who came to Aus. on exchange. Everyone i met was friendly, welcoming, helpful etc. Parisians can be jerks, but showing the slightest bit of initiative in terms of language will usually result in the locals being more than happy to help you out. And just make sure they realise you are Australian, rather than English. It's the English tourists who are the rude, arrogant, ignorant tossers, not the French.

 

[*Baby-K*]

Pfft the french are not that stuck-up. They just don't tolerate dickheads (a large proportion of Australian and English tourists). I spent some time living in a french village in 2005 with a french mate who came to Aus. on exchange. Everyone i met was friendly, welcoming, helpful etc. Parisians can be jerks, but showing the slightest bit of initiative in terms of language will usually result in the locals being more than happy to help you out. And just make sure they realise you are Australian, rather than English. It's the English tourists who are the rude, arrogant, ignorant tossers, not the French.

You can't compare the french from the villages to parisians- they are the complete opposites

 

[Funky Monk]

As i said, Parisians can be jerks. But that is also overblown anyway. And people tend to blanket the entire French population with the Parisians. Which is wrong.

 

[housah0lic]

As i said, Parisians can be jerks. But that is also overblown anyway. And people tend to blanket the entire French population with the Parisians. Which is wrong.

true.. but even in marseille when i went into a clothes store and they realised i wasn't french.. i got bitched about hard. it was so awkward
regardless, will learn the language and move there.

 

[i.am.amanda]

I've learnt a bit of french so far, just the basics, and i've got a translator program on my iPod.
Apparently where we are going (on the Western Front) alot of locals like Australians, becasue of the war. So, i guess i'll find out, but I think i'll be okay....hopefully!

 

[chicky_pie]

French are not stuck ups you retard, my heritage is French and I find my fellow Frenchies not stuck up, they're polite and not shit boganish like most of Aussies here, yuck.

 

[sunjet]

france is awesome. i lived in paris for six months and have been back several times. it's really not hard to pickup the language whilst you are there. learn basics a few weeks before etc.

the people are awesome.

 

[jennieTalia]

Pfft the french are not that stuck-up. They just don't tolerate dickheads (a large proportion of Australian and English tourists). I spent some time living in a french village in 2005 with a french mate who came to Aus. on exchange. Everyone i met was friendly, welcoming, helpful etc. Parisians can be jerks, but showing the slightest bit of initiative in terms of language will usually result in the locals being more than happy to help you out. And just make sure they realise you are Australian, rather than English. It's the English tourists who are the rude, arrogant, ignorant tossers, not the French.

The English tourists aren't ALL that bad. Massive generalisation there.
I think there are just more of the Brits hanging around there, because it's closer, and that causes more feathers to be ruffled.

As for the topic at hand.
France is, indeed, a BEAUTIFUL place. Expensive, particularly in tourist areas. For instance, going up to the top of the Eiffel tower can cost you a lot (and they sometimes won't allow you up to the top if the weather is bad, and it does tend to be,... you can feel the whole thing swaying at the best of times) so plan your trip carefully. Make sure you pack clothes efficiently for the weather.
Have a basic grasp of the language. And a really good phrase book with the most important areas tabbed and ready at hand.
I would go whenever you feel independantly ready and when all the planning has been done efficiently!
Try to check out the smaller parts of French culture that are cheaper to look at and often give the biggest thrills (such as many museums outside of Paris, the architecture, and going to look at things rather than go in, such as the Moulin Rouge... I mean, you want a picture with it, but going inside is apparently really mundane for such an expensive meal).
Be aware of the mess, and check out the laws (I'm pretty sure there are a few that don't exist in Australia).
MUST SEE: Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Notre Dame. And make the most out of the fashion over there... Christian Louboutin store etc.
.
Beautiful choice for travelling.

 

[Riet]

Hint, the best bits aren't in paris.

 

[i.am.amanda]

French are not stuck ups you retard, my heritage is French and I find my fellow Frenchies not stuck up, they're polite and not shit boganish like most of Aussies here, yuck.

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend- i'm really looking forward to visiting France. I have no personal experiance to go by so I can't make any judgements!