What should I pack for 2 week stay in France (with French family)?

Question

I'll be there the first 2 weeks of July, mostly Grenoble (in the Alps), but also visiting La Baule (on the coast near Nantes) and Paris.

I'm 18 and I'll be staying with a family that has children/teenagers. I mention this because I won't be doing the tourist stuff so much as just experiencing thier everyday life and meeting French teenagers.

Any advice on clothes for the weather/what is in style, or anything else i should bring? Thanks!

Answer 1

Pack 2 pair of jeans, one pair of shorts, a modest skirt, and a nice pair of slacks.  Plan to wear each 2-3 times.  Pack a comfortable pair of shoes and a pair of sneakers.  Flip flops are fine, no matter what Americans say.  Pack one pair of shoes that can be worn with your skirt, but are comfortable.  Pack a sweater or two.  Pack an umbrella, a camera, and batteries.  PLEASE put a xerox copy of your passport in every piece of your luggage.  If your passport (or luggage, for that matter) gets stolen or lost, having a photocopy will be very helpful.  take medicines on the plane with you.  Take an extra pair of socks on the plane.  The floors on the plane and in the restrooms are gross.  Also keeps your feet warm.  Your circulation slows when you sit for a long time and your feet may get cold.  Agree with other writer, a nice gift for you host family is a must.  It is nice to take something for each child - even if it's just a pack of stickers or something.  

I do understand the weather has been weird lately.  You just never know.  When I was in Europe in 2003, I went to Bavaria and had a bonfire for the summer solstice celebration and, a few days later, got a sunburn at Versailles.

I will be in Paris in July for Bastille Day.  I can hardly wait.  I hope you have a great trip.

Answer 2

I can't recommend anything based on the weather. We've been having absolutely unpredictable weather. One day it's sunny, one day rainy, one day hot, another cold. (I'm in Alsace, and it's kinda the same at the moment throughout France.)  I suggest you check the weather right before you leave to maybe get a more accurate idea.

But, you'll want to bring things that can be used in warm or cold weather. Bring jeans (Levis or skinny leg are popular), tops that you can layer if it's colder, one dressy outfit in case you go somewhere nice, maybe one skirt or two..depending on last minute weather!, a sweater or 2 (even if it's warm during the day, it will be cool at night), and a light jacket.

Worst case scenario: y ou can shop for appropriate clothes;) maybe your host family could lend you things if you get in a jam.

Shoes: something comfortable for walking (tennis shoes like Puma, converse are popular), a pair of sandals, ballerina flats are popular too.

I'd bring a small umbrella and a small gift for your host family.

Answer 3

Swimming suit of course, one pair of jeans at least, one pair of trousers, one pair of shorts, 1 skirt or summer dress, sneakers to visit around, one pair of nice shoes (ballerinas and the like)  for every day life, one or two T-shirts (careful about tank tops, use sparingly and not in a city, rather on the beach), short sleeved shirts, one sweater at least and a rain coat, the weather does not look very good, we've been having a lot of rain.

Do not forget your medication if you have any.

That's the basic, add to that to your liking. If you want what kind of shirt and clothes, look at pictures of France with people in them.

Answer 4

Hi. I'm in Angers at the moment (near Nantes) and the weather here has been quite bad recently. So much rain. If you're going in July the weather should be good! Remember bikini and sun cream. (La Baule is beautiful!) And the usual stuff you take on holiday. Shorts, summery tops, some jeans. Although hopefully you'll be lucky and it'll be too hot for jeans. One major thing I noticed about going out to pubs in France - the French don't dress up like in UK. Most of them go to pubs and nightclubs in trainers, jeans and tshirts! So don't worry about what to wear.

Where are you from? When I stayed with a French family I brought them over some Scottish things. Try some biscuits or sweets traditionally from your country. A teatowel, mug, apron, a popular CD from back home - that sort of things.

You should also bring some photos of your family and friends. It's a good ice breaker for the first night.

Don't forget your French dictionary too. Bonne chance!

Answer 5

Ooh Grenoble, you're lucky!!  I've been on exchange a few times (in Reims)... I find you just need the usual kind of things.  A few accessories will always be useful, for example a scarf as otherwise it can sometimes seem as if you're the only girl in France not wearing one.  Bring a swimsuit as often the family will bring you swimming to pass some time and I've had the experience of having to borrow a bikini off the sister of my correspondant and it was NOT pleasant.  If you'll be walking then maybe take some hiking boots if you have any, or just sturdy shoes.  I'd also reccommend bringing a little present for your French family (usually the mother).  So, because I'm Irish, I often brought a CD of Irish music or a celtic photo frame or some Irish whiskey or something like that.  You'll usually give them a present when you leave too just to say thanks - this could just be a little box of chocolates or something if you get to a shop.

Bring some photos/postcards/brochures of the area you live in to make it easier to describe to them.  Also you could bring some photos of your friends and family to show them.  And bring some music you like - if you have an ipod/mp3 player or just some CDs as this can be something to chat about to the French teenagers you meet.  Also bring a little pocket dictionary - I found that so useful as just certain times in a conversation you would just need to look up one word to get the whole point across.

Now, although it is quite rude and not usually reccommended, I often had a little stash of food somewhere in my suitcase.  It sounds very rude but I know a couple of people who did the same.  We were told before we went that one of the rudest things you could do is not finish your dinner and then go up to your room and eat sweets.  French meals are very important, especially to the mother of the family.  The first year I went though, we had classes during the day and we would then come home and dinner wouldn't be until about 7 or 8 that night.  Lunch was at noon and we didn't get any snacks in between so we would have to keep some food aside to eat.  That really depends on the family though as some will give you snacks in between and some will just tell you to help yourself, but some are just used to very different eating habits than we are.  Just be polite about it though, and keep some biscuits or something like that in your suitcase just to keep you going between meals - it's better than sitting with your stomach rumbling!

I hope that doesn't sound like I'm trying to put you off or anything, it's just something I would have liked to know before I first went!  If you have any idea what sort of things you might be doing, bring suitable clothing.  Otherwise just bring casual clothes with maybe a couple of tops that could be used for dressier occasions.  A couple of pairs of flat shoes will do you for any eventuality; they won't be expecting you to be ready for everything!

Good luck and have a great time!!

Oh sorry about the length!