Work transfer to Paris

[Bunk]

The only unfortunate part about going to Paris is that after you leave, almost every other city on earth looks like ass. They made city-building an art.

[djwazzy]

Originally Posted by Sluggo

I would get the hours you will work if transferred in writing. My uncle was transferred over there for 4 months and they were working him for 80 + hours a week he barely had a chance to see the city. There is a loophole in the local labor laws where if you are not a French national none of the labor laws apply to you.

Edit: This was around 10 years ago things might have changed since then.

I'll have to look into that, definitely don't want to work like a slave. Thanks for the tip

Originally Posted by ShaolinFlame

Do you work for Total?

I may be assisting with your move!

Nope don't work for Total, but I hear there are a lot of expats being transfered to Paris from Calgary. Any major headaches from your end of things with the moves?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The only unfortunate part about going to Paris is that after you leave, almost every other city on earth looks like ass. They made city-building an art.

This is funny because you really don't have to look very hard to find plenty of ass parts of Paris. There is also the wafting scent of urine in many parts of Paris. All part of living in an old city though.

That said, moving to Paris for a work stint abroad is something you can't turn down in my opinion.

[djwazzy]

Originally Posted by Young-Sneezy

One thing i would do if i wasnt going there to go to University, which made meeting people pretty easy, would be to get into tons of extra curricular activities with co-workers etc. For myself, that was the part that made my experience amazing.

After actually living there, having an apartment, grocery shopping etc...i would move back to work in a heartbeat. Makesure you check out your apartment and knowt he area its in and remember a few things...

Yes getting involved with extra curricular stuff is what I plan on doing, definitely the best way to meet people in a new town. Unfortunately most of the people in our office over there are much older than me. Do you have any specific spots where you signed up for these activities like a website or a place?? I'm in my late 20s and wouldn't mind joining some social sports club or something of the sort with people around my own age.

Also how easy was it to find an apartment? I'll have to do this on my own and don't even know where to begin, other than I know I want to be right in the centre of the city.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

This is funny because you really don't have to look very hard to find plenty of ass parts of Paris. There is also the wafting scent of urine in many parts of Paris. All part of living in an old city though.

It's true that outside the City of Paris many of the suburbs are about as ass as it gets, but not very much of Paris itself isn't gorgeous. There has to be 1000 urban streets in Paris more beautiful than the best street in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, even Montreal or pretty much any North American city.

[Young-Sneezy]

Originally Posted by djwazzy

Yes getting involved with extra curricular stuff is what I plan on doing, definitely the best way to meet people in a new town. Unfortunately most of the people in our office over there are much older than me. Do you have any specific spots where you signed up for these activities like a website or a place?? I'm in my late 20s and wouldn't mind joining some social sports club or something of the sort with people around my own age.

Also how easy was it to find an apartment? I'll have to do this on my own and don't even know where to begin, other than I know I want to be right in the centre of the city.

It was actually a really big pain to get an apartment. I lucked out when one of the professors there, who i randomly emailed while i was freaking out with a few weeks left before i left, got me hooked up with a lawyer he knows who had this apartment he would rent to me on a monthly basis. If you're going through work, i would try to see if they can set you up with some kind of real estate company, or speak with people at the Paris office to get you a good place in a good area..Location means a lot in Calgary, but I would say its much, much more important in a City like Paris. If they can't I could definitely talk to a couple guys who i still talk to fromt here and see if they know any real estate places that could hook you up.

As far as places to meet people go...mmm its tough, work is my best idea...I basically stopped working out in an actual gym when i was there because gyms arent really big...sports and playing that kind of stuff was tough to find...It IS do-able..I remember walking past a sort of fitness facility a few timest here and seeing indoor basketball courts.

There is obviously lots of pubs, cafes, bars, clubs etc if you want to meet people, and have tons of locals and tourists...

It will definitely be a big culture shock and a bit of an adjustment...I know i was terrified when i arrived and was clueless...but like i said, id do it again in a heartbeat.

PM me if you wanna ask anything else though, id be happy to help out.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

There is also the wafting scent of urine in many parts of Paris.

Yep. In France, the world is your urinal. Have to relieve yourself and there's no bathroom around? (in France they call them WC's, but it's pronounced "VC" - go figure) No problem. It's very common to see a guy just taking a leak on the side of a building and nobody thinks twice about it.

Also, the temptation will be to rubberneck at all the amazing buildings & architecture you will see as you're walking down the street. This will change real quick. You'll notice that almost all the natives walk with their head down. This is because tons of people own dogs, and either there is no law that requires you to clean up after them, or it's simply not adhered to. Those sidewalks are a minefield. It will happen at least once - you'll be walking somewhere and raise your head to take in a magnificent sight, and then you'll take another step and your foot will just slide. If it's a bad one, it's just like stepping in grease and you might even fall in it. Then the smell follows you around until you find somewhere to wash your shoe off.

I lived over there for 2 1/2 years, and was surprised at some of the stuff I saw on a pretty regular basis. Dozens of tied off condoms on the sidewalk on Saturday mornings - they just throw them out the window when they're done. Urine and animal (at least I hope it was all animal) excrement everywhere, and even some open sewer systems in some small towns dating back to the dark ages. Imagine raw sewage gushing down a trench in a back alley and that's pretty much it. You'd think there would be pollution controls against that sort of thing in this day & age, but apparently not. Some of the Paris ghettos were 3rd world conditions. I remember walking into an apartment building and seeing urine literally cascading down the stairs.

France is a breathtakingly beautiful country, but some of its urban areas are incredibly filthy.

[Pinner]

Note to self, "don't hang out with Redliner in Paris"...

[icarus]

Originally Posted by djwazzy

Looks like I'd be starting beginning of June. I'd love to see the French Open and the Tour but I'm sure going to miss watching the Flames and hockey in general.

I've been there during the French Open and it is all but impossible to get tickets to (unlike Wimbledon). Good news for you though is they set up a giant outdoor tv screen in the middle of La Defense showing all the live matches.

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I have never seen water for $8, you must run in some pretty high end circles.

Paris is very expensive now, I would say it has surpassed London. I was there in October and paid about 11€ for two cafes au lait. It's certainly more expensive than it used to be. My manager paid something like 8 or 9 € for a pint of Kronenbourg 1664 (which was not even a proper pint).

[Kybosh]

Maybe it changed since last year, but I never saw any water cost more than about 3 euro for a bottle of water. The most expensive places were also always at tourist locations.

If you're at a restaurant ask for "un carafe d'eau". If you just ask for water they will bring you bottled water but the other is free tap water in a glass bottle.

Also, if you get sick of always drinking espressos or can't handle the milk in cafe au lait (like me), ask for "un café allongé". It's basically an espresso lengthened with hot water (like an americano).

[ShaolinFlame]

Originally Posted by djwazzy

Nope don't work for Total, but I hear there are a lot of expats being transfered to Paris from Calgary. Any major headaches from your end of things with the moves?

Nothing too terrible. It seems only the French guys repatriating tend to be total, um, not nice guys.

I don't do relo services, just moving Household Goods, so I can't tell you much about the relo side of things. HHG shipments to Paris tend to be pretty quick and efficient compared to other places we ship. Problems only really happen when people want to go over their allowance, or things get customs inspected. Keep in mind some of your stuff will break - so definitely take the insurance. Don't try to ship wine. Wine + Sea cans = you own nothing.

It really comes down to whether or not your relo company provides you with realistic expectations. If they are honest throughout the process you should be great, just listen and work with your coordinators. If they withhold some information you could be in for a headache. It is definitely a process where the more you give, the better service you will receive. For example, if you get a copy of your passport to your coordinator a day late, you could be looking at weeks of customs crap and some big extra charges. Of course all of these things are highly specific to the origin and destination of your move.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding the HHG portion of your move!