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fitness first - st germain

February 26th 2009 20:20
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be very careful signing a contract. i am not working with my bank to nullify the debits from fitness first. I signed a 3 month contract...and 5 months later they are debiting my account. they are liars. scammers. the sales guy is so nice! he will tell you anything...and they say its your word against his. spread the word...don't get scammed by fitness first. st germain. paris, france



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Die Noise! Die!!!!!!!

August 5th 2008 06:38
This morning in Paris, (in "quiet" August) I was awoken at 6:08am by the street cleaner. I tried to go back to sleep. It didn't happen. I finally got up and downloaded a rental on itunes (nothing on TV to watch). Then at about 7am began the racket of the tow truck.....that seemed to go on forever. Then came the noise of the garbage trucks. Then came the noise of the recycling truck - the crashing of glass being dumped into metal, over and over again. Then of course at 8:23am the hammering began outside of my window. I'm sorry, did I forget to mention that I went to bed at 1:45am...nice 4.5 hours. And can you believe people sometimes ask why I'm tired.....


There are supposed to be some kind of noise restrictions in Paris...yeah right. The construction outside my window has been going on for more than a year. Does that seem reasonable? Every day between 8:30am the hammering continues until 5am. It could be okay if I were working - but I'm home every day looking for a job...and some days when you've only had a few hours sleep..its not a very nice way to start a day.....
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Selfish Strikers....I

November 25th 2007 00:33
Berthomé, I am so sorry for your plight as a transit worker caught up in the strike. But let me tell you a little about me. I am a Canadian, who worked REALLY hard to have the money to pay for tution at a Paris based school to pursue a Masters degree. Our exchange rate makes it even more expensive.

For a week, my classmates and I missed classes, took long trecks....and have no reimbursement for our Navigo/ImagineR/Carte Orange.

Unless we are successful entrepreneurs we will never see a fifty-something retirement. And why should we? Our current life expectancy is projected to be 90-120 years. Your retirement benefits were created at a time when life expectancy was much lower.

I plan on residing in France. But it is individuals that refuse to accept change that make it hard for this country to compete in a global economy. You want to retire early? Thank you...you've just added to the future burden of your children.

My father was a union worker. He too was resistant to some change. He used the union to protect his own personal priviledge despite the masses.

It's ironic when the people who choose to work in publc service choose to hold the public captive for their own personal advantage.

The losses you and you cohorts created for students, retirees, parents, average workers, business owners, amounts to much more than the loss you were fighting for.

Do I feel sorry for you. Yes.

I feel sorry that you cannot see the forest for the miniscule bit of tree bark in your face.

Your pensions are being adjusted to reflect the changes in technology. boo hoo on you.
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the strike continues

November 18th 2007 01:36
Walking through Chatelet - Les Alles involved passing by a string of French police. Why? They probaby anticipate a reverse-protest: those of us non-supportive of the functionnaires!!!!

Part of what makes Paris great is the ability to get almost anywhere by Metro. But since Tuesday the metro has been on strike. The only normally functionning line is 14 - an automatic line. It was of course much busier than usual


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Transit Strike - Ligne 14

November 16th 2007 11:31
Baby I love Line 14. No offense to train operators everywhere but there's something to be said for the fully automated line. It's the best line in Paris. Well of course being the newest, it's the cleanest! And today during the strike it runs at completely normal times. So out of love and appreciation for automated trains, I may have to validate my Carte Orange and zoom over to Parc Bercy for a change of scenery.

This is the only part about the strike I don't like. It's affecting my precioius weekend now! I havr to get around Paris to see a bunch of bio (organic) stores for brand management research. Well I guess using my feet is fitting


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There was a stirke???

November 14th 2007 23:59
bonjour! viva la france!

it's great that the french stirke. They use their human power to compel the government to listen...this is democracy. But democracy still lies in the value of human power to motor along by foot to school anyway. I left my apartment and walked through St. Germain-des-Prés along Ile St Louis and then along to the Right Bank. There I heard Ligne 1 whistling underground. So I ran down the stairs and through the non-fare taking turnstyles to the platform and in a few minutes I was bopping along to Nation - a short walk to school


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another adventure at ZENA

November 13th 2007 18:23
Today my French friend went with me to Zena on Rue de Tournon in Paris to discuss the reimbursement of the item I had returned. To make a long and particularly funny story short - the lady refused to waiver in her stance. Even in front of other clients she raised her voice, told us to select something else or get out. Unfortunately, she mistakenly believes because I speak with an accent and not-so-good grammar that I cannot understand French when spoken by fluent speakers. So as a segue to this I'd like to note that natural language aquisition like (like a baby's) is to understand what one hears before one speaks.

Well now I guess there are several things to do. First, call consumer affairs. Second call Mastercard. I guess, already an advocate of consumers in the U.S. and being in France while Speedy Sarkozy tries to make it easier to do business in France....I find it particularly disturbing that one would scream at the top of thier lungs (well I guess that analogy is debatable) in their store when someone is trying to make good on the world of the proprietor. You see before event applying the law of the European Union, the simple truth is that this shop owner verbally said that I could return the item - she did not say reimburse


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Buyer Beware at Zena

November 11th 2007 01:41
Should you visit or move to France please be wary of making large purchases from small shops. This is probably not limited to France - but I can't speculate about other countries. Upon arriving in France, I was bombarded with tasks. I had just started my Masters degree when I finally found an apt....aka...Chambre de Bonne. I chose location over size. I have not guarantees of staying upon graduation. Sure I know I will get a job because I believe in the wise words of Yoda "there is no try only do". Anyway, the bombardement led to my frustration with finding curtains for my new apartment. I visited a store "Zena" on Rue de Tournon and was persuaded to buy an Indian handmade textile for 75 euros. I was told at the time of purchase that I could return the item - in English. When I attempted to return the textile becuase it was not up to snuff...I was arrogantly told no. I can say arrogantly because after living here for 3 months you learn to distinguish between cultural differences and true arrogance. This led to a debate, hurling of insults (not started by me) and so forth. What surprised me was when I said, " Everybody accepts returns," the retort was "I am not everybody I am SOMEBODY. Really I AM SOMEBODY." Really? I quickly corrected the lady that if you need to proclaim you are "Somebody" you are only aspiring to BE Somebody and haven't quite yet arrived. Ok, I had to tell you because its just so funny. After being accused of tarnishing the garment I left with a credit slip in hand. Later a French friend insisted that actually the law requires her to accept a refund. And here are some other pieces of Consumer Law in the European Union (EU) to help you out.

Items in store windows must have a price


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Carte de Sejours et EDF

October 25th 2007 11:57
The process of applying for a carte de sejours can be an oh so fun one! If you are coming as a student I advise you ask your school if they will be processing your papers or not. They can also give you some clarification on the process and how to overcome seeming obstacles. For example, my school is taking care of processing all students papers. They advised me that I no longer have the burdern of showing all my finances. I only have to prove that I have already established a french bank account.

The trickiest part has been the proof that the electricty is in my name. The French seem to fully expect people to make up fake rental agreements or something. They cross-check everything. When I moved in the previous renter and I sent a letter to EDF (the hydro company) to inform them of the change. The previous renter swears she sent the letter - but three weeks later I still had not received a confirmation. So I set off to the EDF office


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parlez-vous...

October 19th 2007 22:00
Well there are many bureaucratic things to navigate in France. Let me share some insight that may make the move easier.

If you are moving to Paris it might be wise to get a temporary flat to give you some time to assess the different arrondissements...aka...neighborhoods or boroughs


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