Homestays

What are the VWPP housing arrangements? VWPP students are housed in the homes of Parisians, most of whom have housed our students successfully in the past and have received favorable reviews. They have all been visited and interviewed by the Assistant Director and are monitored regularly.

The Vassar-Wesleyan Program in Paris fee includes room and partial board with your Paris host (a continental breakfast every day + 3 dinners a week), and a meal stipend to cover meals that are not provided by your host until the return of the group flight at the end of the semester.

Students must live in housing arranged by the VWPP except for those who wish to live with a relative living in Paris. In such cases, students must indicate this on the housing form and contact the Director of International Studies (Wesleyan) or the Director of International Programs (Vassar) for permission. The cost of room and partial board will be deducted from the program fee in such cases. Full year students may ask the director of the VWPP for permission to arrange housing on their own for the second semester provided they live with native French speakers.

With whom will I live? VWPP hosts are French speakers who are curious and interested in interacting with international students. The people most likely to take in students in Paris are women living alone (who may work during the day, with or without children at home), older women or couples, retired or still working, whose children have or are starting to leave home, who enjoy housing students whom they find pleasant, agreeable, and intellectually enriching company. They choose this form of supplemental income over others because it offers more personable contact and provides an exchange of cultures for everyone involved. Some hosts with young children, teenagers, or children in the 20s who are studying in Paris may also have an extra room to rent, but these are more rare. 

From time to time, another student or young person may also be hosted at the same time, each with his or her own room. 

The VWPP provides this type of housing because it encourages our students’ daily immersion in the language and culture of France. Every semester students say their spoken French and understanding of French culture have improved greatly mainly through daily contact with their French speaking hosts, specifically through dinner conversation and daily interactions with their hosts at home. These situations vary widely but you will ordinarily have daily contact with their hosts.

In general, if you are ready to try new things and to adapt to French customs, living in a « chambre chez l’habitant » can be a rewarding experience that provides an opportunity to observe and interact with French people, and a good resource to help you improve your spoken French and learn first hand how Parisians live.

What will my housing look like? You will have your own single room in your Parisian host’s apartment and access to the host’s bathroom, which you will share with some or all of the other people in the household. More rarely a private sink and/or toilet and even more rarely a private bathroom are available in Paris appartements. Paris living spaces and architecture render more than one bathroom quite rare in most Parisian apartments, but the toilets are usually separated from the bathing facilites.  A few student rooms are located outside of the host’s apartment in the same or an adjacent building, with their own cooking and bathing facilities. You will also have access to a washing machine, kitchen privileges, an internet connection, and sometimes a landline phone, but you will not have unlimited access to them. Parisian architecture ranges from ancient to modern; some buildings have elevators, and many do not. Please let us know if there are mobility considerations of which we need to be aware.

Where will my housing be located? All students are housed conveniently near a metro or tram station; all French hosts live in Paris or just outside of Paris. Students must be prepared to live in all areas of greater Paris. They will be considered commuting students, with an average commuting time of 35 minutes one way. Paris has an excellent, extensive, and sophisticated public transportation system, which makes getting around very convenient from all areas. Every area where students are housed has an array of local shops and some public space (square, park, pedestrian area) within walking distance.

What about meals and the meal plan? Your hosts will provide 7 breakfasts and 3 dinners per week. These dinners provide an agreeable time for structured interaction over mealtime, without being a burdenfor either student or host. It is also the most popular solution for students who may have evening classes, theater or opera evenings or other evening commitments, but still wish to share some meal times with their hosts. It is likewise a good solution for students who can do some of their cooking and want to eat some of their meals out (student restaurants known as the “Restau U”, inexpensive menus like Asian restaurants or “boulangeries”, or dinners out with friends). VWPP students receive a food stipend to cover their meals not provided by their hosts when in Paris.

Regular daily mealtimes are the norm in France, and food and time spent at mealtime important parts of the culture. Because some of your meals are provided by your hosts, you must be ready to try new things, must make every effort to attend planned dinners, and should offer to help set and clear the table. Although you can ask to have a meal put aside for you occasionally if you let your host know in advance, missed meals are not refunded. If you have specific dietary customs, restrictions, or allergies, please make sure you note them on your housing questionnaire.

What way of life can I expect as a student living in a Parisian home? The readier you are to adapt to your host family’s habits, mealtimes, customs, and use of space, the more you will be able to benefit from your relationship. Students and hosts often establish a warm relationship of mutual exchange, but this takes effort and good will on the part of both parties. You’re likely to experience the French passion for debate, discussion and intellectual challenge, especially during mealtimes.

You will not be living in your own place and must expect to respect the house rules. After you use common areas you are expected to keep them clean, and keep your room in order.

Unlike “homestays” such as a high school student might have with a host or exchange family, you will be welcomed as an adult paying guest in a room in a French home, and much of the contact you have will depend on your personality and efforts, and the personalities and efforts of the person(s) with whom you will be living. You will be accorded the freedom as well as the responsibilities of an adult. You will not have a curfew and will have your own keys to the host’s home. However, out of courtesy and for your safety, you need to keep the people you are living with informed of your comings and goings, especially if you will be out overnight or traveling.

You may not invite friends to stay overnight at their homestay. It is program policy to ask hosts not to house their students’ guests. Asking your host if it is possible will put them in an uncomfortable position, so we request that you refrain from asking. You should also limit inviting friends over to a minimum. The ‘drop-in’ culture is uncommon in France. For example, whereas Americans tend to invite people to their home for entertainment, most French people meet their friends and acquaintances outside the home, in a restaurant or café, partly for reasons of space, partly for reasons of time, partly to keep private and social life separate. Students also meet each other in libraries, parks, in other public spaces in Paris, and go on cultural outings. If you wish to invite a close friend or relative to visit for a few hours, you should first ask your host and then introduce your guest to him, her or them, and expect to have a short, polite conversation. 

How can I insure my housing experience will go smoothly? Students will attend an orientation session dedicated to housing and intercultural questions during which the VWPP will provide you with essential tips from past students and important information on daily issues and cultural codes to help you avoid common pitfalls and misunderstandings and integrate smoothly and successfully into your Parisian housing experience.

The VWPP provides you with a checklist of specifics to your housing situation to help you when you arrive in Paris. During your first week in your homestay, you should make sure that you understand them: room upkeep, use of kitchen and bath facilities, mealtimes, and so on. 

Students and hosts agree to adhere to the VWPP residence commitment that you will find in the next section as well as a Covid protocol. Please read them carefully. You should go over these points with your French host during your first week (they will be provided to you again when you arrive) and ask the Assistant Director any questions you have about any of these topics.

The Assistant Director and Director are available throughout the semester to serve as an intermediary between you and the homestay, but you are responsible for being informed about the specifis of your housing, respecting the house rules, and keeping the VWPP informed of any issues that arise in a timely fashion.

The program purchases a renter’s insurance policy for students housed by the program, covering some losses or damage you may cause or incur, with a 150€ deductible at the student’s expense. Lost or stolen key replacements, and the cost of repairs for broken items not covered by the insurance, will be charged to the student’s account.


VWPP Residence Commitment

  • The student commits to :

Communicate her/his preferences to the hosts, honestly and thoroughly, from the beginning of stay, including discussing in detail her/his meal preferences, while doing his/her best to adapt to the host’s eating habits. Distinguish medical allergies or restrictions from personal customs and preferences to the host and on their housing questionnaire.

Request information about the host’s living habits and customs and how the house is run

Respect the host’s habits and schedules and adapt to them, particularly the schedule for house cleaning and meals and use of common areas (kitchen, bathroom, living-room …

Tidy the kitchen and bathroom daily after use

Maintain the host informed of his/her activities (whenever there is an impact on the host’s schedule), such as the time at which the student will return in the evening, and any trips on weekends and holidays* .

Greet family (“Bonjour Madame”) when seeing host/s for the first time daily and entering the home, and “Au revoir Madame” when leaving the apt.

Protect his/her copy of the key. In case of loss or theft of the keys, the student will be financially responsible for changing all the locks involved and supplying copies of the new keys to each family member. The VWPP should be notified immediately and a locksmith certified by the VWPP insurance company must be used.

Tidy and clean his/her bedroom on a regular basis or agree to the family doing so following the host’s habits and schedules

Receive phone calls, if using the host’s phone, at reasonable times previously fixed with the family. Keep calls short. Hold late night calls or Skype discreetly so as not to disturb the household.

Ask permission before inviting guests to the home during the day and respect the host’s guest policy. Overnight guests are not allowed.

Make an effort to speak French whenever possible, to voluntarily engage in conversation and common activities with his/her host whenever possible and appropriate on a daily basis, use computer and cell phone in bedroom and not in common spaces.

Student smoking is prohibited in host homes.

Drinking or keeping alcohol is not permitted in students’ rooms.

Follow program health and safety protocols.

  • The hosts commit to :

Appropriately welcome the student and take good care in getting to know him/her from the beginning of stay. Integrate the student into the family’s daily life and facilitate conversation as possible and appropriate, and speak only French with him/her.

Communicate family’s habits and schedules to the student and inform how the house is run upon his/her arrival.

Communicate with the student about her/his preferences, honestly and thoroughly, from the beginning of stay, including discussing in detail her/his meal preferences, while the student does his/her best to adapt to the family’s eating habits. Distinguish medical allergies or restrictions from customs and personal preferences. Request information about the student’s meal preferences, eating habits and restrictions and do best to accommodate them. Adapt the portions to the student’s needs.

Receive the student in an independent, heated bedroom, furnished with a bed in good condition, a table or desk to work, a closet or storage space and a good lamp.

Give access to a bathroom for daily shower or bath and define schedule use. Give access to kitchen for evening meals on days not taken with the host, and define schedule use.

Provide breakfast everyday. Breakfast should consist of fruit juice, cereal and milk, bread, butter, jam and hot drink unless otherwise specified by the student.

Provide 3 dinners per week, to be shared with the host. Dinner should consist of at least a main dish (meat or fish with vegetables), cheese and desert or fruit. If the student is vegetarian, meals should include additional vegetables, legumes and dairy products.

Provide a phone number or friends’ or relatives’ contact information in case of an emergency, particularly when the host is away from home longer than 48 hours. Inform the VWPP for absences longer than 4 days. Make sure all emergency telephone numbers are posted next to the phone easily available.

Provide the student with a set of keys to the home. In case of loss or theft of the student’s keys, inform the VWPP immediately. A locksmith certified by the VWPP insurance company must be used if the host is to be reimbursed.

Provide the student with linen and ensure laundering every two weeks for bed linen and every week for towels

Ensure laundering of the students’ clothes or give access to the washing machine with a clear use policy and show the student how to use the machine.

Housekeeping: the students’ room will be cleaned by the host or cleaner, or kept clean by the student, in the same manner as the other members of the household.

Allow reception of phone calls on the home telephone and agree on a clear policy about calling out (local, international, emergency calls, prepaid cards …)

Set up a clear guest policy (if allowed, and during the day only– hours, frequency, duration)

Respect the student’s privacy and quiet study time in his/her room

Inform the VWPP of absences longer than 4 days. If the family cannot ensure that the 3 meals per week be provided and eaten with a family member during their absence, ensure that these meals are then taken before or after their absence.

Inform the VWPP of any changes in family composition.

Follow program health and safety protocols.

*VWPP students are required to fill out an online “formulaire de voyage” with itinerary details prior to travelling.

How do I arrange my VWPP housing? The VWPP will reserve a specific housing situation for you based on your answers on the housing questionnaire and your housing interview, so please read the housing information above and fill out the housing questionnaire very carefully. Please disclose thoroughly your preferences and needs so that we can determine the best fit for you.

Housing Questionnaire and Zoom housing meetings When you have your password to the VWPP database, please login to the VWPP administrative portal at https://data.vwpp.org to complete your general information and housing questionnaire. Hannah Gersten, the Assistant Director of the VWPP, will meet with you individually by Zoom the semester before you arrive. The dates of the meetings will be posted in the pre-registration timeline. You must have filled out the housing questionnaire on the VWPP database before your meeting. Should you change your mind about your housing preference, your eating habits, or any other significant information after you have completed your survey and before your arrival in Paris, you must send a message immediately to housing@vwpp.org, so that adjustments to your placement can be made in advance.