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About the author | |
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Foreword | |
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Preface | |
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Acknowledgements | |
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Introduction | |
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The French way--les Francais: les usages et les humeurs | |
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Who are the French? | |
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Social contacts and relationships | |
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Courtesy and conformity | |
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The art of living... and living well--art de vivre... et bon vivant | |
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Mode et couture | |
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What gift from France? | |
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France | |
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Overview | |
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French institutions | |
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Diplomatic relations | |
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France's population in numbers | |
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French but also European | |
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An economic point of view | |
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22 metropolitan regions | |
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100 departments: 96 in the Hexagon | |
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City folk and country folk | |
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A detour in the Ile-de-France | |
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Living and working in France--resider et travailler en France | |
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Changing places: an old story | |
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French law | |
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International organizations in France | |
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The legal structure of French companies | |
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Organization and hierarchy | |
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Employee representation | |
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Company representation | |
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Foreign representatives | |
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An outline of social legislation | |
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Social security | |
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Taxation--fiscalite | |
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The rhythm of life | |
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Professional ways and customs--us et coutumes professionnels | |
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A few words about the French language | |
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A French conversation | |
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The French language | |
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The keys to communication | |
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Learning French | |
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Deciphering codes | |
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The French media | |
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Home comforts--accueil tout confort | |
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Where? | |
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Searching for a home | |
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Rental/lease contract--contrat de location/bail | |
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House and personal insurance--assurances du logement et des personnes | |
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Moving in and moving out--demenager et emmenager | |
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DIY | |
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Communications | |
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Dogs and cats | |
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French weather | |
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Buyer beware!--consommateur averti! | |
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Money and currency | |
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Shopping | |
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Useful hints | |
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Legal advice--conseils juridiques | |
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Cars and traffic | |
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Security and the police | |
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Travelling | |
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For the young--enfants et juniors | |
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The French family | |
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ABC for the little ones | |
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French school | |
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Nursery school--l'ecole maternelle | |
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Primary school: from maternelle to the ecole elementaire | |
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Secondary school: from 6th to terminale | |
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College and lycee | |
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International studies | |
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Studying in France | |
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Higher education | |
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Private schools | |
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European programmes | |
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Things to know | |
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Let's talk about health | |
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The French and their health | |
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Choosing a doctor | |
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Hospital or clinic--public or private? | |
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Some medical and paramedical specialities | |
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Nursing care | |
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The chemist's shop--pharmacie | |
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Emergency--24 hours a day | |
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Healthy children | |
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'Prevention is better than cure' | |
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Mineral water: do the French put water in their wine? | |
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What to do when you are not working--loisirs et temps libre | |
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Free time | |
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Throughout the year | |
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Pastimes and passions | |
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Entertainment | |
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Weekends | |
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Holiday time | |
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Once a year | |
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Bistros and cafe terraces | |
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Comme chez vous... en France | |
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At home... in France | |
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An enriching experience? | |
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Four phases of adaptation | |
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The spontaneity of children | |
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Homesickness and nostalgia | |
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Friendly places | |
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Useful information | |
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Key dates in the history of France | |
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Political and economic organizations | |
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The metric system | |
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Forming a company in France | |
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Social security provision | |
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Index | |