student life in paris
SAFETY
Safety guidelines and Advice
To promote safe behaviors while in France, the program organizes a mandatory session during orientation week. The following information is a synthesis of the advice and instructions provided during this session.
Given the United States involvement in global politics, the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in France have advised U.S. citizens “to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.”
Your university would like you to register with the U.S. Department of State; this registration alerts the government to your presence in France and would allow them to contact you should it be necessary.
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/
Please note that the program does not register the participants. This registration is under your own responsibility.
Please take the following precautions seriously. These tips are based on precautions issued by the American embassy and inspired by earlier situations:
1. Avoid drawing attention to yourself as an American through your clothing or by speaking English loudly in public spaces. It is unlikely that you will be singled out, but you will enjoy your semester more if you look and sound more like a local rather than a tourist.
2. Remember that many foreigners live in Paris. They are not considered as tourists but as foreign locals. You must become one of them!
3. Avoid American-styled or franchised restaurants and bars which are mostly popular with tourists (Starbucks, Burger King, McDonald’s)
4. Keep in mind that political demonstrations may end up as confrontations between law enforcement and the demonstrators. If you are participating, act sensibly and avoid being trapped in crowd movements.
5. Paris is a big city and as a Parisian, you should always respect basic urban safety rules: be particularly cautious: —at night and around popular nightspots
—in public transportation
—at ATMs
—when you speak English in public spaces
—around major train stations
—when you are intoxicated
6. Parisians dress rather conservatively. It is rather a good idea to imitate them.
7. Do not start a public argument when unnecessary.
You are required to fill out a travel form every time you travel outside of Paris.
Despite this long list of precautions, keep in mind that—unlike advertised in the U.S. —Paris area is safe and that Europe in general is very safe.
Emergency security routine
The program has unfortunately experienced several extreme situations in the past few years. Paris was the theater of several catastrophes, the last one being the Covid-19 pandemic. In face of these emergencies, UIUC and its Paris center put together several security routines that demonstrated total efficiency each time.
Act of war / act of terrorism / mass shooters / natural disaster
The following security routine can be supplemented with extra steps depending on the situation.
In the unlikely case of one of the above situations in Paris or near suburbs, please take the following actions:
1. If your cellphone is off, turn it on. Do not use it to call or text except to Dr. Bondurand. You must be reachable at all times.
2. Return immediately to your homestay or residence. Send a text to Dr. Bondurand to tell him that you are on your way.
3. Answer Dr. Bondurand’s text when you receive it by only “ok”
4. Once that you have communicated with Dr. Bondurand and that you are safe at home, make one short call to family (or text or email depending on what is available) to tell them that you are ok. Ask them not to keep contacting you until they get your green light for it.
5. Wait calmly for further directives from Dr. Bondurand
Please understand and remember that your family cannot help you from abroad. The only people that can act and help are the ones in charge at the program.
If for some reason you cannot go back to your home, accompany another student to his/hers, or go to the FIE.
If you are in another city or country and hear about an attack in Paris, please send an email or text to Dr. Bondurand. Do not forget to fill out travel forms.
Dr. Bondurand will send a text message asking if you are safe and sound. Respond briefly. Once the program has located all the students, it will contact the University of Illinois. The university will contact your family and be in permanent touch with them. The program has no duty towards the participants’ families.
Never contact your family before contacting Dr. Bondurand.
Leave your line free for being contacted by local staff.
Useful links:
UIUC Study Abroad office’s International Health + Safety page