Getting Settled

Here's the order I went about getting settled after fumbling around trying to figure stuff out!

1. Get a Navigo Metro Card

The metro doesn't sell paper Carte Orange anymore. Stop by a RATP agence commerciale, which are listed on their website under "contacts utiles" and get a Navigo. When I have to get to Nanterre, I buy a monthly pass of 3 zones (around 70 euros). If you get here before school starts and don't need to go to Nanterre, just buy for 2 zones. Its a lot cheaper than buying separate tickets everyday and will make the apartment hunting a lot easier. Navigo works on bus, metro, RER, and makes using the Vélib bike system easier.

2. Get an apartment

3. Get Carte de Sejour
If you are a non-EU citizen, go HERE. I'd try and get a Carte de Sejour ASAP. It makes opening a bank account much easier, and after you have your Carte de Sejour and a bank account, you can apply for a monthly CAF stipend (usually around 150-180euros a month) from the French government. You will get the CAF retroactively for all the time you're paying rent except the 1st month. It's fabulous.

4. Open bank account