Other Links
Translations - For translating services:
- Our Alliance teachers are often available to tackle translation projects, English to French and French to English; pricing is $45/hour. Call our office at 503.223.8388. Additionally, two of our teachers (Jane Fabulet-Roberts and Carine Zimber) operate a translation service that offers certified translations from English to French; contact www.l2translations.com -- member of the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society.
- For non-certified yet accurate French to English translation email Tammy Stotik at tstotik@willamette.edu, a local Portland contact.
- Another local Portland translation service we recommend is Virginia Anderson at linguist@canvasdreams.com, phone: 503.840.5445.
Consular and Trade Services
Claudine Fisher, Honorary Consul of France in Portland - State of Oregon
Department of Canadian Studies
Portland State University (141F Cramer Hall,1721 SW Broadway)
Portland, Oregon 97207-0751
(503) 725-5298
Jack Cowan, Honorary Consul of France in Seattle, Washington
Executive Director of French American Chamber Commerce of the Pacific Northwest
2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 490
Seattle, WA 98121
Tel : (206) 443-4703 Fax : (206)448-4218
E-mail: consul@faccpnw.org (for Consular questions) or jack@faccpnw.org (for trade or FACC questions)
Website: www.faccpnw.org
Travel/Lodging Tips - Recommendations from AF de Portland Members and Staff
Everyone asks for our recommendations, so here are some: for a great short-term rental experience in the heart of Paris, contact Philippe or Christophe at Guest Apartment Services. We've used them and recommend them for the quality of the properties, the awesome locations and the service. For longer-term rentals, they in turn recommend Paris Attitude. Also recommended as a fine resource is FUSAC: created in 1988 FUSAC (France USA Contacts) is a free magazine containing classified ads and advertisements for the English-speaking community (Americans, British, Canadians, Irish, Australians, New Zealanders, etc.) of Paris and the surrounding area. Visit them at FUSAC. For short-term stays in Paris, we lodge our groups at the Hôtel les Jardins du Luxembourg.
Chez Cécile - Chambre d'hôte - 77 rue de Vaugirard - 75006 - Paris: Friends of the Alliance, Olivier and Cécile Fainsilber, have a pair of adjoining studio apartments in Paris that they rent to visitors, and which are recommended by Alliance members. Near Montparnasse, just around the corner from the Alliance's Paris headquarters that are on Boulevard Raspail. Alliance de Portland members get 10% off the published pricing. As Cécile describes the apartments: Deux studios qui partagent une entrée privée et une terrasse sur jardin. Combinaison des studios idéale pour familles ou deux couples. Mezzanines basses de plafond, peu adaptées aux amateurs de grands espaces ou aux somnambules! Dans le quartier Saint-Germain des Près à Paris, proche des jardins du Luxembourg, du Bon Marché, et des restaurants de Montparnasse. Situation idéale au coeur de la Rive Gauche pour découvrir Paris. Guide d'accueil et brochures fournis. 5 lignes d'autobus et 2 stations de Métro à proximité. More info including pricing, maps and email: click Chez Cécile. (Apartment patio is pictured upper left.)
Alliance de Portland member Diana Shenk owns a luxury beachfront condo on the Côte d'Azur, in Antibes -- one of the most beautiful areas on the Riviera, and with easy access to Cannes and Nice. Located on the beach Plage Salis, the condo is a short 10-15 minute walk along the water to the center of town (pictured here), has two seaview balconies and a pool; sleeps up to 4 with one bedroom and sleeper/sofa. For Alliance members Diana offers 10% off the published pricing, and for the period Nov. 1, 2007 through March 1, 2008, a limited-time promotion of 2 weeks for the price of 1. For complete info click here; to reserve email Diana directly.
Alliance de Portland member Clara Steiner-Jay offers fellow members a 10% discount on 2008 bookings of her Languedoc home (pictured here at left) which is in a winegrowing village just a short drive from Mediterranean beaches and with many historic sites nearby. Call 503.628.2033 for info/booking; complete information online.
The Frémaux family vacation cottage (pictured here at right): La "petite maison d'Herbilly" "La petite maison d'Herbilly" is available for weekly rental. Ideally situated in a quiet village near the Loire River and close to the Châteaux country (Chambord is even accessible by bicycle!), this country cottage is a two-story stone house. Fully furnished and recently remodeled with all the modern comfort, private courtyard and fireplace, it is ideal for 4 adults or a family of up to 6. Bicycles available. Convenient train or road access from Paris (90 minutes). Contact Sylvain at 503.443.2464 or sfremaux@comcast.net for booking info.
Portland/Normandy Home Exchange or Normandy Home Rental, November 2008 - January 2009: Jane Fabulet-Roberts, one of our Alliance teachers who hails from Rouen, has family who will visit Portland in November 2008 through the beginning of 2009. They wish to do a home exchange or to rent out their Rouen home during this period. For complete details including a full page of photos, click here.
French Word-a-Day
is a delightful three times per week French lesson and rambling account of la vie quotidienne in rural France. The page’s author, Kristin Espinasse, a transplanted Arizonian, hosts the site and writes a personal record of her daily life and experiences living in France.
Terence Gelenter’s website, Paris Through Expatriate Eyes is a consistently interesting and broad ranging picture as to what is happening in Paris, currently and upcoming. He is quite active in promoting French events in the San Francisco area and in promoting interesting tours, events and related information. A really worthwhile link, if you travel to Paris or plan on traveling there or just want to broaden your Francophonie...
Buying a Home in France/Other Relocation Services to France For everything you need to know about buying a home or an apartment in France, consult Seattle-based Laurence Raybois who has written a book, Chez Moi, The Foreigners Guide to Buying a Home in France and has a comprehensive website. Raybois offers consulting, guidance, research and intervention for English-speaking owners and buyers of real estate in France, including research of constraints and covenants, resolution of issues with French government agencies, neighbors and artisans, and assistance in obtaining insurance and utilities. She also assists Americans moving to France with professional/career issues, as well as children's school issues. Visit the website and contact Mme. Raybois directly for a free assessment of your personal situation.
A number of Alliance Française de Portland students have attended the Institut de Français in Villefranche sur mer, just east of Nice on the Côte d'Azur. Besides being located in a beautiful setting on the Mediterranean, it offers an excellent total immersion program for all levels of French students. Typical immersion course runs four weeks, with new classes starting each month. One can sign up for a minimum of two weeks, starting at the beginning of a month, as suits your time, schedule and budget.
Joe Rivlin, President of the Alliance, is one of the Alliance Portland members who attended the school. He chose it "because it seemed to be about the only 'serious' immersion study program. Mostly study with a bit of time off rather than mostly holiday with a bit of study thrown in."
"Not just a language course, an experience!"
– M. Frederic Latty, Executive Assistant
Paris Update is a handy reference on events, hotels, promotions, apartments and other useful information for those traveling to France or planning to travel there.
La Guingette is an excellent resource for intermediate to advanced French students. Each month it features a series of three interviews on current or interesting topics. The dialogs can be downloaded onto a computer or saved on an IPod or a similar device.