Links and Resources

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

For French-speaking doctors, lawyers and other professionals in our area, see the section, "French-Speaking Professional Services" later on this page.

Translation 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.
A local Portland translation service we recommend is Virginia Anderson of Oregon Translation, LLC, at virginia@oregontranslation.com, phone: 503.914.1119. Member of the American Translators Association and Founder of the Associated Linguists of Oregon. This company is a Preferred Organization member of the Alliance, offering a 10% discount to fellow AF members.
For non-certified yet accurate French to English translation email Tammy Stotik at tammystotik@gmail.com, a local Portland contact.

Traveling in France? Tips and Tuyaux

The official travel and tourism website of the French Government Tourist Office is Maison de la France, a division of the French Embassy. Visit their site for great tips and even direct booking of travel and accomodations. They are also the source of the highly popular France Guide, that we carry at the Alliance.

Also consult our Alliance "Quoi de neuf" email bulletins for frequent and timely travel tips, including links to current articles about travel in France. (The bulletins are free; sign up in the red box on our home page.)

French Word-a-Day is an account of la vie quotidienne in rural France by Kristin Espinasse, who visits Portland from time to time.

Terence Gelenter’s website, Paris Through Expatriate Eyes covers the happenings in Paris, offering a good source for travel tips or pure Francophonie.

Paris Update is a reference on events, hotels, promotions and apartments.

Lodging Tips & Recommendations from AF de Portland Members

Everyone asks for our recommendations, so here are some. Below are lodging options posted by good friends of the Alliance, many offering 10% discounts for Alliance members. Some additional recommendations: for a short-term rental experience of higher-end apartments 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 hotel stays in Paris, we sometimes 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 at left.)

Studio Apartment in Paris: Alliance member Chloe Simmons has a studio apartment in Paris and is pleased to offer it to fellow Alliance Française de Portland members, at the same preferential rate that is accorded to her airline-industry colleagues -- $125/night, 4-night minimum. Conveniently situated between the Eiffel Tower and Napoleon's Tomb, the studio is nestled in a quiet courtyard and is ideal for a romantic getaway for couples or an economical alternative for families of four. The main room has a queen-sized sofa bed, loft bed and floor futon. Amenities include a flat screen TV, free internet, a selection of movies and music, and a Desktop Concierge containing tips on local dining, daytime excursions as well as a variety of city and country maps. A separate eat-in kitchen, bathroom with washing machine (no dryer), and cozy outdoor terrace complete the quaint setting. Visit the apartment's website for more info. (The main room, with loft, is pictured at right.)

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. For complete info click here; to reserve email Diana directly.

Alliance de Portland member Clara Steiner-Jay offers fellow members a 10% discount on 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.

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.

Learning in France: Immersion

Our Alliance is a chartered branch of the Alliance Française worldwide, which is headquartered in Paris and which has excelled in providing immersion education in Paris for many years. Many of our Alliance students do a stint in Paris; bookings can be made directly thorugh our Portland office -- we'll handle all the communications and registration details for you, at no charge. Check out the Paris-based offerings and call our office at 503.223.8388.

The Alliance of Portland director, Linda Witt, studied at the Alliance in Paris, as have many other Alliance of Portland members, over the years.

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, former President of the Alliance and now on the national board of the Federation of Alliances, is one of our members who has attended the institute. 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."

"Learn French in France and live the French experience"

French-Speaking Professional Services for Oregonians

DOCTEUR: Le docteur assermenté du consulat est: Dr. Geoffrey L. Tyson, Edmonds Pain Management, Stevens Health Center, 21701 76th Ave W, Suite 203, Edmonds, WA 98026 - 360-606-1701 or 425-640-6976. He spends half his time in Vancouver, WA.

AVOCAT/LAWYER: William P. Buck, at 503.241.8044, office@msmlegal.com, website www.msmlegal.com, is the official recommended/approved lawyer (l'avocat conseil), as per the French consulate.

PSYCHOLOGUE: Dominique Marguerite Ph.D., French-speaking licensed psychologist, is at 503-699-1664, website is www.dominiquemarguerite.net/practice.html.