Saint-Etienne is not the most famous French city appart for its football team and the warm welcoming people. Their is though a quite important university with a lot of activties for students, living here is quite cheap and not far from Lyon for those who prefer bigger cyties. It's the perfect city for students who like countryside sport, and being outside.
Stéphanois (people living in in saint-etienne) have always worked like beavers: they are farmers, collier, lace marker, gunsmiths.
The “gaga” is the local language with a local accent. Some of the expressions: beauseigne: oh y poor / cacasson: to kneel
Some personalities from saint Etienne: Bernard lavillier: singer / Charles Exbrayat : writer
Football: it is famous for its colour the green and the team’s name is ASSE or “Les Verts” = the greens. It is the most famous French football team from the late sixties which still embodies the stéphanoise identity. The fans are also famous for livening things up and cheering in the stadium (ask your host to sing you the famous song!!). For the fans of football a museum exists (=> the best from Saint-Etienne => museums)
Food:
La rapé is a potato galette with eggs and fried
La patia: mash potatoes cooked for hours with cream and butter (so healthy and so good when it’s cold outside)
Potato with Sarasin (cheese)
Chocolate Weiss: it ‘s world wild famous
Saint-Etienne has got it's own medical university. Since 2015 the building is brand new and rigth next to the hospital. The hospital is quite important it has got many specialities.
- The breakfast and the dinner are at the cost of the French Host
- The lunch is at the cost of the Hospital Restaurant
The old Outgoings are asked to welcome the Incomings in their flat/house.
To come to Saint-Etienne, the easiest way is to take a flight to Lyon "Airport of Saint-Exupery" and then take the train to Saint-Etienne's train station "Chateaucreux". The other way is to arrive at "Paris' Airports" and take a train to Saint-Etienne. Then, at Saint-Etienne you should take a monthly ticket which will allow you to take daily the tramway.
To appreciate the culture of Saint-Etienne :
- Coal mine
- Design musem
- Countryside
Lyon, Vienne and Le Puy-en-Velay are really nice cities nearby which were very important in french history.
(In September, Le Puy-en-Velay hold a large medieval festival, and the whole city delve into the past)
You must come with a certificate of vaccination for Heptitis B / diphteria / tetanus / polio / tuberculosis
You will be given a public liability insurance at your arrival for no charge
At arrival, we will offer you a Welcome Pack with suprises and all the informations about Saint-Etienne and the countryside. Serveral activities will be organised by the International Pole of the Students' Association, with the medical students. We organize a "National Food & Drink Party" an evening during your clerkship. So, it could be nice if everyone cook a speciality of its town or country. During the month, you can take a drink at the Martyrs' Street or buy local chocolat at the "Weiss Shop".