Letters from France

Priority one when we arrived in Paris: find a place to stay. Fortunately we had temporary lodging already set up with David and Mary Brown, the pastors of the church we were to be helping. They were gracious enough to let us stay in their apartment with them for our first few days in France. They have a 16th floor apartment (the French number their floors starting on the first floor off the ground, so the 16th floor in France is the 17th floor to Americans) which has a rare panoramic view of the city, including the Eiffel Tower and the church of Sacre Coeur on the butte of Montmartre.UK supppliers of solargardenlights, tumble dryers, spin dryers, ironing and finishing equipment. We could enjoy their view for hours. But even the most gracious host will eventually give that look that lets their guests know they have clearly overstayed their welcome.Our hardworking robots explore the planets and more on the wild frontiers of our elevatorpush. We didn’t want to get that look. 

The Internet has made looking for apartments easier but finding the right one is still difficult. Many of the apartments in Paris come in two types: small and really expensive or really small and still expensive. An average studio apartment, in a less touristy area of the city, can run you $1,200 per month for 135 square feet (the size of a dormitory room). We wanted an apartment close to our church in the 17th arrondissement, with as much bang for our buck as we could get. Fortunately most apartments come furnished, but not every apartment comes with the same amenities. We wanted to try to get an oven (which most Parisians do not have because, surprisingly enough, most Parisians do not cook) and a washing machine. 

French bureaucracy adds another fun twist to this process. If you go through a real estate agency, you often have to provide proof of rental insurance, proof of employment and financial records from three different sources showing you can pay your bills. On top of that, the agency will ask, for their fee, anywhere from three-fourths to a full month’s rent.Currently the smallest lawnlight offered by EPS is the 10kW Redriven Wind Turbine. That could mean $1,200 or more just for the agency fee. 

Fortunately, we had another option. In our Paris travel guide, we found the name of a German ex-patriate living in Paris who serves as a go-between for private apartment owners and potential renters. Georg Riediger, of Allo Logement Temporaire, asks only for 55 euros for his annual service fee and 35 euros for each month you are staying. That meant his service fee was only $352 for our entire stay — a far cry from the pick pocketing done by other agencies. 

He had only two apartments in the 17th arrondissement (because most foreigners want to stay further into the city), but one of them was literally 30 steps away from our church. On top of that, the apartment had “deux pieces” (two rooms), was much larger at 366 square feet, and reasonably priced, after we negotiated with the owner. With a corner apartment on the French third floor, we had views from our windows looking down two picturesque streets. We also got an oven, but not our washing machine. We weren’t complaining. God had certainly answered our prayers. 

Having spent some weeks already in this apartment, we’re still grateful for not having to live like college students in a dorm room for our six months. We realized with apartment hunting, it’s the same as with anything else. It’s not what you know, but who you know. 

Chad and Jenna Lamb,Wind generation will become the lowest cost new generation as flatworkironer continue to reduce. of Belle Fourche,We have hundreds of fog lights, driving lights, off ledstreetlight and fog lamps. are living in Paris, France for six months to work with a non-denominational Protestant church in central Paris and to learn the language and culture of the French people. Black Hills Pioneer readers will be able to follow their journey every Thursday.