>28 ans student

Well its not hard but weird. Once you are a student and > 28 years, you lose the right to be treated like other youngsters though you travel on the same boat with them. Many of my friends say it is only in France and I can only hope not in other countries.

I found many things the hard way just because I happen to be 28 and a student when I arrived in France. So, what do you lose when you are > 28 in France or Nantes sometimes as a student.

Carte jeune: A train travel without this card is expensive and also the other available cards like the ‘la carte week-end’ is 75€ per year and you pay that amount as a student in France.

Bus card: The international students in Pays de la loire region can avail the award winning TAN card called ‘LIBERTAN’ for 267€ per year and >26 years pay 580€. You know what I mean?

PLAN B:  The Mairie of the city and the TAN network worked out a plan that helped me a LOT. Tarif solidarite. Many of the students in the university told me it is a free bus card. It isn’t. The Mairie on submission of your Family Quotient from the CAF determines your level of income and stability and thus provides a tariff accordingly for your travel. Nevertheless, this is hugely helpful for the students of all ages in the Pays de la loire. I felt and still feel thankful for this city to do this for me.

Clé: One of the moments to really regret your age. The government signs a guaranty for you once you find an apartment to move. As this sounds good, the same government rejects your request just because you are >28 years though you are a student. I googled and found associations like CIL but they informed me that they can help me only if I find an accommodation supported by a society and not an individual landlord. People who are still lucky with Clé: research scholars who are >28 years

PLAN B: Find, create, retain your healthy , trustworthy relationships in France as one of my sister’s friend signed a guaranty for me.

Permis 1euro: Like every issue, I found this loan by the government to help the youngsters till 25 years to learn driving by paying just 30€ a month instead of 1500€ as a single payment for their driving license. I saw this as a dead end and took rendez-vous with the bank almost for one and a half months to find a solution.

PLAN B: Google about Micro-credit and fix an appointment to explain your situation and they may be able to help you. I found a solution through micro-credit for 1000€. Not bad I would say :p

Loan for Laptops: Few banks provide loan for students to buy laptop similar to Permis 1 euro and you are lucky If you are <28 years as I am 29 years old now. The CIC provides a loan called as ‘Prêt Ordinateur à 1 € par jour’

PLAN B: Use your savings :p I couldn’t find a plan B for this as the Mac reseller guy told me that long term EMI options are ruled out for international students if you have a visa for just 1 year and wanna repay on a longer term and you know how long it takes to get your Carte de séjour.

WOW: PACK15-30. This is exclusively for people from 15-30 who reside in Pays de la loire and you avail so many benefits such as help in moving apartment, buying a laptop when you are poor and studying in a lycée. Nevertheless, CONDITIONS APPLY.

Somewhere in the last one year, I feel being old just because I stay in France though I could achieve few being 29 in France as a student. The moment someone asking me’ vous avez quelle age?’ and denying anything because I am 29 hurts.