INDS 250
FRENCH COMMERCE AND CULTURE IN THE EUROPEAN
UNION (EU)
LAFAYETTECOLLEGE
JANUARY 2011
French Commerce in the EU: Paris, Toulouse, Strasbourg and Frankfurt
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the business environment of France and its role in the
ever changing economic marketplace of the European Community. The course examines
French culture and its impact on the financial, production and marketing processes
through first hand experience in the EU organizations and the French marketplace.
Exposure to the relevant topics is accomplished through films, texts and readings, visits
to businesses and plant tours of Airbus and the Smart Car factories. Other visits include
the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.
This course qualifies as a Social Science course for the common course of study and may
count towards the major for either IA or INCO.
Texts:
(1) Le Deal, by J. Bryne Murphy- The story of exporting the American concept of
outlet shopping to France
(2) Airbus versus Boeing
(3) A Year in the Merde, by Steven Clarke, 2004, Bloomsbury Press – the story of
trying to establish British tea rooms in France
(4) EU information packet (EU in 12 lessons w/ accompanying chart) distributed at
our first meeting
Pre class MANDATORY meeting: Sunday, 11/7; Simon Center 5-6:30
HOTEL CONTACT INFORMATION
Paris
Hotel: Hotel Minerve, 13 Rue des Ecoles, Paris
Phone 011 33 143 262604; Fax: 011 33 144 0701 96
Toulouse
Hotel: Crowne Plaza 7 Place du Capitole, 31000
Phone Front Desk: 33-5-61611919 | Hotel Fax: 33-5-61237996
Strasbourg
Hotel: Maison Rouge
4 Rue des Francois Bourgeois, 67000 Strasbourg
Phone: 011 33 3 88 32 08 60
Frankfurt
Hotel: Holiday Inn Conference Center
Mailaender Strasse D 60598 Frankfurt
Phone 011 49 69 6802 361
Fax 011 49 69 6802 333
COURSE OUTLINE:
Sunday, January 2 –
5:30-9:00
Lectures –
(a) multicultural exercise
(b) student presentations on individual assigned business;
(c) introduction to the cultural aspects of the French business
environment
(d)film
Monday, January 3 - Class: 9:30 am– 12:00
Test on Europe in 12 lessons and wine film
Discussion of Sunday night film
Class 1-4 pm.
Le Merde skits
French Business problem
Tuesday, January 4 – Seminars at Barclay’s Bank in NY:
(a) Introduction to the French Economy
(b) Introduction to the European Union as the second largest economic block.
(c) Departure for Newark.
EUROPE - Wednesday, January 5th – Arrive in Paris; walking tour: Paris during the Occupation,
3:30 pm. (Metro Tuileries) We will leave the hotel at 2:45. Group dinner: leave hotel at
7:15 for short walk to restaurant
- Thursday, January 6th – TYPICAL PARISIAN DAY: market day assignment/scavenger
hunt in Paris; late afternoon class presentations on market assignment and talk w/
Lafayette alum who works in Paris for a small business. Brasserie dinner assignment.
Friday, January 7th – Bus to McArthur Glen outlet center in Troyes; compare and
contrast journal questions will be distributed on the bus
-Saturday – January 8th - Morning class presentation by President Dan Weiss followed
by tours of the Louvre and Saint Chapelle. Enjoy your last evening in Paris
Cultural opportunities you won’t want to miss in Paris: Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay
(Impressionist paintings are in this museum), Boat ride at night on the River Seine.
- Sunday – January 9th depart for Toulouse
TOULOUSE
- Sunday, January 9th – depart Paris/arrival in Toulouse pm; group dinner
- Monday, January 10– morning tour airbus, afternoon printing company tour
-Tuesday, January 11- visit to Romanesque cathedral and presentation by President Weiss
Wednesday, January 12 – Trip to Oradour sur glane and tour of the porcelain factory in
Limoges; dinner in town on your own
PARIS – return on the 13th Thursday and leave immediately for Strasbourg; group
dinner: leave hotel at 7:15 for Winstub "Zuem Strissel"
5. Place de la Grand Boucherie
67 000 STRASBOURG
03 88 32 14 73
www.strissel.fr
STRASBOURG
Friday, January 14th – 10:30 tour of European Parliament; lecture on Smart Car
factory;
- Saturday, January 15th, trip to winery and to castle (lunch in Molsheim inbetween)
Castle: Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg 67600 Orschwiller
http://www.haut-koenigsbourg.en
Winery: La Cave du Roi Dagobert
Cave de Traenheim
Route de Scharrachbergheim
67310 Traenheim
Winery tour at 10:30 am
Lunch and explore Molsheim
Chateau tour at 3pm. Ends at 4pm and return back to Strasbourg
- Sunday, January 16th – Free day
- Monday, January 17th –Visit to Smart Car factory; leave hotel 10 a.m. Lunch on
your own at Saar Union with tour at 1:30.
FRANKFURT:
- Tuesday, January 18th – Noon departure from Strasbourg/ approximately 3pm
arrival in Frankfurt; check-in followed by 5pm bus to town; group dinner at 7 in
town at the Apfelweinwirtschaft Adolf Wagner restaurant (they serve local
applewine..read the review in the New York Times here:
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/germany/frankfurt/31859/adolfwagner/nightlife-detail.html. This restaurant is in a part of town known as
Frankfurt's left bank or Sachsenhausen
-
Wednesday, January 19th – 7:45 departure to visit the Frankfurt Stock Exchange;
lunch on your own in the area after the visit ; 3pm bus for travel to the
Bundesbank
Thursday, January 20nd – Fly home - 11a m flight
COURSE GRADE: Determined as follows:
- First exam on assigned readings
25%
- Le Merde Skit
5%
- Daily journal writing
25%
- QUALITY of class participation and
Contribution to discussions, attendance, completion of projects**
20%
Final research – an in-depth analysis of your assigned FRENCH business 25%
Due date is two weeks post completion of the trip – Friday 2/4/2011 at 4pm.
EXPECTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE COURSECLASS:
NOTE WELL: YOUR PASSPORT AND STUDENT ID MUST BE IN
YOUR POSSESSION AT ALL TOURS AND VISITS TO ANY
LOCATION.

Prompt attendance at all classes/tours/visits is required. If you are late, we will
leave without you to the event and this will cause an immediate 10 percentage
point reduction in your final grade.

Offering meaningful contributions in class discussions and active interaction with
the speakers is expected.

Observing all business etiquette and protocol, including appropriate
dress/appearance at all visits and tours is mandatory. This means, at a minimum,
no text messaging during class, not being late to any events or missing any events,
and no sleeping during classes.

We expect you to take copious notes in classes and WHILE ON TOURS (so bring
a small notebook that fits in your pockets/purses for notes on tours) and be an
engaged class participant by asking GOOD questions.

Failure to comply with any course expectations will, at a minimum, substantially
reduce your course grade.

Any blatant disregard of the rules/expectations or lack of concern for the welfare
of others on the trip will not be tolerated. Such actions may result in your
dismissal from the class and return to the United States, thereby forfeiting all
course credit and funds paid.