Useful links for living at CERN

CERN

• CERN Map
• CERN user registration. This is required to get a CERN ID card and is done at the User's office (blg 33 - where the cafeteria is)
• CERN residency card office. This office help you get a registration in either France or Switzerland if you are here for a long stay.
• The CERN Social Affairs office has useful info on schools and moving to CERN.
• CERN computer accounts. Form to fill out for computer account. A variety of accounts are available (Linux cluster, Windows system (NICE)), etc. Give the form to one of the ATLAS secretaries.
• CERN "MMM" computer mail. I don't really know what this is.
• CERN Usenet News Groups.In particular there is a "CERN Marketplace" newsgroup for buying/selling stuff.
• CERN laptop computer registration. Starting in Fall, 2003 one must register the MAC (ethernet) address of laptops to connect them to the CERN network.
• It is a good to register with CERN's AIS (Administrative Information Services). This allows access to the CERN Stores catalog, and the ability to order supplies. Look under the `Applications' page at AIS or EDH (Electronic Data Handling). To register send a request with your CERN ID number to ais.support@cern.ch.
• CERN Shuttle 767-6969: Rides to/from airport
• UM offices at CERN:
  1. Building 40 (40-2-C20), phone: +41-22-767-1151. This room has a wireless port with SSID : ATLASUM
  2. Building 506.
  3. Building 184 Phone +41-22-767-4343
  4. Michigan apt, 9 Rue des Boudines, Meyrin, Switzerland. Phone: +41-22-785-0195

Housing

Here are some places to look for housing. For longer stays if is probably best to find a sublet. Regular apartment leases have a minimum of 1 year + 3 month's rent deposit. It is possible to arrange a sublet to take over a lease, but this is an obvious complication. CERN has a small number of apartments in Meyrin with a 6 month maximum stay. There are also some "hotel-residence" places (which have small kitchens) in St.Genis and Ferney-Voltaire which offer monthly rents. Of course, one may also work with real estate offices.

• CERN Housing OfficeThis has info on CERN apartments plus links to open market housing listings. Some say that it is not kept very up-to-date.
• There is a bulletin board at CERN for housing near the post office in Bldg 33.
• The classified section at the radio station WRG-FM (English language station at FM 88.4) has some listings.
• The cern.market news group has some listings.
• The Geneva newspapers Geneva Tribune and GHI (go to petites annonces) have apartment listings ("immobilier location" or "a louer"). It is said that apartments go in a flash in Geneva.
• University of Geneva has sublet listings. Look under BOURSE AU LOGEMENT.
• Hotel residences - these are small apartments with kitchen. They have daily, weekly, and monthly rates, usually with a CERN discount.
  • Residence Suites Homes - hotel residences in St. Genis, France. Tel: 0450207333 Fax: 0450208354
  • Citadines hotel residences in Ferney-Voltaire, France.
  • La Residence hotel residences in Ferney-Voltaire, France, a little fancier than Citadine.

Hotels

• CERN Hostel e-mail: cern.hostel@cern.ch, phone +41-22 76.74481, fax + 41-22 76.73800
• Bois Joly - nice hotel with good views over Geneva area. (+33.4.50.41.01.96 - phone and fax)
• Hotel de France - nice hotel in the center of Ferney-Voltaire. (+33.4.50.40.63.87)
• Chateau de Farges - Charming hotel in renovated farmhouse, about 10 miles from CERN in France (+33.4.50.56.71.71)
• CERN's list of hotels Also look in Geneva and Local France Info areas

Schools

France

First read this blurb describing the French and Swiss systems at the Social Affairs office.

The French school system in general does not provide any special help for non-French speaking students. However, the Lycee International in Ferney-Voltaire, which is a public high school does offer French classes, and some classes in English. In addition there is a special private English program at the Lycee which offers classes in English on Tuesday afternoons. This additional program is available to both primary and secondary students, and has some fees, and limited places.

In general, the French schools are said to be more traditional than the Swiss with more emphasis on rote learning and a demanding syllabus. The hours may be long e.g. the Lycee is from 8 am to 5:30 pm (though with a 2 hour lunch).

There are some Catholic schools, both primary and secondary, in Gex and Ferney, with fees of about $2500/yr. However, places are limited and I don't know if they welcome non-French speaking students.

There is also a bilingual primary school in Sergy. A building for such exists on the St-Genis-Sergy road, but the phone number and website listed on the sign are disconnected.

• Lycee International at Ferney-Voltaire
• English National Program at Ferney-Voltaire This school has a special program on Tuesday afternoons, conducted at the Lycee International. It is done in conjunction with the Lycee or primary school
• Babyschool Bilingual primary school at Sergy(link dead).

Switzerland

The Swiss school system (at least in Geneva canton) does provide some extra language support for non-French speaking students. One should contact the Geneva schools when one has secured a Geneva address, and then the school system will assign you to the nearest school which has a program for non-French speaking students. Apparently, it is not uncommon for Swiss students to be in the minority in Geneva classrooms. Hence, Swiss schools might be the best choice for non-French speaking students. Of course, one must then live in Switzerland which is more expensive.

• Geneva public school website (in French, but there are some English sections)

International Schools

There are a number of private schools in the Geneva area with English language programs. However, these are quite expensive (>$10,000 year) and often have waiting lists. Unless one has an education subsidy, like CERN employees, these schools are likely to be unaffordable.

• Listing of private schools
• Institute International de Lancy This is a Catholic school, but as expensive as the others.

Taxes

• If one lives outside the U.S. for more than 11 months in a calendar year then one is eligible to get a refund on federal income taxes. This site explains some details.

Automobiles

• Car rental - One can rent cars from typical car rental companies at the airport or other places. Of course, this is too expensive for the long term. The UM is self-insured so that it is not required to take the collision insurance (which is quite pricy like $20/day). Of course, if you have an accident, one must do a bit of legwork to get the UM to pay it which may be harder in a foreign country. For this reason, UM risk assessment does not mind if you take the insurance, because they recognise that it is a lot more trouble to get reimbursed for a accident overseas. Of course, if one takes the insurance, then the DOE grant pays for it, as opposed to the UM if you decline the insurance. Risk assessment prefers us to use National with UM corporate number 5000490 which then has automatic coverage with a $600 deductible. However, National does not seem to always have the best rates, even with the corporate number, which makes the issue murkier. Another issue is that there is an 18% airport surcharge for pickup at Geneva airport, so you may save money by picking up in town.
• Place with rates from several companies and claims to be cheapest: Rental car group
• CERN rental - CERN rents cars at 15CHF/day plus 0.15CHF/km with no long term discounts, at least not up to one year. However, you cannot carry non-CERN persons in the car - specifically no wife and kids. Trips are allowed if they are associated with CERN business.
• Here is a CERN link about registering a car in either France or Switzerland: Green Plates. I think the general advice is register a car in France and get a "green" license plate, special for foreigners. Swiss registration is not advised because then you are subject to the very thorough Swiss inspections.
• Leasing - Long-term leasing of car is cheaper than rentals, but is not cheap - maybe $6000 for 8 months. I have not fully explored this option, but it would seem that the maximum allowed lease is about 6 months, unless you are a professor on sabatical in which case 12 months is allowed. Also renting from the Geneva airport results in an extra 15% airport surcharge, which can be avoided by picking up a car in town. Here are some leasing companies, certainly not all:
  • AutoEurope This place leases Peugeot.
  • Europe by Car US phone number is 800-223-1516.
  • Eurodrive This US phone number is 212-730-0676.
• Shipping US Cars to Europe

  is also possible. This is said to cost about $900 and take 3 weeks time. In Switzerland, it is possible to keep the US license plates for up to 1 year (and hence avoid the tough Swiss inspection). To do this one must bring to Swiss customs: a "carte do legitimation" (residence permit); form 18.44 (get from customs). There is no fee. One can also get Swiss plates and keep the US plates, but then you'll have to go through the strict Swiss inspection. If you are in France, you should probably get the consular "green" plates, rather than keep the US plates.

  Here are some companies which ship cars:

  • SIMS, WATERS & ASSOCIATES 444 Talleyrand Avenue, Jacksonville, Fla.; (904) 356-4455. Sims will deliver a Ford Taurus from Baltimore to Le Havre, France, for $895 in about three weeks.
  • K INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT 74 Trinity Place, New York, (212) 267-6400. Shipping a Toyota 4Runner from Newark to Bremerhaven, Germany, costs $1,065 and takes about three weeks.
• Buying in Europe

  and shipping to US is also possible. There are deals where you buy a car in Europe, outfitted for US requirements, with shipment to US included in the price.

Travel Info

• Cityexpat.com General site for expatriates living in Geneva.
• xpatxchange.ch General site for expatriates living in Switzerland.
• WRG-FM 88.4 Website for English language Geveva radio station. The classified ads here are said to be a good place to look for apts. in Geneva.
• Swiss Customs office: 011-41-22-747-7272 Be prepared to speak French.
• Permanent Mission of Switzerland: 011-41-22-749-2424 This place answers questions on living in Switzerland. They speak English.
• US Passport info
• Swiss Railways
• Geneva Buses
• Geneva City Map
• Michelin Driving Maps

Phones

• CERN internal fixed line phone numbers have 5 digits. To reach these from outside CERN at 76 to the number.
• CERN cell phone numbers have 6 digits and always begin with 16 (when dialing within CERN). To reach these from outside CERN dial 76-487 + last 4 digits. (76 is the "city code" for Swiss cell phones).
• CERN internal phones (sometimes) require you to enter 98 before enter phone card numbers or other input numbers. Example: "to contact customer service, press 2" dial 982 and not just 2.
• CERN calling card: At CERN one can call the US using a specical CERN access number 0840566566 (in B40 add 98 to this). When you get the recorded message in German enter number to dial (including country code).
• French phone numbers have 10 digits, grouped by 2's. This number includes an area code. The first pair of numbers always starts with a zero which is dropped when you are calling from outside the country.
• Swiss numbers have a 2 digit city (or area) code followed by a 7 digit number. Within Switzerland put a 0 before the city code.
• Cell phones: This site explains technical details on using cell phones worldwide: International Cell Phone Service. Here is an NYTimes cell phone piece: NYTimes Article. These places sell international SIM cards/phones: Telestial, Cellular Abroad. Sunrise (buy in Switzerland - free SIM with 10 hr).
• Phone cards: Nobel.com sells inexpensive phone cards, e.g $0.02/minute for US-Europe calls.