Just go. Don't try to prepare too much. You will be an American in Paris no matter what you wear or do. You'll learn the rules through your own experiences, which is far better than anyone else's second-hand info.

I went with my mom and she kept telling me things that were contrary to the evidence. She said that French people consider berets country and old-fashioned. There weren't a lot to be seen, but certainly there were a few. After making me struggle to order dinner for us, she corrected me and the French restanteur for saying "maman." If the French lady used it what more proof could we need that the French still use that word? And I saw plenty of sneakers over there after being warned left and right about American shoes. The French like retro Pumas as much as anyone.

"Wherever you go, there you are." So be YOU wherever you go.

I studied abroad in Paris for 6 weeks in June/July just as you did. I just packed clothes I normally wear at home and never felt I was oddly dressed or inappropriate. The one thing I will say is that be prepared for cooler weather - when I was there just a few years ago, we had a few weeks of pretty cool weather so us girls in the program were wearing the same cardigans and long pants ALL the time because we weren't prepared :) Thankfully, it warmed up again and I could put the musty cardigans aside.

Have a great time! Oh, about the purses. I can't remember what I brought with me, but I ended up buying a cute hold-all black purse from a street vendor and used that to go to class, etc. Same thing with the shoes - I bought cute black wedges while I was there and wore those mostly. I did wear cute sneaks when we were touring a lot.

RE: Trains - In europe the trains have 1st class cars and 2nd class cars, usually clearly marked on the outside of each car. 1st class is logically, nicer, and certainly pricier, than 2nd class. Many trains, but not all, require seat reservations, 1st or second class. If you buy your PREM tix over the website, (and who knows what PREM means?) and the train requires a reservation, you'll get a ticket with a seat assignment, just like on an airline. The website will ask for an address to mail the ticket to and if you want that function, you'll have to give it a French address to mail the tickets to. Supposedly, there is a way to use the website and have the tickets held, to be issued at any French train station, but figuring out that particular function is what all the fuss over needing a PhD was about. I got tickets mailed to my hotel, but this is not recommended as hotels have no obligation to hold the tickets, but if you are staying with a family, shoudl be no problem. The conductors on the trains have the option of checking or not checking if people are in their assigned seats. If the train is full, just like on a airline, you better stick to your seat. If the train is 1/2 empty, you can try to venture into 1st class, but with a 2nd class ticket you may be tersely invited to go back to the correct car. 2nd class is nice enough, I'm sure you'll have a dandy time there, besides, that's where the cute guys will be hanging out. (assuming that's what you're interested in). And s%$#&w what everyone says, if you wanna go to Cannes on Bastile day, go to Cannes on Bastile Day!

Oh, yes, in France, as you start to approach the train platforms where you get on the train, the are small card punch machines. These "validate" your ticket. Be sure to have the machine punch you ticket. I think this validates that if your ticket says Paris-Cannes, that you actually validated it in Paris.

Docdan, thanks for your train advice. It doesn't sound too hard. I decided to go the weekend before Bastille Day. It was a little cheaper and hopefully there will be less people. So my friend and I are going to book it this week, after I finish my finals, yuck. And we're going to take 2nd class def. It's only 5 hours on the TGV, and yay that there will be cute guys hanging out there. :)

Hi Ballerina - Since you have been to Cannes before, don't you want to go to Nice instead? It has everything. Just a thought.

Maybe I will check out Nice instead. I really haven't gotten a chance to solidify any of my plans (finals!), but thanks for the suggestion. I never even thought to visit Nice.

Do women wear polo shirts in France? Just wondering.

yep, women wear polo shirts in France, probably not as many as you'd see in the US, though the French will accessorize them better.