J'habite à Oxford depuis 4 semaines, j'ai trouvé une chambre pour 350£/mois, dans une maison d'étudiants.
On vient de m'apprendre que j'étais censé payer une Council Tax vu que je ne suis pas un étudiant à plein temps. C'est dans les environ des 1200£... Les autres occupants sont étudiants et n'ont pas besoin de la payer...
Que dois-je faire? Suis-je reélement obligé de la payer? Ca me parait n'importe quoi, je suis juste en train de louer une chambre pour 8-9 mois...
Je vis également à Oxford, je partage une maison avec une autre jeune fille. Le loyer est de 900 £ par mois et nous payons 200 £ de taxe mensuelle. C'est hors de prix mais obligatoire et je crois savoir que les étudiants sont exonérés.
Je pense que dans ton cas il faudrait que tu fasses valoir tes droits d'étudiants en premier (peut-être t'es-tu déclaré professional sans le faire exprès). Si ce n'est qu'un part time job pour payer tes études tu ne devrais pas avoir à payer cette taxe.
C'est un peu difficile de t'aider car je ne connais pas ta situation. N'hésite pas à m'en dire plus en MP si besoin mais ne lache pas l'affaire en tout cas car c'est beaucoup par mois, j'en sais quelque chose !
La situation est la suivante : on est 2 (moi et ma copine) et on sous-loue la chambre à l'un des collocataires (ce qui signifie que notre nom n'est meme pas sur le contrat de la maison).
On vit dans une grande maison (ce qui signifie une taxe élevée) avec 6 autres personnes, toutes étudiantes à plein temps. Ils veulent donc que l'on paye la totalité de la taxe, puisqu'ils en sont tous exempts...
Moi et ma copine travaillons environ 20 heures par semaines (à peine de quoi payer la rent) et nous allons commencer des cours d'anglais en janvier (90£/week pour 15 heures/week).
Evidemment, on ne peut pas se permettre de payer cette taxe, j'ai pris rdv au city council d'oxford pour leur expliquer tout ca...
Alors laisse moi résumez pour être sûre d'avoir compris. 6 personnes louent une grande maison et l'une d'entre elle sous-loue sa chambre. Right?
Quand tu dis "ils veulent qu'on paye la totalité de la taxe" c'est qui "ils" : tes 6 collocs, la colloc qui sous-loue sa chambre ou le Council ?
Parce que si la maison est au nom des 6 étudiants ils ne payent pas de taxe. Ensuite si l'un d'entre eux sous-loue sa chambre "illégalement", j'entends par là sans le déclarer, je ne vois pas comment le Council sait que vous êtes là... ils fouillent pas les maisons quand même !
Donc le point à éclaircir est le suivant : de quelle manière cette sous-location a-t-elle été déclarée au Council ? A mon avis c'est là que le bas blesse... C'est bien que tu ais pris RDV au Council mais j'ai bien peur qu'ils ne te donnent pas raison.
Tu me disais être étudiant... d'après ce que je comprends, tu n'as pas le statut étudiant (as-tu une carte d'étudiant d'une université ou d'une école ? ). Parce que là pour moi (et pour le Council) tu es un jeune professionnel (si tu prends des cours d'anglais à côté c'est ton pb). Etre étudiant ça veux dire être registrer dans une université donc légalement, tu n'as pas le statut d'étudiant (si j'ai bien compris ta situation une fois de plus).
Briefly...
1- si c'est le Council qui te réclame les taxes, ta seule chance est d'avoir une carte d'étudiant de Suisse ou d'ici est de faire valoir que tu es un étudiant qui travaille pour payer ses études uniquement (les écoles d'anglais ne donnent pas le statut d'étudiant, par ex je suis incrite dans une et je travaille donc je suis une profesionnal)
2- si c'est tes colloc qui te réclament la taxe... change de maison, ils veulent t'entuber LOL
Hope it helps,
Bon courage et n'hésite pas si besoin,
Karine
PS : rien à voir avec ton pb mais bon... c'est quoi le nom de ton école ? Elle a pas l'air très chère tu t'en sors bien
My name is Deborah, I’m French. I’m married and have two children. I’m a clinical psychologist specializing in psychotraumatology, and I’m also pursuing medical studies.
For some time now, I’ve been seriously considering moving to the United States. My long-term goal is to practice medicine in the U.S., with a particular interest in forensic pathology. I know the journey is demanding (USMLE, residency, fellowship, etc.), but I’m ready to commit to several years of hard work.
For now, I’m focused on building this project thoughtfully. I want to improve my English, better understand the American system, and connect with people who’ve already gone through this process or are living in the U.S.
I have a few questions:
- Are there any doctors or international students here who’ve successfully matched into a U.S. residency?
- When did you start preparing for the USMLE?
- What advice would you give to someone still in medical school?
- Which states would you recommend for a future career in forensic pathology, with a good quality of life and good schools for kids?
- Is it better to do an observership or a research fellowship before applying for residency?
- What are, in your opinion, the pitfalls to avoid when planning such a project?
Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to respond. I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share!
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Hi there!
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Thanks in advance for your advice.
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I found housing that costs me 7,000 baht (I know it’s a bit pricey, but it’s super convenient...), which works out to about 160 € all-inclusive. So, I was wondering if it’s realistic to live on 500 or 600 € per month, and if so, under what conditions? Is that enough, considering I’ll be working 40 hours a week?
Thanks in advance for your replies—I hope they’ll reassure me!
WEP offers loads of different projects, including one I really like: helping and volunteering on a farm, particularly in South America (Peru or Argentina).
I’d love to know if anyone has tried this project or knows someone who has... or has done something similar? I’d like to get some feedback before diving into the adventure.
If so, could you share your thoughts on the project, any tips, etc.?
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Are there any special requirements before leaving France (aside from taxes...)?
Thanks to everyone for your help—every bit of info is useful. We’re aiming for a departure around 06/2010 (just need to save up a little more...).
Thanks again!
Hi, I’m a self-employed physiotherapist in France, and as my wife (a nurse) and I look into working abroad in about two years, I’ve been offered an equivalence to become a respiratory physiotherapist in Switzerland. Actually, I’m currently doing a postgraduate diploma in pediatric respiratory physiotherapy and want to specialize in that area. Anyway, that’s not the main point—could anyone explain the pros and cons of doing this job in Switzerland? Based on the paperwork I’ve received, the equivalence seems purely administrative or almost... What about working conditions, quality of life, salaries, etc.?
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PS: Same question for my wife, a nurse, regarding her integration.
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In the summer of 2026, my husband is being transferred to New Caledonia. We’ll be living near Nouméa. Do you know if the early childhood sector is a good field for jobs there?
Can’t wait to discover this island! Right now, we’re in the middle of all the administrative paperwork for our 3 kids, finding housing, bringing our cat to the territory, and so on!
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Hi there,
I’ve been living in Bali for a month now, but unfortunately on a VOA visa. I’m looking for a European company that’s set up in Indonesia. I’m in electrotechnical maintenance—air conditioning, cold rooms, 220V/380V electricity. I’ve been a tradesperson for 3 months and can bring my full professional toolkit. If anyone’s interested, let me know!
You can send me a message.
Best regards,
I’d love to go to Japan to travel, and if things go well, work there too.
Has anyone tried finding a job there? Is it even possible without speaking Japanese?
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I’d like to get some information about my eligibility for the DV Lottery.
About my background:
• I earned a *Bac Pro* through VAE (*Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience*), issued by the *Éducation nationale*.
• I also have a professional certification as a *Conseiller en Insertion* (Employment Counselor), issued by the Ministry of Labor.
• Altogether, this adds up to a *Bac+2* level.
I’d like to know if this level qualifies me to apply for the DV Lottery.
Regarding my work experience:
• I work as an *Employment Counselor*.
• I checked on O*Net Online for the classification: Job Zone 4, SVP Range: 7.0 – <8.0.
• I only have one year of experience, but I handle similar tasks in business creation.
So my question is: can I apply for the DV Lottery despite my relatively short experience, given that my job falls under Job Zone 4?
I’m looking for info on villages around Aix, like Fuveau, Bouc-Bel-Air, or even Éguilles and Venelles?
We’re a couple with a child living in the Paris region, and I’ll be relocating to Aix-en-Provence in spring 2026. We’d love to swap our apartment for a house with a pool within 20-30 minutes max of central Aix, with a budget of around 650k €.
In terms of climate and geography, I’ve read that Aix is in a basin where it can get really hot. What about the surrounding villages that are a bit more elevated, like Venelles? Is it just as stifling?
Starting this spring, we want to settle near Aix-en-Provence. We're tired of living in the mountains with all the snow—we really need some sunshine and a fresh start. Is it hard to find a house to rent there? What about prices? If you have any great tips or useful info about the area, we’d love to hear it. I work in education and want to do prevention work in Marseille or Aix—are there jobs in the social sector?
Anyway, we need tons of info, but we’re sure we’re going to take the leap—no hesitation, adventure is adventure!!!
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I’m an osteopath and I’d like to set up and open an osteopathy practice in Thailand. I don’t have a precise location in mind yet, but I’m thinking maybe Hua Hin.
I saw there’s an osteopath based in Phuket, so I wrote to him for some info, but he still hasn’t replied🤪!
So I’m reaching out to people who live there or know the country well:
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First, I’d like to practice from my apartment. Is that allowed in Thailand?
Ideally, I’d like to work part-time in a private hospital as an osteopath. I’m thinking that in Thailand, the medical field is much more open than in Europe!!! Has anyone seen an osteopath or chiropractor working in a Thai hospital? Do you know the price of a consultation?
Any info you can share will be super helpful! Thanks in advance[;)!!!]
Hello everyone,
We’re a small family from the south of France, with a 2-year-old little boy, and we’re dreaming of starting a new adventure abroad by opening our own business. For now, we haven’t chosen a specific destination yet.
We mainly speak French, with a basic level of Spanish and English, and we’re ready to improve these two languages if needed. We’re looking for a multicultural, safe country with quality healthcare and good schools accessible for our son. We’d also love a pleasant place with a mild climate where life is good.
Our idea is to travel to different countries to explore, compare, and refine our project. We’d be really happy to read your tips, experiences, or anecdotes if you’ve already undertaken a similar project or if you know key points to anticipate.
Thanks in advance for your shares and help—it would really help us move forward with our project! 😄
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Dublin as an au pair in a few weeks.
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Hi everyone, so I’m planning to go study at a community college in the U.S., but the only snag is which one—there are so many options over there! I’ve heard about one in California, Diablo Valley College, and another in Florida, Valencia College. I know both states are super attractive for tourism, but my main criteria are teaching quality and price. I’m open to any advice, comments, or suggestions—thanks in advance! The start of the semester is coming up, and I’m a little nervous...
READY, SET...... GO...... TO YOUR KEYBOARDS!!!!!!!! lol
Hi! I’m looking for an apartment in Malaga from September (2025) until January for my Erasmus exchange, but I’m not finding much, and it seems like there are a lot of scams. Does anyone have any leads or tips? Thanks!^^
