OVERVIEW - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 54

Of the outer reaches, Saint-Germain-en-Laye is probably
the most well-known. A charming, affluent country town,
it has provided upmarket services to Anglophone residents
since the 17th century, when the English James II and his
retinue lived in exile here. All conveniences that residents
could possibly want are here, which also benefit its less
famous neighbour Le Vésinet. The tranquil lifestyle of these
areas make them extremely popular for the Anglophone
community—do check them out.
Be careful, however, when thinking of the northern or
northeastern banlieu , which are currently more problematic.
Dense housing blocks and industrial compounds characterise
these areas, for this is where many immigrants were settled
during the various influxes into the Paris region. Overcrowded
and monotonous, these northern inner suburbs have
recently been in the news for unrest and protests by young,
underemployed people with few prospects. France has long
grappled with the assimilation of these immigrants—many of
whom are French but of North African descent—into society
and the job market. After the incidents of car burnings of late
2005, the government finally realized that it had to make a
more concerted effort toward improving living and economic
conditions for immigrants throughout France. This was
much easier said than done, given the resistance to change
by the French, even when the citizenry knows conditions
must change. So in terms of housing, at present,it's best
to stick to the west or south when thinking of a suburban
place to live.