Jenn Rihacek, Culture through Literature in Paris Summer 2024
During my four-week study abroad experience in Paris, France, I was very fortunate to live in a quite comfortable and accommodating hostel in the 14th arrondissement, a mainly residential area of the city. This hostel, called the FIAP, was tucked away on a smaller side street surrounded by apartments, making it a very quiet and serene living area. The only noise that we would hear at night was the occasional sound of distant police car sirens, other than this, I had no trouble focusing on my work or getting some much-needed rest.
Our living arrangements consisted of sharing a double bedroom with another student from the study abroad group. To my surprise, even for such a small (or should I say, “cozy?”) room, there was more than enough space and privacy for my roommate and I. Even if one of us was staying up late putting some finishing touches on an upcoming paper, the other could soundly sleep without being disrupted. The only challenge that was a little difficult to overcome was the lack of air conditioning in the room (and truly, in the whole building as well.) I had acclimated to this norm after being in Paris for a good week, but it was especially hard to deal with during the latter half of the trip, as we had encountered many bouts of rainfall. Our bedroom often felt very muggy and warm, but we found some solace in the cool nighttime air that accompanied many of our evenings.
The FIAP included many amenities and offerings that made our stay and studies a lot easier. I would often start my mornings off in the dining hall which served fresh croissants, fruit, and coffee. Afterward, I would make my way down to the lower lounge of the hostel where our classroom was located and prepare for my day of classes. Since our two classes were held back to back, we got a quick 15 minute break between the two. During this time my classmates and I would refill our waters and grab a cafe au lait from the coffee bar in the hostel’s lobby.
In the lobby, it was not uncommon to run into the FIAP’s very own cat, Charley, a fluffy ball of white and orange fur. Whenever in the lobby, Charley was always quick to greet us with a quick “mrrph” and a headbutt. Sincerely one of the friendliest cats I had met during my time in Paris, Charley will always hold a special place in my heart.
Getting to the heart of the city wasn’t much of a challenge since the FIAP was located just a five minute walk from a central metro station. On the days where we were traveling for museum or walking tours, we could just hop onto a metro car and be at our desired location in less than half an hour.
Over the four weeks that I spent in Paris, my living arrangement definitely made the difference in the easiness of everyday life. Especially with the summer Olympics taking place in just a few weeks after our trip had ended, I couldn’t have asked for a more accommodating place to live. I will forever cherish the late nights spent studying in the cozy lobby, the delicious dinners served at the dining hall, and the memories I made at the FIAP in Paris.
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