In 2012, I returned to Paris for a summer architecture internship with ARCAS. The opportunity was made possible by a stipend from Notre Dame, which allowed students to pursue meaningful work even if the internship itself was unpaid. I used it to cover my flights and living with a host family, in addition to everyday expenses.

The host family living arrangement turned out to be unconventional. It was a one-bedroom apartment with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. She rented out the bedroom over the summer to make money while she slept on a yoga mat in the living room. I was forbidden from using the restroom during the night, something about being respectful to other building residents and not using plumbing after 9 PM. I was also locked in my room overnight and told to climb out on the balcony in case of emergency. She was artistic, eccentric, and very particular. She insisted on speaking English rather than French and, for the first week, bought me a full baguette each morning for breakfast. She expected me to eat the entire thing, and when I could not she stopped providing breakfast altogether.

Despite the odd living arrangement, I loved my experience. The architecture firm was collaborative and warm. We took lunch together in the Luxembourg Gardens or sitting together at the large table in the office. My host mother lived in the 14th arrondissement, Montparnasse, and I loved going to Chez Papa for dinner.

Outside of work, I explored Paris extensively, including the usual tourist haunts: Centre Pompidou, the Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (this time, in full—over six hours), and the Shakespeare and Company english bookstore. I spent evenings walking the city, sometimes late into the night, never feeling unsafe. Other nights were spent salsa dancing, at jazz clubs, or simply wandering.

At the office, we hosted dinners featuring our home cuisines—American, Hispanic, Filipino, and South Korean—which became some of the most memorable moments of the summer. Visiting architects would join us and give us signed copies of their books.