Dorm Rules

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it but Paris has been sweltering since I arrived. It is a veritable sauna, especially in the metro. The French do not believe in, and consequently, do not like air conditioning. Therefore, not a lot of places are air-conditioned. And if by sheer luck, there is air-conditioning, it is nothing even close to what we would consider air-conditioning. According to my French teacher, there is really no need for air conditioning because Paris does not get that hot for that long. Er, how do you explain all those deaths during that heat wave just a few years ago? Anyway, she said in this heat, we all smell bad and that’s what perfumes are for. I am honestly not making this up!

The first week was traumatizing. We were lugging huge bottles of water everywhere we went. Every time I walked into a store, I anticipated a gush of cold air to rush at me. But that was never the case. I’ve since learned to curb that anticipation. I also learned that the coolest place in my neighborhood is the frozen section of Le Grand Epicerie at Bon Marche on rue de Sevres. I’ve since shared my secret haven to a few classmates who can’t thank me enough. We are even thinking we can help them inventory the frozen goods.

Because the window of my room is at an odd angle, I don’t get much of a breeze into my room. There is little circulation to speak of. On the first night, I tossed the bed covers and woolen blankets on top of the armoire. They have since remained there. I use only the threadbare top sheet. Some nights, I can’t even stand being under the top sheet. Most nights, I’ve had to resort to sleeping au naturel. Also, we have this inane rule of showers only between 7am and 11pm. We gripe about this rule most every night because we usually get back after 11pm, on the metro, which means that we desperately need showers. Last night, I snuck a shower at midnight and didn’t even bother to dry off. I resorted to sleeping wet from the shower because it keeps me cool for that extra five minutes as the water evaporates.

Things are getting desperate.