I couldn’t afford to rent in Paris, so I moved in with 12 priests

• When I went to the University of Paris, my grant did not cover my rent.
• I found a list to live in a presbytery with 12 priests and other low -income students.
• I loved the small community that we created there, although it was a long journey.

I entered the presbytery slightly worse for wear. It was my University’s first weekAnd I had gone drinking with my new classmates and desperately looking for a place to live other than my friend’s sofa.

I had been on the moon when I was accepted University of Paris – Until I realize that my grant would not cover rent. The places I could afford were disastrous. I visited a safe listed like three bedrooms, and the owner seriously showed me where I could build walls to create rooms in the Grove Espace. Another option has been described as a “triplex” but turned out to be an glorified staircase. There was not even enough space for a double bed on landings.

I have traveled all the rental sites and even did research on “service houses” or work / accommodation exchanges. My 18 -year -old naive auto has obtained an alarm clock that gives reflection while I read the offers of men claiming to have space in their bed for a student – provided that she also cleaned the kitchen, of course.

I found a room in a presbytery

After reading a few dozen similar offers to resist, I was ready for monastic life. So it was hidden when, during another Google search, I came across a Catholic list Student residences Led by priests or nuns. Among them was a room inside a presbytery, far in the biller of Paris, where 12 priests had converted seven old housing cells for low -income students. It costs only € 250, including bills. The other options I had examined were more than € 500 – even the staircase.

As I climbed the steps towards the presbytery, I felt like a disgraced woman from the Victorian era in search of comfort at the gates of the church. The image was quickly dissipated when I was greeted by a priest carrying a double denim and a large smile. “I am Father Gabriel,” he said, shaking his hand. “To welcome.”

He showed me in my room. It was a simple space, with only a bed and a wardrobe. But he looked at a large garden surrounded by cloister arches, with sculpted statues throwing a grass from the invaded grass. “Below, there is a workspace and a kitchen for you and the other students,” he said.

I was delighted by my new excavations, especially when I learned that there were no rules or conditions, except attending semester dinners and occasionally checking with the priests on my studies. We expected that no curfewWe could have friends to stay, and we didn’t have to go to mass.

We have created a small living community

My other roommates were a friendly group: a few mature students, a marketing student, another theology. A quiet German man who studied mathematics and the Red Bull in the chain. Four students from Senegal, including a doctorate in history. The candidate of his fifth year who has always had a slightly panicked look in his eyes whenever it asked questions about his thesis.

My memories of the year are like a series of absurd snapshots, like sneaking in the house on a Sunday morning and running in the priests as they rushed to iron their office necklaces and their dresses and go to mass. Image by seeing this on your step of shame.

There was a monthly rota for Clean common areasAnd I remember with laughter with my roommates as we have done tasks. As we were all in different universities and we study hard, we did not spend a lot of time together, so it was pleasant to have these warm moments, to explode music and clean the floors.

Once, I was sitting at the kitchen table, in booming and a little maniac search while I was working on a particularly difficult mission. A priest entered and asked for my help repot his tomato plants. At the beginning, I wanted to be interrupted, but as we worked in the garden, I felt less stressed than I had done it a few days. I realized that it was not the one who helped.

Another strong point was the Group dinners It occurred every two months. They always understood excellent food and an even better wine. The priests would ask us questions about our studies to register and ensure that we were going well. Over the night, they started to share parish gossip while they were going beyond our glasses.

I come back to life with priests and other students with emotion

In many ways, it was a perfect place to live. There was a real community sense Among our strange group of priests and students. We were attentive to each other, and I do not remember a single argument. I learned a lot about sharing space with people who see the world very differently – and how a little compassion (and a lot of red wine) can bring us together.

At the same time, I was always exhausted. I spent two hours a day in public transport. The last return train in the region was at 11 p.m., so every time I wanted a evening in ParisI had the choice between taking a scary night bus or staying outside until the first train in the morning at 6:23 am, I generally chose the latter.

I decided to seek alternative accommodation for the following year, and my university helped me find a cheap rental. It was an old chambermaid bedroom in the stars of a fancy building in the 7th arrondissement. It was so small that I could touch each wall without leaving my bed, but everything was mine and in the heart of the city. I was happy, even if I often thought about nostalgia to the small chaotic community that I had left in the presbytery.

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