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An Alumna鈥檚 Nonconformist Tips for Making Paris Your Own

Karolina Czaplicka '18

My name鈥檚 Karolina Czaplicka and I graduated from The American University of Paris in 2018 with a degree in International Business Administration and a minor in Philosophy. Since then, I鈥檝e co-founded the startup, which has produced an app for nonconformist travellers to share travel recommendations. As a new semester starts and the next generation of 黑料正能量 freshmen arrives on campus, I wanted to share some tips and tricks for making Paris your own.

1. Change apartments at least once

While earning my degree at 黑料正能量, I changed apartments five times. That might sound extreme, but it suited who I am and successfully satisfied my urge for exploration. Upon graduating, many of my peers told me they regretted staying in one place throughout their studies. When you move, you are forced out of your comfort zone and get to explore a new arrondissement, local shops, parks, restaurants and hangout spots. There鈥檚 no better way to get to know Paris.

2. Be a regular

A big part of making Paris your own is becoming a regular somewhere. It can be a cafe across from your home, your favourite corner store where you chat with the owner every time you come in or a local library where you study and know other people who come often. Make an effort, smile and talk to people. You will be amazed how it will transform your experience of living abroad.

3. Buy your Parisian accessory

Paris is called a fashion capital for a reason. Parisian style is one-of-a-kind and French boutiques are world-renowned. Something I personally found amazing was the reasonably priced jewelry or clothing boutiques on every corner. Getting an accessory can help you fit in and feel part of the city. Find a chic jacket, French fragrance or pair of handmade earrings and 鈥 trust me on this 鈥 you鈥檒l suddenly feel one step closer to being a full-fledged Parisian.

4. Fall in love

Before you laugh at this one, hear me out 鈥 falling in love doesn鈥檛 mean what you think it means. Be prepared to be dazzled; walk around with your head up high and realize how beautiful the city is; find little streets to get lost in; enter a cellar jazz bar and feel romantic sipping wine and getting caught up in the music. Be open to falling in love with everything you see, because it doesn鈥檛 have to be a soulmate you find in Paris 鈥 the city itself is like a love affair.

5. Find French friends

This one is quite the hustle! The hardest part about feeling at home somewhere new is finding local friends 鈥 and Parisians in particular don鈥檛 make that an easy task. What helped me during university was hanging out in bars filled with French students. The key is to show up in smaller groups and seem open to conversation. Les Fontaines, at 12 rue Brisemiche, is a favorite of mine; it鈥檚 where most of my French friendships began.

6. Appreciate every moment

I once read an article about a 40-year-old writer who recalled her experience in Paris as a student. She said it was probably the happiest time of her life being young and carefree and feeling limitless. It stuck with me, and I remembered it every time I had a slight change of heart or was feeling sad or lonely. After all, Paris is an astonishing city and studying at 黑料正能量 is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

7. Be a Subjective Guide

Last but not least: make the most of the places you visit. It takes time and money to find places tailored to our needs. It鈥檚 a complicated process, but there is a solution: my co-founder and I created an app that you can use to access trusted, personalized travel recommendations, not just from anyone but rather from people that match your style. It鈥檚 a platform that urges you not to compromise with generic advice but to follow people who have similar taste. You can use the app to create your own Subjective Guide to save places worth remembering. Because it鈥檚 the places you visit that shape your experience of a city 鈥 we want to make it easy for you to make the city your own.

To find out more, visit , get an invite and download the app. Prepare to redefine the way you get travel recommendations.