Parisian Adventures: Classes, Pastries, and Planning for More!

Bonjour from Paris! Today was a day (Vendredi 19 Avril) of exploration and delicious discoveries.
Morning
I slept in a bit this morning, with classes not starting until noon. On my way to the train station, I wore my favorite high-waisted J.Crew jeans (seen below, pic is from Houston). They're so comfy and flattering, even after a tailor tweaked them for the perfect fit.
Golden Goose sneakers proved to be the ideal choice for walking around Paris. I added some arch supports for extra comfort (I can't stop talking about these arch supports!), and they've been a lifesaver!
Finding My Way
I'm proud to say I can navigate my way to the train station and school independently now. There's a little plaza near the Opéra station where you can easily get confused, but I've developed my own landmarks to guide me.
Learning French (and Biscuits!)
Today's class focused on vocabulary. It's funny being in school again at my age, but it's definitely a fun way to improve my French, and meet new people. We even had a hilarious moment when two of us (including me!) called cookies "biscuits" in a strong American accent. Our teacher found it quite amusing, and it was a good reminder to work on my pronunciation. The French way of saying "biscuits" is more like "bis-kweeeet" or see below from my dictionary. 

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Parisian Pastries
After class, I decided to explore the patisserie recommended by my teacher. It was a 15-minute walk, and I enjoyed strolling through the beautiful streets.
The area was full of charming shops: butchers, cheese shops, wine shops, vintage stores, and an abundance of eyeglasses stores! I even spotted some high-end brands like Celine and Chanel.
At the patisserie, I bravely tried ordering in French and purchased three pastries: a rose, a caramel with whipped cream and hazelnut, and a pistachio. These "choux pastries" weren't what I expected – they were filled with delicious goodness! I also grabbed a sandwich from Blondies for lunch – a savory treat with herring (or other fish), tomato, onion, spinach, and spices. Check out my IG @Tsahia for more on Popelini!

Back to Class and Planning
The rose pastry was a real highlight – a burst of flavor that left me wanting more. After lunch, I had two more classes and edited some footage for a YouTube video (be sure to subscribe!).
A classmate hadn't eaten much that day, so I offered him one of my remaining pastries. He chose the pistachio, and while a part of me wanted to keep it (pistachio is one of my favorites!), I was happy to share. The small breaks between classes often mean limited snack options, so a pastry definitely helped him through the day.
In class, we reviewed verb tenses for our upcoming exam, which will determine if we move to a higher French level. I'm feeling confident after successfully reciting lines from a poem we created as a class.
Looking Forward
I'm excited for Saturday! I'm joining a school tour to explore a new part of Paris called Monceau. Afterwards, I'll be meeting my friend for an Eiffel Tower tour. This is a great opportunity to practice more French outside the classroom.
I also spoke to a student counselor today who confirmed they can understand me! It's encouraging to see my French improving.
Overall, today was a productive and enjoyable day in Paris. I can't wait to see what adventures the weekend brings!