Parisian Adventures: Laundry Day, Metro Mishaps, and Artistic Inspiration

Bonjour from Paris! Today's a "do-it-all" Sunday, balancing laundry with catching up on the week. Let's dive into the Parisian whirlwind!
Laundry Day Surprise and Hair Day
My day started with a lucky break. The laundry room was free, so I snagged the two machines for my clothes and towels. After the card reader glitched and caused a faux alarm, I said a quick prayer to the tech gods, swiped my card – success! Now, onto some blog updates and hair washing – a half day affair for my natural hair.
Balancing Studies and Self-Care
Weekends are crucial for catching up. I missed blogging Friday's adventures, and I don't want to fall behind. School offers a nice balance with later classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This allows some morning time to center myself before the Parisian hustle begins.
This week's French lessons focused on le vocabularie, l'écologie, compréhension orale, and passive phrases ex. (Fr) Elle me demand ce que j'ai fait (Eng) She asked me what I was doing. Sometimes things click (very) slowly, but I have a test every Monday, so Sundays are for studying. Honestly, the desire to study French after a full day of school has not yet clicked, so balancing French studies with American TV is my current reality.
Friday's Farewell
Friday saw classmates saying goodbye, heading back to Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, and Colombia. I shared my blog with some, sparking their interest in following my Parisian journey.
Our teacher planned a fun farewell museum visit. However, a metro mishap tested my French! I got stuck in between the turnstile and fare gate due to someone swiping their card right behind me! Thank goodness I was there with my teacher so she could tell the agent that I was physically stuck in the middle and couldn't escape. A deep breath later, I emerged with a story and a reminder: "Strange things are bound to happen in Paris!"

Artistic Inspiration at 59 Rivoli
The museum adventure led us to the Point Neuf métro, at 59 Rivoli, an open-space art studio. Witnessing artists at work, showcasing a range of styles from portraits to abstract art, was truly inspiring. The studio itself was a work of art, with every surface from walls to stairs adorned in vibrant creations. The top floor boasted a beautiful glass ceiling, bathing the space in natural light. 
I created a Youtube short that shows more of the interior, but they've asked us to respect the artists and tag their work before sharing online. 

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Here are some of the many talented artists: @rold, @dlaher_,
@naryng, @art9ka,
​@cesarcez16,
@kkralovart - drew the space mural you see in the video 

Dinner and Language Learning
After the museum, we enjoyed a casual dinner and drinks at L'Amazonial – a perfect way to bond with classmates. The address for the restaurant is 3 Rue Sainte-Opportune, an area perfect for people watching or chatting away. While French should be the goal, English remains our current common ground. My German friend asked me if Houston still had that problem? It took me a second but...


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​Hopefully, in a month or two, conversations will flow in French (including the puns!) as some classmates aim to stay in French-speaking regions. 

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Stay tuned for more Parisian adventures, including *hopeful* visits to Lyon and Marseille!