35 Comments
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Véronique Savoye's avatar

Bonjour Sacha. Such a shame you've been compelled to drop out of your French Immersion program because of antiquated teaching methods and a disappointing environment. This makes my adult educator's blood boil. Too bad I won't be offering my French Immersion workshops in the Loire Valley at the beginner level this fall. I would have invited you! -- It sounds like you are keeping busy in creative (and delicious) ways. Hopefully your French language skills will benefit from a lengthy immersion in Dijon over the summer months. Bonne chance!

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Bonjour Véronique! I very much appreciate your kind note. I actually only skipped the last day and I did learn a lot despite the teacher 😉 we are going to Rouen in a few weeks and I’m considering taking some classes there at a school that seems to take a more modern approach. I’ll keep my eyes on future workshops that you are offering and perhaps I can join, along with my husband another time. Bon week-end 😊

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Wandering With Soul's avatar

Walked 1200kms across France last year as a fifty something year old woman with calories to burn, but we all know that’s impossible with so many boulangeries to choose from.

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Wow, that’s incredible! What were some of your favorite places?

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Wandering With Soul's avatar

So many to choose from, most towns starting with E 😉, Estaing, Espalion, definitely Conques and around the Cele Valley.

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MarielH's avatar

Bonjour Sacha! Fellow Gen X, Gemini Francophile currently residing in Nashville, TN and am enjoying your posts and living vicariously when I read your adventures! I had studied in Aix en Provence during college and majored in French. But I have definitely not kept up with it over the years.

My 24 year old son took a trip early this year to Thailand and became smitten with a young French woman. He visited her in Paris / Nice in May and then she just traveled to visit him here in Nashville! So he and I have both been brushing up on our French and he even learned to play a beautiful song in French and shared it with us the other day. I love how life and the universe work. 😍 I’m sure your French will keep improving the more you’re immersed and spend time there!

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Bonjour Mariel! Thank you so much for your kind note. Learning French is hard and keeping up with it when you are not in France is evern more challenging! Perhaps being around your son's girlfriend will help, and perhaps inspire you to visit France soon.

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Marci Cornett's avatar

I'm on a one-woman mission to discover Ireland's best croissant (which are very hit and miss). I can only wish my testing grounds were as rich and promising as yours!

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

lol, bonne chance! 🍀 🥐😊

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Pamela Clapp's avatar

So delicious. No wonder I can never skip the evening baguette run!

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Marshall Dinowitz's avatar

Wow! What a fun entertaining and informative read!

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Merci Marsh!

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Diane's avatar

@Sacha, loved your statement “For those of you who read my last post…”. The very emotions and the class situation you described have kept me away from an immersion course. If I can swing it financially maybe a tutor can get me more comfortable (?) I continue to enjoy your writing from sweaty NYC!

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Lol, yeah—it was challenging for sure! I have heard good things about iTalki, fyi.

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Betty Carlson's avatar

Wow, I'm not sure I've ever seen a raspberry croissant. It looks divine.

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Mindy Lehrman Cameron's avatar

Wonderful, appetizing story Sasha!

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Merci mon amie!

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Sober Girl in Paris's avatar

Looks amazing! I’ll have to check it out next time I’m in Dijon too! 🤩👍😘

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

I hope you can visit while we are still here :)

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Sober Girl in Paris's avatar

Me too!!

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Andrea's avatar

Hi Sacha! Greetings from Belfast Maine USA! I'm really enjoying reading your posts! I am a newly rediscovered Francophile, a lover of all things bread, a GenXer and a Gemini. Looking forward to reading more about your adventures.

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Hi Andrea--thanks so much for being here!

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Lesly Harder's avatar

Love your newsletters they lift my day! Thank you

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Thank you so much, Lesly!

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Courtney Traub's avatar

What a great piece! Next time I’m in Dijon, I’m pulling up this post.

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Merci, Courtney! I love your newsletter :)

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Nora Fischer's avatar

Loved that and now, like most who have read this, craving croissants!

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douglas burton's avatar

no wonder I enjoy your company...you are a Gemini!! can you do a post for those travelling to France on a keto diet (no carbs)....LOL :)

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Oh, sweetie, life’s too short to be on a keto diet here 😘

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douglas burton's avatar

I figured that ......all that bread. lord have mercy,

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Julie Waugh's avatar

Always love hearing about the bread!

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Julie Waugh's avatar

And I’m sure they are not a tenth as good as there!

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

It is truly an art here, and it's so inexpensive. Did you know that Bread Furst in DC charges nearly $6 for baguette?!?

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