This week’s study abroad diary is basically a little snapshot of my grad student life in France—equal parts “let’s be productive” and “let’s romanticize the season a bit.” I start the week by going to school early even though our task was technically from home, because I know myself: I’m not an early morning person, and if I stayed in my room I’d probably sleep through it and get nothing done. So I set myself up at school, work through what I need to do, and then head to class later (even when schedules feel a little chaotic and last-minute). Later, I take you with me to Paris for some errands (including a very rare splurge: boots I’ve wanted for so long, ordered online and delivered in-store just to be safe). Then we shift into holiday mode with my classmates—since we’re all international students, we planned a Christmas party where everyone brings a traditional dish to share. I also run to a Pinoy store in Paris to find Filipino ingredients, because that’s honestly the only place near me where I can reliably get them. Aaron and I plan to make kakanin and possibly cheese sticks (but cheese here is expensive, so we stay flexible). It’s a cozy reminder that productivity and balance can coexist—especially during resets and transitions before a break.