baguettes

i make a daily trip to the closest bakery (a boulangerie). that's right, daily. every time, i longingly look at the pasties, desserts and delicious tarts but i settle for a baguette and carry it under my arm back to my apartment. you gotta carry it under your arm. they deport you if you don't. seriously.

typically, the exchange in the boulagerie goes something like this:

lady: 'bonjour'
me: 'bonjour. un baguette s'il vous plait.'
lady: 'une baguette, 85 centimes'
me: 'voilà. 85 centimes. merci!'
lady: 'merci. bonne journée!'
me: 'bonne journée!'

as i noticed for the umpteenth time that the lady emphasized the feminine une baguette, i began to wonder...do i have that wrong? is it a feminine article? have i been saying it wrong for a month and a half? on my walk back it dawned on me...baguette does have that -ette ending typical for feminine words. damn it. upon returning home, baguette dutifully under my arm, i checked and yes...i've been in france for a month and a half, and saying un baguette instead of une baguette. how embarassing.

ps- i will always struggle with this. damn it.