Strike Update

When I last wrote about the student strike here, I was really surprised that they voted to strike. Now, 2.5 weeks later, I'll be surprised if they ever vote to go back! Here's what's been going on...

After the first vote (on a Monday), they voted over 200-100 in favor of strike. Since then, they've voted twice per week and with each vote, the margin in favor of the strike just gets higher. Last I heard, the vote was over 300 to 100 against. Honestly, I don't see them going back before the end of the semester. Why? Well they have exams just like we do. If they go back, they're basically screwed b/c they've missed so much class. If they stay away, the admin. could actually change them from status "continu" (meaning they're full time students) to "ponctuel" (meaning that they only come when they can & take an exam at the end for their grade). If it were me, I'd stay away long enough so that it wouldn't affect me academically. We'll see what they ultimately decide.

They have another vote on Thursday morning. Somehow, I doubt we'll go back at that point (with one week of class left?).

Last Tuesday, Nov 20, it was a sort of national strike day. All of the syndicats / unions took to marching in the streets for... well honestly I have no idea why. I do know that all teachers were on strike that day so I guess I should've been marching with them! However it was cold and I prefer to stay in my warm apt! It was like a parade - everyone with flags and banners chanting, cars blaring music, and hundreds of people in the street. Definitely like nothing I've ever seen. The strike culture here in France (b/c it truly seems to be part of the culture) is maybe something I won't ever truly understand.

So what have I been up to in these almost 3 weeks? Hmmm good question! Ironically (or not), the SNCF (the train co) has also been on strike so for a large part of this time, the trains have been few and far between, making travel difficult. So I've been sitting around Limoges, catching up on some reading, sleeping, etc. It isn't the most interesting life, I can assure you!

I'll try and post again after the next vote but I don't think the outcome will be any different. At the very least, I can now say that I've truly experienced the French strike, first hand!

Strike!

The students at the Universite' de Limoges have gone on strike. (ETUDIANTS MOBILISES!)

Last week, things started getting heated up with the students at school. They blocked all of the entrances to the university so that when you entered, you were forced to take a flier about their cause. Basically, they're angry that the new French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, wants to reform higher education. He'd like to make universities independent, which would give them the right to raise tuition, be more selective, and take private donations.

Students don't want to see this happen. They think it will limit some students' access to higher education. Students in universities across France have started to protest and several have gone on strike already. In fact, I was in Paris last weekend and saw quite a few police cars lined up, as if ready to quell any big protests. (Although admittedly, they could've been there for another reason, I didn't stop to ask them what was going on!)

http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/11/06/french_students_protest_reforms/

The students at my school held a meeting last week to discuss a possible blockage. Today, they held another meeting at 12:30 and at 2pm they voted to strike 250 to 100. During my 2:00 course today, someone pulled the fire alarm, forcing everyone out of the building. Although we went back in so that we could finish 2 presentations, it was obvious that no students would be attending classes after that. I had another class to teach at 4 and only one student came. Soon after, a student came to our office to tell us that we should leave because they'd be blocking the doors. They don't want anyone, teachers or students, getting inside the building. They were actually using furniture to block entrances. No work for anyone!

As of now, we're on strike until they have another vote, which is on Thursday at noon. If they decide to come back, then classes will start again at that point. If they decide to continue their strike, we could be out indefinitely. Apparently the last time that the students did this, it lasted for 6 weeks!

Either way, I'm on vacation for the next few days!

J'en ai assez!

I hate my bank. It's horrible. Let me tell you about it...

I went to the BNP when I first arrived in France and started working on all of the paperwork. I officially opened my account on Sept 4. The only thing missing was 2 documents which I didn't have at the time ( an attestation d'herbergement and an EDF facture - aka something saying where I lived and a bill from there). About 2 weeks later (admittedly, a bit late), I took the final 2 documents to the lady who is in charge of my account. She tells me that they have everything that they need and that I only needed to wait 2 weeks to process. I thought, 2 weeks sounds like a long time, but seeing as I didn't have any money in the account at the time, no big deal.

2 weeks later I returned to the bank. I took the slip of paper which they sent me in the mail (so that I could pick up my bank card) and went to the desk. They tell me that I can't have it because my acct is still "validating." Alright.

So I waited another 2 weeks. On Oct 9, I return to the bank with the slip. They tell me that the account is still validating and that I should come back in another week. At this point, we've been paid, so I really needed to start using Euros instead of the US Dollars that I've been using. So I ask if I can simply withdraw some money. The lady looks at me very seriously and says... "Non." Great.

So I waited another week or so and returned to the bank. The lady again says: No, you can't get your card. No, you can't withdraw money. Now, at this point, I'm getting mad. So I tell her that if I can't get my money, I'm taking all of it and closing the account. Somehow, that worked. She goes to find someone in charge and they allow me to take out 1000 Euros. Sheesh. They then say that they're not sure what the problem is, but that I should wait and that they'll call me. Right.

Ok, so this brings me to last week. (No, they did not call.) I go back to the bank with my passport (so that I can at least withdraw some money). Again, I am told that no, I cannot take my card and that no, I cannot withdraw money. Again, I tell them that I will close the acct if they don't give me my money and explain that it's my money, not theirs, and that I really should be allowed to spend my own money that I've worked for. The lady then looks up my acct and tells me that it's been put on hold. Awesome.

Now, I have to take back all of my original forms and actually re-create my bank account. Which is awesome since I don't have all of the original forms - they do. Sigh.

I hate them. Take my advice, try the LCL instead.

12 Euros!?!

Do you ever feel as if you're getting ripped off for normal, everyday items?

Ok, so today I ran out of contact solution. Since they don't carry it at the Monoprix (where I buy most of my groceries and things), I went to the pharmacy near my apartment to buy a new bottle.

It was 12 Euros!!!

I've always known contact solution was more expensive here, but I forgot to bring extra bottles with me. I mentioned this to my mom and as we were walking past a pharmacy in Paris, I noticed the price on the bottles. I remember thinking that the price wasn't bad at all - obviously, these bottles were on sale!

Lesson learned: When I come back after Christmas, I'm bringing lots with me!