Nov 2007

Before coming to France I had heard, on several occasions, of the country's repuatation of 'always' being on strike and wondered how true it was. It seems I have turned up at the perfect time to witness the answer to my question first hand as France enters what journalists are forseeing as 'Sarkozy's month of discontent'.

There has already been one day of strikes by transport workers since I arrived and tonight at 20.00 began another, this time of 'indeterminate' length; every evening workers will vote as to whether or not they want the strike to continue. As I understand it the members of certain professions (such as the SNCF and energy companies) have benifited (up until now) from a special pensions arrangement because, back in the day, their job was considered 'dangerous' or in some way threatening to their live expectancy and thus, they were given a lower state retirement age (as low as 50). The health risks associated with these jobs have obviously been significantly reduced in recent years, and Sarkozy plans to get rid of this costly special arrangement. Of course, the workers aren't too happy about this. And these strikes are major...I mean a lot of Paris will be brought to a stand still, there are a very limited number of TGVS running, major problems for the Eurostar (the inauguration of the new faster London-Paris service was planned for tomorrow...uh oh!), and if it wasn't for the buses I would be in for major problems getting to Bergerac for my plane on Friday.

However, on top of this, there is a whole different set of problems...this time involving students. The French government (or 'Sarkozy' as the papers write) has recently passed a law giving universities a much greater degree of autonomy. Many see this as 'privatisation-by-stealth' as University directors will be encouraged to act like CEOs and compete for funding from private enterprises. The law was passed quickly during the summer holidays in an attempt to avoid the mass movement of students which has now begun. There have already been well-attended meetings and strikes at many of the larger Universities, and blockades of train stations are now planned to coincide with the forthcoming strikes I described above.

And that's not it...Air France cabin crew have just ended a five day strike over pay and conditions, it'll be the turn of teachers and civil servants on the 20th, and of the justice system on the 29th.

I don't think this is an average month, but it certainly seems the importance of strikes and workers unions is much, much greater here than it has been at home for many years now...several newspapers have made reference to Thatcher v the coal miners. It's going to be a difficult month for the government, for Sarkozy in particular who is 6 months into his 5-year term and seems to be taking this on as a rather personal battle, and indeed for the average French population, 55% of whom find the transport strikes 'unjustified'.

Love it! Just ended up being in the class photo of my favourite class (with the lovely teacher)! It worked out really well that they got called for the photo in the middle of the English lesson...I sort of hung around at the back watching and the teacher was like "come on, you're part of our class" so I got to be in it. And the teachers (inculding me bien sur!) get a free copy, awesome souvenir methinks. Felt like a proper teacher standing at the end of the back line he he. And it was so funny even the boys were doing their hair and all tied their jumpers over their shoulders...tres chic ha ha! This teacher is so lovely, emailed me 3 times over the weekend just being chatty and I'm going to her choir practice later, which I'm quite looking forward to.

Teaching has gone ok this week...turns out writing "Evaluation" on the board works wonders with the older students and hangman is my new game! Although I did just have a horror of a class with CE1 (the youngest) they just would not shut up...any of them! I got really mad though and stopped a game of bingo halfway through and made them go back to boring repetition of the flashcards, so HA! It's made much worse fot them by the fact that I have 4 CE1 classes...so I compare them and know that kids of this age ARE capable of sitting still for 30 seconds at least, AND of remembering stuff...seriously these guys still get What's your name?/How are you? mixed up. And I know that games and songs are the way forward but they're very difficult when the kids won't listen to anything I/the other kids say. However, I spoke to the teacher (who's a longterm supply) at the end and he seemed happy enough with how I'd handled the lesson...positive actually, so that's cool. And he can speak English too, so we're having a meeting tomorrow and looks like we may take half the class each which would make life much easier.

Have had 50 absolute unique visitors to my blog...a fact of which I am quite proud.

Managed to sort out my electricity bill; went into EDF and it was the easiest thing in the world, they're just going to send me a bill for the electricity I've actually used. Awesome.

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/DF_tipping.shtml

http://www.assistantsinfrance.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32420&highlight=

I have heating, yay! My appartment is all nice and toasty. The radiators kinda leak a bit but the plummer, Monsieur Papin, gonna pay me a visit some time.

Also looks like this electricity bill was just an estimation and that I might not have to pay the whole lot...fingers crossed I might be able to eat this month yet! ha ha!

Watched High School Musical last night which was hilarious. Would have loved that flim when I was younger (Ok, I love it now!). Also ate popcorn and icecream and belgian chocolate, because the fajitas, waffles and hot chocolates of the day had just not satisified us. Oh dear...I had been a bit better last week though...I blame Rachel and the others! We also watched La Doublure, a classic French comedy and I'd highly recommend it.

Went out for a wander this morning, it's armisitice day here too and they do the 2 minute silence and apparently there was a procession somewhere in town. We didn't see much of it, and were very surprised to see the market all set up on a Sunday morning but we heard the bells and at the train station (just put Rachel on her train home) there was a massive bouquet laid in honour of the 10 or so Perigordian railwaymen who had died due to the war. My landlord came round following the ceremony and I was kind of surprised to hear they'd been drinking champagne...maybe it's more of a celebration here?

Excited to get my weekly email from Matt this morning, and also that I'll be home and with Joe and my family (18 year old baby brother!!!) a week today, yay yay yay! Kinda weird thing to get the nominations for this year's JCR commitee (University thing)...so many names I don't know.

Has turned a bit grey here...methinks it's time those Christmas lights were turned on. I got really excited to see a big marquee put up in the middle of the old ville thinking it may be a Christmas market, but no it's a foie gras market.

You should all check out this website, the lovely teacher gave me the link and it is muchos fun (and educational!):
http://www.france.learningtogether.net/

Yesterday evening was fun...the big group of us lovely assistants went and had a yummy yummy curry and then headed to the Star Inn and Cafe de la place. Very jolly. And Lynn got friendly with a dog (she's already best buddys with a cat who comes round for phillipinno chicken and chantilly) but regretted it when it pissed all over her foot.

But this morning I got an EDF bill for last month: 63 euros....argggghhh.Horrific. Can't afford it. And don't understand how it works.

Rachel staying at the moment and says I have to write about the hilarious thing that happened when a lady called looking for Madame somebodyorother and I was all flustered and was like "err...vouz avec le faux...nombre...numero.....". Anyway this story not funny at all in retelling but ca y est Rachel.