Long time, no post

My typical schedule has been thrown out of wack by the manifestations, the cancelled classes and the still-closed fac (la faculté, which is what the French call the university). Hence the reason for less posts and mass emails; they too become late and less frequent.
Not that I am annoyed by the change or anything, it is more confusing than anything. I have walked more to school these past few weeks to only learn I have no class than anytime before in my life. If only there could be better communication – another prof, a messenger, a smoke signal, a notice – so we weren’t standing waiting for a teacher to show up for a half and hour until we finally figure there is no class.

I have never seen such political engagement as I have seen here. These French students have grit and perseverance; that is undeniable. Nevertheless, so does the government. If only both sides were a little flexible; stubbornness, pride and politics get in the way of a solution that satisfies both parties at least partially. On the other hand, it is a good demonstration and experience of French culture – for that reason I find it interesting. I just hope it doesn’t last too long, because although most of my courses are still running (the regular students don’t have class) my cinema class has been cancelled the past two weeks. It’s the make up that I am concerned about – I don’t want to have the semester extended, cause I want to have time to travel a bit before leaving in celebration of making it! Fingers crossed!!

I have travel plans for the next week, the semaine de rattrapage; however, these might change. Here is what I have planned out if all goes as originally intended:

March 30: take an overnight train to Tours
March 31: arrive at Tours, visit the Loire Valley
April 1: arrive in Paris after taking an overnight train and visit the capital of France
April 2: Paris encore, overnight train to Strasbourg
April 3: Strasbourg
April 4: Heidelberg, Germany
April 5: Luxembourg
April 6: Geneva, take an overnight train back to Perpignan

However, I think I will have to make up my literature class during the week of the semaine de rattrapage, so I will probably cut out the Heidelberg and Luxembourg daytrip and go to Geneva on the 4th, before taking an overnight train to arrive early in the morning to Perpignan. I will drop my stuff off at home and then head to school for my class. Let’s see what the future has in store…