The strike goes on! Even Pierre-Antoine's university is on strike... And next week is a holiday week for Toussaint, or All Saints, so really everyone is just enjoying a nice long vacation with some demonstrations thrown in. I'm sure you've all heard of flights and trains being cancelled. I'm staying put in Rennes for now...
Still, I had to appear at work this morning so that everyone knew I was not striking myself (though why I could possibly care about French retirement ages, I don't understand). I chatted with English teacher Corinne a bit in the teacher's lounge and then headed back to my place. Pierre-Antoine (also free) and I went shopping for a universal remote for my tv and I also found some new black flats. I apparently scared him and the shopkeepers by how fast I picked them out and paid! I know what I want, I suppose...
So my only activity for the day is going to the bank at 4:30 to figure out insurance and how to fix my shower. It is just annoying because there is no leak or anything up here... so I'm probably going to have to coordinate a plumber visit with the neighbors. We'll see...
PA and I are going to try this restaurant called "Back to the 60s" near Place Sainte Anne. It has burgers and shakes in a 50s diner atmosphere! Just don't ask me why they chose the 60s as the diner era :/
Showing posts with label Place Sainte Anne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Place Sainte Anne. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
STRIKE: Day 2
In four classes today, I saw about ten students total, so the profs let them go early. It is so frustrating to want to work and do something productive with my time and yet have no opportunity to do so! It really does make me angry sometimes to think that I moved to France for nothing. (Nothing professionally, that is. I do very much enjoy spending time with PA and the people I’ve met!)
I read a letter that the school sent home with students that explains why they chose to strike. If the retirement age goes up, unemployment will also go up since people will be keeping their jobs for another two years. The professors see their students as the first victims of this crisis, being young and entering the workforce right at this critical moment. It reminds me of my friends who graduated during the recession and could not find jobs for months—very frustrating indeed.
But at the same time, if the government cannot afford to pay retirement benefits because the age is still at 60, the kids are going to be in trouble anyway… We shall see.
So I didn’t know what to do today with all my free time. I ended up napping. PA’s university was on strike today and maybe tomorrow, so we might head out and buy furniture for my apartment or something on Friday. I could also use a treat like Le Haricot Rouge hot chocolate to get me through this silliness!
Sadly, I never got the chocolate… Instead, I brought a few decorations to my apartment and texted people for a dinner party. I ended up eating bread and cheese and galettes at Seth’s apartment with Nick and Serenika, a French girl from Montpelier who is studying political science in Rennes. Serenika and I bonded over time spent in Rome—she did an internship there last fall and I’ve done my art history trips there for multiple summers. And I told them all about the housewarming party I am hosting at my place Saturday night. I can’t wait to hang out with everyone there! (If it seems like I party more than I work here, that is correct. But it is not my fault!)
After grabbing the keys from PA (who was working an international student party downtown), I am safe in his apartment for the night. I am supposed to stop by work tomorrow to see if I can sit in on any classes that show up… We shall see how useful I end up being…
I’ll put up pictures of my apartment tomorrow. I would appreciate cards/letters to put on my walls, if you want to drop me a line!
OSCHMAN Lauren
4 Place Sainte Anne
35000 RENNES
FRANCE
I read a letter that the school sent home with students that explains why they chose to strike. If the retirement age goes up, unemployment will also go up since people will be keeping their jobs for another two years. The professors see their students as the first victims of this crisis, being young and entering the workforce right at this critical moment. It reminds me of my friends who graduated during the recession and could not find jobs for months—very frustrating indeed.
But at the same time, if the government cannot afford to pay retirement benefits because the age is still at 60, the kids are going to be in trouble anyway… We shall see.
So I didn’t know what to do today with all my free time. I ended up napping. PA’s university was on strike today and maybe tomorrow, so we might head out and buy furniture for my apartment or something on Friday. I could also use a treat like Le Haricot Rouge hot chocolate to get me through this silliness!
Sadly, I never got the chocolate… Instead, I brought a few decorations to my apartment and texted people for a dinner party. I ended up eating bread and cheese and galettes at Seth’s apartment with Nick and Serenika, a French girl from Montpelier who is studying political science in Rennes. Serenika and I bonded over time spent in Rome—she did an internship there last fall and I’ve done my art history trips there for multiple summers. And I told them all about the housewarming party I am hosting at my place Saturday night. I can’t wait to hang out with everyone there! (If it seems like I party more than I work here, that is correct. But it is not my fault!)
After grabbing the keys from PA (who was working an international student party downtown), I am safe in his apartment for the night. I am supposed to stop by work tomorrow to see if I can sit in on any classes that show up… We shall see how useful I end up being…
I’ll put up pictures of my apartment tomorrow. I would appreciate cards/letters to put on my walls, if you want to drop me a line!
OSCHMAN Lauren
4 Place Sainte Anne
35000 RENNES
FRANCE
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
I HAVE A HOME!!!
I just got the most amzing apartment ever!!! I live on the main square of the historic center--full of restaurants and bars and a metro station! I live above a pizza shop :)
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| The yellow awning to the left, and I'm on the 3rd floor! |
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| An interior view of my 35 square meters! |
I get to move in Friday!! Stay tuned for more photos then!
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