When in doubt...Strike!!!

There always seems to be some group in France upset about something, and the French show it by having a strike, and also a 'Manifestation', or demonstration. For instance last November, the railway workers had a strike, and also marched in the streets of Paris. Right now, University students are striking over new labor laws that make it easy to fire people under 26 years in age. Sarah emerged from a movie theater last week, was trying to cross the street, and ended up getting sucked into a march across Paris of students.

France takes the plight of the common worker very seriously, I think it's hardwired in from the French Revolution. When a manifestation is scheduled, loads of policemen show up to manage traffic around the demonstration, and deal with anyone who gets out of hand in the demonstration. Small groups who are having a manifestation get bent out of shape if there aren't a lot of policemen there, they feel that the government isn't taking them seriously if there aren't a lot of police there.

The student protests have become quite large, many universities are affected. Last week a group of students at the Sorbonne barricaded themselves inside the school. More demonstrations are planned for next week. We watch for notices of demonstrations because we live right by Bastille, which is *always* the start or the finish of a demonstration. It's bewildering when it happens because we sometimes can't get across the street or we aren't sure how peeved people are, and if they are going to get rowdy.

In other news, Suzy made a quick trip to Houston last week to get her new Visa pasted in her passport. Her employer had to re-doodle her work permit to a different type, which kicked off a storm of delightful paperwork, approvals, and a lovely trip to Houston. Suzy also had to get another physical with the French Immigration doctor, and yes, of course, her chest x-ray from 7 months ago was deemed to be 'too old', so she got a nice dose of radiation to go with it all. If the French Immigration Authorities are so concerned about Suzy's health, why do they keep shooting her full of radiation?

Suzy is greatful to be back in France, it was weird landing at CDG last week. Paris now feels like 'home', and the US feels like a foreign country.