strike 1

Today the French striked. Hm, that doesn't sound gramatically correct... today the French were on strike. Ok, there, much better. I have experienced a few strikes this year already so I was not worried.

My experiences:
In March I was in the French Alps for spring break and British Airlines went on strike leaving us 'stranded' in France for an extra three days. It was a blessing as I was able to go to Paris during that extended vacation and found a job. Yay for strikes!!

Strike experience numero dos: I was still in France in March and it was the day I was to return to Switzerland to meet back up with my people to catch our flight back to the States the next day. When buying my train ticket from Paris to Genevia, the website informed me that the trains were striking the very day I needed to use their services. Since I am not an expert or even well versed in "strikes" i had no clue what to expect. Purchased my ticket, hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst. Yea, it was a day of the worsts: metro broke down on the way to the train station, missed my train by 5 minutes because the kiosk to print out my ticket was not working and the line to be helped was forever long thanks to the strike. Also thanks to the strike, since i missed my train, which was still running, the next train to my location of desire was not for another FOUR hours. Thank you strikes.
Long story short, i made it to Switzerland by 8pm that night when I had started my journey at 9am that morning. It should've only taken a few hours...not an entire day.
I survived.

So last night when I learned that the French were striking, it didn't really phase me either way. I mean, I don't really feel a part of this country yet so their strikes most likely do not affect me unless I am in need of using the transportation, which I wasn't, so that was fine. BUT I did however find out why they were striking and it is because the government has changed the age for retirement until later and people are not happy with that. I do not know the exact age but for example, instead of being able to retire at 50, you now can't retire until 55 or something like that. I am slowly but surely learning more and more about how the French people and goverment work and it is very interesting and makes me very VERY thankful that I am first and foremost an American. I love France, the French people and most ways of their lives here but the more times I spend here the more I am thankful for the country I call HOME.

Upon learning about the strike today, I also learned that when they strike, they actually have protests. Imagine that! haha. Growing up in Texas and no where near much politics, I am rarely around politics of that kind. I mean, politics to me have included government class in college, voting for mayor and president, and watching it all unfold on tv. Here, because the government invovlement is so different, these people take action and show their support...or lack of support, for the decisions their government makes. Anyways, I wish I could've gone to the protest and witnessed it. Next time, and I know there will be a next time. The one thing, however, my friend Viriginie was telling me (she's a teacher and her school was on strike today so she did not have to work) was that she wished she was in Paris protesting and not just protesting what the government was doing, but also that its the first week of school and there is a need for a strike...she is not a fan of striking. To me though, it is still such a foreign concept that I find it interesting and slightly entertaining. I am sure that will soon change as it affects my daily life and I become more aware and involved in this society.

SOOOOO
Today my host mom came home and we were chatting about the strike and the kids and the weather and who knows what else and she comes and hands me a stapled few pieces of paper and tells me she FOUND DR PEPPER IN PARIS. Whaaaat? Haha, totally made my day! I mean, if dr pepper was no where to be found then i could deal, it would be hard, but i could do it. BUT I knew with there being so many expats in this country that someone had to have had it imported and I was going to find that place. And my host mom did! She has been very attentive to the things I say and I love that. She had found two places in Paris that sell American foods that aren't normally found in France. Score! The funny thing is that one of the stores is seriously within a blocks distance of where I was on Saturday. How ironic! And its name is Thanksgiving Restaurant. It's a store on the first floor and the second floor is a Cajun/Louisianan inspired restaurant. Hmm, might have to check that out sometime. So, yay for finding Dr. pepper and a few other simple pleasures that I do dearly miss right now. To name a few: (things i miss but not necessarily things i can find at either of the stores) pepperoni pizza, steak, jasons deli, burgers (that don't cost 20 euros), sour gummy worms, ICE, coooold water, colby jack cheese, fresh deli sliced turkey and a few others but i think the list is long enough. haha.

Well, i'm out...

I received my FIRST carepackage today in the mail but unfortuantely was not home when it was delivered so I have to wait until the morning to go pick it up from the post office. but i have a sneaking suspision it has jalapeno cheddar cheetos inside and i think i might devour the whole entire thing in one sitting! i hope its a big bag!

LoVE< JR