April 18,
2006
Well it got
kind of crazy last week. To start off, Jaques Chirac
withdrew the CPE, but the strikers, instead of just being
happy and going back to class, are now asking for more. They
want the entire "law for the egality of chances" to be
withdrawn, as well as the CNE (another civil job contract),
and the reestablishment of CAPES postes (I have no idea what
that's all about). So, after the withdrawal of the CPE,
there were still strikers, but now there is a clear majority
of students who want to go back to class.
On Monday of
last week, there was a legitimate vote held, the students
went with their ID cards and the votes were counted, and all
classes were resumed on Wednesday. But of course the
grèvistes weren't happy, and they decided to have their own
vote on in the late afternoon on Wednesday (a vote where
everyone just raises their hands, and then they guesstimate
who the majority is). At the time I was in class, like many
of the CIREFE students, and we were all told we had to go
out and vote. The reason for that was because it had turned
into a question of whether the school would resume classes,
or go on total blockage. Also, one professor told us that if
the school did go back on blockage, the president of the
school might shut it down and end the semester for everyone.
So there was a lot riding on this vote for everyone here at
Rennes 2. Well, we stood out there (in front of batîment B),
and we stood, and we stood, and we stood. In the meantime,
students would go on and on talking about why they need to
fight against the governments legislation, and why they need
their job security (for jobs most of them don't have), and
things like that. It was hard to hear what exactly they were
saying with all the conversations going on amongst the crowd
of people, and a couple of the professors said they would
let us know when they were voting against the blockage (even
though they themselves had a hard time hearing).
There were a
few votes throughout the speeches, but they were for things
like whether or not to block the banking system, or what to
name their movement (they decided on Le Printemps Français -
The French Spring). And that's how it lasted for about four
hours, as the grèvistes tried to bore away enough of the
anti-blockage group to have the vote go for the blockage.
Finally, as the evening wore on (and after I had left for
dinner and then gone back), they had the vote and it was an
overwhelming majority against the blockage! A great ending
right?
On ne peut
qu'espérer. After the vote, one of the students heading up
this assembly got on the mike and announced that the school
was going on total blockage till Tuesday (today), when they
will have another General Assembly and vote again. Of
course, this didn't make anyone happy (except their small
group of supporters) so we all stood around chanting Libérez
la fac (Free the campus) and Le vrai vote (The real vote),
and we would hold up our student cards signifying that we
wanted le vrai vote. Then the president of the school got on
the mike and was saying that obviously the vote wasn't for
the blockage and we were going to work this out, etc., when
they cut him off by turning off the mike. So more standing
around and chanting, till the president got back on the
mike. He started to say the same stuff, but this time, one
of the students grabbed the mike out of his hand and held up
in the air away from him. The president got really mad and
started struggling to get the mike back, but the student
passed it off to someone else. Shortly after that, the
president went in batîment B with some of the grèvistes and
I went back chez moi. So the next day (Thursday) I went to
go to class, but all of the entrances to all of the
buildings (including CIREFE) were blocked with chairs and
desks. At first I thought that the grèvistes had succeeded
in putting the school on total blockage, but it turned out
to be an administrative blockage for security purposes.
Apparently, people were breaking into the buildings and
stealing and destroying stuff. So for Thursday and Friday,
the campus was dead.
Then the
weekend, Monday was a jour ferié (holiday) and today we had
classes in an alternative location (another school for
completing ones studies to become a teacher or professor,
which had a lot of open classrooms because most of their
courses are already completed). But, as I was heading back
chez moi, I noticed that the university is now completely
open again, and people are entering and exiting the
buildings freely, going to and from classes. So that's were
I am at right now, in the basement of the language building
at Rennes 2, writing this email, and hoping la fac is open
for good until the end of the semester. It's really been
something else, and definitely nothing I would ever expect
to experience at Monmouth College, or any other
college/university in the US. But I think there might be
just a little bit more fight left in the grèvistes before
things finally settle on campus. (And that reminds me, we
now have some of the young homeless of Rennes living in
tents on campus just behind one of the buildings. I wonder
what's going to happen there.)
Well, I'll talk to you guys later (not too later,
hopefully),
James
March 23,
2006
Yeah, things
are going as well as they can be, I guess. The strike is
continuing, and it gets frustrating sometimes. For example,
there was a general assembly on Monday, and the strikers
were talking about completely blocking the school and
starting strikes throughout the city if the prime minister
didn't start negotiating with them. But fortunately, that
just looks like a bunch of talk at this moment. At one point
it did seem as if the strikers were in the minority, but I
guess its clear now that they are in the majority (but the
anti-strike students do seem to be growing in numbers).
All that said,
it still doesn't look like I will be blocked from my
classes. The most frustrating thing is that the strikers are
blocking off classes saying they need to be heard, and they
are using the protection of democracy and their 'right' to
do this. But by blocking off classes they interrupt students
who don't agree, and many international students, from
continuing/completing their education and aren't letting
them show their stance on the situation by still attending
classes. Some freedom.
Outside of
that though, things have been going well. This past weekend
I went on a trip organized by the school to the Loire valley
where we visited 5 castles in two days. We left Saturday
morning around 7, and we stopped to see three of them (one
wasn't open to visitors, so we were only able to walk around
the outside of it), then we stayed at a hostel in Saumur.
The next day we went to see two more castles before
returning home. Everyone was pretty exhausted by the end,
but it was fun.
Tuesday night,
I went and saw a movie with a couple of American girls and a
French friend of theirs. The movie wasn't too great, but it
was good practice at trying to understand what they were
saying.
The website I
told you about is
skype.com. The best times to call me are in the evenings
or on the weekend (on Tuesday and Friday I'm done with class
by noon). Remember, though, there's a 7 hour time
difference. Let me know when exactly you are planning on
calling if you are going to call my residence phone...that
way I'll know to answer it.
Well, I guess that's about it for now. Talk to you all
later.
James
P.S. Sorry that I haven't been quicker on the email. This
week they shut down the computer lab for CIREFE for exams.
It should be open next week.
March 6,
2006
La Vie du
Etudiant à Rennes (première partie)
La Premier ministre, Dominique de Villepin, avais proposé un
projet de loi "sur l'égalité des chances." C'est une loi
d'emploi pour les travailleurs moins de 26 ans. Contre
Villepin et la droite, la gauche et nombreux étudiants
partout la France sont opposés à plusieurs points de cette
loi. La partie la plus controversée est le Contrat Premier
Embauche (CPE). Aussi, le point le plus éminent est la
periode d'essai. La loi changera la periode de trois mois à
deux ans. En d'autres mots, un employeur peut licencier un
employé, sans justification, dans les premiers deux ans.
A la semaine
du 6 février, la fac s'est mise en grève. Un jour, les
chaises et les bureaus ont été émpilés dans les salles des
batîments. La prochain matin, les étudiants ont bloqué les
entrées de tous les batîments scolaires avec les meubles.
Depuis ce monment-là, il y avait des votes, des discours, et
des manifestations avant la préfecture. Dans l'ensemble, il
était tranquille. Les étudiants étrangers ont leurs cours du
français encore. Mais, ceux, qui suivaient les cours
réguliers, n'ont pas des classes comme les étudiants
français.
La loi a été
votée la semaine dernière. Je ne sais pas ce qui va se
passer. Ce matin, les étudiants ont bloqué la gare, mais le
métro est en fonctoinnement à ce moment. J'ai entendu que si
la grève dure six semaines, l'université annulera le
semestre. Je ne sais pas si cela inclurait les cours du
français. J'espère bien que non! Je sais que les étudiants
partout Bretagne (2000 à Rennes seulement) et des étudiants
à Paris (3000) ont manifesté, mais je ne sais pas si les
autres facs sont en grève aussi.
La semaine
dernière a été les vacances d'hiver. Il était calme. Pendant
l'année scolaire, il y a environ 20,000 étudiants à Rennes 2
(environ 50,000 à Rennes 1). Ici, on étudie trois ans pour
le niveau de License, deux ans pour le niveau de Master, et
trois ans pour le niveau de Doctorat. Les départments sont
les Arts, les Lettres, les Langues, la Communication, les
Sciences Humaines et Sociales, les Activités Physique et
Sportives, et le CIREFE. Le CIREFE est le départment qui
apprendre le français aux étudiants étrangers. Tous mes
cours sont là. Je suis Etude de la Langue, Entraînement
Phonétique, Comprehension Orale, Expression Orale,
Expression Ecrite, Civilisation, et Littérature. Chaque
cours recontre un fois par semaine pendant un ou deux heure
(sauf Etude de la Langue - trois fois par semaine à deux
heures). J'avais besoin d'acheter un livre seulement (lequel
a été 15€, ou environ $18). Autres supports sont donnés à la
classe.
Les résidences universitaires et les restaurants
universitaires (les RU's) sont dirigé par le CROUS, qui
dirige tous les résidences et RU's en France. J'ai de la
chance car ma résidence est à côté de l'université, du métro,
et d'un RU. Les autres sont situées partout Rennes. J'aime
bien d'acheter un sandwich à l'Ereve (sur la fac) pour
déjeuner. Puis, je dîne au Glaznik (au RU). Les aliments
sont très magnifique! Ils sont aussi bien que les aliments
faits à la maison. L'université et les RU's firme pour le
week-end. Alors, on peut aller à un marché (les matins du
samedi), à un supermarché, ou à une des plusieurs cafés,
bistros, restaurants, ou sandwicheries. Le repas le moins
cher sur les rues est un sandwich Kebab ou américain
avec/sans frites. (Le sandwich Kebab est à Rennes comme le
gyros ou le hotdog est à Chicago).
and now in English....
Student Life in Rennes (part one)
The Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, proposed a new
law on "the equality of chances," dealing with the
employment of people under the age of 26. The parties of the
right and numerous students throughout France are strongly
opposed to several points of this law that is being
supported by the right. The most controversial part is the
First Employment Contract (CPE), and the most often noted
grievance against the CPE is about the grace period. The law
will change the period that employer has to fire an employee
without justification after hiring from the first three
months to the first two years.
The campus
went on strike the week of the 6th of February. One day,
chairs and desks were piled up in the hallways, and the
next, the students had used them to block all the entrances
to all the academic buildings. Since then, there have been
votes (on whether or not to continue the strike), a few
speeches, and a few manifestations at the prefecture. But
for the most part, it has been pretty calm. Us international
students still have our French courses, but those who were
taking regular courses don't have any class (outside of
French classes).
The law was
voted in last week on the first of the month. Today, I heard
that the metro station had been blocked off. But its running
just fine now. I also just heard that if the strike lasts
for six weeks, the semester will be cancelled. I don't know
if that includes the French courses, but I hope not! I do
know that other schools throughout Bretagne (Brittany) and
in Paris have had manifestations, but I don't know if they
have gone on strike too.
Last week it
was winter break, and it was pretty quiet. During the
academic year, the University Rennes 2 has about 20,000
students (while Rennes 1 has about 50,000). Here, students
study three years for their License/BA, two for their
Masters, and three more for a Doctorate. The departments are
the Arts, Letters (writing, litterature, etc.), Languages,
Communication, Human and Social Sciences, Physical and
Sports Activities, and the CIREFE. CIREFE is the department
for teaching french to international students. All of my
courses are here. I am taking Language Study, Oral
Expression, Oral Comprehension, Written Expression, Phonetic
Training, Civilisation, and Litterature. Each course meets
once a week for one or two hours (except Language Study -
three times a week for two hours). I only had to buy one
textbook (which was 15€, or about $18). Other materials are
given during class.
The dorms and
the university restaurants/cafeterias (called the RU) are
run by the CROUS, which runs all the dorms and RU's in
France. I'm fortunate, because my dorm is right next to a RU
and right across the street from the university and the
metro. Other dorms and RU's are situated throughout Rennes.
For lunch I go to the Ereve (it's kind of like a student
union) and get a sandwich. Then, for dinner I go to the
Glaznik at the RU. The food there is great! It's as good as
homemade food. But, the university and RU are closed on the
weekends. So at that time one can go to one of the markets
(every Saturday morning), the supermarket, or one of the
many cafes, bistros, restaurants, or sandwicheries. The
cheapest meal to get is an American (they try) or Kebab
sandwich with or without fries. (The Kebab sandwich in
Rennes is like a gyros or hotdog in Chicago).
Enjoy!
James
February
16, 2006
This is to get
everyone up to speed. Arriving in Paris went without any
difficulties. I was able to figure out where to go by
following the signs. In order to meet up with Carly, I was
supposed to take the métro to Saint-Remy and get off at
Châtelet, where I was to meet her. When I got off, though, I
didn't know that she was going to just come to the platform
I had gotten off on and meet me, so I preceded to wander
about the station trying to figure out where I should go so
that she would find me.
After about an
hour past the arranged meeting time, I just took a cab to
her apartment building. When I got there, I waited some
more, hoping that she would decide to return to see if I had
just made my way there. While waiting I did buzz the lobby
and an apartment marked ESG-something (figuring that it had
to do with her school, ESGCI). No answers. Finally, after
about another hour, a lady came along who lived in the
building and she asked if I needed help. I managed to
explain to her (rather poorly) my situation. So, she gave me
her cell phone to call Carly.
Each time I
tried calling, though, some guy answered. Fortunately,
another resident came along and she knew that there were
some students living in an apartment on the first floor. I
then followed the second lady into the building and to the
apartment. It was the right apartment. Carly wasn't there,
but her roommate knew I was going to be coming. Carly did
show up, though, just as her roommate was going to go find
her.
That
afternoon, Carly took me to see some of the sights. We went
to Le Louvre, L'Arc de Triomphe, La Tour Eiffel, and Le
Sacre Couer. Le Sacre Couer was my favourite. When we got
there the day was turning into dusk and there were people
hanging out on the steps to the chapel where you can look
out over the city. It was a really awesome view. Getting to
Rennes wasn't too bad. I did take the train to Nantes by
accident, but the contrôleur wrote on my ticket that I had
made a mistake and wasn't to be kicked off the train when
going from Nantes to Rennes.
Since I
arrived, everything has been going pretty smoothly. I had a
couple of placement tests and dozens of inscriptions to fill
out. And with each inscription you need to give at least two
photos of yourself....so I had to make a few trips to the
photo machine.
My first
Saturday here, there was a trip to Mont Saint Michel for the
étudiants étrangers (foreign students). It was actually
snowing that day (very unusual for Bretagne), which gave the
place a cold, but awe inspiring atmosphere. What I enjoyed
most about it was wandering outside the chapel on le Mont.
After two weeks of inscriptions and waiting, my classes
finally started. I'm at the level Seuil (just be! tween
Intermediate and Avanced).
For classes, I
have Etude de la Langue (Language Study), Compréhension
Oral, Entraînement Phonétique (Phonetic Training),
Civilisation, Littérature, Expression Ecrite (Written
Expression), and Expression Oral. All of the classes meet
once a week, except Etude de la Langue (three times a week),
and class periods last for one or two hours.
Last week, the
French students started their Manifestation against the CPE.
The CPE is a legislation that the government is trying to
pass with regards to job security. One of the things that
the CPE would change is the period of time that an employer
has, after hiring someone under the age of 26, to fire that
person (if he wants to) without having to have any
justification for doing so.
The government
already has legislation which gives employers up to three
months (I think), but the new legislation would extend that
to two years. The students see this as threatening to their
job security and as illegal (since they already have that
first law). So, last week, on Wednesday, the students who
are against the CPE blocked up all the doors to all the
academic buildings with desks and chairs and posted people
outside to tell everyone that they've gone on strike and
they've closed down the school. Only CIREFE (the department
for teaching French to us étudiants étrangers) has been
still operating.
Since the
school has been closed, computer availability has been
limited to the library (until today-they opened up a
computer room in the language building for CIREFE), but the
lunch line in the Ereve building hasn't been so big. There
have been about four votes on four different days. A large
group of students will gather before one of the buildings
where their is a small group up on the steps. One student on
the steps will be speaking into a microphone asking "Qui va
pour?" and "Qui va contre?" ("Who's for it?" and "Who's
against it?"). And whoever is pour or contre continuing the
strike will raise their hand after the respective question.
Apparently this isn't widespread. One of the other American
students was telling me that one of her professors said that
this is something characteristic of Rennes and Toulouse.
Twice in the past ten years, Rennes has gone on strike. The
first time they were successful in changing the mind of the
government, but the second time they weren't. Well, that's
about it for now....talk to you all later.
James Austin
February
13, 2006
Just wanted to
send you guys a quick note that everything is going well so
far. I started classes last week and they will be going
through to 26 May. Right now the students are on strike
against the school because the government is trying to pass
legislation that the students see as threatening to their
job security. So, they have had the school on lockdown since
last Wednesday. Only the CIREFE (the department for teaching
French to foreign students) is still operating. I haven't
had as much access to a computer as I did before because the
library is the only building with an operating computer lab
right now. I'll be sending you all a full update as soon as
I can. Till then,
Au revoir,
James
