No classes?

Let's start with the ordinary. Yesterday's France en Perspective was great, and the professor seems really interesting. And I am certainly moving Friday night to live with Mme G.

After going to the bank this morning to pay my social security, I headed to my class, which was supposed to be French literature/theater. First oddity: no French students. There were four students from my study abroad program, which I expected, but there were also six students from Wellesley, a girl from Korea, and the two foreign students from my class on Monday. Second problem: no professor. After sitting for 20 minutes without seeing a professor, someone went to ask at the department office. Apparently our professor just had a baby, and until she returns, we won't have that class.

And then there's the strike.

It turns out the strike tomorrow is to demonstrate that the unions can organize a strike. Mme T explained last night that most of the state syndicats (unions) will strike to show they disagree with Nicholas Sarkozy's policies. But the unions aren't seeking a particular goal, just to demonstrate the power they have.

The news last night talked of "Jeudi Noir", and they're about right: tomorrow, almost all of France will halt. Public transport (including airports), banks, the postal system, schools, and even some hospitals will shut down. I asked what people do on a day of national strikes. "You do what the unions do," Mme told me. "Nothing!"

It's thus unclear whether I'll have class tomorrow. French law requires that some parts of the country still function, so there will be some buses and some doctors and so on. And because tomorrow is more a call to strike than a full-blown strike, not all professors at La Faculté will stay home: those who disagree with the strike could still hold classes. Basically, we still have to go to class tomorrow, although the professors might not be there. Oh, and starting next Tuesday, there might be a national teachers' strike, which would mean no classes next week either.

Still, it's a beautiful day and I find this all more bemusing than frustrating. I bought a book I need for my Monday class, Corneille's L'illusion comique, for just €2.95, which is a great deal compared to my $40 textbooks at Michigan. And this evening I'm going to plan out my February break—I'm planning to visit Italy with some other students from the program.