On Thursday, I took part in l’Assemblée Generale. Last Wednesday, there was another A.G., and the students voted to block the school for one day. That is why another one was held on Thursday to decide if the blocking would continue throughout the next week. After 3 hours of listening to people rant about the reform and the block (Sarkozy wants to move the retirement age of 60 to 62), only a few actually made some good points. I also couldn’t hear/understand a large portion of the speakers, but everyone else seemed to pay no attention to most of it either.
Then, it was time to vote. They had everyone move in a bit closer, and we then voted a number of times on a lot of different things. A French acquaintance explained the parts we didn’t get, but even he thought it was a little ridiculous. Finally it came to the vote whether or not to block for the whole week. The way we voted was by lifting our hands up. So, as you can imagine, it was very hard to tell the “for’s” from the “against’s.” We then had to move to a designated sign to make counting easier. It was decided that the school would not be blocked, but there would be another A.G. on Tuesday to have more discussions and voting (I think).
I have also been informed because of all the striking, there is no school Tuesday again. I don’t mind because I want to get as much work done before the break as possible. Speaking of the break, with all this striking, it is going to make getting to and from Paris a lovely obstacle. To get to Taizé, I have to go from Rennes to Paris, and then Paris to Macon (a town an hour north of Lyon) and then take a bus from Macon to Taizé. About 2 out of 3 trains are running. I don’t get reimbursed my money, but I just get credit for the same trip. I will get to Taizé, it just might take longer than predicted.
And that brings me to the fact I’m going to Taizé for 10 days in a mere 3 days. I don’t even know how to express how I’m feeling. I think I will have better things to write about it when I get back in November. Right now, it’s just anticipation and excitement. The more I listen to chants or read testimonials, I can’t stop imagining what this place will be like. Life has been so hectic and crazy the last month and a half from getting settled and moving away for the first time and having to speak a language that isn’t mine. It will (hopefully) be a good way to ground and refocus myself and make sure I am really getting what I want out of this experience.
As of my life in Rennes, I have been up to a lot lately. There was an accordian festival and an electronic festival going on over the past 2 weeks. I saw a few shows, including this really strange and fascinating ciné-concert in a caravan with a man playing the accordian to a surealist Czech movie running in the background, and the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra. Check out the video; it will amaze you. I have also been frequenting the Haricot Rouge way too much lately, getting my fill of les chocolats chauds Viennois and delish chocolate chips cookies. I will get a picture on here eventually. Good chance I will want to go before my holidays.
We also went to
the Paimpont Forest yesterday. It's known for its Arthurian legends and such. However we got there without too much info and the tourist office was closed. The most we saw was a sign that said Merlin's tomb and the Fountain of Youth were 14 km away and we had no idea how to really get there. So instead we walked around, had a picnic with cider and explored a little. It wasn't the adventure we were looking for, but it was a lovely day with lovely people and we found some cool trees and mushrooms, so it was still a success.That is about all I have for you all right now. I am just wrapping up everything at school and prepping for my time at Taizé à ce moment. Keep me in your prayers over the next couple of weeks as I travel in striking France and I spend a week in mediation.
Biz,
Skye
