UNDERGRAD REPORT FROM TOULOUSE: NATALIE COX

Language Studies major Natalie Cox, who is spending the year in Toulouse, France with UC’s Education Abroad Program, is having a most unusual Fall quarter. She reports:

I’m not sure if you in Santa Cruz are aware of the situation in Toulouse or not, but the university where all the EAP-ers are located—Université de Toulose 2, Mirail—has been on strike since November 6. It is one of many French universities striking to counter a heavily opposed privatization bill.

This means that I have not been able to attend classes for almost one month. I’m crossing my fingers that courses will start this following Monday, as tennis and coffee “breaks” are getting a bit tedious and it would be nice to have some good, old-fashioned class again. But we have no idea how long the strike will last, it could potentially be until the end of the year, there is really no way of knowing.

It really is a crazy situation over here. There are tables and chairs blocking all of the entrances to the buildings, and it’s very very odd.

For some of Natalie’s photos of Toulouse on strike, go here.