...

So I'm liking the French a lot less this week. The metro has been on strike (again) since Tuesday night. And while my line is running some of its trains, packing myself into these over-crowded cars has given my new sympathies for sardines. And I'd also like to issue a blanket apology to every person in whose back/side/chest/thigh/head I've found my elbow/hand/knee/bag/hip. Wednesday wasn't so bad, most likely because everyone else assumed the metro would be closed, so it was only a little crowded. But then on Thursday I couldn't even get into trains. And yesterday was somewhat violating.

And then supposedly early this week ahead, the museums, postal service, and other general services. Meanwhile in the university system (and being in a grand école, this I am spared) the student strikes still piddle on. I still don't really get student strikes - seems like they're only hurting themselves - but this is what the French get for making this some sort of constitutional rights. It kind of makes me miss the US, where we can just declare this illegal.

Still yesterday was fun. Got a haircut, went to Shakespeare & Co. with Tony and then grabbed coffee, then we had a dinner party at Garrett's apartment for his and Tony's birthdays, which had been during the last two weeks. We made a surprisingly good dinner, too (credit largely to Garrett and Gracie).

My internet in the apartment hasn't been working since Wednesday either, so I'm in the library at Sciences Po right now, taking care of email, checking up on the world, and trying to save some articles and research for these papers I've realized are due in two and three weeks. The end is coming surprisingly fast.