STRIKES!!

Today in class, Amy was telling us how her host sister was really mad yesterday. She was mad because she goes to a University and all the professors are on strike! She was supposed to take her final exams the first day of the strikes, but because of them the exams got canceled. This means she cannot retake them and must take the WHOLE CLASS over in June.

I don't think this would EVER happen in the U.S. I just think things are more organized back home, more stable, and predictable. I don't know quite how to explain it but I think I miss it. I miss knowing that the bus will come at EXACTLY 8:00am on the dot, and that stores open up EXACTLY when they say, and when you pay for a candy bar or a taxi ride you will ALWAYS get your EXACT change back instead of being yelled at for not giving them exact change and then not getting anything back at all... At the same time I think this is part of the laid back culture, if everything were on time and all organized it just wouldnt be the same and as stress-free...

So anyway about these STRIKES!

Amy told us how the teachers were on strike. And last night at dinner, Noel was telling me if I went on Cordoba street (the main shopping area) today there would be ALL SORTS of vendors out because of the strike. I understood, but I didnt get why they thought they would sell more with teachers on strike. Especially since those on strike were asking for more money! On our way to the radio station they were ALL OVER the place!! I asked Jim if he knew why and told him i thought it was because of the Teachers on strike.... I still didnt get it though.

Tonight while eating my "afternoon snack" at 8:00pm, the vendors in the street were on the news. So I attempted to ask why they came out to sell things when the teachers were on strike.. It turned into a 20 or 25 min conversation... and we had to pull out the dictionary a few times, but after asking if the Vendors were the teachers, or if they were selling stuff because the teachers were shopping because they didnt have to work.... I FINALLY GOT IT!!!....

The teachers are NOT the only ones on strike... there are MANY ppl on strike including the "inspectors." There is a law in Rosario that says the vendors can not sell in the streets. The inspectors enforce this, but since they are on strike also no one is stoping the street vendors! AHH!! It was just a crazy converstation and kind of taught me how things work around here... like we say. "When the cat is away the mouse will play." ( i think that is how it goes at least)


This strike is causing many other problems as well... i think some doctors are on strike leaving sick patients in the hospitals with no one to care for them... or only a FEW ppl. (Remember this is my interpurtation of the headlines on the new and what my host family told me in spanish)

I think the mayor may be on strike too and people cant get married and what not... idk it just seems soo chaotic...

thats all for now friends,
Chau!