SORRY!!!!

Hello all, and I apologize for not having updated in FOREVER! Here's a few bullet points to show what I've been up to:

-My professors were on strike for 8, count 'em 8 WEEKS! And after about 6, the students joined in too, and thus there was a blockade of my university. I guess that's what I get for studying at a somewhat liberal Poli Sci school!

-Classes mostly started up again at the beginning of April, but there are still "Days of Mobilization" every so often to show continuing support of the movement against the proposed reforms (I finally got a grasp of what those were, but they are quite complicated to explain quickly)

-Everyone is also very unhappy with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, and the whole economic crisis. There have been 2 national strikes, where all the workers in the country strike for a day. One of these was on the day I left for Amsterdam, which posed a problem because I was leaving from Geneva and the national train conglomerate was on strike as well. Eventually, I made it!

-This past week and a half was our Easter break, and since I haven't visited much of France yet (and money is running low), I decided to do just that. I took advantage by going to Marseille for the first weekend with my friend Celine (which I absolutely LOVED!), then I spent a day in Bordeaux, Couch Surfed in Toulouse for a couple of days, and spent another day in Montpellier, all with my friend Alli, before returning to Lyon on Thursday. This trip will definitely get a full update!

-In other news, we booked the flight for my return to the US: JUNE 4TH! Every time I go downtown, I find myself getting weepy and saying things like "I'm going to miss this soooo much"...however, every time I talk to my friends in Sacramento and Santa Barbara, I can't help but exclaim, "I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU!". I guess we'll have to wait until June to see which sentiment comes through stronger.

-On that note, I am planning on working in Santa Barbara this summer on campus at UCSB. I am subleasing from a friend, living quite literally on the ocean (the backyard is a balcony overlooking the ocean) and hopefully nicely easing my way back into California life, starting Summer School in August.

I don't quite have too much time to post pictures, but I want to try to update you all photographically as well- First off, here is my album from my visit to BARCELONA in February!

CLICK HERE FOR MY BARCELONA FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM