The Perks of Spanish Strikes

After five months of rolling my eyes at these endless Spanish strikes, I have finally come to understand the necessity. Last week the Spanish students at our university voted to strike (yet again) because the school decided to raise taxes on their tuition. 

In front of our school

At first we all just figured it would mean another day or two of cancelled classes and no real progress, which is what we’ve seen during every other strike they’ve had. Instead, we came back from Lagos to a surprise last day of class, and rumors were flying around that classes would be cancelled for the rest of the semester. I heavily underestimated these Spanish kids, but they ended up actually getting classes cancelled for the rest of the semester. For us, we thought that this just meant 2 weeks where we didn’t have to go to class anymore. Instead, it has turned the university world upside down. Everyone is more confused than ever about what is happening, and our scheduled exams are completely up in the air. My exam that was supposed to be yesterday was turned into a take home exam, and our other teacher informed us before the strike that he ¨might not be able to email us¨ until the strike ends, which is conveniently after we are back in the US.

Apparently the rules state that the teachers are not allowed to have contact with us, because it is technically working, which is not allowed. Conveniently enough, the rules also allow the protestors to throw rocks (yes, rocks) at us if we try to enter the building while they are protesting. Needless to say, I will happily be steering clear of the university. 

We don’t really know what will happen, and our program directors have never had to deal with a situation like this before. Luckily we are more than happy to oblige with not going to class and switching to take home exams, but once again, Spain has thrown us a curve ball. This country never ceases to amaze me.