Word of the post: Pauro (Scared)
Every time that I turn a corner in Italy, I am faced with a thirty-six inch rifle. Every week, I arrive to school and at least one day out of my week I am faced with a blockade of police officers questioning who I am and where I am going.
No there aren't bomb threats all around Italy, and no there aren't cerial killers who have escaped from the jails. With how the police officers are dressed--in helmets with plastic covering their eyes, bullet proof vests, and their fingers on the triggers, you would think that there was a school shooting occuring. However, it is just a protest.
Just two weeks ago, there was over 200,000 person protest walking from Piazza Republica to Piazza Popolo. In the days prior to that protest, there were at least three days where our classes were disturbed by other protests walking down the street. These protests were all for the same reason--students being upset that the schools of Italy are cutting extra-curricular activities. There will be no more extra activities, and the students are very angry. Two weeks ago the hugeprotest was a combination of students and teachers from all parts of Italy. 1000's of buses came into Italy filled with the students and teachers, and the trains and metro system were filled as well.
These aren't the only protests and strikes that go on in Italy/are going on in Italy. Just this past Monday there was a public transportation strike. Less buses ran, the metro was off, and the tram service was non-existent for the day. This happens a lot. Our Rome Through the Ages teacher explained that it mostly happens on a Friday or Monday, because the Romans enjoy long weekends.
The strike that most worries me, however, is the Alitalia strike. On Monday, November 10, Alitalia declared a two hour strike that canceled at least a hundred flights. Over the last few days they have striked more, and they have canceled more flights. Parents of a friend visited this past weekend, and they were supposed to fly home on Monday through Alitalia. Their flight was canceled and they had to wait in a line at the airport for six hours for a new flight. The only good thing about that situation was that Alitalia refunded them their money. Alitalia has also announced a day long strike for November 25--A day before the most busy travel day of the year. The boyfriend of a friend in our group was supposed to travel that day by Alitalia, but he no longer is. Another boyfriend, of a friend in our group, was supposed to travel that week by Alitalia, but he has changed his flight. My apartmentmates were supposed to go to France this weekend through Alitalia, but have canceled their flight because they worry that even if their plane flew to France, that they wouldn't be able to catch a flight back, like other friends in our AIFS group who were stuck in Paris for a few extra days.
Several students, and myself are supposed to travel via Alitalia home on December 13. All those going back to the Boston area have an Alitalia flight, while five of us are flying Delta operated by Alitalia. December 13 hasn't been declared a day for a strike yet, however, Alitalia plans to have 15 random walkouts after their full day strike in November 25. Hopefully, unlucky number 13, December 13, won't be so unlucky for all of us trying to get back to America.
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