is it christmas break yet?

If you want to see some of the saddest-looking people in the world, all you have to do is stand outside Sciences-Po, 27 rue Saint-Guillaume, any day of the week. Every two hours, the same tragi-comic scene unfolds. We all pour out of our two-hour lectures looking haggard, desperately searching for our smokes at the bottom of our bags, shivering from lack of sleep and malnutrition. We then sprint to the nearest coffee machine, or to the loyal Basile (where everybody knows your name) to slam back a shot of espresso before shuffling off to our next lecture/library marathon. In these 15 minutes between classes, the current favourite topic of discussion is when we think we might snap. We are truly a sight for sore eyes.

Speaking of sad stories, this is a picture of the contents of my fridge. I can't remember the last time I had time to go grocery shopping. Not that it would matter, since stress has made it nearly impossible for me to handle solid foods.

Isn't it fitting that in the land of perpetual "social movements" as the French unions like to call them, my stomach has gone on strike and is refusing to properly digest anything I try to eat. And in true French fashion, I have raised the white flag of surrender. So I'm trying to stick to a liquid diet, since the only other alternative is to endure stomach pain all day.

On a completely unrelated note, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and favourite target of Israeli satyrists Shimon Peres gave a conference at Sciences-Po today. I signed up as soon as I heard about it...not because I'm convinced he still has anything truly relevant to say, but because these kinds of conferences always end with question periods. And that's when the magic happens.

Mr. Peres talked for only 20 minutes in order to be able to field as many questions as possible. His speech was a series of generalities that I didn't even bother to remember. I was really hoping that the typical angry anti-Israel student would stand up to the mic and start spouting off statistics and dates, and I got my wish. This guy was particularly huffy, his voice all a-quiver with rage and indignation. His huffiness was even more comical when he finally ineloquently spat out some half-assed question having to do with Israel's criminal behaviour, and Mr. Peres simply replied "When Hamas stops shooting rockets at us every day, then we can talk. Next question?" SNAP.

But angry anti-Israel student was not at all satisfied with that answer, and he tried to get back on the microphone. He was gently led back to his seat by one of the organizer. Actually, he had to be gently led back to his seat several times. He was finally allowed to return to the microphone, where he started on another rant full of uninspired accusations. Mr. Peres curtly told him to get his facts straight.

Now I'm not saying that all of the things this guy had to say were necessarily irrelevant, since crimes have been committed on both sides of the conflict. However, recognize who you're up against and adjust your question accordingly. C'mon guy, Shimon Peres been accused of being a murderer by Palestinians and Israelis alike, and he's considered a moderate. He's seen and hear it all and he was probably bored to tears by your 10 minute tirade.

So...is it time to go on vacation yet?