One by one, all the small businesses that were closed in August are reopening their doors after the traditional “grandes vacances” break. Supermarket aisles are full of “back to school” specials and kids crying to get Transformer pencil cases or La reine des neiges backpacks. Political stickers and posters are back as well, commuters are queuing at the TAN to get their monthly pass, and summer construction projects are being completed.
Over the summer, French news mostly focused on innocuous seasonal topics—the Olympic Games in Rio, beachgoers in France, fun or original holiday destinations, local festivals, weather-related news, etc. Tired brains were on holidays. Like a Christmas truce, July and August are two months when tacitly, everyone agrees it isn’t the best time to tackle sensitive issues.
But la rentrée is coming, I can feel it. In September, it will be business as usual again. In tonight’s news, Rio’s highlights were a two-minute story. Once again, social issues and political campaigns are in the spotlight.
It should be a busy fall with many Western countries tackling big issues. The UK is probably still dealing with the Brexit aftermath, while French politicians are still trying to convince citizens a labour code reform is the right move to make. Apparently, the Parti Socialiste isn’t winning the battle, protests are already scheduled for early September… And of course, the United States is deciding who will be leading the free world, while the rest of us hope that Donald Trump’s finger won’t be on the nuclear button.
Once again, I’ll be following the news more closely. I hope we make the best decisions—and by “we,” I mean us, citizens of the world.
It is exactly the same in the UK – only they didn’t make the right decision.
I feel sorry for the people who, I think, were mislead :-/
Je ne suis pas prete du tout pour la rentree! C’est encore l’ete, il va continuer a faire beau et je fais l’autruche 😉
Bah, on a l’été indien! 😉
mode=connard pédant
L’été DES Indiens.
/mode
Pas faux..!