Guest Blog: 'The strike ruined my year in Israel'

Perhaps this may seem like a selfish rant, but in essence, as a student I have a right to be selfish about my education, as does every other student in the country, and in the free world, for that matter.

I am currently involved in the Overseas Program at the University of Haifa, on exchange from Canada. In the spring I decided to come to Israel for my final year of school, and for over half a year was set on this plan. Travel arrangements were made and dozens of hours were spent dealing with the "small things", like making sure my credits transfer properly. On top of the regular arrangements a student makes when preparing for a year abroad, I also applied and was accepted for the MASA scholarship program. This program made the whole thing feel like even more of a genuine Jewish experience because the funding comes from the Jewish Agency, and in return a participant needs to partake in a volunteer project.

All set to go to Israel for my fourth time, a Zionist at heart, I was quite excited; I had only traveled to the country before on organized trips such as with birthright and Hillel.

The first day of mandatory meetings the head of the overseas department welcomes us to the school, goes on a shpiel about the academic excellence at the University of Haifa, and then, as an afterthought, mentions that he wasn't sure if we had heard, but there would possible be a strike starting that coming Sunday. But, not to worry, they were certain it wouldn't happen. And even if it did, again, al tidagi, do not worry, the teachers in the overseas program had signed a form saying they would teach even if a strike did happen.

Well, I thought nothing of it, until there were no classes on Sunday. And then I'm enlightened to the fact that strikes are actually quite common, with there being a student-led strike last year. I find this extremely irresponsible of the school.

Unlike most students in the overseas programs who are in their third year of university, this is my fourth year, and I need specific credits to graduate; as opposed to earlier years where it's easier to get away with taking electives. I do need to worry that the regular university was shutting down because I needed to take courses in the English Literature department. Again, do not worry, sign up anyway and we are sure this will be resolved quickly. Yeah, right.

A responsible educational body would have sent out a notice ahead of time to students, warning of a pending strike, in order to give the choice whether to actually come or not. For me, this semester has been almost completely a waste. Not even just because I didn't get the credits I need. I had been looking forward to having classes with Israeli students. Instead, I am in classes with mostly American students and I have had almost zero immersion with Israelis my age. Yes, student clubs are an option, but even those got started late and have been lackluster due to the strike.

What is my main argument here? Yes, I am upset with the institution I am attending, but also, I think it is unbelievable that a strike should last so long, and affect so many of us. I feel more on behalf of the regular university students because I was affected in the same way as them. My roommates have one or two classes each, or none.

On top of it all, University of Haifa students are going on strike Monday in solidarity with the teachers. How can these students shut down the school on behalf of everyone without the student body having a say? Why did I not see any ballot boxes on campus last week with a referendum question on whether the students should show solidarity and actually lock down the school?

Being in the international school, I received an e-mail that classes will continue in the residence buildings, but they don't know where, and to show up at the moadon, multi-purpose room, before each class in order to be herded to where they can find room for us. This new situation seems completely undesirable and I would rather just not have classes at all. I can't even go to the gym with the school being locked down, and yes, "oh poor me," but really, I paid for my membership and now I can't even walk on campus and I had no say about it, nor did anyone tell us international students what was going on or why.

As the strike has dragged on, it became clear I couldn't stay for the whole year. I had made many plans with friends and family and volunteering in the country, just to be leaving after two and a half months. I will be going to school elsewhere abroad second semester, but hope to come back to the country to finish what I wanted to do, and travel the region.

It's all extremely frustrating, and I am sure the Internet would be full of stories of woe if there were a forum for students affected by the strike. Such a long strike is completely unacceptable. If the government does not have the funding, then they need to cut back on something else.

Education is the way of the future and it shows total disregard for the generation of tomorrow for a strike to continue for this long. This also shows that unions have no power anymore in this country, or, that unions just don't mean anything since there haven't been solidarity strikes by other unions. Yes, this is what the student body will be doing at my school, but really, what power do they have and in reality what do they hope to achieve? They're just going to mess things up even more for people who actually were lucky enough to have their classes running. The government let thousands of students already not go to school, so what difference will the extra students with free time on their hands do? I suppose it remains to be seen but my outlook is extremely pessimistic.

Sure, I can chalk this up to an experience. But, I'm just too annoyed to have really made the best of it. Education is my right and it has been taken away from me. My year has been ruined and I need to up and go somewhere else. This is my individual story, and this needs to stop.