What do economic Crisis-hit Italians refuse to forego this Christmas?
In addition to cutting back on spending, the French turn to a cultural must in times of trouble. By Mildrade Cherfils – GlobalPost Published: January 28, 2009 10:01 ET PARIS — There are subtle signs that France is in the midst of an economic downturn, with Parisians choosing to forego a restaurant meal or a movie. But when people here see newspaper headlines proclaiming “la crise,” or crisis, they shake their heads in disbelief. One of those headlines: Reports that a 32-year-old bank employee was stabbed to death while on a cigarette break outside her job by a customer who was angry that he could not withdraw life insurance funds. More proof that the economic downturn is starting to hit home? The French are doing what they always do when they want government action. On Thursday, workers plan to take to the streets in a general strike. (Read about one American expat’s first French protest.) “People have become a little …” Vicente Calleja began, struggling, two days after the January sta
