Sunday, December 7, 2008
Skype
Finally having internet chez moi, I am not connected to the wonderful world of Skype! Skype is a great tool for having video conferences with people over. There is nearly no delay, and the video quality is not bad. It is great being able to have nearly face to face conversations with people. Last night I was able to speak with some family, and today with some friends. For those who do not have it, you can download it here. If you already have it, or have just downloaded, send me an email to get my username, or send me yours. Hope to talk to you all soon!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
France on Meds
I am healthy at the moment. Thank you to the 5 drugs the doctor gave me? Yes, 5. I had a cold forever, and went to the doctor. He gave me 3 medications to take. 2 weeks later, the cough was still present and I was given 2 different medications to take. I have never been so heavily medication for a cold in Canada.
Point of the post being: I now know why!
France does not have a National health system. It is all done by a health insurance system, were the patient has freedom to choose where to get treated. Since the patient has this choice, creating competition between doctors. To satisfy patients, the doctors give them prescriptions. This also prevents them from consulting other doctors. The result of this competition though, is that patients in France consume twice as much meds as people in other European countries!
So, French people are consuming way more meds than would be considered necessary elsewhere. While this may satisfy French patients, since people psychologically think they must be getting better when they are instructed to pop pills, it makes me uneasy. It makes me uncomfortable to go to a doctor, knowing they may be prescribing me drugs as a personal business move, and not for my health!
Point of the post being: I now know why!
France does not have a National health system. It is all done by a health insurance system, were the patient has freedom to choose where to get treated. Since the patient has this choice, creating competition between doctors. To satisfy patients, the doctors give them prescriptions. This also prevents them from consulting other doctors. The result of this competition though, is that patients in France consume twice as much meds as people in other European countries!
So, French people are consuming way more meds than would be considered necessary elsewhere. While this may satisfy French patients, since people psychologically think they must be getting better when they are instructed to pop pills, it makes me uneasy. It makes me uncomfortable to go to a doctor, knowing they may be prescribing me drugs as a personal business move, and not for my health!
Friday, December 5, 2008
It's Alive!!!
Sitting in my room, reading about Health Care Reforms in Europe, I could not believe my eyes when I noticed my Neuf Box start flashing! It is alive! I have internet, I have a land line, I have television! :). Ok, back to my reading.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Social Life
Since my return from Stockholm, I have become more and more integrated into life here, and made a number of friends. One of my friends, has started a weekly social newsletter for the group. One from a previous week:
"Newsletter
The plan for this week:
Tuesday: Salsa in the Arts et Metiers
http://rock.ueensam.org/Paris/Paris
Wednesday: Crous
Afterwards: Le Queen, http://www.queen.fr/
Friday: Diner chez moi
Friday or Saturday: Super-Concerts at Le Showcase
(generally it's for free before midnight)
http://www.showcase.fr/
Tell me if you will join!"
This, done over facebook makes it so easy to reply, and plan out a week of fun. I definatly do not have time to go to all the events as I have other things on my plate. Other things including: vball twice a week, church/young adults group, free Museum visiting,swimming and random other things. Amusingly, a friend visiting my 15m2 place and commented, "wow, it is so big! You should host a party here!"...proving how low our acceptable space limits have been reduced. When I return to Vancouver, by homecoming party will take place entirely in my bedroom.
PS. Super excited for Christmas break! Just bought my ticket to go to Dusseldorf, where I will meet Ulrika and Peter before going down to Perpignan. :)
"Newsletter
The plan for this week:
Tuesday: Salsa in the Arts et Metiers
http://rock.ueensam.org/Paris/Paris
Wednesday: Crous
Afterwards: Le Queen, http://www.queen.fr/
Friday: Diner chez moi
Friday or Saturday: Super-Concerts at Le Showcase
(generally it's for free before midnight)
http://www.showcase.fr/
Tell me if you will join!"
This, done over facebook makes it so easy to reply, and plan out a week of fun. I definatly do not have time to go to all the events as I have other things on my plate. Other things including: vball twice a week, church/young adults group, free Museum visiting,swimming and random other things. Amusingly, a friend visiting my 15m2 place and commented, "wow, it is so big! You should host a party here!"...proving how low our acceptable space limits have been reduced. When I return to Vancouver, by homecoming party will take place entirely in my bedroom.
PS. Super excited for Christmas break! Just bought my ticket to go to Dusseldorf, where I will meet Ulrika and Peter before going down to Perpignan. :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Locks and Doors
It is impossible to leave your door unlocked in Paris, unless you leave it open. The second you close it is locked. You need a key to open a door, as on apartments there are no doorknobs. Therefore, when one leaves their place, they need to be extra careful to have a key and it often occurs that people get locked out.
The extra annoying thing about my place is that I need to ensure I have my key even when I use my toilet, since the toilet is in the hallway. I am sure you see where this story is going… Last night I did indeed leave my key in my room and shut my door when I went to the toilet, realizing it when I arrived back at my locked door. Luckily my landlady (who lives 2 floors down) has a spare key, luckily it was only 11:15pm, and luckily my PJs are modest. I was lucky.
I have friends who have not been so lucky though. There are always stories floating around where people get stuck sleeping on their doorsteps. In one incident, my friend’s roommate lost his key, and borrowed hers. He then lost hers, so the two of them were locked out of their place for 3 days, since there was no one nearby with a spare. This story highlights the necessity of spare keys, multiple spares: one nearby, and one at a friends place who you feel comfortable waking up at 3am if need be.
The extra annoying thing about my place is that I need to ensure I have my key even when I use my toilet, since the toilet is in the hallway. I am sure you see where this story is going… Last night I did indeed leave my key in my room and shut my door when I went to the toilet, realizing it when I arrived back at my locked door. Luckily my landlady (who lives 2 floors down) has a spare key, luckily it was only 11:15pm, and luckily my PJs are modest. I was lucky.
I have friends who have not been so lucky though. There are always stories floating around where people get stuck sleeping on their doorsteps. In one incident, my friend’s roommate lost his key, and borrowed hers. He then lost hers, so the two of them were locked out of their place for 3 days, since there was no one nearby with a spare. This story highlights the necessity of spare keys, multiple spares: one nearby, and one at a friends place who you feel comfortable waking up at 3am if need be.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Live Music
This past week in Paris was really great. I went to two live concerts. The first one, Death Cab for Cutie, was really nice. I got to go due to someone elses misfortune; as in someone could not go, so I was given their ticket. I was unable to upload a video from it, but, I have been able to upload a video from the second concert I went to. The second one I went to was at "La Fleche d'Or" (Eng: The Golden Arrow). This club has live music every night, and free entry. The line up Friday night included: CARABINE (featured in video), Lilly Wood and The Prick, and Stereoheros.. It was great, and the place was suprisingly not too loud.
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