Rest and recuperation are on tap for my weekend.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, we are supposed to have a GEE group outing to the Parc de Courzieu, an animal park where you can be introduced to birds of prey and wolves. I strongly recommend checking out their website, if only to laugh at what must be one of the most incomprehensible English translations I have ever seen.
Afterwards we are supposed to go check out a Corbusier building, the Couvent de la tourette. Which sounds right up my alley.
samedi 30 juin 2007
jeudi 28 juin 2007
Medicin
I had my first real experience with the French health care system, other than the doctor at work, and I certainly do notice a few differences between here and the US. Paging Michael Moore...
First of all, I noticed that in the doctor's office there was no nurse there. There was a receptionist down at the front, but I had been sent to some sub-waiting room, and Dr. Pinelli opened the door himself and sat me down across a desk from him, and said, "Dites moi." There was also no taking of my medical history, no showing proof of insurance, no forms to fill out whatsoever, he didn't even ask me my address.
Further, Dr. Pinelli did not have on a white coat. He was wearing a slim-fitting button-down shirt tucked into tight and stylish jeans. He also sported boots and a one-day growth of beard. If we were in NYC I would assume he was on his way to a nightclub.
After I told him the story, he walked me into the adjoining room and told me to undress. In the US, of course, this is an elaborate process involving handing you a paper gown, closing the door and letting you undress alone, and then a gentle knock on the door when the doctor enters, all of which gives the vague impression of greater hygiene and dignity. In France, the doctors just stand there in front of you, waiting, while you undress. Which in my case was actually kind of helpful since with my shoulder, elbow, and hand injuries it is a little hard to get shirts on and off-- but nonetheless this all is a little jarring to someone used to the American rigamorole. And of course there is no paper for you to wrap yourself in, you are just standing there half naked.
Then afterwards he walked me back to the desk, typed the prescriptions into the computer himself (what-- no lackeys? Doctors do their own typing?) handed them to me, and charged me 30 euros for the visit. Can you imagine spending 30 bucks on an initial doctors visit anywhere, anytime in the US? 100% of which of course (!) will be reimbursed by my insurance company. It was the cheapest thing I spent money on that day, since the prescriptions were 43 euros (they'll also be 100% reimbursed) and my monthly Metrocard renewal was 47 euros.
He was perfectly pleasant, although he had slightly less English than I had originally been led to believe. He did say, "Eeet ees your first veesit to Rome? And your last, non?"
Then I went to the pharmacie, and after several unsuccessful attempts to use the one-and-only credit card I have in my possession at this point-- their credit card reader wasn't working and this being France, they only have one in the store-- the woman at the counter told me to just come back and pay later. I was feeling a bit desperate for the mega-ibuprofen and worried that she wouldn't give me the meds but she handed everything to me anyway with a friendly, "à apres-midi!" And she didn't hold on to my credit card or anything, they trust you to pay. Pas de problem. All in all, perfectly smooth and trouble-free health care.
First of all, I noticed that in the doctor's office there was no nurse there. There was a receptionist down at the front, but I had been sent to some sub-waiting room, and Dr. Pinelli opened the door himself and sat me down across a desk from him, and said, "Dites moi." There was also no taking of my medical history, no showing proof of insurance, no forms to fill out whatsoever, he didn't even ask me my address.
Further, Dr. Pinelli did not have on a white coat. He was wearing a slim-fitting button-down shirt tucked into tight and stylish jeans. He also sported boots and a one-day growth of beard. If we were in NYC I would assume he was on his way to a nightclub.
After I told him the story, he walked me into the adjoining room and told me to undress. In the US, of course, this is an elaborate process involving handing you a paper gown, closing the door and letting you undress alone, and then a gentle knock on the door when the doctor enters, all of which gives the vague impression of greater hygiene and dignity. In France, the doctors just stand there in front of you, waiting, while you undress. Which in my case was actually kind of helpful since with my shoulder, elbow, and hand injuries it is a little hard to get shirts on and off-- but nonetheless this all is a little jarring to someone used to the American rigamorole. And of course there is no paper for you to wrap yourself in, you are just standing there half naked.
Then afterwards he walked me back to the desk, typed the prescriptions into the computer himself (what-- no lackeys? Doctors do their own typing?) handed them to me, and charged me 30 euros for the visit. Can you imagine spending 30 bucks on an initial doctors visit anywhere, anytime in the US? 100% of which of course (!) will be reimbursed by my insurance company. It was the cheapest thing I spent money on that day, since the prescriptions were 43 euros (they'll also be 100% reimbursed) and my monthly Metrocard renewal was 47 euros.
He was perfectly pleasant, although he had slightly less English than I had originally been led to believe. He did say, "Eeet ees your first veesit to Rome? And your last, non?"
Then I went to the pharmacie, and after several unsuccessful attempts to use the one-and-only credit card I have in my possession at this point-- their credit card reader wasn't working and this being France, they only have one in the store-- the woman at the counter told me to just come back and pay later. I was feeling a bit desperate for the mega-ibuprofen and worried that she wouldn't give me the meds but she handed everything to me anyway with a friendly, "à apres-midi!" And she didn't hold on to my credit card or anything, they trust you to pay. Pas de problem. All in all, perfectly smooth and trouble-free health care.
mardi 26 juin 2007
Inventory
I saw the doctor yesterday and he gave me prescriptions for various bandages, ointments, and painkillers, so I am feeling much better.
In thinking about what I need to take care of and replace in the coming weeks, I am going to list what-all was in my purse.
In thinking about what I need to take care of and replace in the coming weeks, I am going to list what-all was in my purse.
- My wallet
- Approx 50 euros in cash
- Credit Lyonnais ATM card
- Bank of America bankcard
- Gym membership card
- My Virginia driver's license
- My French residency permit
- Cell phone
- Camera
- A return ticket for the Lyon airport shuttle
- The sunglasses that I got in Australia that I was quite fond of.
- A cardigan that I also got in Australia.
- A sugar lip balm that I cannot find in Europe.
- Italy guidebook
lundi 25 juin 2007
Not such a fabulous weekend in Rome
My weekend trip to Rome was going just great until yesterday morning. I was on my way to see the Vatican when I was mugged by a thief on a motorbike who snatched my purse. I ended up being dragged down the street about half a block. I am OK but have bad scrapes on my shoulder, elbows, hip, knees, thighs, feet, and my left hand in particular is a bloody oozing mess. But no broken bones or internal injuries.
Fortunately for me, all this happened outside a convent, and the priests and nuns saw what happened and immediately came out to help. They took me to a hospital and then to the police station to file a report. They were very kind.
I have an appointment with the doctor in the morning so hopefully I'll be further cleaned up and on the road to recovery soon. I must say I was not unhappy to be on my way back to Lyon today.
Fortunately for me, all this happened outside a convent, and the priests and nuns saw what happened and immediately came out to help. They took me to a hospital and then to the police station to file a report. They were very kind.
I have an appointment with the doctor in the morning so hopefully I'll be further cleaned up and on the road to recovery soon. I must say I was not unhappy to be on my way back to Lyon today.
vendredi 22 juin 2007
Fete da la Musique
Did France have pagans? Whether they did or not, the spirit of tree worship continues today with the Fete de la Musique, the annual solstice festival, which was last night. All over France, bands and DJ's set up on street corners and play all evening, while the crowds wandered around, dancing, and buying crepes, gaufres, or ice cream, or sometimes swigging wine from the bottle.
I was at home last night packing for my trip to Rome today but did walk around the neighborhood to check it out.
Outside my window was a guitar player doing a classic rock set-- in the pic below you can see his guitar peeking out from beneath the awning.
Down the block, there was a group line dancing to some kind of polka music, while a guy shouted out the steps. A gauche! A droite!
More dancing...
On one end of place St. Jean this guy was doing a long drum set....
... and on the other end some brass band was playing.
And the sun set behind Cathedral St. Paul on the longest day of the year. Time: 10:18 PM.
I was at home last night packing for my trip to Rome today but did walk around the neighborhood to check it out.
Outside my window was a guitar player doing a classic rock set-- in the pic below you can see his guitar peeking out from beneath the awning.
Down the block, there was a group line dancing to some kind of polka music, while a guy shouted out the steps. A gauche! A droite!
More dancing...
On one end of place St. Jean this guy was doing a long drum set....
... and on the other end some brass band was playing.
And the sun set behind Cathedral St. Paul on the longest day of the year. Time: 10:18 PM.
mercredi 20 juin 2007
Nice day
I had a good day today. My boss Mia confirmed that there is definitely funding for me to stay the full 2 years in France, so I don't have to scramble to find a new job in the next 6 months. Then, we played poker at lunch-- me and 5 guys, Julien, James, Mazda, Sebastien, and Jerome, and I won everything.
And tonight I went out to eat along the rue Marroniers to a place called Chez Mounier, which was heavy on the organ meat but had a few fish dishes. I had a salade de chevre chaud, l'assiette de lieu noir en beurre, fromage St Marcellin (a common dessert cheese in these parts) and a tarte citron.
Then, the icing on the cake was coming home and finding 2(!) Entertainment Weeklies in the mailbox.
And tonight I went out to eat along the rue Marroniers to a place called Chez Mounier, which was heavy on the organ meat but had a few fish dishes. I had a salade de chevre chaud, l'assiette de lieu noir en beurre, fromage St Marcellin (a common dessert cheese in these parts) and a tarte citron.
Then, the icing on the cake was coming home and finding 2(!) Entertainment Weeklies in the mailbox.
mardi 19 juin 2007
Beaujolais
Back in October, I went on a hike in the Beaujolais that had been organized by Lyon International. Zoe just gave me her pictures from that day, which is why it has taken me 6 months to post them!
Along the hike were Jon, Zoe, Ellie, Beate, Steve, Farhad and Farideh. We took a bus out, they dropped us off and announced we would be hiking 5 kilometers to the town of Charnay, which I recall was unfortunate to have not learned in advance, as I would have chosen better shoes. Nonetheless, it was a good hike, after which we had a picnic and tried some beaujolais at a local winery. It was a beautiful and relaxing day.
Here is some wine-related contraption.
Along the route. The Beaujolais has many hiking trails, which are marked by signs like a little picture of a dinosaur. We also passed through a fig orchard and helped ourselves to the delicious figs. 
When we got to Charnay the mayor gave us a little speech.
Then we went down to the cave for wine, where Ellie was extremely popular.
Along the hike were Jon, Zoe, Ellie, Beate, Steve, Farhad and Farideh. We took a bus out, they dropped us off and announced we would be hiking 5 kilometers to the town of Charnay, which I recall was unfortunate to have not learned in advance, as I would have chosen better shoes. Nonetheless, it was a good hike, after which we had a picnic and tried some beaujolais at a local winery. It was a beautiful and relaxing day.
Here is some wine-related contraption.
Along the route. The Beaujolais has many hiking trails, which are marked by signs like a little picture of a dinosaur. We also passed through a fig orchard and helped ourselves to the delicious figs. 
When we got to Charnay the mayor gave us a little speech.
Then we went down to the cave for wine, where Ellie was extremely popular.
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