Sick...

I don't typically get sick that often, at least over the past 4 years while I was at Biola. However, since coming to France, I have already been sick more times that I was all those four years combined. I am not sure if it is the weather changes, the fact that i live in the basement, being around kids 24/7, or what, but it is NOT fun. I feel like I get a few days rest before my next illness hits me. It's not anything major, I mean, I just have a cold, or a sore throat, or something like that. It's just annoying, more than anything. The most recent one was the worst. My host family left on Sunday for Egypt. I was sitting in church when I started coughing. nothing major. well, i woke up the next morning with a fever and everything fun that comes with that. I drugged myself with quite a bit of tylenol, cough syrup, cold medecine, basically anything i could find. it stuck with me for 2 days like that before my mom told me I should just go to the doctor.

National Healthcare...
France has national healthcare. It has been quite the journey for me getting all my temporary residency set up and I still haven't finished. I am at the point where I am just waiting for my carte de sejour and my carte vitale to arrive. I have done all the steps on my part (i think). I have been dreading having to go to the doctor because of this. I didnt know if I was going to be charged an outrageous amount of money, or what. I was hoping not to have to find out. Well, the time came and I just had to suck it up and go to the doctor. My experience was NOTHING like going to a doctor in the states.

First of all, when I called to make an appointment, they just asked if i could be there in a half hour. They didn't take my name, they didn't ask what my symptoms were, nothing. When I showed up, there was no reception desk. I didn't have to sign in, or even let anyone know I was there. I just went straight into the waiting room that had about 3 other people in it. Every few minutes (like 15) the doctor would come into the waiting room to take the next person. You just had to know what order you got there in. It was so strange. So it came to my turn and I followed the doctor into his office. He had no nurse or anything. He was running the whole office. He was even answering the phones. He asked me my name and then what was wrong. I never had to fill out paperwork (amazing!), I never had to give him my address or any sort of identification. He did obviously ask the questions about allergies or major health problems. He was extremely patient and kind with me, which is definitely different than what I feel in the states. He was willing to listen to my questions and answer them with sincerity. It was wonderful. At the end, he asked if I had my carte vitale and I told him the story of how I am waiting for it in the mail. He charged me 22 euros and sent me on my way with a paper to take to the pharmacist. It was a great experience. The only difference when I get my carte vitale is that I will be able to get another piece of paper from him that I can send in and get the money reimboursed into my bank. So that will be nice. I think I'm all for national healthcare. I haven't seen the downsides of it yet.

So anyways, I didn't have anything serious, just a viral infection of some sort. He gave me some different medicines and told me to take it easy. I feel much better since then and am ready to finally feel completly healthy. I was looking forward to relaxing in my house while the family was gone, but my getting sick kinda put a damper on that. Oh well...

I'm looking forward to the next week because everyone should start getting back from their Christmas breaks. Brandon is coming, my host family gets back, chandra will be here just after new years, and everyone else will be trickling in throughout the next week and a half or so. It will be nice to have everyone back, as it's been a little lonely here all by myself.

Hope everyone has a safe New Years, wherever you will be!

December

I can't believe it is already December and I have been in France for nearly 4 months. Sometimes it feels like I just got here a few weeks ago, and sometimes it feels like I have been here an eternity. I am starting to feel more comfortable here and realizing that I'm here for awhile. My language has improved drastically and I feel that I can pretty much communicate whatever I need to. I can't say everything exactly as I would say it in English, but I can make it work. I have found a church that I really enjoy. I am hoping to get to know some people there and feel a part of it. I am making some good friends that are from all over the world. I am learning a lot about myself and my faith. I'm really happy to be here.

Christmas is just around the corner, yet it really doesn't seem like it. I rarely hear Christmas music when I'm out shopping or walking around. I have literally seen less than 10 houses with lights or decorations. The stores are not full out decorated and pushing sales onto customers. I have realized that maybe America makes Christmas into a bigger deal than most places. I guess it also feels weird because since my host family is going to Egypt and wont be here, they dont think it's necessary to have a tree. No decorations in the house, no tree, no piles of wrapping paper and tags. it's just different. it's kind of sad. The one thing that I have noticed that I love is the way the individual towns decorate their main streets. Each town puts up lights on all the lamp posts as well as lights going across the streets. It is really cute and quite festive. Also, the Champs Elysees is beautiful. The trees lining the road have pretty blue lights on them and it lights up all the way down. At the end opposite the Arc de Triomphe is a big lit up Ferris Wheel. Its really pretty and magical. Heres a few pictures.



Also, it did snow the other day for a little while. That was absolutely beautiful. It really was only for about 45 minutes, but i still enjoyed it. It started as Manon and I were arriving back to the house for lunch and I got to watch it all the while preparing lunch. I even took a picture, but I dont know if the snow will really show up. no it didnt, but oh well. you can imagine. :)The weather in general is so cold! It has been quite a change from what I have grown accustomed to. Granted, I did grow up in Arkansas and that was cold. But after living in Southern California for 4 years, I got used to warm weather and flip flops year round. I am not used to wearing so many layers at once. It is kind of fun though. My house is really cold though. I'm not so sure how heating works here. I dont think they really have central heat. Each room has a heater in it, but when you leave that room it is cold. My room is usually pretty warm because my heater is on all the time. But as for the rest of the house, it's really really really cold. We also have a very limited amount of hot water for each day, so I can't even take a long hot shower to warm up. It's a little frustrating. I have learned to make it work, but still it's tough.

Well, I have been sitting here trying to figure out what else to write. I am stumped, yet again. So i will just close with a few fun facts:

• Did you know that in France milk is sold non-refrigerated? You buy it in bulk (like bottled water) and it sits in your pantry until you need it. After that you put it in the fridge. But only one bottle at a time. The rest stays in the pantry. It kind of weirds me out.
• Families who have 3 children get 30 % off of a lot of stuff. If you have 4 kids, it's 40%, and 5 it's 50%.
  
• 35 hours is a normal work week. And typically, they are not allowed to work overtime. Thus, everything is always closed at the most inconvenient times. (ie, 2 hours for lunch every day!)

okay well thats all for now. Hope everyone has a merry christmas.