Bonne santé

Here's to health!....? While I am still waiting for my health card to be processed and finalized I am afflicted with at least the 3rd illness since my arrival to France; the health capital of Europe... and possibly even the world. I have always been relatively healthy and rarely get sick, except for an annual cold, but the months leading up to my move were filled with two long lasting colds within a 6 week period; and since adjusting to french life I have battled a few colds and an antibiotic resistant ear infection!! Maybe it is stress (although I don't feel anymore stressed than usual)? Maybe it is my body's way of ridding itself of preconceived notions, expectations and constraints? Or maybe there is no reason at all except that I am once again sniffling and coughing and sleepy? But my overactive brain is always looking for associations and possibilities, and as such, perhaps my body is in a state of purging to allow for a healthier and more resilient realized self?

And yet, also during this time I am preparing to fully experience the health care system, complete with doctors appointments, prescriptions, specialist referrals, radiological scans, and an upcoming surgery. The expression is... 'go big or go home', right? Well, what better way to acclimate as a genuine frenchie than through the intimate workings of their universal health care system.

Before expanding on my health adventures, I have learned a few things about France and health...
- as a country they have the highest use and possibly abuse of psychiatric medications...
- most people think that the standard €23 to see a general practitioner is expensive (aka cher)...
- most services are paid for up front and then reimbursed by the government and any difference in cost is usually covered by a Mutuelle (independent or employment based insurance)...
- all medications, including over the counter (cough syrup, aspirin, antacids...) can only be purchased at an approved pharmacy (marked by a glowing green cross above the door). And like everything else in France they are closed on Sunday's, during lunch, and at night, so in cases of emergency you have to determine which local pharmacy is open for emergencies (but they change regularly)...

As for me, I will be having surgery on my ear this coming June 15. After my ongoing ear infection that did not clear with the first round of antibiotics and never ending ear vacuuming session, I was treated with a stronger and more expensive therapy of antibiotics, followed by more ear prodding and vacuuming.... Since then I was referred for a CAT scan, which was scheduled about 2 weeks after my last visit with the ear aspirator. Plus!!, the results were available immediately following the scan, complete with a CD of pictures for my follow up specialist appointment. However, based on these results and the probability of a recurring cholesteatoma, I was referred for a MRI. I was told that the usual wait for a MRI was 3 months, however, I was booked for the test 2 weeks later; again with the results and picture CD, immediately following. And it was then, at this appointment, that I was told of the inevitable requirement of surgery. I must admit I was not surprised and had been battling many of the same symptoms I had in the past before having the same surgery nearly 11 years ago. 

Approximately 2 weeks later (I am noticing a theme here...), I met with my specialist for a pre-op consultation, and oh yeah, 'a third time's a charm' ear cleaning. The scan results were reviewed, a hearing test evaluated and surgery dates discussed. While my Doctor would have preferred the middle of May (one month after the pre-op), I pleaded for the middle of June to allow for another month of work, a short jaunt back to London and an anticipated visit from my good friend Tefta! So June 15 it is, and in perfect french health care efficiency, I will go to the hospital on June 14 for my pre-admission where I will relax for the night and the nurses will make sure I don't eat or stress or whatever?, and then the following day my ear woes will be surgically re-removed. I will then spend another restfull night in hospital, followed by 8-10 days of post-surgical slumber and relaxation.

So... what is this cholesteatoma thing anyways? Check out this link for more... cholesteatoma info

Alors, here is to your health and my health and reinvigorated wellbeing!

Puzzle Pieces

The final days of my stay in Paris were spent with my brother Alex in a small suburb called Bagnolet. When I first moved to Lyon, Alex was preparing to move to Paris and as such we both embarked on new ‘homes’ near the same time. Throughout the few days I spent with him, I learned of his adventurous spirit and desire for travel and new experiences.
 

One of my goals in coming to France was to get to know my family better while gaining a greater sense of where and how I fit in and connect to this newer familial puzzle. It was enlightening and refreshing to get to know my brother on a more personal level, all the while learning more about our similar drive and motivation to seek and seize new opportunities. While Alex was born and raised in France, he traveled extensively in Australia & New Zealand for 6 months a couple of years ago, and speaks very good English! As such our communication was a mixture of French and English, with Alex speaking mostly English and me French! Our time together was spent talking about travel, watching episodes of ‘How I Met your Mother’ (avec les sous titres en français), guessing at music quizzes, catching a film, eating sushi and touring around the Museum of Architecture. I learned of Alex’s enthusiasm for adventure and his love of skydiving and desire to one day operate a French boulangerie in possibly Australia! His personality is one of a go-getter and he continually strives to find new and exciting opportunities while spending less time and energy on ones that are not conducive to his goals…. A definite inspiration for me as I am learning to listen to my inner personal motivations while letting go of the things that don’t sing to my soul.

My final night was spent with Alex and his girlfriend enjoying an authentic French dinner of fondue and raclette at a tiny restaurant, in a cellar-like basement room with stone walls and low ceilings, called ‘Pain Vin & Fromage’. A great ending to my Parisian holiday, with a corner of this new puzzle revealed…

A sincere thank you to Alex and Bérengère for welcoming me into their home,

and for an enjoyable final few days in Paris!

Paris in pictures...

Eiffel Tower at night

Notre Dame

Bell Tower of Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Seine at night

Carla, Chris & I at the Louvre

 

Notre Dame

Winged Victory at the Louvre

Paris avec les amis

The next two days were filled with breakfasts of café au lait and croissants on the Champs-Élysées and exploring the city streets and history of Paris! We took in the breathtaking view of the city from halfway atop the Eiffel Tower, and wound around the Louvre, exploring ancient works of art and timeless talent, while snapping pics of Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and other remarkably moving masterpieces! We discovered the winding streets around Maison Eymard and Ave de Friedland, sifted through très cher shops, and sat in cafés and bistros where all the tables and chairs overlooked the bustling street outside.

We trekked up over 400 steps to the top of the bell tower of Notre Dame, and took in an additional striking eagle eye view of the city, complete with animated gargoyles and chimeras. For two days we dodged rainy afternoons and bought newsstand umbrellas that were upended in the wind; avoided other elaborate scams (one including a massive and bright gold ring), and explored artsy side-street shops while enjoying wine in the evenings and chocolate mousse with dinner.

Atop the Notre Dame Bell Tower

The final night was spent with Carla & Chris, and Anna & Cathy enjoying dinner in the Latin Quarter, followed by a not too spooky Ghost Tour of Paris with an enchanting appreciation for the romantic charm of the historic Parisian streets at night.

As Friday morning approached, I bid my Canadian amis adieu and relaxed in a café to reflect, write and savour a café au lait with a pain chocolat, before embarking on the metro to Bagnolet to spend the next few days with my brother Alex…

Parisian Pilgrimage

It is almost strange to believe that I was in Paris nearly 15 years ago, a day or so before my 17^th birthday! And here I am again, this time with less reservation and a greater sense of confident adventure. I arrived in Paris around 1pm on Tuesday March 29^th, and proceeded to wind through the train station to the metro, with luggage in hand, while eating an ‘American’ style ham and cheese sandwich I prepared before leaving; partly to avoid paying €10 for a Parisian style sandwich, and partly because I didn’t know how long it would take to get to my destination along the Arc de Triomphe. While waiting for the metro, in perfect French fashion, a French gentleman asked me if I knew which train went where… Continually mystified as to why I am constantly asked for directions, and not entirely sure I understood the intricate Paris metro I looked at the various screens and maps for a few seconds and my brain spontaneously understood that the next train was destined for X, the following train for Y, and the last train for Z, and that the first 3 or so stops in between were the same for each train?! So I communicated this in French to the confused gentlemen and he was appreciative and seemed to think I actually probably was an authentic frenchie and maybe even a Parisian!!

Now, Paris is filled with various scams and pickpockets, as I had previously read, and I would later hear first-hand accounts of, while also dodging other sketchy scams, but my metro man was not a scam and for some reason or another, as usual, I either have an air or a look of authenticity and as such I am frequently approached with genuine concerns and compliments.

About an hour later I arrived at Maison Eymard, a monastery one street over from the Champs-Élysées, and up the street from the Arc de Triomphe. After checking in, I was taken by the receptionist through the drab and grey twisted hallways to the next building to my room. As we were about to enter the final stairwell, I began to ask if anyone had checked in from the Angers pilgrimage, and Chris opened the door from the opposite end of the stairwell. A wonderful surprise as I had not seen a familiar Canadian face in quite a few months! And lo and behold, my Canadian friends and previous co-workers, Carla and Chris had also just arrived and were staying on the same floor. In a small hallway with only 4 rooms, we had somehow been given rooms all next to one another. And so this was the perfect start to my Parisian retreat!

That day we walked to the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, fuelled by a city map and my brain that had somehow managed to formulate new connections for time, space and directions?! We purchased a 2 day pass for a tour bus and took a long tour of the city before meeting Bob, Anna & Cathy (Angers pilgrimage flock) for dinner in the Latin Quarter, beside the Notre Dame Cathedral. It was incredible to witness the stories and spirit of the pilgrimage that everyone had just completed, and I felt honoured to share in their memories and joy. While I had made a solo pilgrimage of sorts to Angers years ago, it was amazing to be a fly on the wall, so to speak, and feel the connections and shared experiences!

During dinner I heard about botched attempts of pickpockets on the metro, complete with mystery hands in pants and purse pockets; and we shared stories about some of the various scams we had all encountered so far on our first day in Paris. Up to this point we had come across a Gypsy woman who began her scam for money with, “Do you speak English”; rather clever in a city with as many tourists as Parisians. A quick ‘non’ or ‘no’, proceeded by walking away is enough to avoid this rather harmless scam that does not rely on pick pocketing or trickery but rather a false plea and play on sympathy.

And so the first day ended with a sense of appreciation and happiness to be spending the next couple of days with amazing shepherds of friendship!

Bitten by the travel bug!

The next few posts will be dedicated to my trip to the beautiful, busy, a bit rainy and lively Paris! Following my solo trip to Geneva, which I later realized was not my first official solo trip…., I lounged in the comfort of the TGV high speed train, where I had an assigned comfortable seat, despite having to haul luggage up to the second level; and began my journey to Paris to see some amazing Canadian faces and to spend the final few days with my brother!

A quick rewind to my very first solo trip to Angers in early December 2005; which is quite fitting as my Canadian amis had began their journey in Angers before settling into the bustle of the Paris streets for the final leg of their vacation. I don’t know why I considered Geneva to be the first solo voyage, as my trip to Angers ended with the adventure of either taking the wrong train back to Lyon, or getting on the wrong car and being forced to get out in Paris as the entire car was destined for that stop? Either way, it was my first experience of getting lost outside of an airport, known city or the confines of my childhood stomping grounds. Even so, when I think back to my two day trip to Angers, while I was a bit nervous to travel and navigate on my own, I also laughed at my train misfortune as it was unfolding. Perhaps it was a stepping stone to renewed confidence and an openness to new opportunity.

 As it is, I still consider Geneva to be the first solo trip, at least in this chapter of my life, as much has changed in the last 5 years, and alas I am a new and revitalized version of my old self, with an ever expanding realized potential and talents, and an outlook filled with greater patience and perspective.

Me & Sister Tarcila in Angers (Dec 2005)

Me in Geneva