I’m an American living in Germany. I’ve lived here for four years as of this week (June 2021).
Two and a half years ago, I had a medical emergency in the form of gallstones and an infected gallbladder. I tried to tough it out, like a True American Who Can’t Afford Treatment, and ended up in the hospital getting the gallbladder removed. I was brought in on Thursday, had the gallbladder and five gallstones the size of macadamia nuts removed on Saturday, and was home by Tuesday. Total cost, 200 euro.
Back in March, 2021, I saw a visual distortion in my right eye, like an afterimage of looking at something bright for too long. Got seen by the eye doctor that day, got sent to the hospital that day to get a diagnosis–ocular vein occlusion–and spent the following three days getting followup diagnostics, including a full blood panel. I got diagnosed with having elevated levels of homocysteine in my blood, and that turned out to be caused by a genetic disorder that runs in my family (MTHFR-5 mutation) where I can’t metabolize B vitamins correctly. And now I’m on modified B vitamins and the difference in my daily life is amazing.
Total cost for the hospital stay and all of the blood tests and eye examinations and other tests?
250 euro.
In my old city in the US–which has a nationally renown hospital–the gallbladder removal costs a year’s salary for a minimum wage worker.
US healthcare if you are not wealthy is a bad joke.
Here in the UK we’re flat out terrified of our governments slow slide towards a US style system. The NHS is precious to us because everyone can use it. Last year, in the middle of lockdown, I developed a sudden and painful eye infection. Called my Dr, who referred me to the hospital, who asked me to come in the same day (I wear contacts, they were worried about deeper damage.) Within 4 hours I was seen, eye scanned and given treatment to take at home. (Usually a prescription is around £9/$12 but I wasn’t charged in hospital.) Total cost? The £20 it cost me for an uber. I honestly fail to see how spending more money would have got me any better treatment.
Also, doesn’t the NHS reimburse your transit costs?
Like seriously, everyone in the US needs to watch Michael Moore’s Sicko and Where To Invade Next to realize how much better it is in other countries – and for not much more money, either.
Canada doesn’t necessarily have deluxe healthcare, but it covers most people cost-efficiently, with lower overhead, and it’s free at the point of delivery. And Canadians don’t really pay more taxes.
The question you need to ask is: Are you getting what you’re paying for? If you’re not, maybe it’s time to speak to the manager.
Reblog and put in the tags if you think it’s okay to not forgive someone who hurt you really bad (bullies, abusive family members, narcissistic partners, toxic friends, etc) or if you think everyone deserves forgiveness.
Rereading LOTR has really reminded me of two things: 1) I still adore Book!Legolas (although I love his movie version too), and 2) there’s not enough content of this version of him. So, just because I can, have this Book!Legolas appreciation post about my favorite traits of his:
Absolutely LOVES his friends. We all know about his friendship with Gimli, but there’s more. To elaborate:
Affectionately calls Merry and Pippin “the merry young hobbits” and stresses so much when they’re kidnapped that he almost doesn’t let his companions rest on their pursuit of the Uruk-hai. When they find out the hobbits are safe and turn from their pursuit together with Gandalf, he seems genuinely disappointed they might not see them again.
Declares he’ll go with Aragorn before the latter has had a chance to say where he’s planning to go (which he doesn’t know himself yet, but it turns out to be the Paths of the Dead).
Doesn’t want to translate the Elves’ songs about Gandalf because he still isn’t over his fall; at his return he’s the first to recognize him and the joy in his reaction speaks for itself.
Would prefer to go to Minas Tirith but says he will follow Frodo to Mordor if that’s where he wants to go.
For that matter, also tries to come up with ways to help his friends a lot. In the situation above he first suggests a vote so Frodo doesn’t have to decide by himself, for instance; when Gimli doesn’t want to borrow a horse but can’t keep up on foot he lets him ride behind him so he doesn’t have to worry about either; and so on.
Laughs way more than his movie counterpart, especially around Gimli. Pretty playful and prone to poking fun at his friends and the differences between them in general, featuring the occasional nicknaming.
More humble than his movie version. Treats the body count battle at Helm’s Deep as more of a joke and doesn’t care about Gimli winning because he’s so glad to see him safe and sound; later proceeds to brag about Gimli’s body count to Treebeard as an argument to let them both travel Fangorn. Later on he all but fanboys over Elladan and Elrohir after seeing them.
Tries to comfort and cheer up his friends when they’re not doing well, like when he comforts Gimli when he’s sad about leaving Lothlórien or when he asks Aragorn to tell them what’s bothering him after he looked into the Orthanc-stone.
Really excited about cool forests and beautiful nature and stuff he only heard about in songs. Prone to running ahead and calling to the others to follow when excited about a place, but also prone to doing something impulsive.
Basically just a super cool person. 20/10 would befriend.
