Casual Update

It's been a while since we have posted anything, needless to say it has been a few busy weeks. So here is a quick (and rather disorganized) update to what has been going on!

First of all, we had a visit from my friend Sara, so I spent two weeks showing her around Paris, and our little town of Le Plessis Robinson. We spent some time at the normal tourist places and explored some places a little more off the beaten path. I was surprised at some of the hidden gems that Plessis had to offer as well. I look forward to exploring more of my city this spring!

Photo credit: http://pedshed.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/plessis-robinson-park.jpg

Speaking of Spring, we have learned that Spring is actually a full SEASON not just a couple weeks while the snow melts... Before it melts again and turns into winter 2.0 (or 10.0) as we had come accustomed to in Edmonton. Trees are budding, flowers are blooming (crocuses, daffodils, irises), and temperatures are rising, our daily highs are in the 12-17C range right now. Spring is also bringing some new birds to our area! Apparently, certain types of parakeets are wild around here. It started as pets escaping years and years ago and they just thrived ever since!

photo credit: http://www.kazeo.com/sites/fr/photos/849/les-perruches_849445-L.jpg

So the medical system... The French medical system is different than it is in Canada, we aren't at a point that I can say whether it is better or worse. It is necessary to have a general practitioner (GP), once you have your GP they will refer you to other doctors if needed and will take care of your primary care. We were lucky and found a GP who is from Canada, and speaks English natively. When you go into the doctor you pay the doctor the fee based on whatever your appointment entailed and then you have this reimbursed through social security and your health care insurance. Pharmacies are simply that, a place you go to get your prescriptions. I recently had to go to a dentist, now THAT is an experience along what seems to be a common thread amongst medical professionals. Gloves are not worn, it was a little bit of a shock to get my teeth looked at being able to taste the antiseptic on my dentists hand (I found some solace in that, at least I was tasting antiseptic, not his lunch). This has been a bit of a shock but it is how it is here.

We finally have some time to do some travelling, right now we have a trip booked to go to Denmark to visit some wonderful friends of ours. We are also going to London and Bristol as Jason got me a wonderful birthday gift of going to the Bristol zoo to see the new penguins (and the other wonderfully cute animals) and to watch Star Wars (specifically, "A New Hope") with DAVID PROWSE, for those that don't know, David Prowse is DARTH VADER. Our trip back to Canada for the wedding is booked, Lucy is coming with us, which will be... An adventure all on it's own.

That's all for now!