Mixed bag

The fastest trip to the doctor I ever had was yesterday. Walked in, told them what I wanted, paid $50, waited 2 minutes, met with the doctor, walked out. I think the whole ordeal probably took about 10 minutes, 15 max, and I had never even been there before. Where was the long line they speak of when criticizing Canada's health care system? I can remember numerous times when I've had to wait FOREVER in that little examining room in the doctor's office just to see a general prac. If you don't bring a book with you, you're screwed. You'll be staring at a cheaply-painted wall or reading charts of the circulatory system over and over for an hour. And $50 is what I would have paid in the US as a co-pay with my previous insurance at a similar establishment for the same service. I have travel insurance right now, which only covers medical emergencies and lost luggage, not routine doctor's visits. So $50 for someone without health insurance to get quality medical treatment without having to go to an ER. Hmmm...

Granted, this is the only experience I've personally had with the Canadian health care system, so it may be an exception to the norm. Also, many Canadians complain about their system, especially the wait times to see a specialist, but I feel like we in the US often have to wait just as long, if not longer. Also, did you know that Americans pay more for health care per capita than Canadians do? Sure, Canadians get taxed a lot for almost everything, but they are getting what they pay for, live longer than we do, and have significantly less poverty and crime. It sounds like a utopia in comparison. If Americans pay more on average and get less care and benefit, what does that tell you? It's crap! Crap crap crap!

The bottom line is this: all Canadians have access to health care that they can afford. Heath care is a right, not a privilege like it is in the US. Everyone has a right to live a healthy life.

I will now step off my universal health insurance-loving soap box before staying on it all day. The US health care system makes me so angry sometimes that I would love to throw my computer out the window, and this is one of those times, especially because I see how good other countries have it in comparison with ours and it makes me mad. On to less irritating topics...

Wanna see our new kitty?


We (well, I) named her Tulip, pretty much just because it's a funny name as well as original. Have you ever heard of a cat named Tulip? We got her on Easter day too, so that sort of makes sense as it's a Spring type thing. It took her a couple days to get used to her new territory, but she's pretty well acclimated now I think. We adopted her from a very well-run branch of the humane society, so well run that I might even start volunteering there, I was so impressed. Everything was so clean and organized, it was incredible, and they treat the cats like hotel guests. Some of them have medical issues, so they do what they can to accommodate those, even if it includes buying really expensive food or rushing them to a vet on a Sunday.

We first tried to adopt a cat at the local Pets Mart and submitted an application for one, but they never called us back. They wanted to do a home inspection and everything, which I feel is kinda unnecessary. You would think they'd want to find homes for these poor cats, but no. I'm really happy with the cat we got though. She's quite well behaved and very friendly, not to mention cute. She looks like a teddy bear when she's sleeping. Awww...

Back to Canada. I don't know the specifics of the entire process, but I've learned that in order to obtain a driver's license in Canada (as a teenager, not an adult that has just landed in Canada or whatever), one must adhere a series of decals to ones car before receiving a full-fledged driver's license. In BC (and probably the other provinces), when driving on a learner's permit, one must adhere a letter "L" sticker to the back of their car for a year. They must then take a test to advance to next level, which is the "Novice Permit," with which comes a "N" decal to put on the back of their car, which looks like this:


Sorry, but I couldn't help that their car was dirty. Apparently they don't teach proper automobile hygiene in Canadian driver's training. Anyway, they have to have this "scarlet letter" on their car for a minimum of 2 years before they no longer have to be branded. If they get even just one infraction on their driving record, however, they could have to start the entire 2 year program over from the start. Sounds brutal. You have to pay for this torture as well as schools don't provide it for free or a small fee. When Jeff got his (I won't mention how long ago), it cost $500, and one can only assume it has gone up in price. I wonder if this sort of system results in fewer car accidents and traffic violations...?