Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Jumping out of planes.
The past week has been wonderful! I had a short presentation in my Art of the Moving Image class on some of Man Ray's early films. I've been really getting into a routine during the week of reading and watching tv :p Using the cross-trainer and swimming, but mostly sitting around reading assignments. School thus far has been really stress-free and relaxing... I'm enjoying it while that stage lasts.
This past weekend I learned how to skydive! I signed up for the Nottingham Skydiving Society and attended my first event. A big group of us went to Langar Airfield and did our RAPS course and first two jumps. I was so excited! I met some amazing people, and had a ton of fun. I got top marks on my static line jumps (when you jump out with a line connected to the plane that automatically deploys your parachute). Next I get to work on dummy pulls, then my first free fall! I'm a little surprised by how much I liked it, such an adrenaline rush. Then it's so peaceful up there, and pretty. I'm heading down again this weekend if the weather holds up!
If you're on facebook look for a video on my wall!
This past weekend I learned how to skydive! I signed up for the Nottingham Skydiving Society and attended my first event. A big group of us went to Langar Airfield and did our RAPS course and first two jumps. I was so excited! I met some amazing people, and had a ton of fun. I got top marks on my static line jumps (when you jump out with a line connected to the plane that automatically deploys your parachute). Next I get to work on dummy pulls, then my first free fall! I'm a little surprised by how much I liked it, such an adrenaline rush. Then it's so peaceful up there, and pretty. I'm heading down again this weekend if the weather holds up!
If you're on facebook look for a video on my wall!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Why British healthcare is better than American healthcare...
There has been much debate surrounding the healthcare debate. Here is my personal experience:
I've been in the UK for a month. My wrists have been killing me for 12 years. Both my Grandmother and Mother have had carpal tunnel surgery. I've been uninsured for the past 3 years and haven't been able to have a doctor look at them. The past 6 months I was lucky enough to qualify for a family planning program funded by the MN state system. If it hadn't been for that I would be paying $90 a month for my birth control while in the US.
Within the first few days of being in the UK I went to the local doctors office and registered for a NHS card. I received my official card in a few weeks and was insured from then on. Yesterday I decided to put a call in for an appointment to get prescriptions for my medications and check my wrists out. I was able to get in the next day (today). I went in, nervous I'd have to pay a copay with no money in my account as my US loan hasn't gone through, waited for a few mins then was seen. The doctor I saw was amazing. I have a free prescription for my birth control, because it just is free here, and a referral to be seen by an expert for my wrists. The doctor told me it may take a few weeks to get in to be seen with the referral. But I don't mind, because its free and I'm here for over a year to get it all sorted.
FREE No copays, no sliding scale, no mean receptionist scheduling appointments. Can you imagine if the US had a system like this.... I can't. Because people have tried to create it, and for some reason people were outraged at a loss of their privacy and freedom. Because watching your struggling neighbors die without insurance, or bankrupt themselves trying to be seen by a doctor is truly what freedom means. That is the largest load of ridiculous bullshit I've ever heard. The British people I've spoken with about healthcare can't fathom how a country like the US, a "superpower", doesn't care about the people that live there. And I couldn't agree more.
Updates to come!!
I've been in the UK for a month. My wrists have been killing me for 12 years. Both my Grandmother and Mother have had carpal tunnel surgery. I've been uninsured for the past 3 years and haven't been able to have a doctor look at them. The past 6 months I was lucky enough to qualify for a family planning program funded by the MN state system. If it hadn't been for that I would be paying $90 a month for my birth control while in the US.
Within the first few days of being in the UK I went to the local doctors office and registered for a NHS card. I received my official card in a few weeks and was insured from then on. Yesterday I decided to put a call in for an appointment to get prescriptions for my medications and check my wrists out. I was able to get in the next day (today). I went in, nervous I'd have to pay a copay with no money in my account as my US loan hasn't gone through, waited for a few mins then was seen. The doctor I saw was amazing. I have a free prescription for my birth control, because it just is free here, and a referral to be seen by an expert for my wrists. The doctor told me it may take a few weeks to get in to be seen with the referral. But I don't mind, because its free and I'm here for over a year to get it all sorted.
FREE No copays, no sliding scale, no mean receptionist scheduling appointments. Can you imagine if the US had a system like this.... I can't. Because people have tried to create it, and for some reason people were outraged at a loss of their privacy and freedom. Because watching your struggling neighbors die without insurance, or bankrupt themselves trying to be seen by a doctor is truly what freedom means. That is the largest load of ridiculous bullshit I've ever heard. The British people I've spoken with about healthcare can't fathom how a country like the US, a "superpower", doesn't care about the people that live there. And I couldn't agree more.
Updates to come!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Learning the Ropes
Last week was registration and induction to the Grad School, Library, IT folks, Arts Centre, Humanities Building. I finally got my student Id card - YEAH!! However I'm still waiting for my loan to sort out my student rail pass, and the student deal for the buses in Nottingham. I signed up for a lot of societies: Sky Diving, Swimming, Lacrosse, Food, Wine tasting, Snowboarding, Art History. I haven't been great at attending events for these as of yet. The last bus from Nottingham to Grantham, where I'm living, is at 8:51pm. Early :( So all I've done thus far is plan a sky diving trip for next weekend, and I can't wait!! The practice schedule for Lacrosse and Swimming doesn't work out with my train schedule, so we'll see what ends up happening.
I did go swimming on Monday this week... and it felt amazing. First swim in over a year. I also had my first official class: Critical Approaches to Art History and Visual Culture which has an interesting set up for each week. Each Professor in the department takes a turn to teach within their expertise with a doctoral student. I don't have my next class until Friday which is Art of the Moving Image. I'm feeling really confident on campus now. The colors are changing, and I haven't been missing the MN fall to much. There are some really nice people in my program and I've been having fun getting to know them.
I've also been keeping an eye out for great adverts that might appear in the annual Walker Art Center British Television Awards....
My votes for the British Advertising Awards
- Stella Artois Train Triple Filter
- Audi Hummingbird
More to come :)
Cheers!
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