Who rules who?

In England - England is ruled by a monarchy. Kings and Queens. There is a prime minister too who is involved with the politics also.
In America there is a government. That government is primarily ruled by the president of the United states of America.
Why the difference? I'm sure there is a long story about it. And most people seem to be extremely interested in this. I know when I went to visit England recently, I had a few people who asked me about the president and the decisions he was making. People tend to attribute all the decisions made to this 'one guy' - the one ruler.
My limited political knowledge prevents me from elaborating further. Just an observation... so who rules who?

TV Shows

So.... TV is TV right? Well i guess it depends on what you watch. There's reality shows, sitcoms, soaps, kids tv etc.
In England I used to watch a few soaps, such as Neighbours, Home And Away and several from the past that I don't remember. I also used to watch some American shows that aired there, such as Beverly Hills and Melrose place. These shows aired frequently but they were a little bit behind as compared to the US.
When I moved to the UK I was disappointed that my English soaps didn't air here. Eastenders, an English soap was found on a channel called BBC America. This channel aired some British comedy shows and some soaps - but unfortunately none that I watched. Although, i was able to pick up with my American soaps.
Its disappointing that not more English shows are aired here. I hear all the time from my friends and family in London about English soaps, reality and comedy shows which are on TV and sadly, they don't air here. The American people that I know who do watch shows on BBC America tell me that they enjoy the English shows, and so I think that if more English shows are shown here, they would be popular. Not everyone has BBC America and so not only is there very little access, but only a few shows which air. A few years ago BBC America discontinued showing Eastenders which was very sad, however later on Dish network put it on a Pay per view as an omnibus weekly. So eventhough I didn't watch Eastenders much when I was living in London, I am totally and 100% hooked on Eastenders here. I love it. More so because it helps me to remember my root, and for 2 hours a week its almost like I am back in England surrounded by people who 'talk like me' and I'm taken back to Walford square.

Its only a shame that I can't share this with my American friends, can't discuss what happened in the latest episode. And it is a month behind UK - so I really can't share it with my English friends lol... but I am glad to watch it anyway.

I do think it would be advantageous to put more English shows on TV and make them available, just as in the UK all of the popular American shows air there.

Its funny though because for some shows - there are different versions. For example, big brother. A few years ago I was in England and was hooked on Big Brother and then when I came back here, I saw Big Brother was in TV and I was excited, but it turned out to be a different kind. There are also different American Idols, although the American one also airs in the UK. Funny - huh?

But whether it is American shows like 90210 or Grey's Anatomy or English shows like Eastenders. I like them all and glad I have the experience to taste them both, because I like both cultures, and they are both a part of me because I am an English Yankee!

Halloween in America

I was talking to a good friend of mine in England and I asked her what she was doing for Halloween. She reminded me that Halloween wasn't really celebrated much in England., and the only thing that really took place was lots of annoying kids knocking on doors. Well that happens here.. but a lot more too.
It definitely took me by surprise when I moved here because I wasn't used to the grandiosity.

Houses are decorated for Halloween with ghosts, skeletons, spiders etc. Lights are put up.

Pumpkins are carved and then a candle is placed inside as decoration. There are usually pumpkin carving competitions.

People dress up, have parties, go to parties. Not just kids but adults too. Of course kids also go trick or treating just like they do in England and collect candy, money etc.

Theme parks, like Disney, Busch Gardens, and Universal studios have Halloween themes evenings where you pay an extra fee and get to go to the park in the evening and enjoy a Halloween inspired evening at the park.

Candy apples, bobbing for apples, ghost stories, horror films, ghost tours, bonfires are other things that may be included for an American Halloween.

As for me - what do I do. Its weird because 15 years ago my sister and I were taking the neighbour's kids trick or treating. I said to my sister 'what shall I dress up as?' She said to me 'don't be so dumb - you're too old to dress up.' 15 years later she is dressing up. I've dressed up for work before, and last year I dressed up to take my niece trick or treating. It just goes to show how things change.



Lets get out the grill

Its kinda hard for me to do a good job of describing the typical 'American' foods since I haven't been to every state in America and exposed to and experienced every type of food - but I'll do my best.

Grilled foods
Since the weather is a lot nicer, here in Florida. It is quite common to have BBQ's and hence grilled meats. It becomes a group of event - 'lets have a BBQ today' or 'Lets get out the grill'. All kinds of meats can be put on the BBQ and grilled.

Seafood

Seafood is a common delicacy especially because of being so close to the water in some states. Oysters, crabs, cat fish, lobster, cray fish etc... all served with various sauces or whatever. The picture below is clam chowder.

Miscellaneous:
Buffalo wings, cheesecake, pizza slices, burgers n chips.


There really is no way to precisely describe what Americans eat. It's like asking someone, "what does American music sound like?" or "what does American art look like?" Of course, there are no answers for these questions since the nation is such a complex cultural, well, melting pot.
And you know what its the same for England. Both places are a cultural melting pot and there are so many foods that have been brought in and introduced and slowly becoming part of their world.

I'm just glad to be an English Yankee and so I have experienced the best of both worlds!

A spot of tea or a spotted dick?

Of course all the different countries have their own cuisine, and visiting a country is just one of the benefits of tasting the different dishes and experiencing the different cultures. England and America are no exception and since I'm an English Yankee I had the pleasure of experiencing both cultures.

Let me start with England:

Sunday Roast:
Sunday roast is usually on a Sunday because its towards the end of the week and usually associated with 'family day'. There is some history associated with this also which you can read about if you are interested.
The roast is usually a meat consisting of chicken, roast beef, pork or lamb (roast chicken is most common) and it can be stuffed with various things such as onion or sage stuffing. It is usually served with roast potatoes (potatoes from the oven). Boiled vegetables. Also Yorkshire puddings. Its hard to describe Yorkshire puddings except to say they are made of flour and milk and you put them in the oven and they rise up, and they taste delicious. All of this is covered with a gravy - which is usually meat based.

This sounds very similar to the dinners that the Americans have on Thanksgiving and Christmas which is usually a turkey dinner. Of course Yorkshire puddings are eliminated, and so is the gravy. But they are both quite similar.

Afternoon Tea

If you watch Eastenders or any other English show, you would see that a cup of tea can solve any problem, whether it is a broken heart, a fire in the Vic or just a bit of bad news. English people use tea as a way to socialize and it is a very important activity to them. Historically - people would drop everything for their 'afternoon tea' but of course this can't be done as easily now. As an accompaniment to the tea, scones are served, biscuits (cookies) or some other rich sweet dessert item

Americans have a similar tradition but not with tea. They catch up over a cup of coffee. Although its not merely coffee anymore, it is espresso, cappuccino, frapaccino. And they use it as a socialization tool too - 'lets grab a cup of coffee.' Most of the American movies have a line in it with something to that effect. Coffee doesn't have the implication of fixing all the world problems but it is an important social tool as in England.

Chips etc

England is famous for its fish n chips. The fish and the chips are both fried in hot oil and usually sprinkled with vinegar, salt n pepper. They are usually served in a paper draped around the boiling hot food. It is made fresh while you are waiting. Sometimes it can be served with mushy peas....!

Not sure that America has an equivalent to fish n chips. But they are famous for their burgers and fries. Look at the 'chips' in the picture. Big and thick. This is different from the fries that the Americans are known for. You can find a fast food featuring burger and chips almost every single corner in America, McDonalds, Burger King, 5 guys, Chick fil a, Popeyes etc....

Steak and kidney pies

Pies are also a hit in the Uk. As well fish n chips which are an easy take-away food, you can also stop and pick up a pie. Usually a tiny one-person portion of it though. The portion sizes in the UK are much smaller than they are in the US. Steak n kidney pie usually served with mash and gravy.
Another kind of pie is Shepherd's pie which is basically minced meat with mashed potatoes on top and then put in the oven.

Bangers n mash

Sausages are big in the UK. When you put them with mashed potatoes, they are known as bangers n mash. Sausages can also make up a dish called 'toad in the hole' which consists of a batter similar to Yorkshire puddings and onions. I've never really tried this but I have heard of it.

Spotted Dick

Spotted dick is a steamed pudding served with custard. The pudding usually consists of fruit like items and the 'spotted' refers to the spots of fruit. Custard is a thick yellow sauce which is sweet and delicious. In England rather than serve pies, such as apple pie with ice cream, they tend to serve pies with custards instead.

There may be more common foods to the UK that I have left out, like baked beans but these are the most common that came to mind.

Stay tuned for foods from America..... coming to you soon from English Yankee.

How many different ways do you do it?

As a somewhat continuation or sequel to a previous post I had written about technology, I just took a moment to realize how many different methods I use to communicate to various people all over the world. How many different ways are there - well the answer is probably infinite because right now while I am typing this blog, I'm sure the i phone people and the blackberry people and whoever are coming up with a new app or a new way for people to stay connected.

Here's how I do it:
Regular text messages
Phone calls
Instant messenger app on my phone (hotmail, yahoo, g talk, skype, and even facebook chat)
Skype app - can call people in England and talk to them. I can't do video chat when I call from my phone but at least I can talk to them
Text free app - can text people for free (only in the US)
Textplus - another app where I can text people for free (only in the US)
What'sapp - can text people in London from my phone without any extra costs
Text n drive lite - this app can read my my e-mails while I drive
Dragon dictation - can speak and this app will write down what i am saying so i can just press one button and it will send the words as a text that i have spoken
Twitter
Facebook - can get updates on my phone as they arrive.
E-mail - updates every hour

So I certainly have limited experience with other applications on other phones. But when it comes down to it, there is a lot of ways to communicate with all the people I want to, and definitely no excuse not to.

What it comes down to - as BT says 'its good to talk.'

These are a few of my favorite things

The worst thing about being an English Yankee is that I grew up with being exposed to some of my favorite foods/drinks etc and now living in America I don't have access to them anymore. When I was a child, I used to visit America quite a bit, and there were foods which I tried out in the USA which I liked and I often brought them back to the UK. Here's a list of some of my favorite foods/drinks and where they come from:

America:

• Macaroni and cheese
• Fruit roll-ups (don't really eat those anymore though)
• Lemonade (my new favorite - although they may have something similar in England) 
• Ice cube gum 
• Panera Bread (ironically I used to hate bread, although I still do kind of, but I like warm toasted sandwiches yum)
• Taco Bell

England:

• Ribena (regular not low sugar yuck)
• Custard
• Hula hoops (crisps or chips for my USA peeps)
• Prawn cocktail crisps, quavers, and basically all the varieties of crisps lol
• Lucozade (although after an incident of bursting this everywhere, needless to say, i didn't take any of these back in my suitcase)
• My ultimate number 1: Lift lemon tea (I love this stuff so much)
• Cadbury's chocolate (you can get some of these here for a higher price, but not all varieties) 
• All Indian sweets (well maybe just the green one)
• Paan
• Sour cola bottles and cherry cola bottles - yum
• Barcardi breezers
• All the weird ice cream and yogurts they make relating to cadbury's chocolate

In summary - its probably a good thing I don't live in the UK anymore with all that junk food I like lol - I'd be as big as a house by now!!!

Drinking....!

Its crazy because in London the age limit for drinking is 18. Although you can drink in pubs with your parents at the age of 16. So since I lived in England until the age of 20 - I was used to drinking with my friends, and we regularly went to pubs etc.
Imagine my surprise when I moved to America and found out that the age limit to drink was 21. It wasn't that drinking was that important to me, but still. It was bizarre. And suddenly I couldn't drink, even if I was out at a restaurant with my parents. And I couldn't go to bars with my friends (although my friends were the same age or younger, and there were no bars in Florida lol). But it wasn't too long before I did turn 21 - and of course I still get carded but whatever. Its not that i necessary want to drink, its just that after being able to drink in the UK and having that freedom, suddenly all that was taken away. Isn't it weird that the age limit for drinking is 3 years different in 2 different countries? Why is that?

Guy Fawkes Day - Remember remember the 5th of November

An English holiday falling in November is Guy Fawkes day. November the 5th is Guy Fawkes day. There's a song my sister and I used to sing 'remember remember the 5th of November.'
The history behind this is that Guy Fawkes planned the gunpowder plot which actually failed. See this link for more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

On this day - people light bonfires and some people make up a human-appearing figure (acting as Guy Fawkes) which they burn that evening. There are as many fireworks on that day as on New Years eve.

Being a PA and other stories

From childhood I've known I've always wanted to be in the health care field due to my experience in hospitals as a child. At one point - all I ever wanted to do was be a doctor.
I didn't know about anything else. But after my Bachelors degree I was working at a health care clinic and I came across a physician assistant  (PA) student. We talked at length, and after significant research - I decided that this is really what I wanted to do.
I asked my cousin and some friends in England about PA's and they said that they really didn't know any or know anything about the profession. True - to their word, it seems like there were no physician assistants in England. They have started using nurse practitioners but that's it. :( Which means if I ever wanted to move to London, I would have a hard time finding a job. I hope in the future England and more countries bring in Physician Assistants because they are so useful to health care, and beneficial to patients.

You must be smart since you went to school in England!

Recently I was tutoring someone and when I told them I was from England, the first thing they said to me was ‘‘You must be smart – since you went to school in England.’’ Lol. Not sure how true that particular statement is but anyway.I think education is different in England compared to America. Firstly, there are no school buses in England. You either walk to school, or if it is too far you take the local bus or hopefully you have parents who can drop you off.

In London secondary school (high school) is until the age of 16, but in America it is until the age of 18. In London, at age 16 you are officially done with school unless you choose to go to take your A Levels or college. A levels are a 2 year program that is typically from the age of 16-18. And when I was there, you would pick a few subjects (most likely 3) and you study those 3 subjects for 2 years. Sounds simple enough - right? 3 subjects in 2 years. No!

It was the hardest education I ever received. I think the biggest part of the reason is because high school/secondary school is very light and easy, and then suddenly the word load triples for A Levels. I remember studying perhaps an hour a day or so for my GCSE's (exams at the end of high school) and it wasn't a big deal. I'm sure GCSE's may be a lot harder now, and also it depends on whether you go to private or public school. A Levels involve exams every few months which are based on all the material you have learnt so far. It was intense. It was really really hard for me. I think the biggest reason why is because I wasn't ready to really study, I was still young and wanted to hang out with my friends, mess around etc... I've heard from quite a few people, especially those that attended public school in England that they received a big shock when it came to A Levels. I'll always remember my biology teacher who told me that I should change my mind about being a doctor or working in the health care field because I wasn't able to understand any of this. So - for whatever reason, A Levels were extremly tough for me, and it did make me challenge my idea that I would ever be able to work in the health care field.

When i moved to Florida I started at a community college. The pace was so much more slower than I was used to, but it was nice. I took 5 classes a semester (for ex. August - December) and for each of these classes they had multiple exams during the semester, most of which were multiple choice. That's another thing too - multiple choice was a new thing for me. In London, I had never had a multiple choice exam EVER!

I liked the idea of multiple exams every few weeks testing on the material because it meant I didn't have to study such a huge volume of material. Later I went to get my Bachelors degree and then my masters. My grades were a huge improvement compared to the grades I was getting in England. Part of it was also probably because I was older and more ready to concentrate on my exams than I had been.

A person I know, who I have known for 8 years recently said to me that she feels like the entire 8 years we have known each other I have been in college. Its pretty true. Because some credits from England didn't carry over, I had to 'start afresh' with some courses like English and Math. So I was at a community college for 3 years. Then another 3 years getting my Bachelors degree, and then 2.5 years getting my masters degree. So - yes I've been at school for ages. But luckily now I have graduated and I am in the health care field as I always wanted!!! :)

A day in the life of English Yankee

So - I know I usually write my blog entries as differences or similarities between England and America, but today I thought I would do something different. I had a some-what unique day, and maybe this will help to enlighten some people about the day in the life of an English yankee. Or not...! lol.
So I drove an hour and a half to get from Tampa to Orlando (or O-town as the cool crowd would say). I stopped off at an exit to get something to eat. The interstate (motorway) signs show labels of what is nearby at each exit. As I exited to go to a nearby McDonalds... once I had actually got off the interstate another sign told me that McDonalds was 1.3 miles away. Seriously... how is that close? Ok so I'm driving and driving. I pass car dealerships. I pass about 5 traffic lights and I think to myself - ok where is this McDonalds. So I stop over somewhere and I click on my 'where is it at app' and find the nearest McDonalds and find that actually I needed to backtrack and turn left somewhere. Ok - so for those people stopping at this exit to eat McDonalds as the sign indicated, how would they know to turn left. Ok...!

Once I get my food, I'm back on the interstate. I pull up my e-mail to tell me directions to the downtown library which I am visiting for the first time. Find it with little trouble. And then pull into a nearby parking garage.
Since I got here a little bit earlier than the person I was meeting with I decided to get my computer set up. Turns out I need a library card to get internet access. Seriously. Ok - so my drivers license contains my address in Tampa and so I've never been able to get a library card for Orange county. I ask them if there is anyway to get a temporary library card and they say no. I say - what if I can get some paperwork faxed to you in the next 5-10 minutes which shows my Orlando address (at this time I'm wondering who I can ring to fax some papers over). None of this works. So, basically I can't get a library card today.

I decide to go on facebook and try to see if I can put the word out there and see if anyone can please please give me their library card number so I can get online. Got the help of someone kind enough to help, although wasn't able to get it. So - I decide to try something else. Behind me is an old man on his computer watching 'nasty' You-Tube videos. So I approach him, and tell him my situation, and ask if there is any way that perhaps he would put in his library card number on my screen in order to let me access the internet. He says he can't. Ok seriously - you're watching porn and you won't even let me use your library card to do some practice exams on the internet. Whatever!

Luckily, once my friend arrived was able to access the internet. 4 hours later - leaving the library. Finally found my car. Turns out there are two sections to the parking garage, and I was in 4B which was on the other side. Not really sure how I got there - but anyway. 4 hours later, I'm paying $10 for parking. Seriously... !

Then I go to Walmart (supermarket) to pick up some things for dinner. As I am examining some cards, a woman in a wheelchair approaches. I move back to get out of the way. She says 'Its ok, you're not in my way, I came to ask you something.' She goes on to tell me that she has Rheumatoid arthritis and also 3 herniation in her back. At this point I am puzzled.. I'm not wearing my white coat or anything that would suggest I am a health care professional. Then she tells me that she has no money to get home. Ok seriously - she is in walmart shopping and she has a cart full of items. How can she pay for them if she has no money? I tell her I'm sorry I can't help.



What an odd day right? Anyway thanks to all those people that gave me those unexpected bit of kindness and also those that didn't lol (the man watching You Tube).

You're not going out in that!

Ok, so I'm no expert in fashion and I definetly am not up to date on the newest styles or fashion. My mum is probably more 'fashionable' than me, but I just tend to wear what I like, what feels comfortable, and what looks ok to me. And I haven't explored all of the places in America, and figured out the 'fashionable' stores but..........

Now that I've said all my prefixes.. I will continue. In my opinion London is always one step ahead fashion wise. I remember when my cousin came down one christmas and was asking me about long cardies... (sweaters) and I had no idea what she meant. Well 6 months later... I was seeing them everywhere in the stores in Florida. I recently went to London and was shopping with her, and I said, 'there's a cute long sweater.' And she replied 'I'm so sick of seeing them - feel like they been around for years.' Lol. To me, they are a novelty. And for me, I love sweaters/jackets etc.... because to me, it doesn't matter about fashion but they're always a cool thing to pop over a short sleeved shirt, and for those who know me best, whether I'm in England or America - I AM ALWAYS COLD.

Anyway - it is my opinion that not only is fashion always one step ahead in London but I also think that it is also more unique. But my experience is limited since I have not purchased the contents of Rodeo Drive in LA or travelled thru the city of New York so perhaps city life may have some differences. But I still love shopping in London (eventhough prices in Florida, and probably America in general are much lower compared) because to me, the clothes are more unique and have a different flavor. Although - its funny because when I was young, would travel regularly to USA and would come to Target as a child and would buy clothes. Back in England, people would ask me where I got my clothes from, and I would say America and they would say 'oh la la.' So maybe it depends. Maybe just being back in London and away from the stores I am used to in Florida, the fashion in London seems exciting, new, and appealing. Who knows?

But also - something else. We had some guests come to visit us in Florida from England and one night we were going out for dinner. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt and I was done. I went to see if they were ready, and they had plugged in their straightening iron had a whole bunch of make up laid out and jewellry. I said... 'Um, we're just going down the street to the Chilli's.'' But then I remembered.... in London, almost everyone dresses up all the time, whether they are going to the store to get some milk, the post office, or wherever. In Florida, maybe its the laid-back atmosphere but everyone dresses so casually. I remember when we first moved here, I had to buy a ton of casual clothes because otherwise all I had were these dressy clothes I came with. I guess I could dress up but still. People usually don't dress up to go to dinner, unless its a really post restaurant. People don't really dress up to go to the store or shopping. It is probably different in other states, and again I only have one state to compare it to... but its just a change.
I do love to dress up though and now with my new 'London' wardrobe and my career which requires me to dress up, I'm all set to go. I guess I'm just an America Yankee.... the best of both worlds :)

Thanksgiving......

For my English friends.... thanksgiving is on the 3rd Thursday in November. It is a day when families get together, eat a turkey dinner, and give thanks. It is actually in celebration of the pilgrims and their arrival. Here is a link for those that are interested: http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/origin-thanksgiving-day.html
Anyway - this day has always been strange for me because of course it is not what I am used to. I am thankful for my friends and family etc.. but of course since I was not brought up here I have yet to be absorbed in the whole holiday. Although my sister does like to celebrate this day, especially because of her kids who were born in the US and so we usually do a dinner and get together etc.
Its a good idea though - a special day that families get together, and people sometimes travel to other parts of the world, fly, and drive just to be with their families.
I've heard that some people use it as an opportunity to find out what to buy kids for Christmas - u know the families that are usually traveling from abroad or further away and once they know what the kids want... the next day is Black Friday. We used to call is Green Friday at a place I once worked (either Kay Bee toys or Claire's) the Green came in because money is green. On this day the stores open super early and have incredible sales. Those of you who know me best know that I hate waking up early but I do love to shop. So on this one day of the year, I set my alarm to 4am and I wait outside for the shops to open. There are some stores that have such incredible deals that people actually sleep outside, because there are only a limited amount of these items (such as TV's for 90% off or something).
The whole holiday is something kind of interesting and of course learning to appreciate it since I do live in America now. And of course no matter where I am, no matter where this English Yankee is from - I will always be thankful for my friends and family.

WHAT...... I have to learn a whole new language here????

The best thing about moving from England to America was that eventhough I had to deal with a whole new culture at least I didn't have to learn a new language (just deal with the accent thing)..... or so I thought.
For the last two years before I left England, while I was studying for my A Levels I was also taking an evening class in British Sign Language (BSL). I had taken a couple of courses and I was qualified as a trainer for the subject. 
Unfortunately, in America they use American sign language (ASL). I thought that maybe I could just adapt a few things here and there and try to learn it. So during my associates degree I took a class in American sign language. Wrong move!!! It was completely different. For one thing, Americans use just one hand to sign while British sign language incorporates both hands. Everything was completely different. The alphabet. Words. Everything. It was insane. I did not think that it would be so different. Since I've never been too skilled with my hands, and with the confusion of British sign language, I decided to drop that class. I can still recall the alphabet in both languages and some key terms so if I were to encounter a deaf person which I have often in my field I can communicate with them. I'm still waiting to meet someone in America that is from England and I can use my BSL skills on them so they don't get too rusty.
That just goes to show.... even in two places where English is spoken, there can be language differences.

Feeling Healthy?

I grew up with the NHS - its what I was used to. I knew that going to the doctor meant waiting ages and an appointment in the morning usually meant I'd be taking the whole day off of school. I suffered from recurrent throat infections (pharyngitis for my medical followers) and was told I needed to have my tonsils out. I was put on the waiting list and it took approximately 3 years for my tonsillectomy to take place. I waited 5-10 years to have skin graft surgery for my arm. Well of course, some would say (and I would agree), these weren't life-threatening operations (surgeries), were they?

The NHS was really all I knew until I moved to America 12 years ago. In America you had to have health insurance unless you wanted to pay exorbitant amounts of money to see a doctor, get an x-ray, blood work etc. You can purchase health insurance on your own which can cost approximately $200 a month (about 150 pounds) but that doesn't always include co-existing conditions that a person may already have at the time of purchasing this insurance, such as diabetes, asthma etc. So basically - group insurance is the best way to go. You pay a small fee monthly and you get good benefits (usually) but you have to either be employed, in school, or somehow get a group insurance. Does it sound easy? Not to me, it doesn't.

Anyway by having health insurance in America - it doesn't guarantee anything. You still have to pay a co-pay to see the doctor and a higher co-pay to see specialists. Also, you pay co-pays on medication. You better hope the medication you are prescribed is a generic, or else either the insurance won't cover it, or you'll be responsible for paying over $200 for a medication monthly.

Health insurance is very complicated because it depends on the type you have etc. I did a whole certification class on it but I won't bore you with the details. Which is better - the NHS or having this health insurance? I don't know.

People in America who are employed but not fortunate enough to have health insurance sometimes cannot get health insurance on their own and therefore they are left with little choices. Do they go to the doctor and risk the huge fees? Or do they risk not going and having something really wrong with them? During my clinicals at the ER, we saw plenty of patients without insurance who came to the ER with minimal issues because they didn't have health insurance and its easier for them to go to the emergency room then to a regular doctor because they can just refuse to pay the hospital and let the bills pile up. But what about those people who have chest pain but don't want to go to the ER because they are worried about the cost involved? What about these people? Its tough. Health care providers cannot be there to assess the risk before the patients even come to the hospital or clinic. We cannot force people to come in if we don't know what is going on. Its a hard battle.

But is the NHS so pretty. Not always. I know many people who don't get the testing they need, or the care they deserve because they are receiving NHS care. True - they have a choice, they can go private - but not everyone can do that. A friend I know has diabetes. She is being prescribed Metformin which is one of the cheapest medications available. Unfortunately, she is not doing too good with the medication due to the common GI side effects experienced with this medication. She has been told by her doctor that this is the only medication available to her. Why is this? There are many many medications available for diabetes. Does she have other risk factors, kidney disease, blood disorders etc. No. The reason she is being told this is because metformin is the cheapest drug available and therefore NHS are pushing this medication as being the only drug available because it is cost effective. But is this fair. I don't think so. I don't think a patient who is obviously having side effects which are very common to this particular medication should have to continue this medication and not get a choice to change.

I know that in my experience when patients taking Metformin experienced a side effect we would recommend another because pts who have side effects are usually left likely to be compliant with the medication anyway. So -we switch to another class of medication. But then the patient makes up the cost involved. The patient is responsible for it. So what's the difference? What is better?

I don't know. I can't judge what is better until I have lived a life of both and experienced much more than I have. The way I see it is that both have their own issues and both have their pros and cons. The primary goal of health care regardless should still be to serve the sick and help those that need it and I think that goal needs to be recognized and be more aware of. I just hope that I can adopt that goal when I start working as a PA.

Technology is killing my sleep

So, of course there are difference and there are also similarities between the place I was born (England) and the place I currently reside (America). Technology is the topic I am referring to today. No matter where you live in the world, technology is advancing at an astonishing rate. It seems as if countries are competing with each other over who can bring out the newest software, programs, and hardware. I've always felt that England has been a step above, in terms of bringing out the newest things, most unique, and appealing to the public. This doesn't just refer to technology but also fashion. Fashion usually comes to the UK before it comes to the US, well in my opinion only. but fashion will be another blog entry I am sure.
But back to technology and my sleep issues. I feel like technology is advancing so much and who can help but try to keep up with it. When the i phone first came out, I never thought I would be one of those people that got absorbed in it. But I was. With defense to myself, my purchase came about due to my schooling as a physician assistant and the programs were definitely helpful both in school and during clinicals, not to mention the communication devices and the games.

I remember back in London - almost 12 years ago, all I had was a mobile phone which had text messaging and those free voicemails you could do to other people's phones. My best friend and I would resort to sending each other voicemails, and I remember late at night since my parent's room was right next door I would pull the covers above my head and whisper so that no-one could hear me. But now.... what a difference. Kids under ten have cell phones or mobile phones which have cameras, videos, messaging, and browsing capabilities. Wouldn't it have been awesome to have this as a child?

The other day I woke up in the middle of the night. I wondered what time it was, so I clicked the bottom on my i phone and as I saw the time I also saw I had a new e-mail. Cool. I couldn't go back to sleep without checking my e-mail. And then of course maybe reply too. And then, wait what's that - a facebook notification. Let me quickly check that before going back to bed. Oh cool - someone just replied to my status. Let me reply to that too. And look someone IM'ed me. And if you're like me, even if you're asleep because I have friends and family in my time zone and another time zone, its easy to like technology take you away from your sleep and occupy you with what is right there waiting for you. So what's the difference? Well technology. Its different everywhere. Do I love it? Yes I do.

I think you're getting pulled over

So speeding is a problem no matter where you live, but the way that it is dealt with is different.
I did take driving lessons in London, although since I was about to move, I never ended up taking my driving test there. For those of you who don't know - London has speed cameras. Most people know where these cameras are located, but over the years the volume of cameras have increased, and now they have gone so far as to use these cameras to enforce people not going into the bus lanes etc. These cameras are everywhere.

But people are smart. I've heard stories about people who try to fight the tickets they get when the camera takes a picture of a 'car' being in the bus lane or going over the speed limit. People say 'well it wasn't me driving.' This excuse usually works, although I think that police or whoever it is that is in charge of these cameras are going to get smarter and actually be able to figure out who is actually driving and get that on film.
I was talking to a good friend of mine and we were discussing that the use of the cameras is almost becoming like a big brother thing... where they know where u are. For example, a wife who suspects her husband of cheating may want to get hold of these cameras to show that her husband is regularly passing a 'certain road' where he visits his lover daily. How far will we go with these cameras? Also... is it right that we are being watched when we aren't doing anything wrong? The cameras are there in case someone is breaking the law, but when we are not, is it fair to be watched?

In America, well Florida specifically, police cars hide around corners, or dark areas and observe cars for speeding. They have camera-like devices that they can hold up to cars to observe for speeding.Once they see a car speeding, they turn on their lights and chase that car down. Its quite a traumatic process. Suddenly you are driving and then in your rear view mirror you see a police car with their flashing lights on and sometimes sound too and you have to pull over as soon as you can. Its hard to know sometimes if they are trying to pull you over or just trying to get to someone else because they are behind you and flashing their lights so its sometimes hard to tell, so if in doubt just pull over anyway.

I remember when I had just passed my test and I got pulled over. I was so scared. I was just under 18 years old and I was a new driver and new to the United States. It turned out I was pulled over because my tag wasn't fixed the way it had to be (which wasn't my fault by the way). The cop was nice to me and told me to go to the car store and get it taken care of. But honestly, just being pulled over, even if you don't think you have done something wrong really gets your sympathetic nervous system riled up.

One benefit to being pulled over as opposed to being caught by a camera is that you can 'talk' out of a ticket. I was on my way back from my first overnight ER shift at 3am. I admit I was half-falling asleep and was driving without thinking. The roads were new to me and I honestly did not realize that I was in a road work area. I was going 53 mph and because of the road works the speed limit was 40 mph. I do not even remember passing by the police car on my way. But suddenly in the empty road I see a police car flashing their lights with sirens behind me. I am sure they are pulling me over because there is hardly any one else on the road. I quickly look to pull over somewhere, but there are road works and so its kind of hard to pull over in a convenient place so I pull over to the next turning lane. So I stop the car and put the wndow down and wait. I'm wearing scrubs since I just got out of the ER. The cop tells me that I was doing 53 in a 40 mph road work area. I apologize. He asked me where I just came from and I tell him. He asked for my license and I ask him if I can locate it from my glove pocket nearby. And he says yes. Basically long story short, he lectures me for a bit about driving safely, and especially about how since this is a road work area, and if the work men were about I could be fine up to $200 etc. etc. I apologize again. And then he lets me go.
I don't know the formula for them letting a person go. Whether it depends on what you are dressed like, what you say, how you act, or what kind of day they are having, not to mention if it is the end of the month and they have a quota to fill. But regardless I got off - and I'm glad.

But they are starting to bring cameras in especially in Orlando at the traffic lights to monitor whether people jump a red light. And that brings the same questions about people being monitored and watched also.

Most important thing to know is in England police officers are Bobbys and in America they are Cops.
Well.. alas there u go... it doesn't matter where you are... someone is always watching.

Sneezing

It really doesn't matter what you call it, whether it is sneezing because of hayfever (UK) or because of allergies (USA) its still sneezing, and very annoying.
I'm not sure where my hayfever (allergies) was worse. But I remember in England always sneezing and onestly my hayfever was out of control and I just thought that sniffing and sneezing was something that I was always going to have. I tried nose sprays and some weird liquid med (can't remember the name) because at that age I couldn't swallow tablets yet.
So when we moved to America, my asthma was better and so I thought my allergies would be too... ha ha. Florida is the worst for allergies. Who knows what I'm allergic to, I never did the actual allergy test, but probably mold, spores, dust, dander, and all that nice stuff. So one day while at the doc office I happenned to mention my ever-increasing sneezing and they looked in my nose and down my throat and said 'you have allergies'. Duh.. i could have told you that. Well anyway they gave me Allegra D which is the best. It helped to control my sneezing and led to me getting sick much less. Although my health insurance won't cover Allegra D any more but that's another story... and another blog...!

But whether I'm here in America or in London I still have my allergies/and hayfever.

Chocolate...... Twirl, dairy milk, flake... yum

I'm not really into chocolate that much... but you know what they say.. when you can't get access to something, that's when you miss it the most. I was used to stopping at a newsagents and grabbing a chocolate bar when I went somewhere or picking one up at Tesco by the till.

There is something about that Cadburys chocolate which is so delicious and sweet. No offense to the Hershey chocolate here and those that love it... but it does not compare. It is probably because I am so used to Cadbury's chocolate that it just tastes so good to me.. so now when I visit England I pick up a whole bunch of chocolate and of course I store it in my fridge for months on end...

Where's the drive-thru

When I arrived in London, my cousin and I were both starving so we were looking for a nearby place to eat. Relatively fast and easy. She wanted to find a drive-thru McDonalds so we could eat and run.... I was puzzled... aren't all the McDonalds and all the fast food places drive-thru? No, she said. In fact many of them aren't.
Hmmmmm.... that's strange. And we actually had to drive almost 45 minutes from Heathrow airport just to find a McDonalds.
In America there are drive-thru restaurants everywhere. There are McDonalds within ten minutes of each other literally. Some roads even have multiple McDonalds on one road... yes strange I know. And almost 99.99999999% of all fast food places (whether it is McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, Burger Kind etc... all have drive thrus). It is the America way. We eat and run. We drive thru and run lol.

Speaking of food though... the portion sizes in America are much bigger than in England and interestingly enough the price of food is cheaper in America than in England. I was with a good friend at a restaurant and we ordered dessert. And I was surprised that I was able to finish the dessert portion because it was actually smaller than the portion we are given in America which usually is enough for three people to share (certainly not something I could have by myself).

So why is this? Why do we have so much fast food in America? Why do we have an abundance of drive-thrus? And why is it so much more cheaper to eat out in America??