New Beginnings

The flowers have bloomed. The trees have sprouted new leaves. Birds chirp. Cafés bustle non-stop. Spring has arrived.

The regenerative miracle of Spring never ceases to astonish me. The short, cold days of winter give way to long, sun-filled days. Bare, gray trees cede to sprouting leaves and flourish. People shed their dark, heavy coverings to reveal light, colorful linens. What was once dormant awakes and lives without apology. It really is a site to behold.

This Spring is particularly astonishing for me because Winter seemed so long. So dark. So cold. These adjectives describe not only real, tangible phenomenon, but also a state of mind. Somehow I (someone who generally loves the Winter) was affected by a sort of seasonal slump, and it is truly amazing what some warm weather, sun, and renewed personal relationships can do to chase those blues away.

I've rediscovered old friends and what a pleasure it has been! Color is back in my life, flowers are blooming, and smiles abound. I hope your Spring is as full of life as mine!

Evolution

Life has a funny way of evolving without our consent. Little by little things change and then, one day, we realize just how much things have changed. I'm suddenly quite aware of this phenomenon in my life. And in general, evolution is treating me well.

Only a few years ago, I was toiling away on a Masters and then PhD in French at Ohio State with the goal of becoming a university French professor, and now I'm teaching English (loving it too!) in Rennes. With this change came a slow and steady evolution of professional and personal goals.

I've evolved physically too. Not surprisingly, I've lost more hair and have gained some more wrinkles. While not thrilled about the prospect of going bald and getting wrinkly, I've accepted that it's part of life, so no biggie, right? I weigh less than before, but still eat like 2 normal people. The effects of working out more or getting rid of bad, processed American food? Either way, being trim is always in style, right!?

Relationships are where slow yet steady evolution is most visible in my life. While I see my family much less due to distance, I feel even closer to them. I cherish the time I have with them even more now, and weekly phone conversations are so much more meaningful now than they were when I was calling from just a few miles away. Normal!

Circumstances and life have a funny way of separating the meaningful, long-lasting relationships from the ephemeral and short-lived friendships that dot all of our lives. Being away means not seeing friends, and so some of us have grown apart. This makes me sad, but at the same time it's a completely natural and normal part of life. We all have people that come in and out of our lives at different moments for different reasons: friends, colleagues, acquaintances based on what we're doing, where we live, etc. Just because we don't remain close forever doesn't mean that the relationships we've had with them were not meaningful or important to our own development. I think of close friends from high school, marching band, grad school. There are some who transcend places and periods of our lives, but those are few and so, even more cherished.

I don't know what my life has in store for, be it experiences, jobs, or relationships, but I've become more aware of how much each individual with whom I've crossed paths has affected and continues to impact me.

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better. Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

Le Printemps du Cinéma

This evening was the last night of "Springtime at the Movies," a lovely little promotion the theatres here do to welcome in Spring. There were huge lines and tons of people. Then again, not surprising considering that the tickets are only 3.50, compared to the usual 9.30! I went to go see Shutter Island with my friends Sarah and Anthony.

I had heard mixed reviews, but I was curious. While there are some parts that are just trop, it is, overall, an excellent movie that leaves you wondering at the end what really happened. So, if you get a chance, go see it and let me know what you think.

Throne Room Restored

After months of having a broken, unattached toilet seat(my second of the year), the throne has finally been restored to its former glory!

The American Myth

America has the best health care system in the world! We've all heard this on political talk shows and from members of Congress, but saying it doesn't make it so. I wish it was true! But just because we're America doesn't always mean we're the best. In fact, this blind acceptance of American superiority has become so wide-spread that I think it has begun to prevent us from seeing something really important: reality. The reality is that the WHO has consistently ranked the country where I live, France, as the country with the best health care in the world. Why? Because it is fairly paid for, it is of high quality, and it provides access to 99.9% of the population. Even non-French residents like myself. The USA, if you're wondering, ranks 37th. The best in the world! Except for those 36 other countries...

But Todd, it's a government-run, socialized system, so doesn't that mean that there is rationing and long waits for treatment?

As a matter of fact, no! Even though it is government-run, you choose your own doctor and they are free to refer you to whomever they see fit or prescribe you whatever treatment they see fit, even if that means you'll need to miss a week of work. By the way, there are no limits on sick days in France. If the doctor deems it necessary for you to miss work to get well, then you get an arrêt de travail and your employer has to continue you to pay you.

That must cost a fortune! Right?

Well, France spends a lot on health care, about 11.2% of the GDP, which is still far less than the US, which spends 15.2% of its GDP. And the French are taking actions to reduce fraud and abuse, and investing in new technologies to further reduce costs. This is, of course, difficult, but far simpler when it's a single-payer system and not a web of complicated private systems that vary from state to state, like in the US.

Yeah, but socialized medicine stifles research and medical advances. That's undeniable!

Actually, no. This may be the case in some countries, but this is certainly not the rule. France is consistently in the forefront of medical advances. From isolating the HIV virus to advances in stem cells and medical equipment and surgical procedures, the French have demonstrated that single-payer health care isn't incompatible with medical advances.

Today, the US Congress may pass an historic bill that will reform health care. It will not, unfortunately, create a system like in France. It won't be socialism. It won't be a government take-over. People will remain uncovered, people will still spend far too much. The reform proposed is far from perfect, but it will be an improvement. We won't be #1 anytime soon, but 37th is unacceptable!