My experience with the health care system in Spain…

A few weeks after I settled in Barcelona, I was able to receive a CatSalut sanitary card to be able to use the public health care system, for preventive and emergency purposes. As an American, it is hard to believe that a government can provide such a service. With many doubts at first, I went ahead and filled out the application, but knew there would be a catch somewhere along the line.

So I went in for blood work when I was feeling ill the first few months I came here and when I was expected to pay nothing, my doubts were slowly settling, but not completely.  A few weeks later I hurt my knee badly while spinning and running too much at the gym. Normally I would’ve let it heal by itself and let time do its work (like most Americans do to avoid the hundreds of dollars of medical fees). However, I said fine, I’ll see if this public health system is what it’s all hyped up to be. Ladies and gentlemen, my doctor saw me at no charge and referred me to the XRay department, no charge.

Usually, we get so excited when we have full health coverage through our employers in America and don’t have to “pay” for health insurance, but at the end, we end up paying co-payments or for primary doctor visits for them to see us for 15 minutes and refer us to a specialist.  Anyway, I have never been a big fan of the American health system. We might have the latest technology and patient care is probably top notch (only to those who can afford it), but I would overall put them below average, as many people would, I suppose.

Where was I going with this…So yes, I didn’t have to pay a single “centavo” for all the above XRay work to get done. So what happened today that made me write about this wonderful experience. Well I went in to get the last of my 3 series vaccination I began receiving last October. I thought why not get vaccinated for Hepatitis B and prevent my body from ever getting that virus. I had made an appointment for 9:30am, they took me in at 9:35 (public health has a reputation for long, nasty lines), but the problem was that they had run out of the Hep B vaccine.  Generally, I would bitch and complain to the health administrator at the clinic, but no way. Firstly, I am so thankful that they are providing this service to me and every resident (legal or illegal) in Spain, that I will just follow what the nurse ordered. She said, “please call next week and see if we have received the vaccine and just come in and we’ll shoot you up.”  Many of you are thinking words like: simple, primitive, socialist, etc…Honestly, it didn’t even bother me that they didn’t have the stuff. So I took advantage of my appointment and complained about the sore throat I’ve been having the past 10 days, she took a look, saw some irritation and prescribed me some medication. I was expecting to at least pay about 10-15€ for it. I went to the pharmacy and it only cost me 1,20€ for 40 tablets. When your wages are below whats considered the American “poverty level” you really try not to spend on extras. But, take that America!!!  I didn’t have to empty out my piggy bank for a simple medication, which the state even subsidized a little for me.  Pharmaceutical companies have negatively influenced our American governmental policies so much. These are the bodies and people Americans should be focusing on and educating people about the nasty power these companies have in our society. For more information on pharmaceutical lobbying, you can check out this article.

In any case, good luck with getting health care reform in the states, everyone. There is life beyond a public health care system. You can trust me and millions of Spanish people who enjoy this human right. The countries who have adopted a universal health system can vow too.

Health and happiness to us all!

Salmon vs. Cafe con Leche

Whoever says Barcelona is a VERYYY expensive city, I agree and disagree at the same time.

Today my expenses have included cafe con leche (coffee with milk from a cafe) and a salmon steak from the supermarket.

It was very interesting as I spent almost the same amount on both of them, but one gave me nourishment and omega-3 fatty acids, while the other just gave me anxiety, but got rid of my headache (caffeine addiction).

So you probably want to know how much I’ve paid for each…1,20€ for the coffee and 1,24€ for the salmon steak (160grams). So Barcelona can be very inexpensive, if you know where to look for the right stuff.

This profession called teaching…

I came home a little pleased today after a very rough week at school last week, experiencing careless (and somewhat reckless) teachers and unmotivated students who are in that particular state because of the former. I have decided to make it my goal to try to be an understanding person in the community I’ve been placed this year, which is filled with diversity, which is in fact looked upon as conflictive and sometimes dangerous by residents here in Barcelona.

Is it wrong that I see these teenagers as the innocent ones??? Am I just being that young idealist teacher who thinks can make a difference in their lives?? Well I might be so, but I rather be idealistic than unsupportive and give up on the very little expected from these marginalized groups of individuals. I began my class with a quote last week, in English, which said “you are not better me and I’m not better than you.” I think the kids liked that. It is important to keep that perspective always in check and not forget that my priveleged status as a teacher should not be abused.

Keeping spirits high and trying to get over the difficulties that come with this profession.

Fall and Winter Treasures-Chocolate Churros

When the temperatures rise in Barcelona (usually around May), my favorite pastry shop stops producing my favorite Spanish treat. So for the summer months, I only resort to Chocolate Croissants, but begin asking the Señor in charge of the churros, when will he start bathing these delicious sticks of fried heaven in the dark chocolate that only they are able to find in all of my neighborhood. As you can imagine my palette and I go crazy for them.

So what are these things, exactly? A regular churro is just a deep fried dough pastry…Yes, I know it already sounds contra my 6 days a week of working out. Then imagine these deep fried doughs dipped (or as they refer to them as bañados or bathed) in dark, semi-sweet chocolate.  This makes for an amazing breakfast, but you can also find it around at fairs or close to discotecas (nightclubs) after you are completely drunk and craving food.  You have four of these and you are completely satiated and don’t want anything that has to do with chocolate, if you are like me, for another 24-48 hours.  Today was the first time I found these at my local XURRERIA (CHURRERIA) and I have included a picture for your personal visual pleasure.  I just had 4 of them with coffee and let me just say, amazing! First time this season.

You can find and try these treats anywhere , but if you would like to visit this particular Xurreria, it’s at Metro Stop Poble Sec, at the corner of Calabria and Manso. You will also find very friendly Spanish ladies, willing to keep the order in line especially during peak snacking hours. Don’t miss these if you are visiting Barcelona during the months of October – April.

The Corner Bar at Muntaner and Sepulveda

Probably the most popular bar in Barcelona, so popular where they’ve decided that without publicizing it  with a name , people will still know about it and go. I think its name is ”Principal” for everyone who might need that information on their next visit, but really when one goes there they don’t really see a sign that indicates the name of the establishment. It is found in a triangular “plaza” where you can also find an internet cafe next door, a gay club called Metro, and a few hotels next to it if you are still left on the streets upon your arrival in Barcelona. It is on the corner of Muntaner and Sepulveda (at metro Universitat), specifically in the Sant Antoni neighborhood.

It is always packed, the terrace is occupied by both locals and tourists alike, who start off their night with the tasty and flavorful, Moritz beer (which was a local Barcelona brew in the mid 19th century but is now brewed in Zaragoza).

You can also enjoy the patatas bravas at this place without spending a fortune, as well as, be in the center of the city and head out to the bars and clubs to enjoy a late night, either drinking, dancing or whatever your sinful heart desires. I have lived in the neighborhood for about 16 months but I finally got the chance to go there just recently. In fact, in the past month, I have gone there three times already. I think it’s just a good meeting point, they have my favorite beer and my favorite snack, where I know it will be prepared just the way I like it.

Teaching to Privileged Kids

One begins to reflect on their educational experience, once they become teachers themselves, and this is what’s exactly been happening the past few months with me here. I had the luxury of going to a private school and receiving a decent education and I am very thankful for that. Yes, the teachers were mostly implementing traditional theories of education where there was a huge power distance in the classrooms, the teacher being the authoritative figure and the students considered the submissive followers (in most cases not).  Although I can not complain for whatever mode of instruction I have received as I feel like I’m overall satisfied with where I am in life right now. Then again it wasn’t all thanks to schooling.

In Barcelona, I am currently in charge of teaching English (as a third language) to mostly immigrant students who have either recently arrived to Spain, are from economically disadvantaged families and are in classrooms where the teachers just don’t get them. I find this extremely disheartening that these kids should have to go through this.  I am not Mother Theresa and have no intention of trying to be one, but I try to give them the opportunity of improving their English skills, when most of their teachers have given up the fact that these kids can learn basic math.  Besides this, I also get to substitute at an American/International school in the mountains, or the “zona alta” (High Zone or the Rich Neighborhood) of Barcelona. Compared to the 32 students who are in our English classroom at the public school I teach at mostly, the students in one of the history classes were only nine pupils (the average class size is about 15). This reality check was immense and the societal injustices that we read about (but rarely talk about) was right in front of my eyes. These kids are lucky, I thought. I was lucky, I thought. While most kids around the world are lucky to get schooled, these students asked me if they can play some music on their laptops, while they are writing their introductions about the World War I.  Can I blame them for living their own reality? Can I blame myself for my own reality? Or should I blame the newly arrived Pakistani student, who is made fun of his hygiene by his classmates, just because his life situation has made him not put priority on clothes and “cleanliness,” but rather getting food on the table for him and his family.  I think it is important for teachers who get to teach to privileged students, to remind them about the human aspect of living and introduce them to realities, which is almost unimaginable to them (yet only 4km away). I can go on for days writing about this topic, but I leave it unfinished…

Practice is sometimes better than theory

The last 8 years of my adult life, while in school (teaching or learning) or at home trying to get a stubborn machine to work, I’ve learned that practice makes perfect, while theory just confuses the hell out of us sometimes. While I used my awesome stovetop espresso maker to make myself some coffee, to sit down and write this, I remembered Christmas of 2008 in Barcelona and how I received this amazing espresso maker from a friend. It took me forever to learn how much water to put in there, the right quantity of coffee  and the level of heat I should give it to receive a tasty, fresh and get it to somewhat taste like espresso.  However, it mission was accomplished and all by practice. Yes, I realize I’ve wasted a few cups here and there, but learned. I can’t negate that I am a huge lover of theory and have tried to read instructions and although they were helpful, they just weren’t as helpful, since the instructions online or on a piece of paper, just didn’t know how I like to take my coffee. So why do I dwell so much on this subject. I woke up this morning thinking, today is going to be the day I learn everything I need to about wordpress and blogging. Ya right! I had so many windows open. Some defining blogrolls, some CSS, tags, categories, blog optimization, etc, etc, etc….At the end my computer  decided to freeze (yes, my MACBOOK, froze), just like my brain did, I guess. That is when I decided that I should fall back to my old mantra that not everything is learned through books, but in fact, by trying. I usually try to lead my classes in this manner, make kids come to important conclusions or new points of references so why not follow what I preach. So from now on, I’ve decided that I will unload all my thoughts and try to categorize them as well as I can, and the rest I’ll let it fall into place, one day at a time. So with that, let the blogging begin…