I hope I get a lollipop

So, I'm not particularly fond of doctors.

Are you? I can think of only 1 person who I can honestly say I know loves doctors and not because he is one or anything of the sort. I think my biggest qualm is really that they're not just doctors, but doctors in the USA. More specifically, doctors who studdied and got degrees in the USA. Now before you jump on me and start calling me names for being racist towards Americans and all that jazz hear me out.

I go to school here in the US.

I like going to school. I love to learn and I love everything and almost anything that pertains to expanding the mind and broadening horizons. But, I'll be the first to admit that school in the states is entirely too easy. On a public standpoint the level of education in the US doesn't come close to most Eurpoean schools, that's a given. But one thinks that colleges and universities are supposed to offer a richer more indulging sense of education and dedication to learning. I know that many schools do, they just happen to cost an arm, a leg, one eye, and half my soul. And I'm not even saying that you need to go to some expensive, over the top learning institution in order to recieve a good education or make something of yourself. The reality of the situation is that if you're smart, if you're good at something, if you work hard for something that you want, it doesn't matter where you go to school .. you're going to go places. But getting into school here is so easy. And I guess that's what really scares me. It's not the hard working people who are going to school to do something great and better their quality of living. It's the people who go to school to do something for money, or because they want to make more money and really have no passion or care towards what they're trying to attain. It's the 3 nights a week dental hygienists school that promises $60/hr job at completion and a degree to certify your ability to assist a dentist and touch other people's mouths in a medical fashion. Meanwhile, the school itself costs somewhere around $4000 (books and everything included) and will admit anyone into it's program. That's the school that scares me. Those are the degrees that make me fear doctors. Your doctor might have a degree from a really nice school, but who's to say they just barely passed. Why do they make you sign an agreement before any major surgery that if anything should happen to you during the "standard proceedure" that they are completely not liable for anything, even death. That freaks me the heck out.

Lawyers?

Malpractice law firm lawyers can make $70,000 a year. Why on goodness' green earth are there so many of them? "of all the malpractice payment reports made world wide, over 80% of those payments were made by United States doctors with the whole rest of the world accounting for just 20% of all payments made for malpractice"(Michael Russel, http://tinyurl.com/kwu324)

That freaks me out even more.

Now, don't think that I wasn't afraid before. That I suddenly developed this fear of doctors and that I've been completely oblivous to these feeling before hand. Oh no. Ever since first coming to the US I've been iffy of doctors. In Spain, when your ear hurts you go the local pharmacist and he can give you something to cure it and stop the pain. Spanish chemists differ to those in the US, they are qualified similar to your local 'general practioner, this saves queues waiting to see the Doctor and can also save money. They are highly trained and are a great resource as they provide free medical advice for minor ailments. They can supply a wide range of medicines over the counter without a prescription. Many chemists stock homeopathic and herbal remedies. Here if your ear hurts, you need to go to the doctor or the emergency room if you can't stand the pain, then get diagnosed with an ear infection or something of the like, then get a prescription, and then you can go pick that medicine up. Not to mention a lot of driving around, a lot of having to handle pain and a lot of money. So you can understand my woes. Maybe. It just feels like every little thing that happens here you need to pay a high bill for a doctor when it's not really neccessary. It's just annoying.

And it can freak a Spanish girl out ya know?

So, I have my dentist appointment coming up on September 8th. The same day as the line dancing event thing that I'm very much looking foward to attending. I'm actually trying a new dentist. The program that I'm going to be participating with, in general is relatively scary to me I suppose. Mostly because it's not going to be actualy dentists looking at my teeth. It's going to be dental students doing everything, supervised by specialists. So maybe I'm a total idiot for agreeing to this. I mean, aside from the fact that it's less than half the cost of a regular dentist even with insurance .. which sure can be very appealing, there are no real benefactors. I guess the fact that there will be specialists supervising every aspect and proceedure makes me feel a little better. I can afford a regular dentist, a specialist .. not so much. So on the other hand maybe this is going to be a totally good thing. Maybe it'll be great. And maybe I'll end up with nerds or pez for teeth. Ugh. Gotta think positive. *breathe* I shouldn't anticipate this with horror. I know that it's going to be okay, it's just scary. I feel like a little kid for freaking out so much over this.

Then last night I talked to Pedro.

And Pedro had a really awful experience with dentists here. Which indubitably brought my every misdoubt, pang, apprehension, and indecision to life. He had his wisdom teeth removed and a couple cavities. Nothing too spectacular right? Oh no. So very, very wrong. The so called professional dentist drilled too far up in the cavity and removed too much jawbone when he removed the wisdom teeth. So he was in pain, he got an infection and to top things off he had to get prosthetic jawbone pieces and over a year later is still paying for it. Gee golly wilikers. That totally makes me feel awesome about going to the dentist. Really.

So! I totally had pancakes for breakfast.

Along with lots of sugary, sweet syrup. Mmm. My new dentist will utterly love me don't you think? Let's just hope I come out alive .. and with all my teeth. A lollipop wouldn't be bad either, one of those lemon ones. :)

And for the record .. Americans totally invented pizza and stuff right? So could I not love you crazy Americans! (just picking on you .. it's all out of love I promise <3)

Peace, Love & Pancakes
-Lib