In Luxemburg there is a national monument representing La France. It’s a monument that depicts workers on strike.
Anyone who lives here, and indeed anyone who chooses to visit on an inauspicious occasion can testify that going on strike is the inherent right and responsibility of the French. The desire to strike beats passionately in the chest of every frenchman (excepting mine, of course). This may mean no trains. For weeks. This may mean no school; one should expect to cede at least three days per year to the teacher’s fervent discontent, manifesting itself in the form of a strike (and a trip to the boutique).
Never mind that they already have five weeks of vacation per year. Never mind that the Socialist party instituted a 35 hour work week to stimulate economy because then the companies would have to hire more people in order to fulfill quotas (or pay people overtime to actually work 40 hours). Except it didn’t work because the companies couldn’t afford to hire more people with all the taxes they have to pay and all the CDI contracts they have that makes it impossible to fire deadweight lazy employees. So they just produced less. And the economy stagnated.
Let’s strike! They’re threatening to take away our 35 hour work week! Let’s strike! This country has no jobs!
Grr.
But, I must bow in deference to the healthcare system, which really does protect its citizens, providing healthcare for everyone equally.
I must acknowledge that it helps to receive 280€ per month regardless of income just because I have three children. It helps to have a “large family” card that gives me half off all metro tickets.
I defer to a government that actually cares about the environment, that institutes a system to enable regular folk to have solar panels. It works like this – you sign a contract with the utilities company for 25 years where they are forced to pay you a certain amount for the electricity your solar panels produce for the entire term of the contract. The first 7 years or so you earn nothing because the money is used to pay back the loan for the solar panels, complemented by a government subsidy. After that you earn over 1000€ a year. By the time the 25 years are up and the contract is over, solar panels will be affordable for everyone and you can install one for your own usage.
And speaking of the environment, a nod to the town hall who orders composters for their constituents, in which you only have to pay 12€ and attend an hour long tutorial on how to properly compost, for you to receive this for the garden,
and this for the compostable scraps in the kitchen.
Lately I’ve been reading a book called, “The Purpose Driven Life” and have also started life coaching sessions at the same time to figure out what values are important to me and what my satisfaction level is for each value at present. The two projects seem to go together. In one chapter, I read that one way to bring glory to God is to enjoy your life. Wow! Novelty! That is so very hard for me to do.
This morning I woke up early and started with my usual internal grumble, “Oh … it’s Monday. I have to have a driving lesson, I need to teach an hour of English, I need to get the shot for my hair to grow …” when I stopped. I cut myself short, and said with internal delight, “It’s Monday! It’s a fairly easy day because Petit Prince is in the crèche and I get some time to myself! I get to take a driving lesson and one day I’ll actually have my license! I get to teach an hour of English and earn 30€ without even leaving my house! I actually have someone coming to my house to give me shots and I don’t need to run from one place to another!”
Okay, I know you’re asking about this shot thing. Remember my long and luxurious hair? It’s extensions.
Gasp! I know, right? The thing is, these need to come out after 5 months (sniff). There will be a post about this.
My hair seemed to all fall out and not grow back after having babies. So I tried to take the two B vitamins necessary to make it grow back, but it requires taking them 3x a day for 6 months. I’m sorry, but I’m not that disciplined. So I went to the dermatologist and asked for the shots. Six weeks of shots (in the butt), three times a week. At first I felt overwhelmed thinking about having another thing to traipse off and do, not to mention the fact that the closest cabinet of nurses wasn’t returning my calls. Finally I decided to call another cabinet and they arranged to come to my house.
For real! A nurse comes to my house three times a week to give me a shot just to make my hair grow. (Although this is not covered by social security, it’s only 5€ a shot, which I consider highly worth it to have thicker hair, don’t you agree? The entire series of sessions will be under 100€).
When I found this out, I couldn’t help crying out, “I love this country!” to the great amusement of the nurse.
Sir got a gleam in his eyes, in between his furrowed brows of worry due to all my grumbling, “You see? It is worth it living here.”
“Yes honey.”
So I find a country that sends nurses to your house to give you your shots (oh yes, and SOS Medecin to come to your house day or night – fully covered, mind you – if you are having a medical crisis and can’t leave your house because … you have two other children, for instance) is pretty darn cool.
And the French create little spots of growing beauty wherever there is a parcel of land, even when it borders an ordinary private property like ours …
I’m becoming decidedly Pollyanna-ish.
Ugh. That is so un-French.
When my friend was living in Berlin a couple of years ago, the entire country went on strike for something having to do with the universities. Her & her husband’s visas were kept in a government agency. They couldn’t go anywhere or travel. Pain in the rear.
Ah, healthcare. Such a polarizing argument in the US right now. We better figure all this out soon!
Wow, you are finding the bright side! 🙂
Cool way you went from 1 picture to the other with the flowers in it… There are such pros and cons for living anywhere. It is just a matter of what you are willing to live with. Some cities in my area give free composters bins like you have. Mine gives free worms for a worm bin. I’ve got to go get mine. Glad to see you are still working on your drivers license. Good luck with the hair. After my pregnancies a lot fell out, but then it grew back.
Oh, and they started the solar panel deal in our area.
What a beautiful garden. Are those forsythias in the foreground? The wrought iron on the door by the kitchen compost pail is so beautiful too.
“They” say optimists live longer….
I’m not sure what they are actually (gulp). I need to get a guidebook since we inherited lots of these plants.
i desperately want solar panels. we did get the expensive roof shingles that deflect heat, but we can’t afford panels right now. or we can only afford french ones and moving our house across the ocean seems a bit environmental unfriendly.
Yes, yes! Move here! What fun. 🙂
that book made such an impact on my life. =)
i took vit B injections (first in the butt and then in the arm) for a period of six months. they were amazing. I got a boost in energy and my appetite was slightly suppressed. i managed not to each a bag of m&m’s a day, is what i mean by suppressed. =)
the picture of your home is absolutely lovely. i long for a space with plants and beauty and i have a little patch of concrete jungle. it will do for now…but someday….
I LOVE all the environmental “pros” to your living situation. I really would love solar panels on our house now, and I think the entire program makes so much sense!
It is so interesting to read about life in other countries! The pictures are gorgeous!
Home visits??
Gahhh…you’re killing me!
I’m with the Empress — home visits sound glorious! My sister and I have dreamt of a drive-thru ear infection check, but a home visit would be even better. I’m going to start dreaming bigger!