Yay! I'm not sick anymore!!

It case the title didn't tip you off, I'M NOT SICK ANYMORE!
I just got over my first case of food poisoning(and hopefully my last). I had no idea the amount of strange noises one's intestines could make! Anyway, after several days of not being able to eat anything, I sweated the last toxins out in a fever last night. I've already graduated to non-bland foods this evening with no ill effects!

What this little episode taught me was that Health Care is important. Luckily with the Fulbright I'm covered under Australian Medicare. While this doesn't cover everything it should be adequate-I have to pay for Rx's but not the doctors visit, none of the fancy things more expensive plans cover, etc. Every Australian is covered by this national health care plan but apparently a lot of those who can afford it get a private coverage plan.

Ruth Ann is not covered by Medicare(she wouldn't be even if we were married). She has to use the USyd plan for international students. Today she had to run around the main campus(far far away from the Con) trying to get her Health Care card. Courtesy of the wonderful International Department, she was directed to Multiple buildings by multiple people. Eventually she did get it.

From almost everyone we have talked to who has dealt with them, we've heard the International Office is incompetent-profs and students included. Our own experience has shown this as well: multiple lost transcripts, lack of communication, lack of response, the left hand not knowing or caring what the right hand is doing etc...Once we have our work visas processed, we'll be done with them for now.....

This is a picture of my baby niece, Juliana. I felt like I needed to put a picture of her because she's just too cute! My folks are sitting in the La Paz Airport right now waiting to go see her(and Eric and Claudia) and I'M SO JEALOUS!!



~Mike