People told me that after I’d been in France a couple of weeks, the language would become second nature and I’d begin to start thinking in French. NOT TRUE. I’m sick of making all these silly English mistakes! A prime example: today we were reading through the notes of one of the new patients on the ward and saw in her past medical history that she’d had an ‘Amygdalectomie’. Now I was pretty intrigued by this. The amygdala? The centre in the brain that controls fear and emotions? She had that REMOVED? But why, and how? That’s crazy! I excitedly asked the other student about it and was confused by his apparent indifference; ‘Bahhh, I don’t know, I guess she must’ve had an infection or something’. It was only about an hour later that the realisation hit me that the French have two meanings for the word amygdale, and that one of those meanings is tonsil. Having your tonsils out, not quite so exotic.

I can’t decide yet what I think about the French health system. Would I prefer to be a patient here or on the NHS? Sure there are fewer superbugs around here, and resources are more plentiful, and it’s easier to see a specialist when you want one. In terms of interior design the French totally win as well, the rooms are really spacious with enormous windows...but on the other hand you know what, as a patient there are some tests I’d rather not have unless absolutely necessary (I swear they give out colonoscopies at the drop of a hat)! Also it seems that communication skills sometimes leave a lot to be desired! Last week I saw the nurses break the news of a man’s terminal cancer to his family while standing up in a little corner of the corridor while all the doctors were going round on the ward round. I know Alex has a few examples she’s planning on writing about too. They need some Manchester SPIKES teaching!

On Thursday we will be receiving our first visitor to Nantes in the form of ma mere! I’m very excited...however there is another STRIKE on the go, this time of air traffic controllers! I hope it doesn’t ruin our plans!

Marie
xxx