Those darn (you fill in the blank)

Saturday there was a spring luncheon for the expat women's group. It was VERY nice...1) to go somewhere without the trailer on the back of my bike, and 2) to eat yummy food without a 4-year-old hanging off my arm.

One British woman who has been living in DK for over 17 years asked how I liked it here so far. I told her that I have a love/hate relationship with DK. Her and another woman, also here 20+ years, said that she too feels the same.

For me, Danish people are quite friendly and hospitable - when its one-on-one. But in a group - watch out. Pete and I were standing basically at the curb, waiting for the bus. It pulled up, and an older man pushed in front of us, then a bunch of other people proceeded to do the same. Supermarket lines here are equally bizarre.

Sadly though, I think you could say this same thing for just about any nationality - a prime example being us Americans. Meet one of us and you say - hey she wasn't so bad. You see a group of us somewhere, and then talk under your breath about those stupid Americans.

But I do wish I would have written down my preconceptions of the place before coming - because I know I think drastically different about some key items - like free, national health care. So far, my experience with it has not been good, and I would have expected it to be at least *good* when it involves checking out a child. I've been told that the way I've been treated is not uncommon. I also saw a commercial on TV the other day for private insurance (advocating private insurance). Basically, the doctor came out to call on the next patient, all that was left was a chubby middle-aged man, the doctor proceeded to pretend that he was not there. Point being - I won't help YOU, if I don't WANT to, and because I don't HAVE to. (Its more complex than just it being free, it is also general socialism, I don't speak Danish, work ethic...)

What I need to do is switch doctors; switch to one that someone else has recommended. There are good doctors here, they are just a bit harder to find. I have it a bit easier in that we have a car, and can go anywhere at any time. I feel sorry for the people that don't have that option.