Something I rarely talk about: The medical costs of living abroad.

I had a friend in the United States commit suicide due to the cost of his medical bills following a motorcycle accident. I have a friend who is currently saving up money to "treat herself" to a cavity filling hopefully by this Christmas.

My friend had an abortion while living abroad and she paid between 30-40 dollars for it, didn't have to drive to another state where it was legal, and didn't get heckled or shamed for her choice in the matter.
I received a mysterious trauma to my 4th rib and it cost me 25 dollars for x-rays and anti-inflammatory medicine.
An x-ray in Mongolia literally costs $10, and you can pay 2 additional dollars to put it on a C.D.
When I had an irregular heartbeat due to heat exhaustion (which was my own fault), I got an EKG test for under 30 dollars!
*These were all "at price" costs- no deductibles had to be met, and there were no co-pays.

A week or so after heat exhaustion, at a weight less than what I was at the beginning of high school.

Ironically, I've been medically spoiled while living in a 2nd and 3rd world country, but America isn't making any sense for being the "best country in the world" especially in regards to healthcare. I'm not saying that I have a wonderful answer to this health care issue, but I AM saying that we need to take care of each other and an essential part of being HUMAN is making sure that we are all getting good and quality care. Taking care of each other is what we should pride ourselves on, not by how much monetary distance we have from the poor or from being poor.

For comparison:

When I was notified by the U.S. Department of State that I was to go to Mongolia, it was contingent on passing a health exam and getting certain vaccinations. I initially panicked because I was living in China at the time, but I slowly found a hospital, got a physical, and got tested for TB (Tuberculosis). Luckily, I had the vaccines already thanks to Peace Corps medical requirements (that they paid for)

Total cost: Free physical and a $2.66 TB test.

Cost in the States: Over or near $700 (confirmed by other Fulbrighters)

When I had appendicitis in Mongolia, I went to a Korean hospital and got laparoscopic surgery, 4 nights of hospital stay along with painkillers and antibiotics, and very questionable "food." I know I joke about how bad it was, but I would rather go through that again than pay the bill in the States for the same surgery.

Total cost: $1,500. 

Cost in the United States: Over $10,000

Removing the staples my final day at the hospital.

When I broke my foot, I went to a Mongolian E.R., got an x-ray, a cast, painkillers and calcium tablets for a month. 

Total Cost: $120. 

Cost in the States: I don't even want to think about that E.R. bill.

People sometimes ask me how I like living in the States, and most of the time my response is that "life is pretty easy." It's easy in the sense that I can talk to my landlord, figure out where I'm going when I'm driving, talk to people without too many communication errors, and I can read the labels on food and know if it's sugar or salt, which was definitely a funny and sometimes disgusting problem abroad.

But life isn't easy in regards to health care. I hate when I get sick in America because it automatically costs me so much money I simply don't have to spend on my health. I have to go to the doctor, to get a prescription to then go pay a co-pay for it in addition to the over the counter medicine I have to buy as well...it easily adds up, not including the monthly cost for insurance, which I can't even think about.

***For reference, I make only $2,000 LESS than what I made in Mongolia, just in case you thought I was making the big bucks either here in my grad program, or through the U.S. Department of State. For additional reference, I'm not a leech, or a moocher- I paid taxes in BOTH China and America when I lived abroad and I was happy to do so, despite the fact it was a surprise lump sum payment I made to China at the end of my teaching contract.

I know not all countries are like this, but please tell me why I can pick up painkillers, condoms, theraflu, beta blockers, and/or prescription strength migraine medicine at a drugstore for either cents on the dollar or for no more than 3 bucks, whereas in America all of these things are 3x that amount. Some of them I need to see a doctor (at an additional cost) in order to get a prescription for it.

Plan B (which is NOT an abortion pill), costs $50 dollars in the States but it costs $15 dollars abroad. No matter what an individual needs help with, they should NEVER be judged or rejected by a pharmacist or pay so much for something that is so important. I am reading more and more articles about how women are being rejected for birth control, or how a pharmacist will refuse to sell them Plan B and I hadn't thought/seen/heard about it once in the 2 years I was living abroad.

Since it's nearly Thanksgiving and I've been venting about this cost and this problem, I should end on a thankful note. Even though I literally cry over the "what if" scenarios that run through my head in regards to my health, I'm thankful that I'm 24 and that my parents are so generous and amazing to let me stay on their insurance until I'm 26. I'm also so thankful that I lived in China when I had to get medical clearance for Fulbright and that my appendix decided to eject when I had complete health coverage through the U.S. Department of State.

Here's to your health. Cheers.

Fall in Vermillion, SD

Autumn is here and it feels amazing! For a little while, it was just as hot as living in Atlanta and I was a bit disappointed. But it's cooling nicely and classes are getting more and more intense. 

Orientation was a week and a half long and toward the end it was oddly exhausting/exhilarating. There are so many hoops to jump through and I'm ready to jump! Pictured below are 7 future psychologists.

Joe, me, Jill, Brandon, Aimee, Phil, & Elise

And although there is a lot of change from week to week, here's my typical weekly schedule. I can't say that I really stick to swimming laps at 7:00 in the morning, but I am pretty good about going to the gym that early and working out on the elliptical or the ab machine (oh the burn)

This is a really accurate portrayal of my face throughout the school day.

Road trippin' through America

In one day we went from Atlanta, Georgia to West Plains, Missouri via Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and then Arkansas. It was a long day of driving but we made sure to stop and take pictures when entering every new state, which was fun, although sometimes a bit nerve-wracking.

Aaaaaand Arkansas was THAT state that wouldn't let us take a picture next to the welcome sign.

Finally in Missouri!!!

We stayed at Chris' parent's place for nearly 2 weeks and did a TON of fun stuff.

Chris and his little sister, Anna, got to hang out a lot :)

Anna and I got to hang out too. We both hadn't seen her in nearly a year.

We timed our travels so we could celebrate Chris' 35th birthday at home! That's the first time that's happened in years.

Anna also got to celebrate her 7 belated birthdays. She didn't get any birthdays when she was in Russia, so we were making up for lost time with some awesome birthday cakes.

While we were with Chris' family, we  also went to Missouri's Little Grand Canyon, Silver Dollar City (it's like a 6 Flags but way nicer), and we also went swimming in a secluded river. We stayed pretty busy with other little things too but we had a great time.

Part of the Little Grand Canyon.

Anna and her friend's reaction after I told them we had to stop hiking and turn around.

I love the swings at Silver Dollar City!!

I really cannot handle any kind of weather, so wherever we went I used Anna's blanket that she was nice enough to let me borrow, haha.

Also, Anna's biggest passion right now is horses. So of course, Chris and I stopped by where she takes lessons and saw her ride 

Waiting for Anna on some big 'ol bleachers.

Proud of her!

.....and during that time we also took a "little" side trip up to South Dakota to search for and secure a new apartment for us.

Boring state but had excellent margaritas :)

We spent the night in Sioux City, Iowa and then the next morning drove to South Dakota to find our apartment!! 

After that, we went back to West Plains and relaxed for a few days before starting the next journey of our trip, which was to St. Louis.

We went to St. Louis for a brief overnight trip, where Chris worked on an application for a job and I relaxed in the hotel room. We were just in St. Louis last year, so it wasn't all that exciting for us, but it was a nice little break.

That's my Barney car! The color was changed this summer from silver to purple.

In the morning we stopped by an amazing restaurant for a Sunday Vegan Brunch. It was so freaking delicious. I hope that we can go back!

 And with full bellies, we were off through Illinois, Indiana and then up to Michigan to stay with my Aunt Paula in her awesome log cabin in Ada, Michigan for a couple of days.

Slept in my cousin's old room and it was so comfortable.

We stayed there for 2 nights catching up with family, seeing my grandfather who was in the hospital, and eating dinner with some of my cousins and second cousins (!!!) before heading to the Sleeping Bear Dunes in Traverse City, Michigan.  

We decided to camp for 2 days. Unfortunately for us, it poured the first night and got everything wet...ugh. We hung our things out to dry and then went exploring around the dunes.

Despite all his travels, Chris had never seen or touched a Great Lake before.

I had visited Sleeping Bear Dunes nearly a decade ago (or maybe even longer??) and I fell in love with it. I love sand dunes and I love climbing them. I've been waiting and wanting to come back for awhile, and I've also been wanting to do this epic sand dune climb. It's nearly a 45 degree angle straight down, and then you have to hike your way up. It takes over an hour, but tons of people race down and up and try to beat their times. (There's no way I'm risking that, but kudos to them!)

We made it to the bottom!! After we got to the bottom, we walked along the beach...we weren't in too much of a hurry to hike back up.

We slowly worked our way back up the dune and then we went back to our tent to find everything had dried and was good to go for the night! (And it didn't rain again either!)

Someone slept like a baby :)

While we were in Traverse City, we had to stock up on some cherries! This region is popular for the quality of their cherries. They are just unbelievable. So we ate lunch at Cherry Republic, and got cherry pie and Cherry Coke with nearly everything.

And before we left the Sleeping Bear Dunes to head back to my Aunt Paula's place, we hiked up one more sand dune.

hahahaha

And then we hopped in the car and went back to see my Aunt again. Chris and I explored the Ada, Michigan region a bit with both my Aunt Paula and my Grandma. We went to this phenomenal botanical garden called Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park that had awesome statues and art-pieces and then we had delicious tapas after that.

 

Mmmm, cotton candy dessert to finish up the tapas!

Then we were off again! Chris has friends in Tennessee so we drove there to meet them.

Along the way we stopped for a Bourbon Tour (it was another part of Chris' birthday present) and we learned a lot about bourbon, the process of making it, and then we got to taste some fine 10 year old bourbon. I wish after all that education that I could say that I have a fine love for bourbon, but nope, I still don't.

Got a private tour!

Shortly after this, Chris got pulled over for a ticket, but we only got a warning, thankfully!

Chris' friends, Andrea and Adam, had a cookout the night that we arrived (so much delicious food and fun people!) and then the next day we played the Game of Thrones board game, and then the next day we went hiking and swimming right next to a beautiful waterfall. 

Homer for breakfast.

Andrea, Adam, a middle schooler, and Chris.

After all that adventure, we headed back to Atlanta where we packed and prepared for moving to South Dakota!

We just moved into our new place on the 30th and we love it. I'm very close to campus and the work out center and I've already seen my department and my future office! We've been exploring the area and finding the farmer's market and the fun little places to stop in again on later. School starts in about 2 weeks for me (I have orientation [woo!]) and I'm eager to begin but also nervous.

If you want to see a video tour of our new apartment (It's so much better than what we had in Mongolia) then click the link! My dad took a video to share :) He forgot to include a picture of our bathroom, but here's a photo to help you see the big picture. Visitors are always welcome in our little apartment!