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Notes on French Medicine, with a Red Army Choir Bonus
As some of you know, I’ve been complaining ceaselessly for the past couple of days that I’ve picked up a stomach flu. I’ve seen a French doctor. I’ve been assured there’s nothing wrong with me that a few days of rest won’t fix. Nothing to worry about.
Now, it takes a lot to get me to see a doctor in France. If I report having seen one, you know I’m not just malingering. This isn’t because there’s anything wrong with French medical care–French physicians are very competent and well-trained, as far as I can tell. But there’s also no such thing as a French doctor capable of understanding the following words: “I’m not a French citizen. I have a private insurance plan that only covers me in the event of emergencies. You’ve just assured me that this isn’t an emergency. So is there really any good medical reason to order all these tests, given that I’ll have to pay for them myself?”
Do you find that idea impossible to understand? Doesn’t seem too hard to me. But when I say this I’m inevitably met with a blank stare. It’s truly as if this idea–that medical care is not, in fact, free–is too difficult for anyone in France to understand.
This is all the more aggravating when the physician has just checked your vitals and said, “Doesn’t seem like there’s anything to worry about. You’ve got a bug. You’ll be fine.”
So, long story short, I’ve got a bug and I’ll be fine. But I’m still feeling too tired to say anything intelligent about politics. In fact, I can’t really concentrate on the news, and have no idea what’s happening in the world. That said, this came swimming up on my Twitter feed, and I figured it was a must-share. I watched it four times, and it made me laugh more each time.
Is this as hilarious as I think it is, or is my delight with it a sign that I’ve gone a bit loopy from the medication? (Not exactly sure what I was given, but it works. I’m guessing it’s some kind of synthetic opiate, and it either crosses the blood-brain barrier or the placebo effect is even stronger than I realized.)
If only the Russians weren’t insane. It’s just so hard to dislike them.
Published in General
Yes, it is that hilarious and you are that loopy. My refined American sensibility finds the hairdos a little over the top, but I’ll allow the barbarians that. This southern boy gives their rendition his stamp of approval. I sang along.
Here’s some more in that vein. Its sophistication is stratospheric in comparison, but then trailer-park Murica is generally the Bolshoi, compared to the most polished Russian produkshun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx8v0Deetag
P.S. Send me a sample of your drugs.
Back when downloading music over the internet was new I grabbed a whole bunch of stuff from the Red Army Choir.
The Leningrad Cowboys made a movie, called “The Leningrad Cowboys Go America” It used to be on youtube, but apparently has since been taken down for copyright reasons.
The best bit was the start, where they showed the group’s home village. Everyone there has those super pointy shoes, and hair like that. Even the dog, and the baby in the cradle.
Has it occurred to you that you got sick purely to entertain the rest of us with this marvelous post?
Tough, I know. But the show must go on.
Claire, I’m glad to see you are feeling better. The video is hilarious. Please also consider the possibility that the people in the video may also have been loopy from medication(legal or otherwise) as well. That said, I know several people who went to Russia for business purposes who agree with you in principle–i.e. that the vast majority of Russians do not need medication to act loopy.
My commitment to entertaining Ricochet is great indeed–but not that great, trust me.
Hey, I know this discount pharmacy attached to a walk-in clinic… If you don’t mind turning ol Midge here into a drug-dealer, and are comfortable with pharmaceuticals manufactured in India and Pakistan… (Their Ondansetron seemed to work alright at least, when I got the collywobbles…)