Health system in Germany

just turned 33 yesterday, and was trying to reflect if being 33 now is what i expect to be many years ago? 

It is currently my 6th year in Germany, and one thing I have really learned here, which I find it to be really good, is the health awareness. The goverment here has made health insurance a mandatory to every residents of Germany, regardless if you are a student just here for a year or two or a permanent resident. Everyone who is living in Germany is required to pay for health insurance monthly. You are free to choose your own insurance provider, but each will then be given a medical card which allows you meet the doctor. 

The health system is so that, every resident should have a Hausarzt (Family doctor) and a Haus Zahnartz, who are usually be the first ones you go to in case of any discomfort. In the case of further investigation required, the Hausarzt will then transfer you with a Überweisungschein (Transfer certificate) to different specialist. 

Within this two years, I have met with the following doctors/specialist: 

1. Hausarzt = Family Doctor

2. Frauenarzt = Gynaecologist

3. Radiologie =  CT scan Specialist

4. Endokrinologie = Hormon Specialist

5. Schildrüsenarzt = Thyroid Specialist

6. Notfall Arzt (in the case of Ambulance emergency)

7. Neurologie = Neurologist

6. Durchgang Arzt ( in the case of accidents that occur during the journey to and from workplace) 

7. HNO Arzt = Ear Nose Throat Specialist

8. HNO- und Kopf-Hals-Chirurgische Klinik ( Ear Nose Throat Surgeon) 

9. Physiotherapeut  /Krankengymnastik = Physiotherapist  

and just Dentists alone, i have met different ones too

1. normale Zahnarzt = general dentist ( i went for at least 5 different ones before I found this one)

2. Zahnreiniger ( just for professional teeth cleaning)

3. Oralchirurgie = Oral surgeon

4. Mund, Kiefer, Gesichtschirurgie = Oral and maxillofacioal Surgeon ( for removal of wisdom tooth)

There are so many different kinds of doctors that specialises in different areas. 

I am still amazed at how many doctor appointments I have had these two years. X-rays and CT scans. 3D Scans. Its crazy. 

All of them are covered by the health insurance, except for the 3D scan that I had to dug out money to pay for it. 

Well, they say 27 is your peak and after that everything starts to deteoriate. I finally understand the saying. 

 

where are we at right now?

who knew? who could have foreseen? who would have expected, the entire world to be where we are at right now?

some mornings still seem surreal, but it is happening, it is happening right now indeed.

have you ever have thoughts that go through your mind like, how nice if the world can just stop for a second? i did, and it just happened few months ago, when i was attending so many different classes and events daily, getting worn out, and this thought just flew across, if only, if only the world could just stop for a moment. a moment where there are no classes, no events to attend, no socializing, everything could just pause for a second.

and the next thing we know, the world really did stop.
everything stop. classes are cancelled, works are slowed down, even church events are cancelled.

this time, it got me thinking? am i doing what i really want to be doing? or am i doing it just because it is expected of me?

these are the questions to ponder upon....

but through it all, one thing remains. God is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
He knew. He has foreseen.

Be Strong and Courageous

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

" Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:5-9

why i love Dessau

why i love dessau

some say it's plain and boring,
but i say it's plain is quaint

why i love dessau
of the many mornings i cycled, overlooking the misty lakes,
of the many beautiful summer, days of bicycle tours,
of the endless new discoveries, of every new hidden gems,
of the beautiful green path, beneath the blue blue skies

why i love dessau
of the 3 little cygnets that slowly turned into beautiful swans
of hours and hours lying under trees, feeling the spring breeze,
of shades of yellow orange and red leaves, falling down swiftly ,
of melodious birds chirping, singing happy songs

why i love dessau
of sitting by the peaceful still water, waiting for wisdom to be bestowed upon
of strumming of strings by the river flow, accompanied by dandelions flying
of grilling with my comfortable friends, waving them at kayaks passerby
of lying under more trees, with snacks and munchies and refreshing fruits

so do you see why i love dessau?
i think it is here that my overwhelming energy need not be contained
it is here that i can cycle hours and hours, using up every exploding energy
it is here that i can take a nap under a tree, without worrying about anything
it is here that i learn about myself, what i really truly like
it is here that i hear God, so close, so loud, so real to me
it is here that i found family, of sisters and parents and friends so kind

and so it's why i so love dessau
it's plain is just because it is a quaint little town

The Future 2.0

So, the eyes blinked and more than 10 years have passed since The Future 1.0 post was written, which is the very first post i wrote in this blog.

I am not a doctor, not a captain, and definitely not a president of a country. but with the grace of God, i am a Master of Arts in architecture graduate who graduated in the world famous Bauhaus building itself. That's something definitely out of expectation. Really, who knew i will have a chance to even come to Germany, to this little village gem, that so few have heard of, but holds the Bauhaus school back in 1920s, being the icon of Modernity, where so many well known designers. artist, and architects came from. I still remember the first semester of architecture 10 years ago, the very first thing that we heard of is about Bauhaus and its movement. Walter Gropius, Mies Van de Rohe, these names were all so unfamiliar back then, but today, on this very same land, this very same building, this 100th year celebration, i've graduated from my 10th years of architecture studies.

Bauhaus 1931 vs Bauhaus 2019

God is so good to me.
i remember the week when i was about to fly,
my flight was cancelled a few days before. I got so worried and had to search for a flight last minute. but God has other plans in mind. He knew i was afraid to fly alone, so He cancelled my flight so that i could join the other new friends in flying and stepping foot together onto this foreign land. and now, we have all made it together. We survived two years and is about to step foot into a much wider and even more foreign world of the architecture industry in Germany.

First arrival 2017 vs Graduation 2019

Throughout these two years, God is really so close to me. He taught me so many things, led me to so many precious experience, and placed so many beautiful angels around me. 

two years of adventures and God's grace

He gave me a German family, amazingly supportive sisters and brothers in Christ, an international world of studiomates and friends, moments of peace and joy under trees, by still waters, endless great moments, wonderful travels of explorations, overwhelmingly touching experiences of His miracle, and most importantly, He gave me a chance to get to know Him personally. 

It was really an amazing 2 years, and though i have no idea what the future holds, these 10 years were definitely an amazing growth.  and though I can't imagine what the next 10 years will be like, one thing i am certain, that God will be in the picture, and i want to stay close to Him, forever and ever. 

Hamburg, the beautifully fishy town

Was in Hamburg last weekend. Daily German classes and thesis work had take their toll on me. immediately jump on the idea of a weekend getaway when a friend mentioned Hamburg. Totally forgotten how exciting travelling can be, the excitement just builds up as the weekend approaches.

On Saturday morning, we took the 4am train to Hamburg, transiting at Magdeburg and Uelzen. Before this, i have never heard of the town Uelzen. The sunrise during the journey was really beautiful. This is one of the thing i know i'll miss when i leave Germany. The beautiful plain fields, even when its kinda all dried weeds in this season. That flat plain fields rolling out with no ends to it, with that beautiful shades of purple and pink with a tint of orange sky, featuring a few wind turbine that stand far edge in a distance. that peaceful feeling, is just a beautiful moment, and helps you think, or helps you NOT to think, not to worry, but to just breathe in, and take a deep breath to inhale this current moment.

Although the weather was really bad, not stop raining and windy gloomy all day long, but it was still a very fun weekend. We visited the Rathaus, had a "fashionable" photoshooting session, catched up with my ex housemates, had some overpriced backfisch Brotchen.

Rathaus Hamburg ( The Town Hall) 

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

This building is like a maze of reflections. Honestly, it makes me dizzy, though i can't deny the architect did capture some amazing atmosphere, but i was dizzy the entire day after visiting this building. 

View from Elbphilharmonie

We also visited the Miniature museum too. That was really a cool museum, with so many detail little models, it could take all day to look at all the little stories hidden within the models. Too bad i was too tired to really look at all the models, was just trying my best to look at some. can't believe i'm saying this, but yes, age is catching up, Schade.

Don't you think it looks really realistic? Depicting the highway at dusk. 

The Ice Hotel in Nortic 

One of the ski village

The snow was actually made of glass dusk i think. We couldn't resist touching it despite the sign. oops. 

Look at the amount of sheep. and they are all not identical. Each of it were really animated. 

This little fairy hole was hidden in one of the huge mountain pieces. One of the fun thing to do is actually trying to spot the hidden stories.   Credit to Esther for spotting this one. 

Was trying to play the Giants in a model of thousands mini humans at an open amphitheatre model of Romeo and Juliet. Can't seem to get the focus right though. 

The famous FischMarkt of Hamburg. yes, it was raining. 

One of the famous truck that sells large plants. Would definitely buy some if i'm really living in Germany. My mum would have love this truck!

All of these cost around 5 Euro in total

My portion of 5 Euro fish 

One grateful thing, is that the hostel Esther booked for us was really really really convenient and great. We stayed at the Generator Hostel. Booked in a 8 bed mixed dorm. Its usually gross to stay in a mixed dorm as most of the guys in there sleep with only their boxes on. but this time we were very blessed. 7 out of the 8 beds were female guests. and we got our little corner of 4 together with a taiwanese girl. On top of that, the hostel was just opposite the Hbf, and next to a U bahn and bus stop too. Couldn't get anymore convenient. We shopped so much the next morning at the famous Fischmarkt Hamburg. The vegetables and fishes were really cheap. Flowers too. its funny how there are trucks auctioning off fishes, pasta packets, and even chocolates. It was both funny and interesting to watch at the same time. It was really fun! We all have a little "aunty" in us, as we went around hunting for the best bargain. Finally, we managed to grabbed a 10 Euro deal of a whole load of fishes. Esther and I shared the load. And on top of that, i managed to get 3 packs of cherry tomatoes for just 1 euro, 4 zucchini for 1 euro too, and 2 melons for 1 euro. It was crazy. I guess its a good thing that there's only that much we can carry in our bags for us, or else we will be buying everything. lol

God is so good, He always know what we needed most in our days. For this trip, on one side, He knew i needed a break, on the other hand, He brought us to Hamburg the exact time when a friend in Hamburg needed some company. She just lost her job and a bestfriend. It was no coincident that God brought us there that exact week to spend time with her, and help her to bring some luggage back too. God knows us so well even when we totally don't deserve it.

All in all, it was an amazingly awesome trip. Though it was tiring, its the happy kind of tired. Hamburg is a really beautiful city, industrial port, filled with red bricks, along the river, rainy gloomy weather. Great friends and company, not to forget great food. Despite the tirednesss, I won't hesitate to do it all over again within a heartbeat!