No More Stitches

Today I got the rest of the stitches taken out of my hands, a little over 10 days after I accidentally cut them. The stitches from my right hand were removed on Monday, but the ones in my left hand remained there until today. They are still not 100% healed, but they have improved to the point where stitches are no longer necessary, and I just wear a small bandage on my left hand. This means it is much easier for me to do things (like typing, taking a shower, etc.) than it has been for the last couple of weeks.

While this whole injury has been quite the hassle, there are two things about the healthcare system here that are awesome: it's extremely affordable, and they pay a lot of attention to you. Thanks to the fact that citizens of Brussels pay upwards of 50% of their income toward taxes, all of my treatment (which included an ambulance ride, an ER visit, a prescription, and 8 follow-up appointments to switch the bandages every day) cost under 150 euro. While this is no small chunk of change, a comprable bill in the U.S. would be much more, particularly if you did not hold U.S. health insurance. In addition, as I just mentioned, the doctors wanted me to come back every day to monitor the cut and to change the bandage, which is also a procedure that would probably not happen in the U.S.

Other than the excitement surrounding my hand, there is not a whole lot else new here. I've finally settled into a groove, going to classes and getting to know my way around the city. I'm having a great time learning different things about Belgian society, and I have learned how to not look so completely lost and give off the appearance that I'm possibly Belgian (as evidenced by how many people ask me for directions in French). I'm treasuring the next couple of weekends where I do not have much planned, because starting in October I will almost literally be going somewhere different every weekend until I leave.