#54 - Mardi 5th

chercher

(look for) 

Woke up at 1am with really painful stomach ache...quite scary being alone in a foreign country in the dark, thinking of the worst-case senario.... after about 45 minutes it eased and I dropped off to sleep again. Waking up with my alarm, not pleased about having to get up, snoozed a few times.... leaving no time to eat my breakfast and get out of the house!

Lets just say for one reason or another, maybe I forgot them... but maybe... just maybe I lost them/had them purposefully stolen (I highly doubt that) but I spent my morning visiting pharmacies, which only open at 9am.... when I'm supposed to start... clutching my handwritten french note I visited three with no luck before deciding at 9:45 I really ought to show my face in hospital. Regretted it immediately... great way to introduce yourself to ten french people... as the english one with a pharmacy problem! The demented lady thanked me enthusiastically for my message and I left again... feeling pretty fed up, still a bit sick and very homesick... someone I think said something nice to me in French but I don't know and ignored him... I feel bad now but my eyes were a bit teary! Next pharmacy thankfully could help, she was very excited about my 'ordonannce anglais'! I guess I am about French things too... Pharmacies are big businesses here - very nice layouts but lots of vitamins and herbal tea looking things... even cat medicines.... I assume there are so many, so large and so nice because in France, even the elderly pay for their medications (& they're not so cheap!).
 

view from clinic at Bain de Bretagne.... the lac looked lovely

Ward round again, one of the medical students spoke to me - so happy - but I didn't understand him.... terrible. I escaped for lunch (was told off/told to use a tray in the dining room... at least I understood!) before clinic 20miles south of Rennes.....the doctor has to travel there as the old geriatrician who did the memory clinics had moved to Australia! She's very nice, very young to be a 'consultant' equivalent in France. Two patients, the one for the assessment's wife spoke alot and 'trop vite' - too fast... she did ask me afterwards did I understand much? "a little...",  she admitted she speaks fast.... "a little..." "je suis desole!" 

Home at five, sat in the park and wrote differences in healthcare here and at home. Phoebe sick again, visited the shop for some picnic items before Paris tomorrow! & some pressies too.... Courgette curry take two... crepes (experimental), chat to Gran and the girls & final Paris plans!! I've got my 'sac banane' ready....


Quick run down of French/English medical schools/training:

England. 5 years at uni, graduate as doctor, junior doctor for two years (6 varied jobs), then choose a specialty and begin GP rotations, or core medical/surgical training... you will later take entry exams to secure a job/training job to become a consultant... I think this takes 5-7+ years (?3 to be a GP)....

France. 6 years at university, graduate (not a docteur), choose your specialty to work in, work as an interne (like a junior doctor) for three years, taking jobs relevant to your future specialism, you are then a 'chef du service' in your specialty - like a consultant I think. 

 

#53 - Lundi 4th

étudiant(e)

student

Too lazy to go to the shop for bread and make lunch today so had to buy a packaged one on the way... today was the day of medical students! First there were deux, then trois, quatre... cinq... six, sept...huit... et moi (neuf etudients en medicine). Beaucoup des etudients! Hand over meeting with eleven of us and only five medical students (they're split across the wards), I managed to introduce myself without it being too awkward. Long morning, nice to see some new patients... had a chat to one of the medical students too - amazing, I knew what he was asking and could reply!! I didn't dare speak to him again later... but I will try again this week. 

Bang! I went to help a patient, she'd dropped a plastic tub and was trying to get to the loo... I helped as much as possible and ended up getting a nurse (in French)... I was so scared she'd fall. Unfortunately a man I'd seen on Friday had died, I guess it was to be expected he had a serious diagnosis. One man is always tootling up and down with his zimmer, as soon as he spots us watching he goes back in him room... and over and over again!

Lunchtime... spoke a little french.... understood some. We laughed as one of the docs had left the chocolate in her fridge at home... it was funny but the other doc was laughing a bit too much - it was odd, she was laughing because I understood and I got a bit confused.Big handover with all the MDT team... lost a little bit in the middle, it is so hard to stay awake. Did a little work with my trusty Oxford Clinical handbook - which the doc says she loves, she knows how good it is from a correspondant in England, "j'adore ça" - me too!

she had two bowls of her own water!

Home and I didn't know what to do with myself... so I braved a swim.... it was obviously rammed with people - summer holidays.... two attempts to buy a ticket... made it in... nearly made it to the pool with my glasses on (usual error).... showered in ? the male showers.... 

Into the pool, now I find lane swimming awkward anyway, what is the system?! & I didn't want to get it wrong in a different country.... politely stopping at each end incase someone else wanted to go... I got a few glares from this guy... I politely rearranged my goggles to give everyone a chance to go before me if they wanted... only colliding with one person when turning... kicking two others (who I apologised to in French) and hitting one young boy with a ball - from the nearby, heated volleyball game. Managed to breathe front crawl both left and right now!! Fourty minutes was finally up... to the changing rooms. A couple being all mushy with their children around my locker - trying to get to my locker when someone else tries to push in! Now I'm being all polite as its not my country but I was there first... it was the guy glaring at me in the pool... I'd turned away when I heard, "oh you don't speak French..." Oh, that could only be for me... I must have been ignoring him... He wanted to speak to me, we eventually realized in English 'he would like to speak to me after, in ten minutes...' - well sure enough, did he want to ask about my front crawl? (it was indeed looking a bit better) or was I being chatted up? Shower, changed and found the swimmer... we had a brief chat outside, he smelt alot of smoke and had that really handy string on your glasses going around your neck.. not quite the typical frenchman in a stripey shirt... language was obviously a major problem but I learned, he injured himself doing sport and is an artist... despite him offering me his number, and to write to me in England I said, well I am going back to England...  its not everyday you get chatted up by a french artist! 

Cycled home via the patisserie, baguette, almond croissant (looked pretty different, 'flat') and 'pudding' - a chocolatey, almondy, nutty thing! Courgette curry (with a number of types of courgette) inside a courgette.... I have too much food to eat before I leave!

#52 - Dimanche 3rd

un touriste

(a tourist) 

Up and on the 10.01 bus into town, changed to the metro to the CHU (Centre Hospitalier Universaire of Rennes) where I've been for two clinics. I took a lot of photographs, I couldn't believe how big it is and I love how all the buildings are so different. It was bizare seeing CHU in real life after using the website months ago to apply here!
 

Emergencies

Dieticians have the old 'chimney' style building...

Cardio-Pulmonary

Back onto the metro to see Rennes University number 2 (they have two unis here, called 'une' and 'deux'....) From here I cycled back (error free) into town and had a wander with my tourist map. I was all set to hop back onto the metro and see ride the metro to the other side of town and back - just to see.... but my ticket had fallen out of the hole in my jeans pocket.... I should sew that...!

I'm not sure why/how the light was doing this!

library (bibliothèque)

'make your own family'

? sundial?

France is asleep on Sunday mornings, I only saw a handful of people - the majority of whom were sightseers - all clutching our maps! I visited the cathedral, very grand - I think Christian was right, it took so long to build ?400 years it lacked a distinctive style... the other church was very imposing - huge gold sculptures.. it was almost frightening. The Abbey now houses a history and art exhibition, I didn't like the art.. but it was impressive how realistic it looked from so few brushstrokes. I was tired by this point and needed to get some bread before the shop shut.... nowhere looked open in town.... 

Too late to get a treat at the boulangerie, brown baguette today (very tasty). Had an hour or so chilling at home... cycled into town to Thabor park... this is where the French spend their Sundays - so many people, all sat on the grass with their families or (like me) reading, feet resting on the fountains, very peaceful - I lost a few hours there. Complicated public loos, well the first loos didn't have a main door - no door at all for men, (also no loos in France have loo seats.... bizarre) the second set of loos required buttons to be pressed to lock the door, I was too slow and so the light went off - absolute drama... no wonder the queue moved so slowly! Ice cream to keep me going... I found the other Abbey, the fantastic swimming pool and also the school where Drayfus's second trial was held. Cycled home and was getting ready for a run when the doorbell rang. Oh no. I ignored it... it rang again. 

swimming pool

Anne's mother had arrived, now she's lovely don't get me wrong - but it was a surprise... engaging my French brain suddenly.. I think went alright and we've sorted a plan for getting to the airport on Friday too. Run was good, I felt good on the way back, I stopped a lot on the way out with a stitch... maybe the ice cream?

While I remember, runners here wear some odd things. I've seen, on the hottest days men in full leg and arm lycra... today there were some odd colour combinations but other days however I've seen a lot of people in t-shirts & normal clothes - I've been mistaken as to whether they are running for something, such as a bus or actually running... !!

Tomato, basil, courgette pasta, deep-fried my courgette flower stuffed with cheese (BBC good food recommended it) - pretty nice! And I've just had some homemade crepes too....

#51 - Samedi 3rd

des legumes

 
(some vegetables)

 

 

 

 The weekend! Had another lazy morning and big breakfast... leaving for the market late as usual. I managed to just dodge the rain to get there. Arrived easily (no getting lost!). Horror struck as the 'tomato-man' was absent.. I wandered up and down a few times before I dared attempt some french and even then I didn't dare ask for everything I needed! Had a good laugh asking for a small packet of cherry tomatoes, "err des tomates..... petite pacquet?" - somehow (with me also pointing) he understood. The market is the second largest food market in France and its well known in Europe also, no wonder I'm so impressed. It is lovely to see the families working on the stalls, children hiding behind playing computer games, you can tell these vegetables are family businesses, grown nearby - Bretagne is the agricultural centre of France. I was very proud with my selection of veggies, taking the bus home, too scared of damaging my precious veggies. I even think I managed to fine a rare 'snozcumber' (reference to Rold Dahl's The BFG)... (middle, left)

 

 

Mozzarella, tomato and basil salad before heading back into town, bus, metro fine (amazing I know). And then the rain that had been coming and going all morning - all poured at once, great fun! Although... my coat isn't waterproof.... 

 

 

The Musee de Bretagne was lovely, very nicely laid-out, history section from Neolithic times to modern day, very interesting & I even understood vaguely the history of Bretagne, at one point it could have been British but Anne of Bretagne (& her daughter) married French Noble people and despite some rebel protests eventually it was concluded to be french. They have an exhibition on working clothes too - how the uniforms are used for identification and also protection... The photo shows health workers uniforms until 2010 (midwife, nurse, nurse's aide, civil servant?, radiology)... for economic reasons they now all wear white, with a coloured stripe. Its very smart in hospital and I imagine a little cooler being white...

 

Afred Dreyfus was on trial in Rennes, he was an innocent man... I need to research this more....

Everywhere in France post WW2, the french flag erasing the swastika

 

 

Bretagne is famous for agriculture, fishing, tourism, and music and technology apparently and they have their own language! Stopped by H&M on my way home...

Christian, Anne's friend was meeting me tonight to watch a 'show' in the town centre... I recieved this email:

"Well, my friend is not so well organized... Her car was too small to take off the two furnitures she bought ; I told her but she only beleive in herself, so.... To solve the problem, the owner of the shop proposed to deliver them after closing at 7 p.m. at her flat. But, knowing her, I am sure she will be still needing help... In compensation of this mishap, she propose to offer us a drink...   with a bottle or two I will bring with me ! I am still intending to pick you up at 7 p.m. at Anne's flat.
It seems to me Indiana Jones life is still sticking to my body... Discovering you soon.             Christian"

On a side note, the french people I have met, have been pretty honest about their friends... Anne may have said her daughter was getting fat, have warned me who, of her friends talk too much, her mother is a 'nice older person, not a bad one...' Nice and honest.

Anyway 'Indiana Jones' arrived, without my glasses from the balcony I could almost get the IJ vibe... Think indiana jones how Dad is James Bond... Off we set on the bikes, he didn't always give me much notice with turning. Odd hour or so, meeting this friend and her children, I nearly sat on her new granite worktop and then she forced some food upon me - still no idea what that was... I was welcomed into the divorcee club, should I be in a similar situation in 20years... what do you say to that? Although they all have good english, I'm not sure they understood me much, yes I spoke slowly Mum. I made them laugh acting out a bike drama last week, with the seat falling down though...

 

Indiana on the right of the stage taking photos

To the concert... very English feel, pouring with rain, persisting, sitting on soggy deckchairs... Christian kept trying to tell me things between the songs... Anne of Betagne's statue was destroyed from the square... I think to signify they were now a part of France, but it could be the other way around. Ten pm, time for tea... I had another galette, cheesy, walnuts and salade with some cidre... very tasty. It was a mussels restaurant so all around people had about 40 mussels each!! For pudding we shared this weird, quite literally, bread with caramel sauce... it tasted exactly as it sounds, sugary but 'c'est bizare'... not again in a rush. Chrisitan insisted I went to see the toilet before we left, it was something else....I did go... still not sure what was special about it.... honestly no idea... anyway! Quite sad actually, he has two children but they aren't in touch with him at all after the divorce... I was ready for home but Christian wanted to show me some of the town, including where the student nightlife is (thursday nights in France), where Anne's daughter works - yes in an old prison, and you can tell.... but its where people in fashion etc.. go on a saturday night. Indiana jone and I peering it was slightly odd. We saw the oldest house in Rennes, which is now a 'bar nuit', the bouncer wasn't wanting to chat, but Christian was... Finally got back on the bikes and tootled home, I was quite glad to get back! Very nice though he is, I'm not sure his comprehension of English was as good as perhaps his speaking in English... and he speaks alot in English - Anne had warned me correctly.

Bed

#50 - Vendredi 1st Aout

d'être en vie (to be alive) mourir (to die)

Long blog today, but I make no apologies for it, long day!

Nice leisurely breakfast again, tried to make a filter coffee too late with just a mug... lots of hot steam and a bit off a mess managed to make a decent cuppa coffee... which did endeavor to keep me awake all day! Staff meeting this morning, so physio, dieticians were present too. It was alright and then the interne took me under her wing for her final day. I'd seen the son of my patient already this morning so I wasn't optimistic... he was sicker and had been moved to a side room. He was, sadly, going to die...

We started the ward round, after some faffing with computers, a well patient ready for home. I managed to help him with his phone, I think he was complaining his mobile was only 25% charged after over an hour charging.... its amazing how much you can help people without saying very much at all... I mean obviously assuming I did help him correctly, but still its something to think about. He offered me an after eight so I can't have been too wrong... My patient passed away as we knew he would, myself and the two doctors were very sad. The interne actually said 'I want to cry.' That doesn't happen with every patient, I don't want that to seem that doctors don't usually care - its just that some patients, for some reason, touch a little deeper. 

We moved onto another patient, he wasn't rousable which was very unusual. Completely unconcious but yes breathing and with a pulse... scary, scary few minutes, particularly with death at the forefront of our minds. It was decided his medication last night had provoced this and he was left to sleep. While this was happening a nurse popped in, Madame had chest pain, left hand side... ECG showed no changes and so we could take a deep breath. She felt very nauseous and it was difficult listening to her, she's old and weak and even vomiting or coughing for these people is difficult, you do start to loose control of your body. 

Whilst this commotion was going on, the son of my patient came out to speak to the interne and myself. I didn't understand alot of the spoken conversation, the interne didn't say alot either but we listened. We turned ourselves towards him, we smiled and listened as he spoke, as he broken down and stuggled to hide the tears and I fetched some tissues, you don't need to speak sometimes to understand and respond to someone's emotions. When he came to say goodbye before leaving he shook both of our hands thanking us, it was lovely, although I hadn't contributed alot to his care, he had been nominated 'my patient', we'd struggled with the ECG together and I felt I had more of a connection to him that a lot of patients before. He had been getting better and it was so sad to see him struggle, lovely man. 

The well patient, leaving today, had been my patients roommate. It was simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming to hear him ask after my patient. They'd been through everything together for a few days, (they don't have curtains here, which I'm not entirely happy about) anyway, chatting together, the well patient doting on him, sharing after eight mints. They had been adorable. The son of my patient spoke to the well man which I just thought was beautiful.

We saw a patient who will turn 100 this year, she's eager to get home to her sister, she's over a hundred years old herself (and in better shape), they live together, sharing one bed. The patient is worrying that her sister won't eat without her at home. Amazing.

Spent some time with the lady folding face clothes, I managed to ask her some questions.. she responded to a question in English too.... I really do love the elderly. Finally time for lunch, we shared a bottle of cidre and some pizzas for the interne leaving... The conversation went onto (in french), "wearing the mask in the cinema" and "spike" - from that I knew it was Notting Hill! We also watched a video of the doctors husband sailing, hours after his baby was born he sailed to Brazil - I imagine you have to be a pretty decent sailor to go to Brazil from France... Back to the ward, homemade 'gateaux', tasty sponge.

I followed the other ward this afternoon. Speaking to a new patient I had to explain I was English - she told me I spoke well and didn't have much of an accent, fantastic, especially after the interne asking this morning if I understood more now... (in a kind of good rhetorical way!) And it got better... the two doctors on the other ward said (and I wrote it down to remember), "tu parle beaucoup mieux en francais".... I speak a lot better in French. It felt so good. I watched as they aspirated a possibly septic knee, interesting exudate and I asked some questions.

Home at half four, shorts on, nipped to the post office (french okay, paid the 'parfait' change). I managed to find the park tourist information had recommended - it was lovely, long archways made by huge trees, botanic gardens with every rose imaginable. All the plants have a coloured label dependent on their properties, red is medicinal... I fancied a shop but I didn't manage to find a white top (saw a nice shirt... but it seems ridiculous to buy a shirt in this heat!). I caught a bit of the big band performing in the central square (trumpets at times went to heights not quite necessary) but overall fantastic. 

Got some serious glares from a man, I did not exactly steal his seat...anyway. Shop: red wine, baguette, goats cheese. More quiche.

Very different day and not for all of the best reasons. Today's made me think and feel, I feel much happier with my French again, I can see how you can progress with it. I still love working with the elderly I find them endearing, interesting and wise but a lot of people fear becoming old. Loosing control... the people I meet don't often mention it, but doing memory tests and not knowing the day or the year must get to you at some point.... Being elderly, parts of you become old and don't function as well, you do loose control. I'm not sure I'll ever know why some patients leave more of an impression upon you... And as much as I told myself the son has already lost his mother, his father was over ninety - they had to have expected it... they were father and son. We, the assortment of medical staff, family, an English student are linked by this patient and by the ending, a moment which seems very real in a job which can otherwise often feel like a 'game', prescribing 'electronic' prescriptions....