| integrating and blogging Here, we have a very comprehensive, universal payer, health-care and prescription medication system. I suppose what I am wanting to know is if that exists in Uruguay. From your response, I gather I'd have to be a wage earner to qualify. I've seen ads either through links here or on the cyber pages of El País and Espectador that make it appear that one can buy insurance coverage. I suppose I'll have to dig deeper to see exactly what sorts of things those insurances might cover. English is the language we used at home and we learned French in school although I had a set of great grandparents that were francophone who were long gone before I came along. I didn't really move to a part of Canada where French is the predominant language until I was in my late twenties. The official languages act means that both languages are posted for most services so I had to make a decided effort to understand the French rather than relying on my English. I did an immersion programme, then an undergraduate degree in French linguistics and then did a certificate to teach it. I started Spanish back in the early 70s, the first time I went off to university. Like French, its a Latin language so there are a lot of similarities in grammar and vocabulary. I can read it easily enough but don't get much opportunity to practise it. There are plenty of Latinos in Montréal, but out of courtesy, I wouldn't encourage them to speak to me in Spanish as they're busy trying to perfect their French and learn some English. Although, re-learning Spanish is one of the motivations for going to Uruguay. I enjoy the experience of using a different language and all that it implies. However, I'm not sure that I want to return to school to become a Spanish teacher. In fact, I am at early retirement age. Hopefully young enough still to make a painless transition if I decide to relocate, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, and still lucid enough to enjoy it. I love my country, but after awhile, 5 months of winter every year has started to lose its charm, especially living in the city; it's great in the country, though. I lived a year in Quebec City which is a lot more laid back than Montreal and really enjoyed life there. I'm hoping Montevideo will be like that. Well, I won't know 'til I go and check it out, as they say. |
