Why England?

Jumping Out

I clearly remember the day I first read those words. I was twenty three, in Kolkata sitting in a WiFi café, hiding from the heat, catching up on emails. Then my father’s email appeared with a simple remark “glad you jumped out of you fishbowl.”  I looked at it over and over again and then it hit me. I was out of my fishbowl. I looked around the café filled with many faces, a plethora of tones. My glance drifted onto the street where cows mingled with cars and an elegant woman’s sari lifted the dust off the ground. I strive for the uncomfortableness of swimming in new waters and that is the drive for our adventures.  

Since that moment I have continued to jump out of my fishbowl and now pull along with me Gary and Alvin. So why did we choose to jump out of the safety and comfort of our home? During a pandemic no less? Why England?

 Questions frequently asked by friends and strangers alike. I often answered with a nonchalant “why not?” I attempt to wipe the smugness off my reply and explain further that it fits my motto in life. “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”-Mae West.  So why not live in another country, experiencing a similar yet different way of living and talking?

Nurses at work are especially intrigue as to why I left the higher wages, more autonomy, and a bigger home. And specifically how I arrived in Winchester.

Choosing England

After a year of research we chose England as our new home base. It was not our first choice. With Gary’s retirement in sight we looked at many options to fulfill our/my dream to live overseas. We considered military bases, embassies, contract positions and several locations. The main goal was to find a location that I could continue to work as a nurse.  As many of you know, I am Gary’s retirement plan (just joking). After narrowing it down in order of preference (New Zealand, England, and Australia) and after additional research we decided against New Zealand for one reason, our family back home. One emergency back home would deplete our savings. A last minute flight out of New Zealand is a pretty penny. England, next in line, ticked off many of the boxes and some we did not know existed.

Winchester chose us. The international nurse agency I worked with provided us three choices of cities to work/live in: London, Cambridge or Winchester. The agency, based out of London, guided me on my nurse application process, helped me prepare for my exams and assisted in finding me a job. Winchester was the most affordable; therefore it was our only realistic choice. A blessing in disguise since it is a marvelous city. 

The spring of 2019 we came to England and Winchester for the first time. As I mention to Gary, it felt like an episode of Twilight Zone. People were so kind and welcoming it felt awkward. We were not used to it but there was calmness in society. One of the main reasons I was motivated to move, even in the middle of a pandemic.

The stressors that have been lifted

Image being five years old in school in the middle of learning your letters, then stopped for a drill in which you must be silent and hide in the corner of the a dark classroom to protect yourself from a possible intruder. After staying as still as possible to protect your life, you then go back to learning your letters. For Alvin and many children this is part of their kindergarten education. Lockdown/active shooter drills are done at least quarterly along with fire and earthquake drills. Alvin was not prepared for this drill. Gary and I naively thought we would get some sort of notice letting us know prior to the first drill.  I laugh now thinking of about it. The drills have been around for over 15 years. The first drill affected Alvin hard, requiring us to go to the school and console him. In a recent study it showed active shooter drills increase depression, stress, anxiety for months.

Children from a young age in the USA are taught about fear and anxiety in a place that should be a safe haven. As a student from Marjory Stoneman High School stated, it was not a case of IF but WHEN it would happen next.

Lockdown, Lockdown. Lock the door.

Shut the lights off, Say no more.

Go behind the desk and hide.

Wait unit it;s safe inside.

Lockdown, Lockdown, it’s all done.

Now it’s time to have some fun!

Seen on a poster at Arthur D. Healey School, Somerville, Massachusetts. Sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

The true cost of Healthcare

The other layer that has been washed away is the cost of healthcare. In the United States we were one of the few fortunate enough to have incredible health care coverage through work but this is not just about us. Our family and people around us are affected by the high cost of health care coverage. How many people in the USA hold on to a job just because of the health care coverage? People here do not keep a job because they require coverage for their son’s asthma; they keep the job because it suits them.  An unforeseen illness or accident does not drain the family savings account.  In the USA few have the liberty to follow a dream job partly because you must first look at the health coverage it provides for your family. 

People here have an ease to them. I believe it has to do with their ability to choose a job that they want or love. Lorraine, a Canadian nurse I work with in Washington, once told me when you allow the artist to be artist, society smiles back at you. Having a “free health” care system, one which you pay into with taxes, allows people grow into who they are meant to be. I do know the argument “why should I pay the taxes for other people to stay home and not work” or be that artist. In my humble opinion, it is because health care is a human right. Not to mention the world is a bit sweeter when you are not forced to hold on to a job just for the health care coverage it may provided. It is our way of holding our community up, giving each other space to grow into whom we are meant to be.

Learning about Socialized Medicine

I also wanted to jump into socialized medicine. I wanted to experience it firsthand, not only as patient but as provider. Most of the site revolves around my experience in healthcare; therefore I will let you read more about this topic by strolling through the site. But I will say it has been nice seeing patients get treated for what they need and not necessarily what they want. I am no longer hunting for an admitting diagnosis that will be covered by Medicare or the insurance company. We are admitting because of the patients’ needs, even if it as simple as a social admission due to an elder living alone with increase falls. 

We hope to keep swimming in different waters and travel around the neighboring countries. On my bike ride home I am no longer seeing it as new. I have become accustomed to the whistle of the train and the brick lined homes. The land is becoming familiar and comfortable, as Bruce Cockburn sings “it’s my beat, in my new town.”

Soon it will be time to find a new bowl to swim in…