July 6th, 2009
Germany and I have a long history when it comes to cigarette smoke. Ever since my first visit to Germany — oh those many years ago — I have loved the many differences and unique characteristics of life in Europe as compared to the USA… except for one thing. Smoking.
For many years it was almost impossible for a non-smoker like me to avoid “Qualm” — clouds of cigarette smoke almost everywhere you went. Back in the 1970s and ’80s, just about the only non-smoking zones were on German trains in the “Nichtraucher” cars. (more…)
Categories: Daily life, Expat issues, History and culture, Medical matters |
Tags: cigarettes, Germany, health and fitness, Hitler, Hyde, laws and regulations, Nazis, smoking bans, tobacco | 1 Comment
November 10th, 2008
One of the more important items on the pre-departure checklist for expats or travelers headed to Germany concerns any prescription drugs they may require during an extended stay. Those who need certain medications can bring their own prescription drugs with them when they travel to Germany — in their carry-on or checked luggage. That’s not a problem. The hassles only begin when you want or need to “import” your own prescription drugs to Germany from the U.S. or some other country. I have some personal experience with the complications that can arise when you have your own medications sent to you in Germany by a friend, spouse, relative or anyone outside Germany. You may also want to do this, since your U.S. prescription plan may not cover you in Germany, but it is fraught with peril.
First, let’s talk about how you can avoid such complications and related hassles up front. (In other words, what I should have done, but didn’t.) Then I’ll tell you what happens if you don’t follow this advice! (more…)
Categories: Expat issues, Medical matters, Red tape and bureaucracy |
Tags: Apotheke, aspirin, Berlin, customs, doctors, drugs, expat, FedEx, Germany, Goethe, health insurance, laws, medical, medicine, pharmacy, prescriptions, red tape, regulations, shipping, Zoll | No Comments
October 30th, 2008
While I was living in Berlin for about ten months, I had cause to go to two German physicians — both women. Fortunately, my medical matters turned out to be minor, although my eye scare had me concerned for a while. Besides the Augenärztin (ophthalmologist), I also saw a general practitioner lady MD, to whom I was referred by an Apotheker when I had my U.S. prescription problem (a long story for later). Between the two doctors, I visited their offices over a dozen times over a period of months.
I could write a book about the entire German medical thing compared to the U.S., but the one thing I want to discuss now is Blutdruck. Not once in all my times at the doctor — not the first visit, in between, or the last — did either doctor ever measure my blood pressure. Not a single time. In the U.S., you can’t get out of a doctor’s office without this blood-pressure ritual. (more…)
Categories: History and culture, Medical matters |
Tags: Apotheke, Austria, Berlin, blood pressure, blutdruck, doctors, Germany, medical, pharmacy, physicians, prescriptions | 1 Comment
