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Immunization: why such a disenchantment?
We are currently experiencing a flu epidemic period in France. Almost every day or so we hear from the media about the influx of patients to emergency departments, the fact that hospitals are overloaded and the deaths of some very old patients due to the flu. Shooting window for effective immunization is over and most of the experts regret that many individuals have not asked for this immunization. Many explanatory hypotheses are formulated, but the mistrust of part of the population toward vaccines is part of it. Personally I support immunization against the most serious diseases. My children had all the mandatory immunizations as well as those recommended (just like…
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Mysterious gifts to charities: typically American?
It was almost by chance that I came across an article about incognito donations to charities in different areas in the United States. I first read this article on “Mystery Donor surprises Colorado Springs nonprofits with cash“. It’s about an anonymous donor who sent for the second year gift boxes filled with cash to local charities, and $50 gift cards for volunteers themselves. I did a search online and I came across several similar articles over past years: whether it’s $100 bills left in Salvation Army kettlesin Minnesota ($90000 since 2011), gold coins thrown in Salvation Army kettles in Gettysburg, Pa (but these donors have since revealed their identity), billssigned…
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Should immigrants and expatriates celebrate the holidays of their adopted country?
Anyone who has ever lived outside his home country has asked himself this question: should I celebrate the holidays of my adopted country? Even in this globalization era, the traditions and cultural festivals specific of each country and culture remain so important … We all hold to our home country culture. And there are several reasons for this: – Our home country is where we lived our first memories as children, this blessed time where everything seemed simple and possible 🙂 Necessarily, by re-celebrating the holidays of our home countries, we recall those happy memories. And it makes us feel happy! – By celebrating these culturally significant holidays for us,…
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Bonjour, a mandatory word in France
In France there is a word pronounced several dozen times a day: “Bonjour” (i.e. “Hello”). This preliminary form of politeness is so widespread that one can almost think that it is universal. But it is not. I read here and there articles written by non-French speaking natives (written especially by English speakers) about the importance of this word and how much its use in France is surprising. Personally I am so used to it that during my first trips outside France (especially to England and the United States) I could not imagine even asking my way without first saying hello. It took me a while to realize that this…
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The elf on the shelf: a new Christmas tradition to adopt?
The elf … what? Don you know this “new” Anglo-Saxon Christmas tradition? If not I suggest you have a look at it, because like many other traditions, I bet it will invade us sooner or later. First a little bit of background: this is a Santa’s elf-shaped doll which comes from the North Pole to help Santa establish his “naughty list” and “nice list”. Already, it makes me rise my eyebrows: I have always refused to blackmail Santa Claus to my children, so I don’t like the idea of sending them a spy elf! But let’s pass on this detail … The Elf comes from the North Pole to your…
