Blog Post 2

Cultural confrontation was something I thought that I would not experience in the U.K. I felt that I was open-minded enough that I would not have this. However, I still experienced cultural confrontation that I did not expect despite my mentality. 

I became ill with a sinus infection, and I was not getting better, so I started to try accessing the medical center on campus. This was different from the Wellness Center at Rollins as the health center on my campus was run through the National Health Service (NHS), the government’s healthcare system. It took me a while to make an appointment as I was not registered with the NHS. Throughout the entire process, I was helped every step of the way by medical staff.  

I am used to a particular system back home in the U.S., but I learned to adapt to a situation I thought I would never see myself in. The NHS staff took detailed notes of my medical history and helped me understand the medical system in the U.K., with much reassurance. They even went further than the usual care by registering me with the NHS. This makes future appointments effortless, and every service and medication is free. When they handed me my medication from the pharmacy, I stared at them with wonder and confusion that I did not have to pay. It was a relief that I would not have to pay outrageous balances without insurance. Never would I have seen myself in this situation, but when I did, it changed many preconceived notions that I did not know I had until now this experience. This cultural confrontation helped me in more ways than one, and I am grateful for my experience at the end of the day.