Considering Out of State Universities

This may be late for many to consider, but for those that are seniors or have seniors in high school who may be considering attending out of state colleges need to read the following; this should not be avoided. When researching out-of-state colleges, check the residency requirements if you hope to obtain residency. Some states are changing their residency policies to avoid students claiming residency before their senior year of college. The example I will use is that of Florida, even if you obtain state resident status that is not a consideration in residency for colleges and universities. The driving factor is the student’s employment status. A student must have full time employment of thirty (30) hours per week or more. On the surface, this may seem insignificant; but in a college town where there are more students and local residents seeking employment it can become a devastating factor to families. The difference in cost (example) is $125 per credit for in-state students and $525 per credit for out-of-state students. At fifteen (15) hours per semester (average five classes) an in-state student will pay $3750.00 per year plus room and board and additional fees while the out-of-state student pays $15,750.00 per year plus room and board and additional fees. If your child does not attend school on a scholarship and does not qualify for income based grants, the student loan amount is capped at $7,500.00 per year; the remaining $20,000.00 plus becomes the responsibility of the parents. For $80,000.00 plus, you can set your child up in his or her own business and let them pay to attend college at a later date after their income reaches a stage in which it can be afforded effortlessly. Or you can send your child to an in-state school and pay $20,000.00 to 50,000.00 for the four to five years it will take for your child to graduate. If you believe the prices I quote are for one of Florida’s private schools, it is not, the quote is for a Florida public institution.

Universal Health Care

Currently there are many debates taking place around the country concerning the Obama Health Care Plan. Instead of applauding his efforts to ensure all Americans have basic health care coverage, the media and those with financial and political agendas incite the public into refusing a necessity for our nation. Other countries have accomplished achieving a universal health program; why can’t we obtain the same? Currently, I am in Berlin, Germany where having basic health care is required. Who pays for it, working people and businesses, yet I haven’t met any Germans, Americans or British citizens who live in the country complain about paying into the health care system. I complained, not because I disagreed with the system; my complaint evolved from the fact that as a temporary foreigner in the country, covered by two U.S. plans, who could not utilize the local insurance, I was required to pay into the system. The German government insurance plans are not cheap and the basic plan only covers a ward room in the hospital (a room with three or more roommates), the doctor on call upon entrance, routine health care with doctors within the plan and basic dental coverage. This basic plan cost approximately $650 per month. You can upgrade your plan to other levels for an increase in cost or you can supplement this coverage with a private insurance policy. In Germany, health care policies and taxes are expensive but I must admit, I appreciate the government wealth being distributed to the common people through the services and low cost transportation afforded everyone.

Why would anyone be comfortable paying into such an expensive program? You can see the reasons as you walk around the city; the general health of the people far exceeds that of Americans. The elderly and people using walkers, canes and those in wheelchairs are not hidden away inside their houses. They are out and about enjoying life like everyone else. People move around freely taking for granted that those around them are healthy therefore minimizing their risk of catching an illness from someone else. In the year I have spent in this country, I must admit that I only remember hearing someone cough in public once. Even as a teacher in the classroom, you seldom hear the children coughing. If the children had a slight fever or headache, they were kept home. The parents are quick to take the children to the doctor if they believe the child suffers from more than not wishing to remain at school for the day.

What about people collecting unemployment, you may ask. Everyone capable of contributing to the general welfare of the community is utilized. While collecting unemployment, the individual must work at an assigned job for one euro an hour until employment is found. This program allows people to gain employable skills that are valuable in the workplace. It also brings dignity to receiving assistance until one can better their situation. In addition, it instills the desire to vacate the unemployment roster as soon as possible. Who among us wants to earn a little money for employment when we are capable of earning much more.

Am I in favor of the universal health care; yes, I am. Would it decrease the amount of private health care policies sold by insurance companies? Yes it would; but consider for many, you will not find out that your private insurance plan will not cover your cost until you need the care. Wouldn't it be a blessing to know in advance that your medical needs are insured? Knowledge is much better than playing a deadly guessing game with your life or the life of a love one. In addition, the Medicare, Medicaid programs will no longer be necessary. Both programs can be inclusive in the universal health care program. Thus providing needed funding for the health care program.

Shimmering Laughter

My nephew died of a heart attack at the young age of 32. I traveled from Berlin to attend his funeral; but how and why he died is not the topic of this blog. The topic comes from something my father inadvertently taught us, if you look for something positive, you will find it, no matter the occasion. It is this gift that creates the story surrounding the funeral.

Before leaving Germany, I carefully planned my wardrobe for the week. For the funeral, I had chosen to wear a black skirt, matching top and a black/white alternating color jacket. In my haste to pack, I left the jacket in Berlin; this realization occurred to me while hanging my garments in the hotel closet. Evaluating the clothing contents I packed for the trip, I determined none of the others were appropriate for a burial. My comfort zone for wearing the skirt and top without a jacket was well below average but I quickly came to terms with my wardrobe. When my sister told me family members were going to the mall for new outfits, I decided to go shopping with the group. While shopping, I stumbled across a very nice jacket on sale for a hundred dollars at Macy’s. The jacket was black and beige with silver threads throughout. I knew the jacket would complement my skirt and top; therefore, I purchased the jacket, took it back to the hotel room and hemmed the sleeves. As far as my outfit was concerned, I was ready for the day.

At the funeral, I sat with the ladies that carried the flowers from the church. This is where the story takes a turn in the bend. The young lady who sat next to me wore blue jeans with a matching jean vest. She sat close enough for her leg to brush against mine. After her leg brushed against me, we both realized that the silver threads in the jacket were not threads at all but actually glitter. As quickly as the girl brushed the glitter from her clothing, more would drop on. She was like a glitter magnet. I almost laughed watching the girl try putting space between us. The situation would have been embarrassing if it had not been so funny. During the service, my nieces began to cry. I made the mistake of going to comfort them; everyone within two feet of me received the pleasure of going home with a glitter souvenir.

After leaving the gravesite, two of my sisters and I returned to the hotel to change clothing. We stopped at the reception desk; while talking to the receptionist, I dropped my keys. When I bent over to pick the keys off the floor, one of my sisters began laughing. We looked at her wondering what was so funny. She said, look down. Being gullible, I made the mistake of looking down. When I did, both my sisters began to laugh. Every time I looked down or bent in any direction, a glitter shower rained down in front of the reception desk. The glitter would fall off the same way you would expect rain to fall during a downpour.

When finished changing, we went back to the house of my sister who had buried her son. Everyone was so sad, but when the three of us walked in the door and looked at them, we burst into laughter. Everyone was sitting around with glitter all over them, on their shoes and clothing, scattered across their faces and in their hair. I had worked magic, even in that sullen time everyone found a reason to laugh. Need I say, when I returned to Germany, I cleaned the jacket, hung it in the closet and haven’t worn it since?