"Hooray for Our Side!"
In my first brush with the Canadian Health Care system, I called an optometrist today to get an appointment, letting him know that I was referreed by the opthamology department at Montreal General Hospital. Other than letting out a whoop "Hooray for our side!" he seemed nice enough. I had no idea what he meant by "Hooray for our side!"

So, we chatted for a while, and I said I was glad that he was just a few blocks from McGill, since that is where I work. "Hooray for our side!" Umm, yeah -- what department you ask? Physics. No, I'm not originally from Montreal, I'm from California. "Hooray for our side!"

Ah. I think I get it. The gentleman speaks English and perhaps feels a little embattled, and is pleased to interact with other native English speakers -- declaring a little victory at each opportunity.

I'm a little nervous at having my eyes worked on in this way. What if I mention how much I love the wine and cheese, as well as the genuinely friendly people here, and that I'm looking forward to speaking French fluently?

On the other hand, I read this weekend that the Anglophone health-care services are being cut back in Quebec City -- the second largest city in the province, which is something like 95% Francophone. So, perhaps it's not so surprising that Anglophone health care providers feel embattled.


- posted by Unknown @ 3/30/2004 12:12:00 PM