My food compared to Americans

In my household food is a big deal. We are a family that likes to eat which can be bad at times.I don't really know if there are any differences in what we eat compared to "americans" because I feel like we all generally eat the same thing. In my house we use, seasionings such as adobo and sazon which gives the food extra favor and spice. As a hispanic family we usually have our rice,beans,and a type of meat.But other than that we usually try and have different meals so that we don't get tired of the "typical" rice beans and meat. My mom will make spegetti and chicken parmagen one night,maybe tacos another and so on to just mix things up a bit. Sometimes because of my softball or volleyball schedule we might eat out but its generally the same stuff my mom would cook at home.We usually don't eat fast food such as Mc Donalds or Burger King but more resturant food such as applebess and what not. When my mom cooks at home she makes food for herself,my dad and sister because I am a very picky eater. I don't eat seafood so when they have fish or shrimp my mom usually makes me something different such as steak which is really kind of her. I feel like the "American" way of food is more of on the go and eat whatever as long as there is a budget.Mc Donalds is your typical fast food restuarant that is known to be all over the country. Many americans eat it such as families that can not afford a good meal so would have to settle for dollar menu. As for high class rich americans I think they prefer to have a nice wealthy resturant that will serve them. There are many different places and foods that "americans" eat at but I think Mc Donalds is the main place.

Draft 1: My Refrigerator

-milk
-orange juice
-grape juice
-apple juice
-water
-iced tea
-eggs
-cold cuts (salami,ham,cheese,turkey etc.)
-sour cream
-butter
-capri sun
-pineapples
-apples
-oranges
-gatorade
-salad
-potatoes
-lemon
-garlic
-onion
-coffee
-farina(wheat cereal)
-mustard
-balsamic vinegar
-parmesan cheese
-hot sauce
-jelly
-A1 steak sauce
-BBQ sauce
-mayonnaise
-sparkling cider
-ketchup
-spaghetti sauce
I am not really sure what this food can possibly relate to. I don't see anything that can show my culture. What I do see is many items that people might have in their own refrigerator. Such as milk,eggs,cheese, ketchup etc.

Draft of Health care...

Comparative Analysis Question...mixed with Canada and France

After all that has been done in the past few weeks on health care, I can say that I am surprised at what I have learned. It amazes me how different the United States is from different places. Even more specific. How different we are with health care. Here in the United States many people have health insurance just as many without. Some people have to pay co-payments but others generally don't have to pay a co-pay. Like my family we have GHI. So we pay co-payments to the doctors. We have GHI because both of my parents work for the city and the only choices were GHI and HIP. My mother chose GHI which is a private doctor. My parents don't know a lot of information about GHI which worried me. I began to think the worst about our health care and what would happen if one of my family members needed something major. Growing up and till this day my parents had to pay co-payments when going to the doctor or a specialist. For my physician the co-pay is $15 but for a specialist such as my dermatologist it is $20. Prices at my dermatologist can range depending what treatments and if GHI will cover it.

Recently, I had to make a trip to the emergency room due to a thermometer breaking in chemistry class and being exposed to mercury. Right away they sent me into an ambulance. Felix warned me and told me to take a cab because the bill for the ambulance would be high but I had no choice according to them. I along with my parents, was surprised when bill arrived. The bill was a few hundred dollars for a ride that was only 5 minutes because Beth Israel is right next to school. My parents were going to pay off the whole thing when they stopped and sent the bill back to see how much GHI will cover. We are now waiting on the insurance company to see how much they will pay. I feel as if the bill is going to come back the same amount with a letter saying they are not going to cover it. It amazes me how fast they will deny anything to save money. I am wondering if they will deny me. We still await the bill and i have a feeling it will take a long time. I really hope that our health insurance will cover the cost because money is on the brink.

After going through an experience like that I wish the United States health care system were similar to Canada. In Canada health care is free. Any visit to the doctor or hospital is all covered. This made me wonder why cant we have the same? So far everything about Canada that I have heard and read about makes me wonder should the US follow in their footsteps? Hearing everything that Canada has to offer has many people that I spoke too said that the US should have free health care. But is that really the answer to all life's problems.

A similar place to Canada that has free health care also is Denmark. Denmark is known to have free health care but taxes to be higher depending on how much you make. When the Danish people came to talk with us they explained that a teenager who makes $6,000 a year doesn't have to pay taxes. Here in the US $6,000 is nothing. The danish people said that they rather pay higher taxes than have to pay for health care like we do.

Lastly the movie Sicko was an eye opener. It made me think a lot about this country and how there are many differences from other places. Watching this movie everyone started to take everything that was said to the heart and say how they wanted to move to Canada or France because of the benefits. I must say I was a victim and agreed with Lauren to move anywhere so that we wont have to stay here. But was everything that was said in the movie about France and Canada true? There were many positives said in the movie about France such as free health care even home visits from a doctor. In France it was said that the government sends help for mothers who need it for free. They even will cook dinner and do your laundry. I think that was were I was sold. I really liked that you could receive help from the government for those who need it. I don't think that the US should have that because people who take advantage of it. What comes to mind is the octomom.People will start having kids just for the help. In conclusion, in the past few weeks I have learned a lot. I am torn between deciding whether the US should stay the same or have free health care for all. I would love for everyone to get the care they need but also everything cant be free. I am glad that this unit has showed me what we have in the US compared to what other countries have. It was really an eye opener and made me wonder about what else is out there.

Draft 2: Healthcare

Health care in the United States is "the best". Not so much. My parents both work for the city so the only choices were GHI and HIP. My mother chose GHI which is a private doctor. My parents don't know a lot of information about GHI which worried me. I began to think the worst about our health care and what would happen if one of my family members needed something major. Growing up and till this day my parents had to pay co-payments when going to the doctor or a specialist. For my physician the co-pay is $15 but for a specialist such as my dermatologist it is $20. Prices at my dermatologist can range depending what treatments and if GHI will cover it.

Recently, I had to make a trip to the emergency room due to a thermometer breaking in chemistry class and being exposed to mercury. Right away they sent me into an ambulance. Felix warned me and told me to take a cab because the bill for the ambulance would be high but I had no choice according to them. I along with my parents, was surprised when bill arrived. The bill was a few hundred dollars for a ride that was only 5 minutes because Beth Israel is right next to school. My parents were going to pay off the whole thing when they stopped and sent the bill back to see how much GHI will cover. We are now waiting on the insurance company to see how much they will pay. I feel as if the bill is going to come back the same amount with a letter saying they are not going to cover it. It amazes me how fast they will deny anything to save money. I am wondering if they will deny me. We still await the bill and i have a feeling it will take a long time. I really hope that our health insurance will cover the cost because money is on the brink.

My healthcare...

To start off my parents didn't know much about our health insurance which did not help. We currently have GHI which is mostly for people who work for the city. Both my parent work for the city so it was GHI. Growing up my parents had to pay co-payments when going to the doctor or a specialist. For my doctor the co-pay is $15 but for a specialist such as my dermatologist it is $20. Prices at my dermatologist can range depending what treatments and if GHI will cover it. Recently, I had to make a trip to the emergency room due to a thermometer breaking in chemistry class and being exposed to mercury. Right away they sent me into an ambulance. Felix warned me and told me to take a cab because the bill for the ambulance would be high but I had no choice according to them. I along with my parents, was surprised when bill arrived. The bill was a few hundred dollars for a ride that was only 5 minutes because Beth Israel is right next to school. My parents were going to pay off the whole thing when they stopped and sent the bill back to see how much GHI will cover. We are now waiting on the insurance company to see how much they will pay. I feel as if the bill is going to come back the same amount with a letter saying they are not going to cover it. It amazes me how fast they will deny anything to save money. I am wondering if they will deny me.

**More to come when bill arrives.**

Poverty Q&A....DRAFT!

How many homeless shelters are there in New York City?

What can be done to try and elimate poverty or lower the amount of people in poverty?

Why do so many families depend on welfare instead of themselves?

Is poverty growing or decreasing?