Passover Reviewed

Sometimes I don't think people realize what they have signed up for unless they are put to the test. I.e. in life guarding, you may think its just a job and watching people until that one injury or drowning actually happens. While its not the same as saving a life, I experienced a similar feeling when cooking the Passover meal for 60+ people for St. Andrews Jewish Society's passover seder.

Originally my co-officer and I planned a four course meal to be prepared in a few hours and have it done in time to sit down and enjoy the seder with everyone else. However, the preparation for the meal began at 2:30pm when the president of the society and i went to Tesco, the local grocery store, and picked up supplies. Arriving back at 3:00p.m. to the kitchen, the charoset and seder plates were prepared for the people. Then, the real cooking fun began. We had chicken, kugels, fruit platters, salad and soup still to prepare.

While our efforts progressed bit a bit a save came in when one of the committee members brought in a bit of help. I'll leave out his name, but his credentials include an ex-chef and ex-military. With his help and organization skills he helped run the kitchen with me to have everything ready by the time it needed to be served (with a short fire alarm going off while frying one of the items).

So, how was the seder? While cooking I was privileged to a run through by the other co-president. However, I only had chance to see the actual seder while popping in and out of the kitchen to serve. I apologize for not being able to give a walk through of the Scottish seder, but the Scottish kitchen is a fun place to work in.

Hopefully, next year, I'll get to not only cook but attend one and fill everybody in. Good reviews i hear. :)

The Jewish Burrito Bar

Friday was my first day of acting as one of the two Shabbat Officers for the Jewish Society here in St Andrews. Earlier, in March, my co-officer, Jillian, and I planned out a delicious chocolate dinner featuring the main dish as burritos. In planning the idea sounded great, but in practice it turned out to be quite a spectacular event. Starting at 4:30pm the shopping began. One hundred and twenty pounds ($200 U.S.) was spent on tortillas, vegetables, cheeses and more. Running later, 5:30p.m., we only had an hour and a half to cook. However, with the help of many friends and good innovative support the cooking was done within the block of time and the meal was ready. As a specialty dish we featured a chocolate mole sauce and a vegetarian Quorn chilli. While we expected 15 to 20 people, 30 showed. Everyone sat, talked, and enjoyed the meal. Praise came from all around the room as the food was served and an announcement was made that our society was the Developing JSoc of the Year. We had just recently swapped board members and this event was a perfect kick-off to the new JSoc year. On Tuesday I will be cooking a passover meal with the help of others. Look out for more info and a good story. An international seder here I come!

My Experience with the National Health Service

I've never had a view on national healt services until now. I just used to think the more people with health care the better. This past week my bottom retainer broke on one side of my lower set of teeth. Thinking I should have it taken out soon to prevent damage I called Scotland's NHS and explained the situation to a call in service line. The person receiving my call was happy to help. So, she forwarded me onto the next hotline. At the new hotline I was forwarded to the dental hotline. Then, kindly, I was told by the dental hotline that the E.R. and their doctors wouldn't want to opperate on orthodontists' work. The person than told me that to get it removed in Scotland I would need to wait 2-3 months to register with a dentist (two towns over, 30 minutes by bus), maybe longer, and then be recommended onto an orthodontist. Myabe next year I said to her and I told her i'd give the E.R. a try any way. Being notified that it could be taken out only by the time I was back in the USA, I decided to call my home orthodontist. He said to me to just fly him over here, or take it out with a pair of plyers. Well, I worked the plyers a while until I decided the E.R. was worth the trip. At the E.R. I was greeted by a big locked door and a buzzer. Upon buzzing I was asked if i had an appointment. I sai d no and proceeded to explain my issue inside. I was told that same as the person on the hotline had said. To have their orthodontist opperate on it I have to register with a dentist and be recommended. I went home feeling alright and eventually worked off the retainer with a bit of pain. After experiencing the national health services I have decided that private health care isn't a bad thing. Neither are national health services as long as private sectors exist. I would love for people to receive what they need, but I also would like people to continue to receive what they want. I wouldn't have minded an open, unlocked door. Also, my emergencies don't tend to have appointments.