Yesterday, I decided to access all of the public sector services in this town, all on the same day. What a frustrating day. Absolutely nothing was done. I would have done better just staying at home and lounging and playing my Lexulous.
I started by going to the Unemployment office, that is literally right outside our bedroom window. I've become well acquainted with the staff and facility, this being the 4th or 5th time I've been there. I grab a number, put on my iPod headphones and wait. I notice an attractive girl come in after me and grab a number then wait. It was my turn next, #5 was about to be called. The next available rep sees the attractive girl, walks up to her, asks her something in Swedish (probably "Are you next?"), she says yes then follows him to his desk. I watch him push the button that changes the number...beep...5...beep....6. I stand up and think, WTF, he didn't even check if #5 was around! So I get up and approach him and the girl at his desk and stand there looking at him, furious. He finally looks up at me and I say, "I'm #5." All he says is, "#5...oh.." The girl doesn't budge, he doesn't ask her to wait until I am served, the two of them continue on their merry business! Isn't socialism all about equality, fairness, justice, everybody gets a fair turn?What the hell is going on? I had already been waiting awhile and I wanted to get to the hospital before they closed. I was upset. It was finally my turn. He doesn't apologize. I ask for a job coach. He retrieves the rep that helped me the day before and he explains how it's best for me to start that service after I return from my holiday. He gives me some info on where I can find a language partner and some trite "How to find a job" booklet. At least it was in English.
Next, the hospital clinic. It was timely. We had just gotten our health insurance personnummers in the mail that day and I was so happy to be touting that at the clinic where they wouldn't charge me an arm and a leg for seeing a doctor because I didn't have a Swedish ID. I was almost out of one of my meds and needed to see an MD to refill it. I was dreading the cost of the meds though, as it seemed there were no generics. So I walk in and the mean lady that was there last time asks if I have an appt. I say No. She says I have to call this number to make an appt. They will then call me back to confirm an appt time. She tells me to call at 8am the next day. I ask if I can at least see a nurse today. No. She hands me the flyer (in Swedish of course) and I leave. [I have to note that I went home later and called the appt hotline to make an appt. All the automated messages were in Swedish. No English option. So I press "1," assuming that is the most popular and common choice. I finally get to a live operator who asks where I live. I tell her then she quickly transfers me to more automated messages! I redialed many times in an effort to find her again to explain my situation but to no avail. They have 1.5 hr lunch breaks and it was noon but she seemed very uncomfy with her English. So it was this vicious cycle like an episode of The Twilight Zone. I can either dial fruitlessly on this Swedish automated hotline or show up at the clinic, get denied, then referred to the hotline again!]
Next, the public dentist next door. I needed dental treatment bad. I walk in, wait for the lady to finish her phone call, then ask if I can make an appt to see a dentist. Then she says, No, the wait list is 6 mos-1 year to see a dentist here. WWWWTTTTFFFF!!!??? She reiterates that then I ask if I can be placed on the wait list and she says OK. I ask if there's a list of private dentists and she gives me that. People must have rotting teeth here. Come to think of it, the Swedes definitely look like their pearly whites are more pearly yellows and blacks. That is one huge downfall of socialism in a small town. EVERYONE goes to ONE place for ONE thing. Hence, you wait forever for your turn and you have limited options. I was starting to miss capitalism really badly.
Next, the polisen next door. I wanted a Swedish ID card so I didn't have to carry around my passport and a crumpled up piece of paper all the time. I give the receptionist my crumpled up piece of paper. She checks in her computer. She tells me, "You are not a Swedish member." I ask what does that mean because there is my personnummer right there. I ask isn't that the same thing. She explains it just means I reside in Karlshamn. She is obviously self conscious about her English and really just wanted me to leave. She keeps saying, "You are not a Swedish member." I ask how I can become one. She says I have to go to immigration in Karlskrona. Then I ask about whether they have bike auctions here (as dkf's boss had mentioned this is the best place to get cheap bikes). The lady next to her begrudgingly says that is also in Karlskrona and it's advertised in the newspaper every month.
It was turning out to be one of those days. It's a myth. Socialism doesn't take care of their people. It makes them wait in long long lines, divvies them services that are sub-par provided by people with little incentive to improve or innovate. I can see it in the workers' faces, they hate their jobs, they aren't even polite anymore, they're placated and bored. And there's also a sense of xenophobia here. I don't think I am being self-conscious or paranoid. I look different and they treat me differently. Reverse racism compared with my experience in China, although I was also treated differently because I wasn't a true Chinese, I was an American Chinese with poor Mandarin who was easily duped.
What a frustrating day. I hate it when I get absolutely nothing done and spend all day doing it. I sorta knew the utopian dream of socialism was going to turn out this way. I heard this about Canada too. Perhaps this is one way to trick people into coming here. I know it gets better when I adjust to the system and way of life here. But growing up in a capitalistic society, where you have tons of OPTIONS, things get done pretty quickly, people have incentive to do even better their competitors, things are just...better. Perhaps the US isn't so bad.
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