Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Another question on overseas (sorry)

Hey everyone,

I know this may not the place to ask this and I hope you guys don't think I'm being self centred, I really don't mean to. Just wanted to ask a couple more questions about going on a gap year after school.

At the moment I'm trying to decide where I'd possibly like to go. I'm thinking about France, Argentina or maybe going to camp america. My friend is on a school exchange in Salta, Argentina and it looks like he's having an amazing time. I'm a huge football fan and he showed us a video of him at a football game and the atmosphere looks increadible. I'm not sure what the health system would be like over there though (thinking about my AS). I went to France when I was younger, staying in a French village and loved it aswell. I've looked into it a bit and you can do a 6-9 month language course as an international student while staying with a host family. It looks really cool. I guess my biggest fear would be getting sick over there with my AS. I know I've asked this question before, just trying to narrow down my options a bit.

Appreciate any help. Sorry if I sound a bit spoilt, I really hope I don't and I definately don't mean to.

Thanks for all the help you guys have given me over the past year or so, fully appreciate every single bit of advice and help you've given me!

Seb

no worries about posting this, i'm excited for you!

glad that you are pursuing your dreams! no advice i can give, just wanted to send my best, wish you luck, and say that i'm looking forward to living vicariously through you on your adventures!

Thanks Sue

Sounds great, you considering a gap year, Seb. Nothing spoilt about that. And kudos to you for considering it, since there's just "more to think about" when dealing with chronic illness, and traveling. New concept for me these days, as I think about future travels.

I am all for traveling, the best kind of "eye opener" out there. I traveled right after high school, and ended up in Vancouver, Canada, where I still am today, a bazillion years later. Traveling is like going to school without the homework. Doesn't necessarily get you the well-paying jobs right away - but...

France supposedly has a very good health care system, obviously it would be different for you to access it as an international visitor. I lived there for a year in my teens but did not pay attention to those sorts of things then. You do certainly get a tone of variety in France (food/cities/landscape/people). Is there any European blood in your immediate family, can you apply for an EU passport by chance? If I had an EU passport I would choose France, that way you have better health care access, and you could also dip into other EU countries to work some odd jobs if need be, to support the smaller trips (Spanish/English football games!).

If not, I would definitely go to Argentina, haven't been there myself but all those I know who have gone, have really enjoyed their experiences there - maybe "Dotyisle" (Tim) here could give some pointers on health care in Argentina (I believe he's american, but lives there now). Maybe 'pm' him and ask?

Once you get there, cost of living and taking classes in Argentina would surely be less expensive, compared to Europe in general.

Since you're Kiwi (thinking about the "Commonwealth" connection), you could also look at Canada... As a youth you could apply for a 1-year work visa, the medical system here is good. Vancouver on the west coast where I live is NOT freezing (similar climate to Auckland, but not as hot in summer) has great access to local snowboarding, amazing mountain biking, hiking, boating etc. No true second-language possibilities though, unforetunately, on the west coast. The football won't be anything like Argentina of course... but soccer is still big here, and is being played everywhere (city Men's leagues etc., indoor soccer in turfed hockey rinks - really fun!).
Good quality food (lots of good stuff for NSD, if you wanted to try that route again...), cheap to eat out.
Whistler (huge mountain/ski/board/bike mecca) could be the place to live/work for a while, only 1.5 hrs from Vancouver. You'd meet people from all over the world, whether you worked there in summer or winter. Downhill/XC Mountain biking is huge in summer.

When/if you start to look at University studies later, both Norway and Sweden offer free tuition, even for international students I hear (I'm swedish). Everybody speaks english, but you'll still get quite the cultural experience! Education is good, so is health care. Maybe something to consider for a year, in 2nd or 3rd year of Uni?

Just some thoughts.
/k

Wow thanks heaps! The good thing is that both my parents are british so I am pretty sure that I already have a European passport. I think it needs renewing but that shouldn't be too difficult. Yeah I think I am leaning towards France at the moment. I learnt it for 3 years during previous school years so if I put the effort in I think I would be reasonably well prepared if I go next year which is a bonus. I'm really keen on travelling while Im young and still feeling pretty good with my AS and then afterwards going to university.

Yeah do I hear that South America is alot cheaper than Europe. Would probably be able to see more and go to more football games in Argentina. I definately hope I can stay in both continents at some point in my life.

I have heard nothing but amazing things about Whistler! My friend went there on a holiday and said it was brilliant. I try to go up skiing every year (regretably stopped a little because my AS got bad) and I love it. Love the mountain, looks like it'd be great fun to work on a ski mountain during the winter aswell.

Wow thats amazing? So its free to go to university over there?!?

Thanks for the great message man!
Seb

The good news is that there is an awful lot happening that you could do, and your AS doesn't have to stop you. The bad news is that if you want to make sure you are covered for ongoing health treatment or emergency care it is going to be a lot more work to find out how to do it so it doesn't end up costing you an arm and a leg.

Health services will cost you, no matter where you go, so it isn't just about whether you can access them or whether they are good, its about how you pay for it. Ideally you shouldn't go away without really good health insurance that covers you for your whole gap year, but this will exclude "pre-existing" conditions unless you pay a lot extra. NZ does have some reciprocal arrangements with Australia and UK, which means that in those countries you can get emergency treatment (see the bit I have quoted below). Just having a british passport won't entitle you to UK health benefits (either in UK or getting treatment in EC countries) - you have to have an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) for that, and you only get that by being a UK "resident" - which is not same as being a citizen (i.e. passport holder). It can take up to 4 years for a "citizen" to become a "resident". That means your british passport won't give you any rights to free emergency health care in France or Spain.

I checked out the advice from NZ Govt. This is their main site

http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/thingsgowrong/illness.shtml

The following is the bit I found about The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement:

"Australian citizens and permanent residents of Australia temporarily visiting New Zealand are eligible under the Australian-New Zealand Reciprocal Health Agreement to access immediately necessary public hospital services, pharmaceuticals or maternity services in terms no less favourable than would apply to New Zealanders. Existing conditions are covered only where treatment is deemed to be necessary for the diagnosis, alleviation or care of the condition requiring immediately necessary treatment. In general terms, the Agreement is designed to cover emergency situations. The Agreement does not cover any treatment that a visitor travels specifically to the other country to receive.

Note: New Zealand has a similar Reciprocal Health Agreement with the United Kingdom."

Sorry, I had to race out for a meeting before I could really finish.

I think what you need to think about is how much you want to be able to get "ongoing care" and how much of your concern is about "urgent" care. The "urgent" stuff is what health insurance is for. The ongoing stuff you may well be able to deal with by sensible talking with your GP or rheumatologist before you go away. If you are going to be out of NZ for six months, then you should be able to get two x three month prescriptions to carry you through on anything you think you might need. You might also be able to keep in touch with either GP or rheumatologist by email for "what do I do now" queries. That way you won't have to worry so much about actually having to find a GP in another country.

Good luck with it all, its a great opportunity.

PS did you ever check out the lonelyplanet thorn tree forums? http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=38
There are boards there for travellers with disabilities, gap year, and for different countries. Some really good shared experiences and a great place to ask travel questions

Ive have traveled much of the world. About half of the time observatories or the like. The other half to experience different cultures and ways of life. I always stayed with the populous which enhanced the insight. Ive stayed for half a year or more in many places. I haven't traveled in the past year do to AS and its complications.

My take on it is; the health care you receive abroad will correlate to how deep your pockets are. Moreover the competence, structure and organization of the country you choose.