Flip-flops and shorts

It seems that the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP) took the strange decision of prohibiting (or advising against) the use of flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts in the campus. For me, who studied and lived abroad, this decision is just stupid, and makes no sense. In the US, even law firms, one of the most traditional places I know, have a “causal” dress code and flip-flops are accepted in all Ivy-league universities and used by both teachers and students.
The use of flip-flops does not affect your ability to teach, work or learn nor shows lake of consideration for the university or your students/teachers. The UCP board is free to prohibit whatever they want as it is a private university attended only by those wishing to, but it is not the best way to increase the number of foreign students and researchers.
This decision just show how in Portugal, the way you dress is still soooooooo important…something I have only seen in “less developed” countries. This way, this country will never move on.

B -day approching

My birthday is approaching and this year I would like to spend it way from her, to have some time off from daily life, just me and P. But money is tight, the future is not very promising, and holidays are just around the corner, so I will stay here. It can be that next year some extra money will be available for a short break.

Co-payment of medical care

Again, either the Government is announcing its intentions to later on decide differently (as it seems to be the case for the increase in the revenues tax, that probably will only apply to work revenue, pensions and rents), or those taking decisions do not have any idea of what they are doing (probably true). For instances, a cancer patient or a person doing dialysis could easily pay €200/month of co-payment for medical treatment (unless it would only apply to medical appointments and not to exams/treatments). Even with a good salary, it would be difficult to pay it…even more for those making €500/600 per month…and cancer can get anyone, even young and healthy persons.

Once more I think that co-payments based on the taxable revenue are completely unfair. How does not know several persons who are tax exempted and then have “other” sources of revenue?

Graduation

P “graduated” from kindergarten :).
I am really proud, especially of all the obstacles and difficulties overcome. Also, I must find a new millstone to look for, as the first one has been reached.

Private school versus a second kid

Yes, I would have loved to be a mother again. Then we did not have money for a second child, now I can’t (side effects of the cancer treatments) and I have come to terms with that (better than P, which asks for a sister every day of the week).

However, even if it was still possible, I didn’t know if that would be an option. Money is not tight but a second child would require a lot of changes in our life: a bigger house, moving P to a public school, no holidays abroad, etc..

Balancing everything, I prefer to have a single child and to can afford to give a good education than to have two and to have to stick with public schools. I attended both systems and I am fully aware of the differences, it is not just the average quality of the teachers (which is huge), it is more the way kids are seen/treated on both systems.

Even if the public schools in our neighborhood are among the best in the country, I went there and I am not happy with them and what is happening there. Comparing with the school attended by P (the number of students and school size are similar), it feels like a different world. Moreover, P attended a public school in Bxl and I was not happy with it, not because of the teacher, an amazing person, but due to the after school care. If/when I can no longer afford a private school, I think I will be the most annoying parent the school director have ever seen :)