parsons, i'm not impressed - not at all

3 weeks of fucking around, trying to puzzle out why my tuition deposit wasn't received. my mother mucked around for hours on the phone with them, trying to get to the bottom of it. all along i was told the check hadn't been received. she had proof that it had. then they come around and say it's the acceptance form that hasn't been received. both were sent together. fine. this is all on top of the halfwit at the admissions office who told me the wrong semester start date, which resulted in me scrambling to change my return flight and leaving me with a fucked schedule and less $80. and then the 2nd person who neglected to tell me about the orientation week, which i missed completely. i struggle to register online by myself (students are supposed to register during orientation!), on the morning that i leave australia. i was up until after 2 with the kind of rude, not so helpful advisor, and i woke up at 7 to take care of the registration. it takes so long, i leave the house for the airport 10ish minutes late.

what ends up happening is, i arrive at the airport at 8:55 and my flight is at 9:30. i run around for a few minutes, trying to figure out where to go. i get on domestic to international connections where there are 2 counters open and both are taking FOREVER. there is one family checking in about 10 pieces of luggage. after a few minutes, i proactively ask the qantas woman wandering around if i can still check in my flight's at blabla. since she hadn't bothered to ask anyone what time their flight was. another guy pipes up and says he's also leaving at 9:30. the woman goes and arranges it, since luggage apparently closed at 9, with one of the agents. she had said i could get on the 9:30 and my baggage could follow on the 10. fine. the guy decides to cut ahead of me, AH CHIVALRY! and i am left waiting and stewing. looks like it's all systems go for that lovely guy, i see the woman on the phone and saying thanks so much. i go to the other woman who says i can't make the 9:30, i can take the 10 and still make the connection to lax but will have to go to the sales desk to get a new ticket issued. what choice do i have but to follow her instructions. the ticketing guy says nope, i can't make the connection with the 10 o'clock and would i like to book for another day. i was thisclose to bursting in tears, after all my airport fun earlier in the week. he must have taken stock of the look on my face and went about seeing if i could get on the melb-lax direct, which i could for $100. what is $100 when i've already thrown $500 away. 2008, i'm not impressed - not at all.