There are just certain days when....

......life sucks.

I know, life could be (for me) and is (for many others) worse than what I'm about to complain about, but you know me, always willing to let loose.

So I found out on Monday that I was missing a transcript with my application to go to Rome. What's interesting is that it is a transcript from a college I never (technically) attended. The application requested "all institutions you attended at the college level." That is only the college I'm at now. BUT, in high school I took part in a co-op with UConn and got college credit (with a UConn transcript). But I never attended UConn, I took a high school class with a high school teacher at my high school. I don't consider that attending UConn. AND what's more, once Temple accepted the transfer credits, shouldn't that transcription just become part of my other one? Ah well, I'll never understand.

ON TOP OF THAT!

I went to my academic advisor (the Honors program) to ask for a copy of the appropriate transcript to find out they never got it from CLA (College of Liberal Arts) general academic advising. So off I went to CLA advising. I asked one of the seven (COUNT THEM 7!) people working behind the desk if I could get a copy of my transcript. She handed me a form (without even saying what it was for or anything). I filled it out. One line said "blah, blah, blah, internal institutional fax to: blah, blah, Study Abroad#_______________ attention _________" I filled in the attention but asked the woman at the desk whether the "#_________" was for the fax number or for the number of transcripts. She said that they needed to fax number. Now, note, it was printed on the paper so they obviously get enough requests for it to do it automatically. Yet, they don't have the number? Also, I told her I did not know the fax number (who carries that around with them?) and she said "You can call them on the campus phone of that wall" (opposite end of the room). Then she just stared at me. I politely replied "I don't have the phone number, either." (I mean I hadn't expected to have to run around campus thrice just to get a fricking transcript for two classes that they accepted credit for). She huffed something and then sighed, 'I can give you their extension, give me a minute.' I replied with a slightly less that pleasant "thank you." She took out some book, huffed and sighed as she flipped every frickin page to get the number, gave me the extension (though she did not write it down or offer me a pen). I had to call and it was the shortest phone call I've ever had:

THEM: "International Studies how may I help you?"
ME: "I need the fax number."
THEM: "Sure, it's ---_---_----"
ME: "Thank you." click

I gave her back the form and she harumphed something and I left.

Now, if that was not bad enough, the form said it would take 1-2 days to complete the request. NOTE: I didn't want them to make the paper, copy it by hand, illuminate it, and frame it. I only wanted them to pull my file, pull out the piece of paper, put it into the fax machine, and send it over. There were seven people behind the desk, no one in line, and if their chairs had wheels, they wouldn't have even had to stand up. BUT! Somehow, it's still not there.

Fuck it all. I'm sitting on tenterhooks waiting on this (understandably less than in reality, but for right now) life-and-death decision and they can't even fax--not even personally deliver with flowers and a song--a piece of paper which is all that stands between me and the decision.

I hate bureaucracy!
JCM