Dimanche, mars le 9me

So...the past week has been eventful to say the least. Aside from all the regular schoolwork, not to mention all the crazy snow, I edited that "To Do" list I wrote on the last post by FINALLY figuring out this train ticket thing. And that's saying something, because check out the components of buying a train ticket, as discovered by yours truly:

1) Log onto website, find the train you want
2) Attempt to order ticket
3) Get a message that your "financial establishment will not accept this transaction."
4) Grumble to yourself and try again
5) See step 3
6) Call your credit card company's "24 hour customer service line"
7) Speak to as many robots as you feel like, but never an actual person
8) Wake up the next morning, try again to order this ticket
9) See step 5
10) Call the 24-hour customer service line again, speak to several robots
11) Try several other departments, all of them robots
12) Wonder whether robots are taking over the world, finally track down the option "press 7 to speak to a representative"
13) Tell a minimum of three representatives that you are studying abroad this spring and that yes you ARE aware that you are purchasing from France
14) Get transferred to a different department. (repeat as needed)
15) Finally convince them to lift the fraud hold they put on your card for ordering things based overseas.
16) Order train ticket.

So you'll understand why I'm incredibly proud of myself for actually having this train ticket. Well, actually I just have a piece of paper that SAYS I have a train ticket, and then I have to actually pick the thing up in France, but you get the idea.

It's significantly easier to get a scholarship.

Yessir, it turns out that the time I spent filling out that application paid off, because I've been awarded 400 dollars to help fund my travels. Yay! Best letter my adviser has ever scotch-taped to her office door.

In non-F-word news, finals week is now one week (and a day) away. It'll start off bright and early with my 8:00 AM psych final on Monday, but the good news this time around is that I'll be done with all schoolwork and dining hall shifts on Wednesday. Bad news is that I've got two oral presentations this week, two exams (no, not finals, just the plain kind) and all sorts of other magnificent homework. Oh well, I'll just feel more accomplished once I'm done with it all, right?

I have to go to work here in less than half an hour, so I'm gonna go ahead and bid you all (3?) good day.

17 days.

Stay warm!

-G