Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Time to contact the "National Customer Service Manager" at the "Office of Field Operations"
Passport Services' Consular Lost and Stolen Passport Unit responded to my letter... sent me a "Dear Sir/Madam" packet of heartless regurgitation, a checklist, a DS-64, and another DS-11 after I wrote to them. It's clear that they didn't read my letter at all, and I'm rather aggravated by this entire experience. If I wanted someone to tell me the same thing about my passport being invalid once I reported it stolen, I would just call the hotline about it again - because they can't tell me, which this section doesn't want to do EITHER. I explained my extenuating circumstances very clearly - it turns out the operator did not put my passport into the lost/stolen database when I called, which is why it's still valid - I mentioned stopping by the office in person and verifying its validity in my very first entry.
Since they provided me with a DS-64, I can assume they did not "process" my "Lost or Stolen Passport" -- but now everything is in the air again, their customer service and communication skills are so damn horrific. Should I just not worry about it, and risk being told on February 18 that there's a problem with my passport because some imbecile that doesn't read letters possibly took the information I did provide for them (as a reference to look in their system) and put it in the system? Or should I go to them in person again? In which case, what can I do? It would be their fault for not reading my letter, and I wouldn't have time to re-apply either.
Since I didn't have to worry last time, maybe I shouldn't worry this time. I'm so pissed off that they are so ridiculous.
Damnit, CLASP unit.
Since they provided me with a DS-64, I can assume they did not "process" my "Lost or Stolen Passport" -- but now everything is in the air again, their customer service and communication skills are so damn horrific. Should I just not worry about it, and risk being told on February 18 that there's a problem with my passport because some imbecile that doesn't read letters possibly took the information I did provide for them (as a reference to look in their system) and put it in the system? Or should I go to them in person again? In which case, what can I do? It would be their fault for not reading my letter, and I wouldn't have time to re-apply either.
Since I didn't have to worry last time, maybe I shouldn't worry this time. I'm so pissed off that they are so ridiculous.
Damnit, CLASP unit.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Pre-trip anxiety.
It's really hard for me to register it all sometimes. It's early in the morning, and I have really bad anxiety about the trip. So many details to tend to. So much shock to deal with upon arrival. I'm trying to make things much easier for myself, but I just... it's hard. And likely to get worse for me the closer it gets to the flight.
The worst thing about it all is that this anxiety is legitimate. My life is going to change significantly for an extended period of time. Who wouldn't be anxious? There's no way in hell I'd change my mind about going. Not a chance - not even a consideration. It's going to happen. I actually wish the date could be here already.
And to be honest, I doubt I'll be homesick. It just makes my psyche so uncomfortable. Normally it's social situations that put me on edge, but I feel as though I won't make it the next month and a half without an anxiety/panic attack - and I don't even want to think about to potential depressions.
Lalalala, sunshine celery broccoliiii.
The results of my google search on the subject are quite sad, seeing how people really play into the medical aspects of it all. I don't want to do that. I just want to go to sleep, rest easy.
I don't expect to return to the States fluent in Mandarin - unlikely. There will be days, I'm sure, where I'm too afraid to speak to anyone. But I know I'm passionate about learning, and I will have a click while over there. One of many clicks. Where I won't be scared anymore - and if I don't like my environment, maybe I'll pursue another language, or another environment.
The worst thing about it all is that this anxiety is legitimate. My life is going to change significantly for an extended period of time. Who wouldn't be anxious? There's no way in hell I'd change my mind about going. Not a chance - not even a consideration. It's going to happen. I actually wish the date could be here already.
And to be honest, I doubt I'll be homesick. It just makes my psyche so uncomfortable. Normally it's social situations that put me on edge, but I feel as though I won't make it the next month and a half without an anxiety/panic attack - and I don't even want to think about to potential depressions.
Lalalala, sunshine celery broccoliiii.
The results of my google search on the subject are quite sad, seeing how people really play into the medical aspects of it all. I don't want to do that. I just want to go to sleep, rest easy.
I don't expect to return to the States fluent in Mandarin - unlikely. There will be days, I'm sure, where I'm too afraid to speak to anyone. But I know I'm passionate about learning, and I will have a click while over there. One of many clicks. Where I won't be scared anymore - and if I don't like my environment, maybe I'll pursue another language, or another environment.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Places to visit while abroad. :)
Yup - I'm still awake! But I've been doing research to ease my linguistically-battered mind... and I've found some awesome places I would love to visit. :)
Sānxīngduī (三星堆) - The Sanxingdui Museum is near an archaeological site that dates to the Neolithic, Shang and Zhou periods. In 1988 this site was declared a National Key Cultural Relics Protected Unit, due to its scope, the wealth of its contents, and the rarity and precious nature of its excavated objects.
Sānxīngduī (三星堆) - The Sanxingdui Museum is near an archaeological site that dates to the Neolithic, Shang and Zhou periods. In 1988 this site was declared a National Key Cultural Relics Protected Unit, due to its scope, the wealth of its contents, and the rarity and precious nature of its excavated objects.
3am, Mandarin, cultural anthropology, and privilege.
I understand it's 3-something am. And I'm awake, cooking, of all things. But sometimes I wear my brain out with this studying - it's about equal to frayed pantyhose as far as durability right now. I almost feels like it's finals again. Either way, I sat down today and organized all 1000 of my Mandarin flash cards... by family structures, numbers, time measurement, food, body parts, key phrases, and the like. I also made a pile of cards for the objects I can find in my house, and went through all three floors taping them to their correspondents. But by the time I finished, I didn't even feel like making the effort of drilling myself anymore... so this is definitely a long-term method. I may end up drawing up a study guide for myself - what topics I need to focus on when, based upon level of importance.
It's very much like freelisting, but I couldn't name or describe my own words - I was given them. Still, it's quite the exercise. Not just as someone eager to prepare themselves almost single-handedly for acquiring another language abroad, but as an anthropologist.
I haven't really stopped to actually describe my feelings for anthropology - and I do mean cultural anthropology, though within the category, everyone has started dropping the specifics. To me, it's more than academic, more than study, more than theory. It's not a religion, but it's a way, it's a tao - 道. It's meant to benefit more than the elite Academics that are perched upon their bookshelves, playing mental chess with theories on human beings and the oft-distant experiences they cannot always have for themselves. I don't want to be distant, I don't want to be an elite observer. I've lived so long in that way. I'll have to elaborate more later.
I know I've been taught to misunderstand just how valuable my education is, just how different it actually makes us from so many other people - I'm trying so hard to fill the gaps and unveil the numerous privileges I receive. But now, school isn't a true want, or even a need for me anymore. It's just an excuse to do what I love. And it's co-signed.
It's very much like freelisting, but I couldn't name or describe my own words - I was given them. Still, it's quite the exercise. Not just as someone eager to prepare themselves almost single-handedly for acquiring another language abroad, but as an anthropologist.
I haven't really stopped to actually describe my feelings for anthropology - and I do mean cultural anthropology, though within the category, everyone has started dropping the specifics. To me, it's more than academic, more than study, more than theory. It's not a religion, but it's a way, it's a tao - 道. It's meant to benefit more than the elite Academics that are perched upon their bookshelves, playing mental chess with theories on human beings and the oft-distant experiences they cannot always have for themselves. I don't want to be distant, I don't want to be an elite observer. I've lived so long in that way. I'll have to elaborate more later.
I know I've been taught to misunderstand just how valuable my education is, just how different it actually makes us from so many other people - I'm trying so hard to fill the gaps and unveil the numerous privileges I receive. But now, school isn't a true want, or even a need for me anymore. It's just an excuse to do what I love. And it's co-signed.
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