F*cking annoyed

Just received a reply on my enquiry to the uni that I'm going. The term will start in April and yet I haven't received anything except one accomodation contract. I thought I'm an ultimate procrastinator. My friends, some of whom are Japanese, even scolded me why I still haven't bought my airticket yet. Come on without knowing when I have to start the semester and when it'll end, how am I supposed to book my ticket? I've been asking this rude Japanese lady to give me the academic calendar for at least 3 times but she just ignored. What she said is the orientation will be on April 5th and I can get my room from April 2nd. My initial plan was to go to Japan on March 6th with other SMU students going to another Japanese University. So I asked the person in charge from that Uni (who is of course Japanese on whom people's impression is the kindest, most polite, helpful and hospitable people on the world) when I could receive my Certificate of eligibility (COE) so that I can apply for visa. She replied me they can send me only by the first week of March cos Japan Immigration is busy at this moment. So, I told myself that it's fine and I'd postpone my trip, without questioning her again why my other SMU friends going to another Japanese University, which would start their semester at the same time as mine, received the same COE from that so-called super duper busy Japan Immigration.

So I cancelled all my bookings and decided to leave one week later. According to her email, I'd receive COE on 1st week so my new plan was to leave by the end of 2nd week, leaving 1 week to get visa from the Embassy of Japan despite knowing that Japan is famous for its JIT systems especially in its manufacturing industry. Oh by the way, when I applied for Singapore visa in Myanmar, it took me less than 24 hrs.

Anyway, believing that my second plan would be fine cos I'm leaving on 13th/14th of March and returning on 15th of August cos SMU will open on 20+ of Aug. So before making my final purchase, I emailed to that one and only contact person that we know. Oh when I write letters, especially official ones, I always try to write in a polite way not to sound like I'm giving burdens on you or it's your fault although it may be. Guess what she replied me. "You are trying to enter the country because of your private reason, so there is no guarantee that we get the document by the week of 19." Hey are you really a Japanese who can't help saying sorry to others even when they don't do something wrong on the latter? Can anyone lend me a magnifier to look for 'sorry' in her email cos my IBM laptop cannot find that word though I zoomed in the letter? Because, whenever I talked to my Japanese buddy, he said 'sorry' at least once in almost every hour. Sometimes I stepped on his toes accidentally but he said sorry though I'm the one who should say. Perhaps he's sorry for making me to say sorry to him. That's why he says sorry whenever I'm supposed to say sorrry. Btw, if you wanna know more about Japanese 'sorry' stories, read last Saturday's Strait Times. Japanese like to blame on themselves and say sorry.

With that mindset, I kept on reading her email. One reason by her regarding while the COE will be late says, "It is said that it should take about one or three months to get the document. As you imagine, they[immigration] are extremely busy." Ok, fine! It's the immigration's fault huh? After 10 minutes, my friend going to the other uni told me on msn that he applied for Japan visa yesterday. WTF, it means he received his COE since last week. Come on if the immigration is that busy, why they issue COE to other students? Some more their school has 50% of int'l students and yours has less than 10%. Ok...I learnt a good lesson. Next time if I'm slacking, I should point the finger to the government or the third party.

Oh well, talking about her tone, she might not have learnt how to write a refusal letter we learnt at SMU. Giving her the benefits of the doubt, I ignored her rude tone and looked at the contents. I don't mind if she said due to immigration policy the letter couldn't be sent to you in time for you to leave on March 14th. But no guarantee before 19th! WTF!!! Not before 19th! Then how am I supposed to apply for visa which may take a week. Doesn't she know it's pretty recommended to reach the country one to two week before the school starts in order for the foreigners to adjust the culture and get necessary things like student's pass, phone, banking, etc? Perhaps she has never been studied abroad and not aware of such thing although working at the International Relations office at so-called one of the top 6 universities in Tokyo.

Anyway, my first impression of that university is really really bad now!