I’ve never been good with family outings… In fact, quite the opposite. And the more relatives present, the worse it is for me. All that’s ever spoken of is comparing each other one way or another, or general gossip about this and that. For example:

• Did your son get into a selective school?
• How did they go in the HSC?
• Did you get into uni?
• When are you going to get married?
• Are you planning to have kids?
• You know such and such? Her kid is doing medicine and is buying them a new house. How lucky!

Really?

Anyway, had one of these sessions tonight while dining at a restaurant to celebrate the first month arrival of my new cousin… and honestly, it was one of the most boring family sessions I’ve ever had.

We were the first to get seated, so of course we got seated together as a family. Everyone started to arrive, and somehow, I had to be the one to move from my parents,where everyone stayed put. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to make this about me because it isn’t, but how was that fair (and we got there first)?

And secondly, I was seated next to a my aunt’s friends (who I didn’t know, doesn’t appear to speak English, and don’t have much in common with… oh and did I mention they were very fast with getting all the good food? Not that I had any appetite to eat at any rate), the kids (me = not good with kids… plus, they each had their own consoles and was tapping the night away), my aunt’s husband (who doesn’t usually speak to anyone, let alone to me. You don’t even know he’s there half the time!)… and my aunt (who was looking after her baby and her toddler).

In a nutshell, I was seated next to people who are eithe under 15, or over 35 year olds.

B-O-R-I-N-G?

So, I sat by myself the whole time, messaging Mr AG and Ag buddy, bored to tears. The worst part was, everyone can SEE how BORED I was (including my 10 year old cousin, who apparently “felt sorry for [you]“)!

Near the end, the cake came out, and guess what? I was kicked out of my seat because they wanted to take photos over where I was sitting. What the?

Anyway, I finally survived the boring-est event of the decade, got home, and just got depressed.

It’s pretty safe to say that I won’t be going to any other ones in the near future.

Spare me the pain.

/end rant.

It shouldn’t have been like this! Thinking about it makes my blood boil!!!

Mr AG and I had a relatively okay day (apart from the busybodies on the Ferris wheel) up until being seated for dinner. We went to Din Tai Fung, a restaurant we were very satisfied with the first time we went.

So, what happened?

Din Tai Fung is usually very busy, so when we arrived there, we had to wait for a table. The lady gave us the option to have our own table, or to share. Getting our own table would’ve been double the time, so we opt for sharing.

Never again!!!

Mr AG and I got seated next to a man and a woman. The lady seemed alright, but the man was seriously a super loudmouthed busybody… That man spoke about everyone and everything all through dinner, in CHINESE! Mr AG couldn’t understand, and I was left to hear all the things… It shouldn’t have, but that man really made my blood boil!

Some examples of what he was saying about me/us:

There she is, taking pictures of all the food.

They order so much food *rolls eyes* We order the least amount *blah blah blah*.

And what he was saying about everyone else:

Wow, look at those two, they’re having 2 soft drinks each.

They eat so much. Look at all they’ve ordered.

*Pretending to be posh, after a waitstaff covered his jacket with a protective bag* Whoever can make me happy will get my liking.

I mean, what the hell? What’s it to him?

Okay, this may sound a little hypocritical, because arguably, what’s it to me that he’s saying all these things… But I was there to enjoy my dinner, not listen to this loudmouth! It was seriously distracting, and irritating!

I was that close to losing it… actually, I did, I slammed something down, and “whispered” something to Mr AG in a not-so-subtle manner. I regretted it immediately after, because I think my response have given him the satisfaction of knowing that he sent me in a bout of fury.

But once again, I couldn’t help but let it get the better of me!

So, without criticising the restaurant at all in any way (because the waitstaff were impeccable), I possibly had the worst dinner out tonight! I lost my appetite completely, ate the minimal, and just wanted to be out of there. ASAP! I even cancelled my sorbet (which they were only so happy to comply) I was really looking forward to!

Anyway, here are some snaps of my uneventful dinner. I didn’t even have a good taste of the food to even comment on it (in case I don’t give it justice).

Lychee mint juice

Pork dumpling

Prawn pork shao mai

Vegetable pork jiaoze

Vegetarian jiaoze

Cha jiang noodles

(Ok, I know for a fact that I did not like this one! It was very bland…)

Hot sour soup

Phew, rant’s over… that made me feel better!

Anyway, after tonight’s experience, Mr AG and I decided not to go out to restaurants for a while… But I don’t know how long that’d last…

Din Tai Fung
644 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9264 6010

Map:

View Larger Map

So my friend Miss Fera and I started demonstrating/tutoring since March… we did some paper work to get paid since early April, and half expected tol receive some money in the following fortnight or so.

When it didn’t come, we went to the finance guy and asked why.

“Oh, it’s because you’re not in the system yet. Just fill out your tax file declaration, and then we will put you into the system, and hopefully, you will be paid in the next fortnight.” He told us.

So we took this form, and went away to fill in, and gave it back in a day or two.

“Thanks for that, I will enter this for you and you will be paid next pay period.”

So we played the waiting game, and comes the next pay period, excited. Upon checking, we realised that both of us received zilch… Curious, we went back to the finance guy and queried.

“So Miss Fera, you are registered into the system now, and you will be paid next pay period. It says here that you’re getting paid for one hour, am I right?” Finance guy said.

And here Miss Fera and I were thinking a few things:

1. We both have done 13 weeks’ of teaching… that can’t be just ONE hour, right?
2. Why would Miss Fera visit you so many times, Mr finance guy, only to get ONE hour of pay (roughly $38)

So we tried to set it straight. Luckily, I had a record of the exact dates we both taught on, and told him all the hours and such. When he finished logging in Miss Fera’s hours, he reassured her that she will definitely be paid next pay period.

Over to me.

“I know why you are not on the system now. You haven’t given me your tax file declaration form.”

“But I have, and I’ve given it to you last time,” I started. I figured that there was no use in arguing, especially if he had misplaced the form. So I agreed to fill it out again.

“So have this filled in, and bring it to me, and I will fax it down to the uni finance department, and hopefully you will be on the system, and get paid during your next pay period.”

So I did as I was told, Miss Fera even wanting to take a photo of me handing my form to the finance guy. But of course, we were only joking.

Come June 1st (today), and I received a phone call early on.

“Hi, this is the uni finance department. I’m trying to register you into the system, but we don’t have your tax file declaration form.” The lady said.

“I have filled it in, it should be there” I stated.

“But it isn’t here.”

I was starting to get ticked off. “Actually, I have filled the form in TWICE already; our finance guy must have lost it again.”

So she softened up and told me to pop into their office, made me fill it in again (and she will register me directly), and asked me to hassle our finance guy if I wanted to get paid on the 9th Jun. If not, I’ll be paid on the 23rd Jun instead.

Wanting to express my frustration, I passed off a remark about not getting my pay yet, having already FINISHED my duties for this semester’s course.

She chuckled and said, “Why doesn’t it surprise me.”

So yes, hopefully, I don’t have to fill in another tax declaration form… for the FOURTH time!

Will update on when I get paid, and any dramas relating to.

-_-

So my fringe had been bothering me lately… it is overgrown, and a bit of a pain when it gets into my eyes/face, etc. Looks ok, but I was quite desperate for a shorter fringe.

Went to two places on Thursday… Fully booked. And not having an opportunity made me want to walk into any okay-looking salon for a side fringe cut… I mean, how bad can it be, right? And plus, this is only temporary for when I feel the need for a proper cut.

So I popped into a salon in Burwood yesterday for a quick one before going to the Sydney Royal Easter show… K** *** *****, asked for the price ($10) and decided to go for it.

Before I knew it, the ‘hairdresser’ had completely RUINED my fringe!

No shape or style, uneven, and just horrible. It wasn’t even a side fringe.

And so I asked why it looked so strange with a bit poking out, and so very unlike a side fringe. And she gave me the stupidest excuse I’ve ever heard: “because it is so short”.

Firstly, who said this short? Secondly, I stated “SIDE FRINGE”, which part of SIDE FRINGE did you not understand, lady?

So I said just to make it a little more even (not a big ask, right?), to which she cut some random strand EVEN SHORTER. It was horrible to begin with, now it is seriously HORRIBLE!!!

I mean, LOOK AT THIS THING!

Gruntled, I paid my $10 and walked out, and the owner (or something) told me the generic “it looks cute”.

Yeah, cute for a 5 year old with an uneven haircut?

Not happy, and I have never felt this self conscious for a long time now, which isn’t good! I felt many people stare, and not in a good way.

I mean, WHAT IS THIS PIECE OF CR*P?

Even mum said it looks hideous! So upset!

Lesson learnt: I should have waited.

I’ve been out a lot, so today was supposed to be my “stay at home” day, but dad dragged my butt to go grocery shopping.

I’ve been getting charged a bit of money from the bank lately but didn’t do anything about it since I had a busy semester, so I decided to bring my account summary and inquire about it.

I got to the bank and lined up (there wasn’t even a place to queue at actually). A lady came up to me and asked what I needed help with.

• Me: These $6 charges, what are they for?
• Her: I can change it to $4 if you want.
• Me: But are they compulsory?
• Her: Yes, they are account keeping fees.
• Me: But I didn’t sign up to this.
• Her: Oh it’s automatic.

Yes, they can charge you WHENEVER they like…

• Me: But I’ve never been charged that and when I signed up to it, they said there wasn’t any fees.
• Her: This is the fee you have to pay to maintain your account.
• Me: Oh.

Dumbfounded because that was the most unhelpful response she can give.

• Her: So you want to change this to the $4 one? Here, [guy] will help you out.

Okay then, I thought. THAT is helpful, lady!

• Him: So the difference between the $6 fee and the $4 is that they are exactly the same, except the $4 one you cannot make withdrawals over the counter. Say if you want to withdraw $2000, it will charge you $2 every time.
• Me: I see. Do they charge students this?
• Him: No. Are you a full time student?
• Me: Yes
• Him: Can I see your student ID please?
• Me: Here it is.
• Him: Can I have your name?

After that, he told me to go sit and wait. GREAT!

So when it comes to my turn, another lady was serving me, and I had to go over the same process again, repeating everything up to mentioned point. GREAT! But wait, that’s not all!

• Her: So now we will waive your fees.
• Me: So do I get a refund of the fees I paid?
• Her: No, you’re not getting charged starting today.
• Me: How come?
• Her: You’ve given us your student ID today, so it will waive from today on.
• Me: I signed up at UNSW’s bank, and they told me I wouldn’t be charged. I’ve given in my student card and everything beforehand.
• Her: But you need to give it in every year.
• Me: Look, I’ve been charged starting August – if it is this way, how come I wasn’t charged before August?
• Her: It’s because you haven’t given us your student card before,
• Me: Yes, but how come you automatically assumed I’m not a student starting August?
• Her: I’m going to get my manager.

Yes… perfect. Assuming I am not a student MID-semester. So the first
lady came up to me and starting talking

• Her: I have spoken to you before. As I said earlier, the $6 is the account fee

But that wasn’t what I wanted to know now, so I started explaining that I was aware of these fees, and I was aware that they weren’t charging students!

And SO, the whole process repeated AGAIN… GREAT service huh? Making me repeat all that to 3 different people! But wait, there’s even MORE. She apparently started becoming psychic!!!

• Her: So you must have signed up, and then not extend the student status, so we assumed that you are no longer a student and charged the fees. Because you have to renew it every year.
• Me: So you are not going to return this, even though I have been a student for the whole year?
• Her: But we have no proof that you have been a student this whole year because we haven’t received your student ID.

Ha, I thought, now I can challenge her!

• Me: So if I bring my academic statement to you, you will return these charges to me?

Not getting out of this one, surely?

• Her: Yes…

FINALLY!!

• Her: …but you have to go back to the original branch… so at UNSW… and give those details and then they will return the fees.

Ha, always a catch, isn’t there?

Them getting your money, too easy.
You getting a single cent off them – difficult as hell.
Getting your rightful money back from them after they made a mistake or charging when they’re not supposed to? Dream on…

So I said to them..

• Me: So I go to their bank, tell them that I’ve been sent by Campsie branch to present proof of my student status, and they will give me my money back?
• Her: Yes.
• Me: Thank you.

Ticked off, I walked out of the bank.

Different branches, same company – and this is how they treat their clients! Inconvenient! So if I made an account in Sydney, and moved to, say Perth, then I have to fly to Sydney’s bank to manage my account?! Pathetic!

But for now, I’m going to try doing it their way. I sure hope it’s worth it; it’s already been a serious waste of my time!!