Not so happy camper

So as the title of this blog indicates I'm not as chipper as I was in the previous couple of posts. I'm just getting tired of living the life of a pauper! My cash flow problem just doesn't wanna go away despite my most valiant efforts to banish it. All my anger is actually directed at the Augstein Foundation, who for months now knew we (Bryan and myself) were coming, but somehow didn't make the arrangements for our stipends to be paid to us. Now we have to try and survive on rands that have to be converted to euros and unlike myself Bryan has to bum money from his folks.

I mean honestly on Wednesday it's a month since we were supposed to have been in Hamburg. How do they think we survive without that the stipend. What if we were from a dirt poor country where we/our parents didn't earn enough to bail us out? And now the real expenses are streaming in. We have to make copies of the literature we're supposed to read. All the copy shops are private enterprises and one can only buy copies in bundles of 500 or more, which cost anything from €18 to €25. Luckily Bryan and I can split the cost between us, but €12 is a lot of money normally, but it's even more ridiculous when you don't actually have the money! The rent for our accommodation has also not been paid, which means we are 1 month in arrears. I'm going to be mighty upset if the people in charge here are going to come a-knocking on my door asking for money. There's nowhere for us to vent our frustration b/c our contact at the university is not in any way affiliated with the organisation who's paying for us to be here. She's merely the co-ordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Programme and is doing our admin in addition to her obligations to the university, which includes lecturing.

On the bright side...it's Elena (the classy Russian's) birthday. She coyly maintains she's turning 18. This gives me the opportunity to use the Proudly South African gifts/trinkets I purchased at Green Market Square. I bought a whole lot of those keyrings made of beads and some beady bracelets as well, just in case I had to give gifts to people I don't really know.

Bryan is also trying to convince me to attend the Johnny Clegg concert next week. My argument is that I won't go see Johnny in SA, so why go see him in Hamburg? It's not that I don't like his music, it's just that I won't pay to see him! Who agrees with me?

I'm off to celebrate Elena's b'day.
Keep well.

P.S. Thanks for all the comments. It's good to know my efforts are appreciated. Tessa, are you **?