...non enim sciunt, quid faciunt
Friday, June 10th, 2005 11:38 pmThe lack of humour of my people has often been criticised.
Who says that has not seen the farces which are being performed daily in the Advisor of Study's offices at my University.
"Uhm... And... If I wanted to change my course of studies, I'd like to become a teacher, is it sensible to do that after my year abroad?"
"I don't know. I don't know what the newest new regulations will say about that."
"New regulations, I see. Soo... then it's probably better to change beforehand?"
"I don't know."
"Would it be sensible to finish my course of studies as it is and try and get another place after that?"
"I don't know."
"What exactly will be changed this semester? For our teacher's courses, that is?"
"I don't know. You'll have to wait for the new regulations."
"Sounds sensible. Do you happen to know when the new regulations will arrive?"
"I don't know."
The background to this illuminating visit to our advisors of study is this:
In the name of globalisation, my university is changing it's system to a Bachelor/Master system with degrees the UK apparently don't and won't accept. So much for globalisation. There will be tuition fees, there will be less professors - our Americanists have 0,5 Professor, I think - only because Prof. Rodenberg has half a position in another faculty. All the retirees are returning to give lessons because all places will stay vacant for at least two years until the University will hire new teachers. Boy, I am glad that I am not studying that subject.
Then I have learned that because my father earns too much money, apparently, I am not elligible for any kind of support from the Student Award Agency for Scotland. I'll have to wait for their final decision, though. If I have to pay the fees myself because I am not elligible for German support either, I am dead. Not only because my father will kill me because I thought I was elligible, but also because even though they may think that we do not have a problem at financing this, in truth we do. That is one of the main reasons why I was not able to change the University here in Germany and move out in the first place. I do not understand this system.
Well, let's look on the bright side: I will lose a lot of weight because I will not have anything to eat. Who needs food? Maybe I can fish in the Clyde.
...only that the Clyde has a crust only rivalled by that of the Ankh. I. Want. Holidays.
So, everything is great. To make things even greater, it looks as though I cannot actually change my course to become a teacher, because if I do that, I'll have to do a Bachelor in my two subjects and another BA in pedagogics after I am back which will make everything take even longer, But I don't know that for sure, because nobody. Friggin. Knows. ANYTHING. That would mean that the Professor who was going to examine me is not going to test me. Even he wants to retire for good at some point.
Well, and then, there is the end of semester with it's essays and audit trails and exams and and and. But then, I am not the only person who has to work a lot. Crockster's fate is far worse - I have never seen anyone do as much as she does in one semester, I bet she is glad when this is over, too. Poor dear.
So, apart from my usual whinery, there are not a lot of news. More quarrels with my father, no Crockster this weekend, my university going down the drains and politics making me wish I was far, far away from Germany and Europe.
I. Want. Holidays.