A Legal Alien

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03 September 2005

I've had the worst 24 hours. Yesterday I tapped a car while parking in a parking lot. The people were in the car, obviously not hurt and barely scraped their car, no damage to mine. The girl was rational but the bf went ballistic, screaming at me, taking my picture with his phone and insisting on all my contact info/insurance. I was calm, gave them everything they asked for, apologised several times as it was obviously my fault. I just misjudged the distance.. still getting used to my car. The guy refused to give me any of their information and when I explained I needed it for my insurance he told me to get in my car and shove off or I'd be sorry. I seriously thought he was going to hit me. He was irate and there was maybe a 4-5 inch scrape on her car. When I got out of the car he told me I'd messed with the wrong person. Excuse me??? I wasn't targeting you! It was an accident! He told me if I didn't pay for damage within a week he'd call the cops to sort it out. I said that was fine because I wasn't trying to get out of paying for anything, I was giving them all my information. He then said something about me giving false information even though she was copying everything directly from my insurance policy. It was insane. I came home and just started bawling to my housemates. I'm sure they thought I was nuts but I've never had anyone yell at me like that, especially for something so completely minor. It'll maybe cost £200 to fix their car, if that. He came unglued. I've never felt so physically threatened before by someone I had to talk to, even students who are out of control. I don't understand why people get so upset about things that are minor. A little more perspective and less testosterone would be nice. GoodHousemate rang one of his friends who's an insurance agent and said not to talk to the guy if he calls me, just send him to my insurance company. He was so rude and threatening. Just wasn't my day.

THEN, this morning I go down to the post office to pick up a registered letter and my entry clearance has been denied by the Home Office. They said they aren't satisfied I've completed my degree so they denied my application. I sent them the letter from my university so I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. I've sent an email to a guy I know who is an immigration advisor and on Monday I'll talk to the burser at school who can advise me. I'm still legal to work until Dec. 1. It's weird. I might have to come home in October during half-term to go to the consulate in LA to get it figured out because changing from a student visa to work permit is difficult without leaving the country. Please pray this all gets worked out soon.

So, I'm frustrated and mad. I did get my room sort of ready for Tuesday but I still have Monday to work. My new housemate shall be nicknamed Spiderman, as he has a huge spider tatoo on his forearm (because it "symbolizes the 'Truth'" whatever the hell that's supposed to mean). He's ok, not who I would choose to live with at ALL but that's ok. He walked in on me blogging about him the other night so I had to cut a post. He's a bit sure of himself, even though he's never taught before. He reminds me of Derrick, the horrible guy I student taught with. Smug, confident in his untested skills and trying to justify the use of comic books as literature in English class. When he said he was confident he'd get fired within the first 7 years of teaching, I wanted to smack him. He's got this 'I'm too avant garde for a regular classroom' attitude. Like he belongs in a university classroom. Wannabe bohemian freak. He smokes a lot too but he does it outside which is good. He's gone today, probably until tomorrow morning so things feel back to normal a bit.

We met the girls who live next door, an American from MA and a girl from Northern Ireland. They are nice, fun to hang out with. Our two houses went out for drinks last night and enjoyed a night out. I needed to get out after the insanity yesterday. We had too much to drink and I flirted a wee bit with a guy from work who reminds me of Jay from Chico. This guy is much nicer than Jay though, not such a clique-y type where you sort of have to prove your worth to be included in the inner sanctum. I could be way off base about him but so far, he's been genuinely nice.

Have to focus on the positive and not worry. Things will get sorted out somehow. Please God. Please.

For Paul Barrett

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