Thanks for all the packing advice. I've gone mostly with folding with a bit of rolling and stuffing thrown in. I've still got a few things I can't pack yet (since I need stuff to wear in the next week and a bit ;-) ) and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with my two big jersey/jackets (I can only wear one of the plane). Special thanks to Heike, Vmum and the people I spoke to on chat (Aslie, Kristi and Stew were there - sorry if I've left anyone out).
Technically, I hit the two week mark on Wednesday. So now it's less that two weeks before I leave. This is my second-to-last weekend in South Africa.
I've had and interesting week. But I've managed to accomplish a few things I said I would get done and everything seems to be on track (well almost). I finally managed to get Skype to work on my computer. In the process I also discovered that I hate both Linux and Windows Vista.
Linux (Ubuntu) is what I have on my netbook. For all it's faults, Ubuntu is a whole lot better than the pathetic version "Linux Linpus Lite" my 'book came installed with. I wanted to install Windows last year, but this machine's a little old and can't handle anything newer than XP - something rather hard to get these days. So I installed Ubuntu as a suitable compromise. The main problem I had was trying to get the sound on my Skype to work. The microphone simply refused to pick up any sound. I discovered that Skype thought I had a programme I actually didn't have - and I couldn't find it to install it or change the settings. Anyway, after half a day's stress and a headache (turned migraine by the evening) I somehow succeeded in getting it to work. Unfortunately in making the input control loud enough to pick up my voice, it also ends up picking up the computer's fan and other background noises. But it's better than nothing.
(Unfortunately, my laptop has also decided that its mouse functioning will intermittently refuse to work. It was doing this when I first got it back from repairs a few weeks ago, but the problem fixed itself; today it has started misbehaving again. I am going to buy a proper laptop when I get to Oxford, but the netbook is useful for quick portability. Please pray that I can get this mouse problem sorted out before I leave).
We have Windows Vista on our home desktop. We happened to buy the computer when Vista had just come out and so are stuck with the shortest-lived Windows system until such a time as we can upgrade it to 7. It has some very strange settings and is not user-friendly. I'm teaching my mum how to use email and Skype on this computer and have tried to make it as simple as possible (the fewer options available the better). But there are some things you can't change. These fancy gadgets are all very well for someone well acquainted with the computer world. But when you're teaching someone from scratch you really want only the basics. Vista doesn't give you such an option. In addition, I've tried to block the automatic updates notices from popping up in my mum's account and confusing her. But they keep returning to haunt us. It's very frustrating.
Enough about computers. My current hassle is organising my finances. When I first got the money for my scholarship, we went straight to the bank and asked the best way to get the money transferred to the UK. Because I bank with ABSA (a South African bank that belongs to Barclays) they suggested I open a Barclays account in South Africa and transfer the money before leaving. It sounded simple enough.
A Barclays rep came to meet us and filled out all the forms. She said all we needed was to wait a week or so for my card to be delivered and I could do the transfer. It would be a cheque account with debit card, internet and telephonic banking. When I get to Oxford I can transfer to a Student account. So I waited.
About 2 weeks later, I got a phone call from the courier service saying they would bring my card between 12 and 2 pm the next day.
The next day at 10am, they arrived and gave me a letter with my pin number. They explained that they were not allowed to deliver my card and pin on the same day, and that I should receive my card in 2 days.
Two days later (this is Friday 26 Aug now), I got my second phone call from them. The lady said that the package with my card was in Johannesburg and would be delivered to me the next week. The next Tuesday (30 Aug) I got my third phone call. They arranged to bring the package to my house between 12 and 2 pm. They eventually arrived at 2.30 pm and instead of my debit card, they gave me a letter with my pass code for the telephonic and internet banking. Okay, now what?
The following week, this Tuesday (6 Sept), there was still no sign of my card, so I phoned the lady from Barclays and she emailed the courier service to ask what is going on. Finally, this Thursday I received my fourth phone call. They arranged to bring my card between 12 and 2 pm on Friday. I specifically mentioned that they must not come before 12 as I would be out with my mother.
At 9.30 am yesterday (Friday 9 Sept) I got my fifth phone call while out shopping with my mum. The courier guy said he had just been to my house, but no one was home. He asked when I would be home, so I told him 12 (as per the arrangement).
We rushed to make sure we were home in time, and the guy arrived just after 12. He handed me a sealed package this time, instead of an just envelope. That was encouraging. I could feel the card inside. I took it in and opened it. It wass a card alright, but not like any debit card I'd ever seen. There's no magnetic strip or numbers on it. I read the accompanying letter and letter and discovered: this is my card with the information I need for telephone and internet banking. Not my debit card!
And I still had no idea what my account number was!
Then I remembered that I'd got a letter in the post on Thursday from the courier service saying they have my package but didn't have my correct contact details. I had ignored it because it was the same day they had phoned me so I figured they'd worked out my details.
Now I realise that the letter was about a different package - the one with my debit card. So I phoned the number and they confirmed that they sill have a package with me. "What province are you located in?" the lady asked. I answered. "Oh" said the lady, "I don't know why they returned it to us in Johannesburg. We'll return it to your province and you should hear from them on Monday or Tuesday." Since they never deliver on the day they phone, this means I might not get it till Wenesday. Exactly one week before I leave.
The way some people work is completely unfathomable. How can they not have my phone number if they were able to phone me for all the other packages? How can they not know what province I'm in when it is clearly written on the package address (and the letter which they sent me saying they couldn't hold of me?)
Next time I am just transferring my money onto a cash passport and taking it over that way! *sigh*
There is one piece of good news in the light of all this. I have finally worked out my account number from activating the internet banking facilities. So I can transfer the money on Monday even if I don't have my card yet. And there may be another positive result. The Pound-Rand exchange rate has recovered slightly since its terrible drop a couple of weeks back. I'm not sure how banks do the conversion (I know their rate will be more than what you read in the financial reports) but it may be that the rate will be more in my favour than it would have been had I received the card and made the transfer when I was supposed to.
Well, that's a little of what I've been going through this week. I hope next week's a little better and involves less of these computer- and bank-related frustrations.
On the list for this week is a visit to the bank, a (long overdue) dentistappointment on Thursday, a visit with the doctor on Friday to get all my medical letters and information that I will need for the move, a farewell party on Friday afternoon with my university friends and colleagues, another farewell on Sunday....lets just say it will be a busy week.
11 more sleeps!
