Panic, at the Bus Stop

While sitting at the bus stop this morning, slack jawed and listening to my iPod, I suddenly bolted upright: I PUT THE PRINT STYLESHEET LINK ON THE WRONG PAGE!!!!!! This was in reference to our big class project that we just turned in last week. You get one re-do or you fail, and I'd already done my re-do and handed it back in. I realized that I'd forgotten one really stupid, really easy, but really important step in my HTML code. SHIT!

I totally panicked -- I had no cell phone, no way of getting in touch with my teacher to beg for a second chance. In short, I was screwed. And I now had an hour commute ahead of me before getting to school, which gave the teacher that much more time to grade my project and flunk me.

I don't have a cell phone here because, for now at least, I don't have a job and the only people I would call all live in the US, so why spend $60--$75 a month for a phone I'll use maybe twice a month to call Iain and say, "I'm running late." But today I was freaking out over this. It's like being on a plane and realizing you left the iron on. What can you do? Nothing. SHIT!

So I get to school and race up to the 5th floor (ok, via the elevator), dash into the office where 2 of my teachers are hanging out: I'll call them Johnny and Rick. I walk over and politely say, "Um, Rick, I know I handed my project in already but is it at all possible to just double-check one small detail?" Rick gives me a blank stare and says,"No. I already graded it and it's done. Filed. Too late."

I stand there speechless, when Johnny (the department head) intervenes and says, "That means you passed. If it's been filed, you're good." I manage to exhale. Amused, Johnny says, "What'd you think you did wrong?" I explain, and Rick just says, "It was fine." as if I'm this huge annoyance that has interrupted his peaceful morning, instead of a student who helps pay his salary.

I am totally relieved (and baffled) at discovering that my project was fine, but imagine if it wasn't? Thank god Johnny is teaching us now. I officially hate Rick. Iain has jokingly recommended that I start taking the kitty Valium we got in the States that I still have.

Attached is an unrelated picture of our good friend Nam.