It's absolutely OUTRAGEOUS.
I just had that meeting with the person from Functions@Union House today. And you know what? The CHEAPEST they can give FOR A CHARITY EVENT is $600.
$600.
Doesn't sound too bad, for hiring such a large room etc. But the problem is, THIS IS FOR CHARITY. And the aim is to raise $1000. So it would *kinda* -being sarcastic here- defeat the purpose of having the event if HALF THE MONEY RAISED IS BEING SPENT ON THE VENUE.
ARGH.
And you know why they can't do it? Because September, October, November and December are the busiest months for them, and they "actually have events booked back to back" in that room. So even if it was in August, the absolute BEST PRICE they could give would be $400. And that's just the room hire, not including staging etc. Damn it, why is it always all about profits? They kept telling me that the Grand Buffet Hall has a revenue of $15, 000, so they "can't afford to let it out for free even for a charity event". Does anybody else see the irony of that, or is it just me??
BUT WHATEVER.
Not going to have the Talent Quest at the Grand Buffet Hall. Costs too much.
So looks like it's going to be at the Evan Burge. Can open up the rooms in front, so that can be the stage, and then can probably add another 50 chairs or so, then there would be enough seats for about 200 people. I wish .. I just wish we could have had a bigger space, but FINE, we'll make do with what we have. So there shouldn't be a problem with that right?
BUT AH.
YOU'RE WRONG.
Or, rather, I was wrong.
You see, the Evan Burge is booked by some overseas Christian group on Friday, September 5th. Okay, FINE. BUT THE PROBLEM IS. They've booked it the week BEFORE that, and the week AFTER that as well. Again, FINE. Try Thursday, September 4th. Which looks alright, until ....... RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE STUDENTS TUTORIALS. Which happen on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. So FINE, try Wednesday, September 3rd. Which is also perfectly alright, UNTIL....... Trinity Residential College keeps that place free on Wednesday nights, just in case visiting scholars etc. come and they need to use it. ABSOLUTELY F***ING BRILLIANT.
IT'S JUST SO FRUSTRATING.
First I had to see Kim, the dean of student welfare, and Rose. Kim told me I needed to clear it with Kelly, from student services, so I did. She gave me the contact details of the people I'd need to liaise with to get a venue. So I contacted Malorie, from Functions@Union House, Felipe and Cathy. NO LUCK, obviously. So I go back to Kelly, and it seems like there's no other option but the Evan Burge. So she asks me to see Bernard Leigh, who's in charge of bookings for the Evan Burge. Then he calls Jane Garton, and she says that usually students aren't the ones who do the bookings, it's normally through the teachers, so she suggests I get Rose to do it. Bernard Leigh also gives me a Mr. Gordon's number to call, just to see if the overseas Christian group is willing to let us have the Evan Burge for that day. So I call the said Mr. Gordon on the way to Rose's office, and he says he'll check, and will have the answer by this Friday. I talk to Rose, and she tells me that it's difficult, and how people are all just about money, and yadda, yadda, yadda. But she says she'll talk to Bernard once I have the answer from Mr. Gordon about the availability of the room on Friday, September the 5th. Plus, I've kept in contact with all these people via e-mail, to set up meetings, etc., and also I've been sending emails to OTHER people, to see if they are willing to sponsor prizes, etc.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I did all this stuff IN BETWEEN CLASSES, during lunch, etc.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I have a full timetable. Full day, from 9 am to 5.15 pm, every weekday. Full, because I work on my Maths with my tutor during my free periods. Every Friday morning, at 9 am, and on alternate Wednesdays (the Wednesdays that I don't have Chemistry practical), from 9 am to 12.30 pm.
YES, I'M BITTER.
YES, I'M A LITTLE STRESSED OUT.
YES, I'M FRUSTRATED.
NO, I'M NOT DROPPING THAT EXTRA SUBJECT, OR ALL THE OTHER STUFF, LIKE STUDENT COMMITTEE, APPLYING FOR NIDA, AND OAKTREE.
WHY? BECAUSE I CAN DO IT.
*takes deep breath*
*exhales slowly*
All I want is for things to work out. Please, please, please, someone, just let everything work out right. That's all I'm asking for.
I know I should be strong, but I admit, sometimes I just need someone to be a hero to me, to tell me that everything's going to be okay.