The frustration here...

For all who have expressed their concern, thank you. We are managing to deal with the many issues here. It seems to me that there is a lot of things that have happened that have been cultural differences, but I feel like since we are paying, it is most frustrating for the students. However, our instructors continue to voice our concerns in trying to negotiate with these two ridiculous women in "charge" and apparently they have "offended" them too much that the BU women will not even talk to them anymore, about the water, the budget, the meals....everything. They did bring us three cases of water, which amounts to about 4 bottles each. Our instructors have also told us to order additional bottles at dinner, which they are putting on our "extra" emergency credit card, which is of course, at an additional charge to us. I am of course, not happy about this. If the OIE thinks that they will get another dime out of me, they are sorely mistaken. They can ask for the two BU women to pay out of their pockets for the extra charge.

It would be a VERY bad idea to contact anyone at the OIE about the problems, as they have not been able to do anything to help us to date. They do not have the power to negotiate anything, and although our instructors have been trying, they have had little success either. Plus, in the culture here, there are only certain people who are allowed to do the negotiating....and your efforts would be highly offensive. The OIE would only forward your messages to our instructors, who are just as frustrated as we are. We (the UWO students) have resorted to kidnapping the bottled water that is supplied for everyone for lunch, as well....we are paying for it so we're taking it. We need all the water we can get. Another infuriating detail...one of the women in charge from BU today, brought containers to pack the leftover food in to take home with her. I am NOT kidding. I did get pictures of that, so if the OIE wants to bill me an additional charge, I will certainly show them those pictures. Also on my to do list, is to get pictures of all of their ridiculous things (ie washing their hands with our bottled water, taking moped rides instead of walking...). We (the UWO) students wanted to take matters into our own hands; unfortunately our instructors have nixed our fabulous plan as they think we will offend our BU counterparts.

As of right now, I can honestly say that I regret coming on this experience. I feel as though I have been taken advantage of financially. And to have to listen to those two women lecture us on how we need to give to the poor....I honestly cannot take it much longer. I am so discouraged. The highlight of my day was giving a toddler-age girl by the side of the road a pair of flip flops. She had nothing on her bare feet, and there was glass all around. The smile on her face was the only saving grace for the day.

So, the bottom line is that I am out $5200. I can't wait to return to the US to start digging my way out of the gigantic financial hole that I have dug for myself, and I feel as though I have nothing to show for it. I miss you all; more than you can even imagine. I guess the costly lesson is to make sure you know where your money is going before you make the kind of investment I did.