I'm currently in Australia (Brisbane) to pursue my PhD. I don't know if this is the right path for me. I did ask for this, I even prayed for it. But since the announcement of the scholarship (it was positive, otherwise I wouldn't be here at the moment), I have this terrible gut feeling that things are going differently.
To be honest with myself, I got the scholarship, which is nice. I got a decent place (it is hella pricey, but okay). I have a communicative spv and co-spv (a post-doc) which is also nice. The air is good, the neighborhood, I have nothing to complain so far. But hey! Look at those prices! Damn it.
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A little story about my departure. I had decided to fly to Brisbane on March 19th night, transit in Sydney on March 20th, and continue the flight to Brisbane in the afternoon on the same day. Tickets, passport, visa, all went well. I had my mom helped me with the moving out.
I also bring my bike with me. Hence, I booked a flight with Garuda and Qantas all in one booking receipt. In short, it is supposed to follow Garuda rules and facilities (since I ordered from them). When I arrived in Sydney and transferring to the domestic flight to Brisbane, the Qantas people told me that I have to pay AUD 250 for the extra baggage. I showed them that I booked the flight from Garuda and thus it does not make any sense if Garuda allows me to bring X-kg of baggage + sporting goods (my bike) but the other flight charges me for that. I already acknowledged this and asked for clarification from Qantas in Indonesia, and yes, they told me that the domestic flight will follow the international one (Garuda) as it is under the same booking code.
The Qantas officer told me to get inside and talk to the sales which I did and for my surprise it was closed (lunch break). I asked another staff there and she pointed me to another one. She is Japanese and I will not mention her name here, but she is apparently from Nara! What a surprise. I told her that I studied there and I like that place as it is quiet and peaceful. She took me (notice that I use the word 'took') to the sales post, talked to the manager, and took me back to the domestic transfer. (We need to learn from Japanese service.)
In the domestic transfer, finally the one who told me to pay called one more time to the finance section asking if I can use someone else's card since they cannot take cash. So, the result is they let me go without charging a penny (as what they should from the first place, duh).
Once I arrived in Brisbane, I was picked up by free taxi service (campus service for new incoming students). I was looking for trolley to carry my luggage and bicycle box. Apparently, I need to pay AUD 4 just to use the fucking trolley. What a scam. Another help came when I asked the staff who was putting trolleys from all over the place back to the rail. "Does this machine accept cash?" I asked. No words from him but then he pulled a trolley from the one he was pushing and gave it to me.
I am writing this down to remember the people who helped me. I don't even know most of their names and have forgotten most I was once remembered. But their kindness stays.
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