Monday I went over to the university to register for some classes. I need several to fill out my certification requirements. Monday was the last day to register.

I had my sights set on two classes. The History of Guam class is required for all teachers on the island. I've wanted to take it for some time now. The only other class offering that fills the bill is a class on testing and evaluation.

The history class was scheduled for 9:00 AM so I arrived at the dean's office at 8:00 to register for it. The secretary told me to attend the class and then come back to register. That was suspicious. We had about an hour but she seemed to be busy on some task or other.

With that much time available I walked across campus to the School of Education to register for the other class. That one didn't start until 4:00 PM. There was quite a crowd in that office so I waited patiently, and thankfully, in the cool air conditioned office. It was really starting to heat up outside.

When I finally got to speak with the secretary she looked up my file and told me I had to update my records before I could register. She printed out a page and handed it to me. I asked her about the instructor and classroom. She told me to speak to June in the next office about that. There I was told that June had not come in to work. I told the secretary who said she would find out for when I returned. I walked back across the campus to take the history class.

The history class was very interesting and the instructor seemed to be full of energy and interest. I knew I was going to enjoy the class. She spoke of the study of history and how people look at it. This was important because islanders have a different point of view. For them history is in front of them. The future is behind them. The Chamorro word for ancestor is taotaomo'na or "the people/spirit in front of us." This was indeed going to be an interesting experience.

After the class I walked over to the admissions office to update my record. The office was crowded so I took a number and waited. As I waited I scanned a rack of forms and realized I would probably have to submit a request for readmission because it has been over a year since I last took a class. I filled out the form and continued waiting.

When I got up to the window the woman did indeed tell me I needed to fill out the form. I handed it to her. She seemed annoyed. She told me I should have done this a week ago. I explained that I was a full time teacher with 118 students and that Friday had been the last day of school (a slight exaggeration). She told me to sign and date it and note that my last class was Fall of 2007. Then she asked me when I had last been tested for TB. My last test was for admission back in 2007. Well, she said, you need to have the test before you can attend classes. She sent me to the campus health office.

In the health office I was told that the nurse was off-island and they were not administering the shot. There was nothing they could do.

I returned to my car and drove to my clinic. There they made an appointment for the next day. They gave me an appointment card and I headed back to the admissions office.

After another long wait the admissions woman looked at the appointment card and told me that I would have to ask the instructors if it was all right to attend the class until my TB test could be read. I walked over to talk to the history instructor and found that she had gone home. According to the note on her door she only teaches the one class in the summer.

I walked across campus to the School of Education to speak with that instructor. By now the day had really heated up. The secretary told me to step next door and talk to June (Remember the woman who had not come in to work?) I reminded her of that but she told me that June had come in after all. I went next door and was told that June had gone home early.

By now it was about 2:00. I had been beating my head against the wall all day long and had made zero progress. Note that I did all this walking with my left foot in the huge black orthopedic boot I still have to wear because my broken bone is still healing. As the day progressed so did the pain. I finally gave up. I was so angry and frustrated that my hold on civilized behavior was tenuous at best.

I went home.

When I got home Wakana greeted me and was surprised to see that I was in tears. My anger and frustration was racking through me. She tried all evening to commiserate and relax me but I kept railing at the bureaucracy of the university and a system that kept sending people off to another office rather than solving the problem themselves.

I am feeling better now. Yesterday we pulled out the window air conditioner in the bedroom and replaced the window. Then we rearranged the room and cleaned it as we did. She headed out to a meeting and I stayed home and relaxed with the computer, the TV, and the phone calls from angry parents telling me that their kid really did do the homework I claim I never received.

I am now on day 3 of my vacation. Wakana has a luncheon with her co-workers and I can go along. The luncheon is at Jeff's Pirates Cove down in Ipan. That will be a very good feed. Later I need to do my laundry. I have two baskets full. Wakana did hers on Monday evening but I was incapacitated by anger, frustration, and pain.

Day 3 of my vacation.