Strake- you were lucky you had an instructor with you. My all-time worst ( and only bad) experience with ATC happened on my solo cross country. I had been cleared by Approach to join left base, but only passed over to Tower towards the end of it. Tower did not answer any of my calls!
I knew there was another aircraft behind me, I could hear one downwind (it was a right hand circuit) and I could also see another on the runway for departure. Orbiting is out of the question, as is landing, so I did what I thought was right and went round at 1000' to fly a r/h circuit. The first acknowledgment from TWR was a very angry "unknown a/c going round...", as I was about halfway down the length of the runway.
After eventually getting clearance to land I was told to take the third turn off from the runway and by now, tired and flustered, I wasn't sure how many turnoffs I'd passed and asked for confirmation that this was the correct one. More tirade from this very grouchy female and a command to ring ATC from the firestation which was the reporting area. Consequence- my sheet marked as "showed poor airmanship due to poor radio procedure." Her explanation as to what I should have done- changed frequency back to Approach and talked to them again!
Really!! One thing's for certain- no amount of money could ever persuade me to visit this airport (famous for having two towers!) again!!