Reasons Not to Write

It’s been one week and one day since my last blog post. That’s the longest I’ve gone since I started this blog and I have to apologize. I am going to list my reasons (no, not excuses. Reasons.) because on some grounds, I happen to think they are significant enough to post about.

1. I have been traveling. (3 states and somewhat limited computer access- considering I STILL haven’t chosen between a PC and a MAC and therefore, glom off of family and friends’ internets and keyboard usage time.)

2. Michael came back. Yes, he came all the way back from England about four days after he left. And here I was, writing this ridiculously dramatic and long post about “Global Love” and resigning myself to this tragic long-distance disappointing relationship, when in reality- he showed up on my doorstep again, jet-lagged and in love, last Sunday. I was ashamed. (And also too excited to have him back to actually sit down and write about it).

3. I’ve been reading. Suddenly, I realized that I have a colossal pile of books in my room that I have set out to finish before moving to Barcelona. I realize that I will have restricted time in b-school for pleasure reading and therefore am attempting to fit it all in before I go.

Below is the list of books I have read in the past few weeks and how I rate them, in case anyone is interested in some recommendations.

-Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Marisha Pessl: One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Funny, interesting, intriguing, fabulously written, innovative, and 100% absorbing. I would recommend it to anyone.
-Kissing in Manhattan, David Schickler: Another fabulous book. Quick read, a vignette of stories all connected by one common apartment building. Dark at times but playful and amusing at others. Cleverly written and weaved together, keeps you wanting more- and guessing.
-Veronica, Mary Gaitskill: Crap. A Pompous attempt at literary greatness. And the sad thing is- about four different people recommended this book to me. Basically, a HUGE waste of my time.
-On Beauty, Zadie Smith: Interesting, dragged on at parts. Brilliantly written- focuses on race, identity, adultery, family values, education, etc…
Not a page turner, but I’m glad I read it (and glad I’m done with it now). I would like to read her first novel, White Teeth as well.
-My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult: Evocative and intriguing and one of those perfect books for a plane ride or a beach vacation. I’ve read a few Jodi Picoult books before and she never disappoints me. Although she touches on a few heavy topics, the read in general is light. I would recommend it to almost anyone.
-Margherita Dolce Vita, Stefano Benni: It’s one of those “Europa Editions” translated into English that my best friend is obsessed with. She always buys at least one each time she visits a bookstore and then gives them to me to read. It was good, entertaining, absolutely original. It was satirical while dealing with pertinent social issues (in Italy). It was hysterical- I laughed out loud a few times, but I hated the ending.
-I’m now reading Gabriel García Márquez, “Chronicle of a Death Foretold,” which is funny, cute, and quick. I’m moving on to “Love in the Time of Cholera” next and then the coup de grâce- “100 Years of Solitude,” which I have been looking forward to for quite some time.

4. I was meeting my “potential roommate” for Barcelona in Chicago on Thursday evening. I didn’t want to post about it because I thought that I might jinx the introduction. (I also worried that she would read whatever I wrote and freak out about my ridiculously high expectations. WHICH- were all met!)
Nowthat it’s over- I can confidently say that Sara is fabulous. Meeting her has done a job of hammering in this “Oh My God, I’m really going to Spain to do my MBA in two months” feeling. I couldn’t have found a better suited person to live with and I am now, thoroughly excited about my living situation as well.
(Let me add, as well, that I don’t know what I would do without Facebook; I know it would closely resemble walking off a plane and heading straight for a housing agency with god-knows-who to meet as my companera/companero.

5. The final reason I have neglected to write is due to the Spanish Visa situation. Almost two months after the initial experience at the Spanish Consulate in Miami, I arrived for the third time in hopes of receiving my passport. Unfortunately, instead of being handed my Visa, I was asked (AGAIN) why I needed my Visa this early if my program starts in August. I then explained (YET AGAIN) that I do not live in America and therefore, need my passport in my possession in order to leave the country. Additionally, for some reason, they didn’t seem to understand that it may be a good idea to arrive in Spain some time BEFORE the MBA begins in order to get my life into a bit of order. All this- I had to explain in Spanish, because there was not one bi-lingual person available to help me.
Therefore, four days after that lovely experience, I returned again in hopes of attaining my passport. Two hours of standing outside in a line while “ciudadano espanoles” passed me by, I was in fact reunited with my passport- only to find a lovely little THREE MONTH (90 DAY) VISA gracing the pages of my passport!!! Now, I am sure if an International MBA program lasted three months, there would be far more people enrolling in it. However, this is not the case. I couldn’t write about it because I was so angry (with good reason). I never wanted this blog to be a forum for my whining and therefore, restricted myself until I was at a point where I could calmly describe my consulado experience- I have now calmed down a bit and am figuring it out- considering that is really the only option I have.