Reading about the screwed up status of immigration in America is one thing; you're somewhat detached from the whole thing when its just an article in a newspaper or in a magazine. But I've recently acquired a more acute appreciation for the mess of laws and regulations regarding foreigners, and how when you play by the rules, the wrong people get to stay while others are sent home.
I met her at volleyball a couple of weeks back, and we've been out a few times since. A native of Columbia, she's been in the US on a student visa for almost 7 years. Fluent in two languages and learning a third, I've scarcely met a person with such a fascinating knowledge of global politics and issues. After earning an engineering degree, she will earn her MBA in December. This, unfortunately, means she will be forced to return as soon as she is no longer a student, and gaining permanent visas from Columbia is difficult if not impossible.
That is my luck, though, isn't it? Except for the whole "pink polo shirt" episode, a shirt I'm wearing right now, I might add, she's great. An absolutely charming girl, but as she's told me several times, each time more sad than the last, global politics prevent us from being anything other than friends. I mean, there's as much chance nothing long-term would happen as there is anything else more Awesome, but to never even have to opportunity to know, that's just weak.
You know what stinks even more than that, though? People who want to work, who want to contribute to society, get sent home while people who do nothing but sit on their ass all day get to hang out and sometimes even get paid to do it. That's just really, really stupid.
Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now. No one comes here to read about politics.
You bet.
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