the not-quite semester

[martilane]

So I'm sitting in my room, on my not-quite-bed, staring at my not-quite-finished Vienna Convention paper, and wonder what happened to the last five months of my life. I mean, no joke - five months. Where did they go? The last clear thing I remember is living in France, buying my daily nectarines, riding the bus to the beach, and partying it up at IDEM and Cubanito and the other trashy Montpellier clubs at night. It was so warm that I could wander home at 3am in my tank top and skirt and not be cold. And now, all of the sudden, I'm wearing three layers of clothing and sitting under a blanket next to the heater in the frigid Boston suburbs. I can tell from my planner that in between I made three trips to Ohio, five to New York, and one to California. I can tell from my class schedule that I've attended 4 classes for 13 weeks, written three papers (soon to be four), taken one final and a Spanish proficiency exam, and started working on my thesis. I can tell from my spreadsheet that I've applied to four jobs and had two interviews. And I can tell from my voicemails and text messages that I've hung out with countless friends on countless ocassions. But the only travel that really sticks in my mind is the day I moved to Boston. The only work I remember doing is the paper I stayed up all night writing on the redeye back from California. The only job I remember applying for is the one I didn't get. And the only friends I seem to be able to think about are the ones I didn't hang out with.

Meanwhile, at least two friends got married this year, with three more weddings coming up. Friends started new jobs, moved to new homes, and worked in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of them was a full time law student while working three jobs and supporting her family. My NY subletter started a nation-wide network of law students for Katrina relief efforts. Maybe she should keep the room.

Clearly it was not a wasted semester. It just feels that way.