After frantic weeks of deadlines, few beers between classes, non-stop editing and newspaper clippings, I have had a calm weekend to read and write. And a promising lazy morning, interrupted for a nerve wracking ritual: renewing my US Visa.
Nerve wracking because you never know what the outcome will be. If positive, the time you are allowed in America becomes the issue.
I’ve got to say, regardless of the long queue, the bit of disorganization and the obnoxious G4S security guards, the US Embassy in Quito has polite and tongue in cheek interviewers for the dreaded visa process.
After my shouting match back in February with a French consular officer, I was rather calm -I had been in the US before. Last time, JFK officials laughed with me as they stamped my passport, I have friends I want to go visit and my great aunt's health is not improving with NYC's weather...I need to pay a visit soon- I was however, overwhelmed by the amount of people present. No matter the economic crisis, the demand to go to La IoNY was overwhelming.
The new office is like any other US state office: clean, functional, with a vending machine, a TV and a vast amount of hand sanitizer dispensers.
I had been thinking why my age was brought during every step of the process. I know double majoring is not that common in the US and that by now I should live on my own. I did not like to be reminded of that, yet in Ecuador it is normal to live with your parents until you get married. Or until your early 40s. Or in fact, never move out.
The waiting room and interview windows are now merged; I could hear every interview. While I moved my left gray heel up and down and played with my ponytail, I could not help but notice a pattern:
-Where do you live?
a) In an apartment, it’s my parents’ property
b) With my parents
The interviewees ranged from late 30’s, late 20’s and some held well-groomed, restless toddlers in their arms. Every answer that related them to depending financially on their parents was followed by a long silence. Every question regarding salary made me and surely the interviewee, tense. I felt I was not the only tense, for living with her parents still. I realized If I don’t move out soon I will be stuck, even for the ritual of a visa process. Y eso, si da a la larga, un poquito de vergüenza.
