I've now been in Ireland for 2 months, and I feel like I'm having the high school/college experience that I've always dreamed of. I'm seeing one of the school's popular boys, I get invited to the best parties, and I generally feel well dressed. I've even been having a run of good hair lately. Really, what more could a girl ask for?

But I'm worried it's all going to come to an end. My visa expires in a month, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I am trying to wangle my way into a transfer, but due to workplace politics and Irish visas, I don't know what's going to happen. I don't want to go home. At all.

I'm going to Istanbul for the weekend, on the heels of the departing pope. I'm hoping this will take my mind off my immigration issues, and since Turkey doesn't have a chance until 2013, I won't even have to worry about the flags of Europe.

I'm starting to realize that I'm never going to have any idea what I want to do with my life. I feel like not much has changed in the last ten years--I'm still an awkward teenager wondering whether or not the cheerleaders think I'm cool. I was talking to one of my friends back home and her response to my latest romantic and medical travails was "Jesus, that's so Lina."

Some people might say I'm predictable. But at least I'm consistent, right?