Non existant...

The only thing worse than feeling like you don't belong somewhere is finding out that you don't....

Lunch is a wonderful time of day. It's a relief after the long morning, a chance for a break with nourishing (albeit disgusting) food, catch-up time with friends from other departments, and for a lucky few, a surprise package awaits them in the mail room. For myself, it meant a nice long walk across the main lawn on a beautiful, sunny winter day, across the campus I had so eagerly come back to. Down the long stairs into the main floor of the caf, joining the dozens of other interns as we awaited our turn to feast upon the food producing the delicious aromas that greeted us as we walked through the door. I grabbed a tray and eyed those ahead of me in line, amicably chatting with a friend I had met on the way in, when to my horrified surprise I heard, "I need to see your card, miss."

Unbeknownst to me, meal cards had been issued during my absence, to keep non-interns from sneaking in and taking advantage of anonymity in the caf. So I was left standing there holding an empty tray, slack jawed and wondering what had happened. Apparently, even given the 3 weeks heads up, administration had failed to register me in the system, which meant I was a nonperson. I didn't exist to them, not in this bubble of a world.

So a quick trip to my local friendly neighborhood campus store saved me from possible starvation, but my pride was burned, and I am still awaiting recognition as part of the Honor Academy community. We shall see how this turns out, but as of now... I.... am invisible.

~Char
the invisible girl

Update: (as of 2:26 pm) I am no longer invisible.... :)