Postcards are a complicated matter. First, you have to find the perfect picture for the picture side. Then, you have to think of something interesting to say on the other side. Chances are high that anything interesting is also going to be vulgar and then the postman's going to think you're a slut. Which is not a big deal, unless you care; and for some reason, I do. I say this with authority as I recently went on holiday and faced these problems several times over. The combination of cheesy cityscapes (I like to think of it as muzak for the eyes) and writer's block left me staggering around the streets of Milan in despair. It was all just too much. There was no doubt that people needed to know, but the postcard was cramping my style.
With all this in mind, the e-mail really is a much better deal. For starters, you don't need to pick a picture. Gone are the days of nursing sprained wrists after hours of turning those revolving postcard stands, in search of the One. Gone too are the days of fearing the disapproving looks or alternatively, lascivious grins of the mailman as he pores over the sordid details of the weather and food at wherever you are. You don't even have to buy a stamp to send an e-mail (although you do need a computer, but let's not get lost in the details.)
Being a globetrotter really has its challenges as you can see. However, I met a wise man during one of my travels who shed a little light on the whole matter. He told me that people didn't really care to hear what I had to say anyway and that all this was one big massage for my ego. Ok, so maybe he wasn't that wise, and according to his endocrinologist, there are questions as to his status as a man. I even made up that piece of advice he gave me, but I had to say something conclusive (sheepish look), right?
Having also been on the receiving end of numerous postcards and e-mails, I can assure you that I trash more than I stash, but the good ones really are very good. With them, it seems to make little difference how they get to you, as long as they do. I guess all I really have to say is whatever you choose, don't stop writing. It's nice to see it in print, even if you know I know. Because no matter how much you scandalize the postman, you know I still like to hear you talk dirty.
Smita Venkat graduated in December, 2003 with concentrations in Finance, Accounting and OPIM. She is from, and currently resides in, Singapore. Her e-mail address is smvenkatwharton.upenn.edu.
Wanna Fight, Izit? appears sporatically throughout the semester.
