Monday, August 21, 2006

THE BIODATA

The parents are now asking me to put together a matrimonial biodata. There was one that the they cobbled together for me a few years ago, using my work resume and anecdotal experience. I think I proofread and signed off on it at some point. Alas, the biodata, which was saved on my father's old PC, is no more (the PC crashed; I highly suspect that my explosive biodata had something to do with it. Ahem).

Now, everything (ie my future...ie whether I grow up to become a fabulous wife/mother or a miserable and curmudgeonly old spinster type with lots of cats to whom she's allergic) apparently hinges on my curriculum vitae, which will include, amongst other details, my education and work experience, appropriate measurements (height, weight...I don't think these things include THOSE kinds of measurements), personality, hobbies and interests and a seperate section where I can include a personal essay of sorts.

Part of me wants to put together the most ridiculously heinous biodata I can. Part of me wants to satisfy the 'rents. Then there's the part that actually wants to be curmudgeonly and old and spinstery and unattached. Of course, there's another part that wants to be all Emily Dickinson-ian and remain in a world of perpetual childhood. Worry not, you romantic types. There is a part of me that wants to eventually meet someone decent enough to hitch myself to for eternity, but I seriously don't care enough at this point to condense my life into a 1-2 page resume in order to meet this dude. This part, perhaps apocalyptically, still believes in romance.

For the record, this last, unacceptably lame and foolishly wide-eyed part of me is obviously a remnant of my teeny-bopper days. The other parts of which I'm comprised don't care very much for it and are working on exorcising it for good...because intelligent folks can't be stupid like that.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to admit - I only heard the term Biodata a little while ago. I wasn't certain if the "uncle" wanted to hire me, or what... The confused look on my face tipped off his wife who pulled me aside and explained.

I was caught *WAY* off guard.

If you are going for faux-biodata - don't forget to mention your Harley and the fact you are a charter member of "Desi-parados" - the all-desi Harley gang...

mist1 said...

I want one too. It would cut down on all the talking that I have to do about myself. I could just say, "As you can see from my 'experience'..."

SabilaK said...

BK: I definitely think "Vegetarian" should also be prominently displayed in the biodata.

Mist: I'll post mine up once I'm done. Perhaps my readers can then use it as a template for their own life resumes.

For additional references, I'm so going to say: see testimonials on Friendster and Naseeb.

Juicy said...

amen to the exorcism!

sounds a lot like applying to college...

Abstracting Silliness said...

don't forget to put "want to do double PhD in xyz" in there... should get an interesting reaction from ur mom...

Anonymous said...

Hey Sabilak, are you (and by that I mean your parents) looking exclusively for Pakistani boys of a certain age/height/weight/measurements/education?
Because if you are, well then that just sucks for some of us :)

Anonymous said...

surely there must some men in manhattan whom you fancy?

Maritza said...

Maybe if you slip in a couple of subtle sarcastic quips a like minded sould may pick up on it and then, who knows? I'm such an optimist.

Terra Shield said...

Don't lose touch with the part of you that still believes in romance... (I'm torn in between being a believer and a non-believer!)

Anonymous said...

I think Sabila is simply uninterested in meeting anyone... she's reached a plateau in her life where everything is just right and doesn't want to rock the boat by introducing any new complications of a relationship (either that or she can't seem to come out of the closet with her parents ;). Sabila, if you're content in the single life you're living then just keep living it.

SabilaK said...

Anonymous: I happen to like men very much. Truth be told, I'm afraid of a broken heart.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm.... Afraid of a broken heart?
Welcome to the club m'dear!

I would offer this gentle thought: You seem to have loving parents, solid brothers and good friends. If the leap is taken and missed, your fall would have many kind souls to cushion the blow.

I don't know if you are a fan of Guy Clark - but there is a wonderful song he wrote, "The Cape"

"He’s one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold you breath
Always trust your cape"

SabilaK said...

Anusha and Passion: Romance is the stuff of dead poets and Hallmark, as far as I'm concerned.

Maritza: I can't even find the glass...

Zee: Alas, there isn't at the moment. Crushes are nice though. I wouldn't mind having a crush.

Anonymous: I suspect that at this point, my mother would entertain all males over the age of 18 as prospective candidates.

AS: Oh, oh, and he must be 6'0" with washboard abs and a desire to save the world from global warming. "If you don't fit this profile, please don't bother reading this biodata any further." --I'm so writing that in my biodata.

Juicy: At least I get to bypass the SATs this time.

SabilaK said...

BK: Amen to my support system.
Mostly, though, I'm happy where I am and am in no rush to settle down. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, que sera.

Abstracting Silliness said...

sk: Gawd, sounds like someone has been reading too many harlequin novels 0_o

Anonymous said...

How many relationships and subsequent broken hearts have you actually had in your short lifespan? Please do elaborate on us, your loyal readers, with the details ;-). You just seem too young to be giving up all hope in love.

Checkmate said...

A Bio Data to get married? Sorry can't grasp it. Sabilak, you live in Manhattan, I suppose. Have you ever thought about dating. Not the American Version but maybe your own Muslim, Pakistani type of dating. You know go out there and meet some good men perhaps.

Terra Shield said...

Ah, the brutal consequences of modernisation!

PS: I was fromerly known as Anusha

Anonymous said...

Love ain't nothin but hormonal imbalances...
but it's still fun to pretend :)

SabilaK said...

Abstracting: it's more like I haven't been reading enough Harlequin novels...

Anonymous: not as many as anyone would imagine. However, I've seen what those around me have suffered through at the hands of love and, eh, no thanks.

Checkmate: I'm not a good dater. I'm a good reader.

Passion: I highly doubt it.

Terra/Anusha: Why the superhero-like nom de plume?

Anonymous: Sometimes I concur.

Okay, time to change the subject. All this love talk is kinda making me ill.

Anonymous said...

Hurry up with putting up that biodata already... I've gotta copy... err... reference it.

SabilaK said...

Anonymous: I'm totally procrastinating. If you want to get hitched while that biological clock is still ticking, I'd advise that you whip up your own biodata.

gbz said...

well if you want to skip the whole biodata thing i'm still single...oh, and i work out (imagine that being said in a really jocular voice).
plus i wont break your heart cuz i have self-esteem issues.
...and i speak elvish (how sexy is that?)
uile na mheleth,
just/V

Anonymous said...

Hey Sabila have you (or your parents) put up a profile on any of those dating/marriage sites yet?

SabilaK said...

Just: You're a cutie. Alas, I don't speak elvish. I'm shocked that a girl at your school hasn't snapped you right up already!

Anonymous: Thankfully, my parents are technologically inept and wouldn't know where to start.

Anonymous said...

Awww... Our nerd girl got herself yet another strapping 17 year old suitor... Sabila, what is it about you that attracts these young boys so readily?
And oh ya, marry me? :-P

SabilaK said...

Anonymous: I have no idea. I have the corner on the teenage and geriatrics markets. It's everyone in between that I can't seem to figure out.

As for the second question, talk to my mom.

Anon said...

Just found your blog, and I love it. I'm 23 and a writer, which thankfully prevents my parents from auctioning me off on the desi meat market "Oh Kanna, no one will be interested unless you're a doctor, lawyer, or MBA"
"Really Mom? you mean I might have to (gasp) actually talk to a woman on my own? Preposterous!"