One year ago, on a warm Friday afternoon, I was handed a Washington, D.C. flag and learned I'd be staying in Washington for my first assignment. It was not at all what I expected and I was sure it would be a tough year.
Today, on a warm Friday evening, I left my office after fond farewells with two bags full of stuff that I had to take home. I nearly cried because it has been such an incredible year with such incredible people and I was not ready to leave.
I am so thankful that this was my first assignment in the Foreign Service. I have learned so much, but my biggest takeaway is that sometimes the thing you think you don't want is going to be the best thing for you. I am looking forward to the next step (long-term language training!) and I hope my future tours are as awesome as this one. I have the distinct feeling they will be :)
Showing posts with label Foreign Service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foreign Service. Show all posts
Friday, August 16, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
One year ago today
On April 27, 2012 I woke up in my parent's basement in a room without windows (I called it the "dungeon;" truth is, I prefer it over the adjoining room because I like to sleep in total darkness). I was in Colorado because I was finishing my last class for my master's degree; Scott was still in Ohio because we'd moved there in January. It was a Friday morning and the next day was my very last classroom session for my degree. I was headed back to Ohio on Sunday afternoon.
I grabbed my phone, as I do most mornings, and checked my email. And there was an email from the Department of State. I was invited to be in the July A-100 class for the Foreign Service. I was in shock. I had stopped paying attention to the Foreign Service message boards months ago and I knew I was going to expire off the register in July. In the back of my mind, I always thought it would be nice to hear from them, but I had honestly given up hope.
Here I am a year later. I live in Washington, D.C. and I am a few months away from finishing my first assignment (first tour DC positions are only one year tours). I've met former Secretary Clinton (on more than one occasion) and now Secretary Kerry. I've visited Timor-Leste and Indonesia as a representative of the United States, places I never thought I would see. I got to bid farewell the Ambassador from Timor-Leste at a reception at Blair House (its an awesome place - http://blairhouse.org). Soon I may be working on the credentials for a new Ambassador from Timor-Leste as well as preparing our Ambassador to Timor.
If you had asked me on April 26th how the next year was going to look, it would have included a lot of discussion about rural Ohio and looking into how to get a teaching job out there. Now, my coming year includes learning a language I know little about (Cantonese) and preparing to move to Asia.
It all just keeps getting better and better. I can't imagine what two years from now will look like.
I grabbed my phone, as I do most mornings, and checked my email. And there was an email from the Department of State. I was invited to be in the July A-100 class for the Foreign Service. I was in shock. I had stopped paying attention to the Foreign Service message boards months ago and I knew I was going to expire off the register in July. In the back of my mind, I always thought it would be nice to hear from them, but I had honestly given up hope.
Here I am a year later. I live in Washington, D.C. and I am a few months away from finishing my first assignment (first tour DC positions are only one year tours). I've met former Secretary Clinton (on more than one occasion) and now Secretary Kerry. I've visited Timor-Leste and Indonesia as a representative of the United States, places I never thought I would see. I got to bid farewell the Ambassador from Timor-Leste at a reception at Blair House (its an awesome place - http://blairhouse.org). Soon I may be working on the credentials for a new Ambassador from Timor-Leste as well as preparing our Ambassador to Timor.
If you had asked me on April 26th how the next year was going to look, it would have included a lot of discussion about rural Ohio and looking into how to get a teaching job out there. Now, my coming year includes learning a language I know little about (Cantonese) and preparing to move to Asia.
It all just keeps getting better and better. I can't imagine what two years from now will look like.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Breaking News
On the "where are we going next" front, we have news. Well, a little news. So Wuhan, China is not our destination for sure. I found out last week officially that my assignment was broken. I had heard of this happening to other people before and in the back of my mind I felt like until we arrived I wouldn't feel like it was for sure. Clearly I was spot on with that one.
So after I found out the assignment was broken, as I mentioned before, I didn't have a lot of information about what comes next. I talked to my Career Development Officer and she said that they could offer me a full list of all the positions available in the world (yeah, the WORLD. This is the kind of awesomeness I get to choose from) but after looking at my preferences from the last time I bid she guessed I would end up bidding on all China posts high. I told her she was right and could save us both the time; her searching to see what was available and me feeling like I needed to look into all the places on the list.
So here was my list: Hong Kong, Beijing, or Guangzhou. Not a bad option among them. We get to go to China and we get to go in 2014. We talked debated and submitted our preferences for which one we would prefer over the others. This coming week we should find out where we are headed.
While this may not seem like a big deal ("you're still headed to China, how different are the cities?"), its a pretty big adjustment when thinking about our future. Wuhan was more "rural"than these three cities. While it still has a population larger than most major American cities, it is very non-Western. So non-Western that we would have been able to bring a shipment of consumables (any non-perishable foods and other items that we wanted to bring with us). Now we won't get that. Honestly, we were really excited about living in one of the most non-Western options when it comes to the locations of the U.S. consulates in China. Now we will be living in a place where there is a fair chance people speak English, or in the case of Hong Kong, everyone does. Either way, we are thrilled to be going back to China, but now we have to readjust our thinking on what life will be like there.
But hopefully, come Tuesday, we can start looking planning on life in a new locale!
So after I found out the assignment was broken, as I mentioned before, I didn't have a lot of information about what comes next. I talked to my Career Development Officer and she said that they could offer me a full list of all the positions available in the world (yeah, the WORLD. This is the kind of awesomeness I get to choose from) but after looking at my preferences from the last time I bid she guessed I would end up bidding on all China posts high. I told her she was right and could save us both the time; her searching to see what was available and me feeling like I needed to look into all the places on the list.
So here was my list: Hong Kong, Beijing, or Guangzhou. Not a bad option among them. We get to go to China and we get to go in 2014. We talked debated and submitted our preferences for which one we would prefer over the others. This coming week we should find out where we are headed.
While this may not seem like a big deal ("you're still headed to China, how different are the cities?"), its a pretty big adjustment when thinking about our future. Wuhan was more "rural"than these three cities. While it still has a population larger than most major American cities, it is very non-Western. So non-Western that we would have been able to bring a shipment of consumables (any non-perishable foods and other items that we wanted to bring with us). Now we won't get that. Honestly, we were really excited about living in one of the most non-Western options when it comes to the locations of the U.S. consulates in China. Now we will be living in a place where there is a fair chance people speak English, or in the case of Hong Kong, everyone does. Either way, we are thrilled to be going back to China, but now we have to readjust our thinking on what life will be like there.
But hopefully, come Tuesday, we can start looking planning on life in a new locale!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Dili, Timor-Leste and the present
As "Frankenstorm" begins to bear down on the Northeast, let me describe what it was like to be in sunny, tropical Timor-Leste.
September 29th - Leaving Singapore and Arriving in Dili
I was sad I could not spend more time in Singapore. It was a very interesting airport, so I can only imagine how interesting the city would have been. There were buses and trains that went straight from the airport to downtown for a very reasonable price, but alas, there will always be another day.
The flight from Dili to Singapore was pretty nice, but by this point my body was so messed up about what time of day it was and when I should have been eating that I could just not stomach any more food. It was a shame too, because the food on this flight was really nice, I just could not eat it. I was the slowest person in the section around me (which is usually the case with me on the planes, I don't know why that is. I'm not usually a slow eater) and I thought there was a chance the plane was going to land and I was still going to have my nice food tray.
Landing in Dili was an experience. We came in over the water and landed on a small air strip that was next to palm trees and the sea. There was one other plane already on the runway, and that was it. They pulled our plane up next to that one, rolled the stairs up next to it and out we walked onto the tarmac. Oh my goodness, it was hot and muggy. I was not quite prepared for this level of heat.
As we walked up to the airport, I saw the UN peacekeepers standing at the entrance. I had never been to a country that currently had a UN peacekeeping force. As I went through immigration, there were many of them, from many different nations, milling through the people and talking to them in various languages. After immigration was baggage claim - a single belt that dumped most of the suitcases on to the floor. I have been to tiny airports so this was nothing unusual.
Lucky for me, the Embassy had sent a driver to meet me at the airport and I didn't have to deal with trying to find a taxi and the hotel on my own. Whenever I have visited an airport, no matter the country, there is a pretty standard taxi system. There are the taxis that wait in the designated area and then there are the taxi drivers who stop you on the way to the designated area and offer you a ride in their taxi for a "better price." As I followed the Embassy driver through the craziness that was the tiny airport exit full of family, sellers, taxi drivers, I was just so glad to not have to figure this all out on my own. I truly love traveling and experiencing other countries, but for some reason I kind of stress out about the airport part of it (just wait until I get to Jakarta...oh the experience there...)
The driver was very kind and explained a little about himself and the city to me as he took me to the hotel. The hotel was a nice place - the room itself reminded me very much of China. The a/c units were exactly the same and there was one in the living room and one in the bedroom, which was especially nice. The hotel had a little restaurant and I figured I would check that out later. As I settled into the room I thought I would have a little rest and then go in search of dinner (it was about 3:30 in the afternoon). So, I tried to stay awake until after 4, and then I laid down.
And then I woke up at 3:30am. Jet lag is some fun stuff. I tried to force myself back to sleep and it worked, a little. I got up and decided to see if I could use the computer to get on the internet. The hotel had given me the code but I had to enter all this other information to get the computer hooked up in the first place. I am pretty proud of myself on this one. After years of listening to my father-in-law and my husband discuss computers, settings, IP addresses, etc., I was able to figure out how to get this to work without any assistance. A moment of triumph for me.
September 30th -
I was invited on a outing by some people from the Embassy for my first full day in Timor-Leste. It was a Sunday and we went to Maubara, where there is a Dutch/Portuguese Fort. After viewing the Fort we had lunch and the restaurant inside. My first experience with Timorese food was really great. Chicken with rice and some kind of sauce. Very tasty.
The beach is beautiful in Timor-Leste. The water is so clear and blue. We walked to the beach across the street from the Fort and I put my feet in the ocean, accidentally. As we were standing on the beach, there was a whale that swam by. The depth of the water increases dramatically not too far from shore and there was a whale coming up out of the water and breathing through its blow hole. It was awesome. We all tried to get pictures, but it was difficult to do. Once I upload my pictures I will add the one with the whale - the tiny silver sliver in the sea. As we were all searching for the next place the whale would pop up - the ocean came up and soaked our shoes. It was a long ride home with squishy socks.
I was invited to celebrate Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with some people from the Embassy that evening. It was really fascinating to spend time with others who had been living in Timor for some time. By the time 8pm rolled around, I could not hang on any longer. I took the short walk back to my hotel and crashed. Then 3:30am came around again...
Next time on the blog...meetings! That is pretty much what my trip in Dili consisted of. But that is the point of these familiarization trips. And they were some very fascinating meetings.
For now, I need make sure I have everything in order to prepare for this storm. They have said its going to be bad, but so far there is not much wind and a little rain. We will see how it goes down over the next 12 hours though. I have never been through a hurricane. Should be interesting.
And being that it is so close to Halloween, I chose this weekend to start watching The Walking Dead. Alone. That might have been a mistake. Sometimes this show is scary!
September 29th - Leaving Singapore and Arriving in Dili
I was sad I could not spend more time in Singapore. It was a very interesting airport, so I can only imagine how interesting the city would have been. There were buses and trains that went straight from the airport to downtown for a very reasonable price, but alas, there will always be another day.
The flight from Dili to Singapore was pretty nice, but by this point my body was so messed up about what time of day it was and when I should have been eating that I could just not stomach any more food. It was a shame too, because the food on this flight was really nice, I just could not eat it. I was the slowest person in the section around me (which is usually the case with me on the planes, I don't know why that is. I'm not usually a slow eater) and I thought there was a chance the plane was going to land and I was still going to have my nice food tray.
Landing in Dili was an experience. We came in over the water and landed on a small air strip that was next to palm trees and the sea. There was one other plane already on the runway, and that was it. They pulled our plane up next to that one, rolled the stairs up next to it and out we walked onto the tarmac. Oh my goodness, it was hot and muggy. I was not quite prepared for this level of heat.
As we walked up to the airport, I saw the UN peacekeepers standing at the entrance. I had never been to a country that currently had a UN peacekeeping force. As I went through immigration, there were many of them, from many different nations, milling through the people and talking to them in various languages. After immigration was baggage claim - a single belt that dumped most of the suitcases on to the floor. I have been to tiny airports so this was nothing unusual.
Lucky for me, the Embassy had sent a driver to meet me at the airport and I didn't have to deal with trying to find a taxi and the hotel on my own. Whenever I have visited an airport, no matter the country, there is a pretty standard taxi system. There are the taxis that wait in the designated area and then there are the taxi drivers who stop you on the way to the designated area and offer you a ride in their taxi for a "better price." As I followed the Embassy driver through the craziness that was the tiny airport exit full of family, sellers, taxi drivers, I was just so glad to not have to figure this all out on my own. I truly love traveling and experiencing other countries, but for some reason I kind of stress out about the airport part of it (just wait until I get to Jakarta...oh the experience there...)
The driver was very kind and explained a little about himself and the city to me as he took me to the hotel. The hotel was a nice place - the room itself reminded me very much of China. The a/c units were exactly the same and there was one in the living room and one in the bedroom, which was especially nice. The hotel had a little restaurant and I figured I would check that out later. As I settled into the room I thought I would have a little rest and then go in search of dinner (it was about 3:30 in the afternoon). So, I tried to stay awake until after 4, and then I laid down.
And then I woke up at 3:30am. Jet lag is some fun stuff. I tried to force myself back to sleep and it worked, a little. I got up and decided to see if I could use the computer to get on the internet. The hotel had given me the code but I had to enter all this other information to get the computer hooked up in the first place. I am pretty proud of myself on this one. After years of listening to my father-in-law and my husband discuss computers, settings, IP addresses, etc., I was able to figure out how to get this to work without any assistance. A moment of triumph for me.
September 30th -
I was invited on a outing by some people from the Embassy for my first full day in Timor-Leste. It was a Sunday and we went to Maubara, where there is a Dutch/Portuguese Fort. After viewing the Fort we had lunch and the restaurant inside. My first experience with Timorese food was really great. Chicken with rice and some kind of sauce. Very tasty.
The beach is beautiful in Timor-Leste. The water is so clear and blue. We walked to the beach across the street from the Fort and I put my feet in the ocean, accidentally. As we were standing on the beach, there was a whale that swam by. The depth of the water increases dramatically not too far from shore and there was a whale coming up out of the water and breathing through its blow hole. It was awesome. We all tried to get pictures, but it was difficult to do. Once I upload my pictures I will add the one with the whale - the tiny silver sliver in the sea. As we were all searching for the next place the whale would pop up - the ocean came up and soaked our shoes. It was a long ride home with squishy socks.
I was invited to celebrate Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with some people from the Embassy that evening. It was really fascinating to spend time with others who had been living in Timor for some time. By the time 8pm rolled around, I could not hang on any longer. I took the short walk back to my hotel and crashed. Then 3:30am came around again...
Next time on the blog...meetings! That is pretty much what my trip in Dili consisted of. But that is the point of these familiarization trips. And they were some very fascinating meetings.
For now, I need make sure I have everything in order to prepare for this storm. They have said its going to be bad, but so far there is not much wind and a little rain. We will see how it goes down over the next 12 hours though. I have never been through a hurricane. Should be interesting.
And being that it is so close to Halloween, I chose this weekend to start watching The Walking Dead. Alone. That might have been a mistake. Sometimes this show is scary!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Contrary to Popular Belief...
I think about writing a new post all the time. But I am either at work, out with friends or simply too tired to write. That has been my life for the last couple months.
Even now, there are so many things I want to say but I am not sure where to begin.
Work has been challenging, but it has been good. Every day I feel more confident about what I am doing and I have fewer questions than the day before.
A nice perk of the desk officer job? I got to take a familiarization trip to the region! It was so beneficial to my work that I feel blessed to have been able to go on one so soon after starting work.
I shall begin with the preparation...
September 26th -
Arranging an overseas trip with multiple legs and stops is a rather complicated process. There is a travel company that arranges the flights for us, but up until the day before I left I was on the phone with them at least once a day. At this point, I was just going to be happy if when I showed up at the airport someone would let me on a plane.
Packing was interesting. I have never been on a trip where I had to have business attire. I packed a couple suit jackets and nice pants and skirts along with casual clothes for the evenings. It was supposed to be in the 80s and 90s where I was going and it was starting to turn to fall here in DC. Plus there is the fact that I am always freezing on planes. I need long pants and a jacket just to survive the flight.
September 27th -
The day to leave has arrived! Its a Thursday and I am not going to arrive in Dili, Timor-Leste until Saturday. This is going to be a long trip...
My loving husband dropped me off at the airport. He tried to go through security with me (since he has a badge) but they weren't having it. Apparently that only works in Colorado and sometimes in Oklahoma. So we had to say goodbye before I descended into the security area. It was hidden from the public view so I had no idea the line was so massive. Being former TSA, I am always interested in how other airports set up their screening areas. Dulles is crazy efficient. There were over 30 screening lanes with glass dividing doors and after the ticket check you pick your own lane. I thought security was going to take forever but I was through in no time.
I was in the second to last row on the plane but I was by the window, so I thought that was nice. No one came to the middle seat so I was excited about that. Since the flight was 14+ hours on the way to Tokyo, each seat had its own personal tv, which was awesome as well. The girl on the aisle in my row could not get her tv to work. She had the flight attendant reset the tvs in our row three times (I was trying to watch the movie Brave and it was starting to get ridiculous with how many times I had seen the same part). In the end her tv simply would not work, so she decided to move seats. Three hours into the flight, and I had my own row!
It was pretty nice that I was able to stretch out and have a real rest for the rest of the flight. I was able to sleep for about 5 hours, which I thought was key since I wanted to acclimate to the new time zone as easily as possible (boy was I in for a surprise...).
We arrived in Tokyo and I had to go through security again to board my next flight to Singapore. I have never been to Japan so I was excited for the little glimpse of the country I was able to see out the window. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day so my glimpse was very limited. While I was going through security I was wondering about the lives of the security screeners. I am sure they find their jobs to be mundane (as I sometimes did when I worked airport security) but I was fascinated because they lived in Japan. Theirs was a life I was trying to comprehend but I could not because I don't know anything about what the everyday life in Japan might be like. I am sure there are things that are similar to my own, but at the same time I am sure there are things that are vastly different. It makes me think that no matter how boring and repetitive your own life may seem, there is someone out there who is fascinated by it because their own is so different.
I think by this point it was September 28th. I am not really sure. I was only in Tokyo's airport for about two hours before I was on my way to Singapore. I arrived in Singapore after it was already dark. I think it was still the 28th and I had to overnight in Singapore before my flight to Dili the next morning.
The Singapore airport is like a little city. There is a movie theater and parks and just all kinds of things. Look up Changi Airport and just be amazed at what is going on there. The sad part was I didn't have any time to experience any of it. My arrival time was almost midnight. After my bag arrived I went straight to the hotel that is part of the airport. Of course, it was the middle of the day back in DC so I was not tired. Looking back, I should have tried to go out to the city a little. I was told that Singapore never sleeps but I figured since it was so late there would be nothing for me to see. So I stayed in my room, had a bath, had a rest and got up at 7am the next morning to catch my flight to Dili.
Next time on the blog...
Read about my flight and first days in Dili, Timor-Leste!
In the meantime, look up Changi Airport and then (if you haven't already) find Dili on a map. Its way out there and pretty close to Australia.
Even now, there are so many things I want to say but I am not sure where to begin.
Work has been challenging, but it has been good. Every day I feel more confident about what I am doing and I have fewer questions than the day before.
A nice perk of the desk officer job? I got to take a familiarization trip to the region! It was so beneficial to my work that I feel blessed to have been able to go on one so soon after starting work.
I shall begin with the preparation...
September 26th -
Arranging an overseas trip with multiple legs and stops is a rather complicated process. There is a travel company that arranges the flights for us, but up until the day before I left I was on the phone with them at least once a day. At this point, I was just going to be happy if when I showed up at the airport someone would let me on a plane.
Packing was interesting. I have never been on a trip where I had to have business attire. I packed a couple suit jackets and nice pants and skirts along with casual clothes for the evenings. It was supposed to be in the 80s and 90s where I was going and it was starting to turn to fall here in DC. Plus there is the fact that I am always freezing on planes. I need long pants and a jacket just to survive the flight.
September 27th -
The day to leave has arrived! Its a Thursday and I am not going to arrive in Dili, Timor-Leste until Saturday. This is going to be a long trip...
My loving husband dropped me off at the airport. He tried to go through security with me (since he has a badge) but they weren't having it. Apparently that only works in Colorado and sometimes in Oklahoma. So we had to say goodbye before I descended into the security area. It was hidden from the public view so I had no idea the line was so massive. Being former TSA, I am always interested in how other airports set up their screening areas. Dulles is crazy efficient. There were over 30 screening lanes with glass dividing doors and after the ticket check you pick your own lane. I thought security was going to take forever but I was through in no time.
I was in the second to last row on the plane but I was by the window, so I thought that was nice. No one came to the middle seat so I was excited about that. Since the flight was 14+ hours on the way to Tokyo, each seat had its own personal tv, which was awesome as well. The girl on the aisle in my row could not get her tv to work. She had the flight attendant reset the tvs in our row three times (I was trying to watch the movie Brave and it was starting to get ridiculous with how many times I had seen the same part). In the end her tv simply would not work, so she decided to move seats. Three hours into the flight, and I had my own row!
It was pretty nice that I was able to stretch out and have a real rest for the rest of the flight. I was able to sleep for about 5 hours, which I thought was key since I wanted to acclimate to the new time zone as easily as possible (boy was I in for a surprise...).
We arrived in Tokyo and I had to go through security again to board my next flight to Singapore. I have never been to Japan so I was excited for the little glimpse of the country I was able to see out the window. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day so my glimpse was very limited. While I was going through security I was wondering about the lives of the security screeners. I am sure they find their jobs to be mundane (as I sometimes did when I worked airport security) but I was fascinated because they lived in Japan. Theirs was a life I was trying to comprehend but I could not because I don't know anything about what the everyday life in Japan might be like. I am sure there are things that are similar to my own, but at the same time I am sure there are things that are vastly different. It makes me think that no matter how boring and repetitive your own life may seem, there is someone out there who is fascinated by it because their own is so different.
I think by this point it was September 28th. I am not really sure. I was only in Tokyo's airport for about two hours before I was on my way to Singapore. I arrived in Singapore after it was already dark. I think it was still the 28th and I had to overnight in Singapore before my flight to Dili the next morning.
The Singapore airport is like a little city. There is a movie theater and parks and just all kinds of things. Look up Changi Airport and just be amazed at what is going on there. The sad part was I didn't have any time to experience any of it. My arrival time was almost midnight. After my bag arrived I went straight to the hotel that is part of the airport. Of course, it was the middle of the day back in DC so I was not tired. Looking back, I should have tried to go out to the city a little. I was told that Singapore never sleeps but I figured since it was so late there would be nothing for me to see. So I stayed in my room, had a bath, had a rest and got up at 7am the next morning to catch my flight to Dili.
Next time on the blog...
Read about my flight and first days in Dili, Timor-Leste!
In the meantime, look up Changi Airport and then (if you haven't already) find Dili on a map. Its way out there and pretty close to Australia.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
And so, it ends...
A-100 is officially over. We were back at Main State for our swearing-in ceremony on Friday. It was the same building this whole experience started in six weeks prior. We were in the auditorium next door and I remember being so overwhelmed at the mere prospect of this life. I barely understood where I was supposed to go, what I was supposed to be doing and I did not know anyone. I knew a lot of names from the online groups and some faces from the happy hour the night before, but I still didn't know how I was going to fit into all of this.
And here I am, a short time later, and I have more new friends than I know what to do with. I am so invested in their lives and happy for them as everyone will be starting work, heading off to a new country, or beginning their training in the next couple weeks. I think I have said it multiple times before, but these people are really amazing. And their spouses, kids, and families are just as awesome. I cannot wait to hear from the ones that leave right away once they reach their first posts and I look forward to getting to know the ones that will still be around even better.
As for me, I start work tomorrow! I was so preoccupied with finding an apartment (not an easy task!) that I have barely thought about my new job. After days of searching and literally hundreds of calls (mostly made by my amazing husband), I have a place to live! Its a really nice property and although the location is not exactly what I was hoping for its still plenty close to everything. I am just hoping to find out that some co-workers live in the same area (surely the odds are in my favor, right?).
Tomorrow is going to be a great day. I had the opportunity to visit my new office last week and see my desk and the map on the wall (arguably my favorite part. I do love my maps). The best part of tomorrow? Finding out exactly what I will be doing! Its going to be good.
And here I am, a short time later, and I have more new friends than I know what to do with. I am so invested in their lives and happy for them as everyone will be starting work, heading off to a new country, or beginning their training in the next couple weeks. I think I have said it multiple times before, but these people are really amazing. And their spouses, kids, and families are just as awesome. I cannot wait to hear from the ones that leave right away once they reach their first posts and I look forward to getting to know the ones that will still be around even better.
As for me, I start work tomorrow! I was so preoccupied with finding an apartment (not an easy task!) that I have barely thought about my new job. After days of searching and literally hundreds of calls (mostly made by my amazing husband), I have a place to live! Its a really nice property and although the location is not exactly what I was hoping for its still plenty close to everything. I am just hoping to find out that some co-workers live in the same area (surely the odds are in my favor, right?).
Tomorrow is going to be a great day. I had the opportunity to visit my new office last week and see my desk and the map on the wall (arguably my favorite part. I do love my maps). The best part of tomorrow? Finding out exactly what I will be doing! Its going to be good.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
A Flag Day Tale
I have read a lot of flag day stories. They are usually ones of joy and excitement or of anger and frustration. This is neither.
When I woke up the day didn't really feel like a big deal. I had slept well the night before and yet I wanted to keep sleeping. But I got up and was kind of excited for the first order of the day, a trip to the CIA building.
The past week had been really intense. Part of that was because the skills we were learning were pretty difficult but I also think it was because they wanted to keep our minds completely occupied. It worked. Friday was like a reward. A trip to the CIA followed by flag day. While the morning was interesting, I was ready to move on and get the to main event.
My family was there which I was really excited about. My parents tried to come to Ohio a couple months ago but it didn't work out so I hadn't seen them in a while. My grandpa and aunt came too which was great.
All week people had been asking each other, "what is your number one choice?" and I had latched on to Mongolia. In all honesty I was really attached to all of my top choices but Mongolia just became an easy go-to answer. I would have been a little sad not to go to all of them which is one reason I was so looking forward to flag day. I was genuinely excited to find out where everyone was going because if I could not be the one to go to each awesome place on our list I wanted to find out who would.
When we got in the room it still didn't feel real. I saw the projection saying, "welcome to flag day" and it still didn't feel real. I chose my seat next to my dearest friends and it still didn't feel real. Then we did the wave as we sat in our seats; well that was just silly. And then they brought the flags in. Ok, this is it.
I am the kind of person who wants to know everyone. I know the first and last name of all 90+ people in my class as well as our coordinators and a few other people who have been involved in our training. I was genuinely thrilled to write down where each person was going so I could be excited for them and keep a list for my own reference. Starting the event off with a bang, one of my best friends was called first. It was exactly the country she wanted to be in and I was so excited for her. As the names and countries of the rest if my classmates were called I kept up with writing each one down. I was hardly registering whether or not I wanted the posts that were being called, I was just keeping track of who was going and where.
And then the Washington, DC flag appeared on the screen and I was already looking at that post on my list for some reason (DC posts were on the second page). As soon as the announcer started reading the job I closed my eyes. It was going to be mine and for some reason I knew it. He called my name and it took me a second to not write my own name down before I got up to collect my flag.
I was overwhelmed and a little in shock. I took my flag and folder in a daze and walked to the back to hug Scott. He was smiling for me and as I glanced down the row at my parents my dad mouthed, "Is this good?" I nodded and kept a smile on my face (at some point I may share the photo my mother took of me at this moment. I look exceedingly ridiculous with my crazy smile). I cried, but went back to my seat to keep writing down where everyone else was going. The tears were not out of sadness or joy but just from the emotion of the event.
This was absolutely not on my radar. But it's going to be great. I am excited about getting to know the city and the people. My biggest concern at the moment is finding a place to live because they are kicking me out of state housing and DC is expensive!
As for the job itself: I am thrilled. It's exactly the bureau I want to be in and it also happens to be the subject I know the most about. I start really soon and although it would maybe have been more exciting to be heading overseas right away I will be bidding next month on my first overseas position!
When I woke up the day didn't really feel like a big deal. I had slept well the night before and yet I wanted to keep sleeping. But I got up and was kind of excited for the first order of the day, a trip to the CIA building.
The past week had been really intense. Part of that was because the skills we were learning were pretty difficult but I also think it was because they wanted to keep our minds completely occupied. It worked. Friday was like a reward. A trip to the CIA followed by flag day. While the morning was interesting, I was ready to move on and get the to main event.
My family was there which I was really excited about. My parents tried to come to Ohio a couple months ago but it didn't work out so I hadn't seen them in a while. My grandpa and aunt came too which was great.
All week people had been asking each other, "what is your number one choice?" and I had latched on to Mongolia. In all honesty I was really attached to all of my top choices but Mongolia just became an easy go-to answer. I would have been a little sad not to go to all of them which is one reason I was so looking forward to flag day. I was genuinely excited to find out where everyone was going because if I could not be the one to go to each awesome place on our list I wanted to find out who would.
I am the kind of person who wants to know everyone. I know the first and last name of all 90+ people in my class as well as our coordinators and a few other people who have been involved in our training. I was genuinely thrilled to write down where each person was going so I could be excited for them and keep a list for my own reference. Starting the event off with a bang, one of my best friends was called first. It was exactly the country she wanted to be in and I was so excited for her. As the names and countries of the rest if my classmates were called I kept up with writing each one down. I was hardly registering whether or not I wanted the posts that were being called, I was just keeping track of who was going and where.
And then the Washington, DC flag appeared on the screen and I was already looking at that post on my list for some reason (DC posts were on the second page). As soon as the announcer started reading the job I closed my eyes. It was going to be mine and for some reason I knew it. He called my name and it took me a second to not write my own name down before I got up to collect my flag.
I was overwhelmed and a little in shock. I took my flag and folder in a daze and walked to the back to hug Scott. He was smiling for me and as I glanced down the row at my parents my dad mouthed, "Is this good?" I nodded and kept a smile on my face (at some point I may share the photo my mother took of me at this moment. I look exceedingly ridiculous with my crazy smile). I cried, but went back to my seat to keep writing down where everyone else was going. The tears were not out of sadness or joy but just from the emotion of the event.
This was absolutely not on my radar. But it's going to be great. I am excited about getting to know the city and the people. My biggest concern at the moment is finding a place to live because they are kicking me out of state housing and DC is expensive!
As for the job itself: I am thrilled. It's exactly the bureau I want to be in and it also happens to be the subject I know the most about. I start really soon and although it would maybe have been more exciting to be heading overseas right away I will be bidding next month on my first overseas position!
Monday, August 13, 2012
The week is here
This is the week. The week when we are told our first post. And to distract us they have put so much work before us that I barely have time to think about Friday. I prefer it that way actually. It is nice to have so much to do in the meantime that I don't dwell on it. Well, not any more than I already have been.
Last week has, once again, been fascinating. My time in graduate school is coming back to me very clearly, including the things I was not very good at.
My second to last semester in school I took two classes that were by far the most difficult of my academic career (after Science classes, but those don't count). It wasn't my research or analysis that those classes tested but my writing ability. I was honestly a little shocked because writing was something I've never had trouble with in all my schooling. I worked harder in those two classes than in my undergraduate and graduate career combined. The part that I really had to work on was the use of passive voice and being succinct.
Now I get to this new career. I am so pumped to do something I've never done before and learn all these new things and what am I confronted with? Writing for the Foreign Service. Here are some tips on writing diplomatic cables: don't use passive voice and be succinct. Haha. Awesome. The two things I am apparently worst at in writing are the top two tips. You know, my multi-page dissertation will probably get the point across just as well.
This week is even more of a challenge. The two main components are public speaking and answering tough questions. Public speaking is not really new to me since I have given speeches and presentations plenty of times but the topic was always something I was really comfortable with. I have spent a lot of time researching and learning about the past, not the present. So that is an adjustment. The answering tough questions part.....well that is something I will surely improve on after this week is over.
And then.....on to Flag Day.....
Last week has, once again, been fascinating. My time in graduate school is coming back to me very clearly, including the things I was not very good at.
My second to last semester in school I took two classes that were by far the most difficult of my academic career (after Science classes, but those don't count). It wasn't my research or analysis that those classes tested but my writing ability. I was honestly a little shocked because writing was something I've never had trouble with in all my schooling. I worked harder in those two classes than in my undergraduate and graduate career combined. The part that I really had to work on was the use of passive voice and being succinct.
Now I get to this new career. I am so pumped to do something I've never done before and learn all these new things and what am I confronted with? Writing for the Foreign Service. Here are some tips on writing diplomatic cables: don't use passive voice and be succinct. Haha. Awesome. The two things I am apparently worst at in writing are the top two tips. You know, my multi-page dissertation will probably get the point across just as well.
This week is even more of a challenge. The two main components are public speaking and answering tough questions. Public speaking is not really new to me since I have given speeches and presentations plenty of times but the topic was always something I was really comfortable with. I have spent a lot of time researching and learning about the past, not the present. So that is an adjustment. The answering tough questions part.....well that is something I will surely improve on after this week is over.
And then.....on to Flag Day.....
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Week Four begins
I cannot believe three weeks of A-100 have already passed. It is just amazing. Tomorrow is Monday and before I know it the weekend will be here again and it will finally be the all important week five....the week of Flag Day. But more on that another time.
This past week was a rather short one because it was the week of the offsite trip. They took our class out of the classroom for a couple days so we could get to know each other and work on some leadership and teamwork techniques. It was a lot of fun. The only thing I would have changed was the weather. It was terribly hot and all of the activities were outdoors. I miss the dry heat of Colorado. I also miss how it cools down in the evening. D.C. is lacking both of these qualities.
I never cease to be amazed at the history and experiences of my classmates. This weekend I spoke to people in my class I had never spoken to before. Its a little odd. I know their name and handful of facts about them but we have never had an actual conversation. There is still a handful of people I've never had a real conversation with. I am hoping that this will change over the next three weeks but I fear that there is a good possibility I will leave the swearing-in ceremony without knowing some people in my class.
Flag Day is less than two weeks away!!!!! Ahhh!! So crazy. Less than two weeks until we find out where we will next call home. I am so excited but so nervous at the same time.
This past week was a rather short one because it was the week of the offsite trip. They took our class out of the classroom for a couple days so we could get to know each other and work on some leadership and teamwork techniques. It was a lot of fun. The only thing I would have changed was the weather. It was terribly hot and all of the activities were outdoors. I miss the dry heat of Colorado. I also miss how it cools down in the evening. D.C. is lacking both of these qualities.
I never cease to be amazed at the history and experiences of my classmates. This weekend I spoke to people in my class I had never spoken to before. Its a little odd. I know their name and handful of facts about them but we have never had an actual conversation. There is still a handful of people I've never had a real conversation with. I am hoping that this will change over the next three weeks but I fear that there is a good possibility I will leave the swearing-in ceremony without knowing some people in my class.
Flag Day is less than two weeks away!!!!! Ahhh!! So crazy. Less than two weeks until we find out where we will next call home. I am so excited but so nervous at the same time.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Time flies
It is already the end of week two, which is just amazing. I have learned more in these two weeks than in an entire semester of grad school I think!
So far, it has been great. The people, both in my class and the others we've met, have all been amazing. I have not met a person that wasn't kind, helpful, and generous. I am sure I will not always feel this way about all the people I meet in this job but at this point I am hopeful! Haha.
Class is overwhelming but it's good. It is unlike any other job I've had. When I go home at the end of the day, I'm not done being a responsible government employee, which will be even more true when I'm living overseas at the grace of a host government.
Scott has been able to visit, which is nice, but only two weeks in and already it's not easy. He left this morning at 6am and if all goes well he will be back on Tuesday evening. And that will be after he worked a full day and then drove for 7 hours. We know this wasn't going to be easy but already I don't like it.
When he was training in Oklahoma we went three weeks without seeing each other. And although it was never fun we made it through just fine. There were a lot of Skype sessions where I just sat in front of my computer for hours and did homework and he studied. That is really not possible here so far. He works some evenings and when he doesn't work either he or I are out doing something. I'm glad we are out instead of barricading ourselves inside but I think we are already feeling the impact of not talking so often. We are the kind of people who speak on the phone multiple times a day even when we were coming home to the same house at night. Days without constant interaction are not normal for us.
I like to think this will get easier but I am sure it will be anything but. The longer we keep this up the more we will benefit financially (our hope is to go overseas as close to debt-free as possible). But at what point do we decide the sacrifice isn't worth the potential gains?
In other news, we are mere weeks from flag day! I cannot believe it is so close! Our bid lists are due soon and there are so many amazing places on the list. Each day a new one becomes my favorite and I wish I could make a list of all the places I hope to go to someday. Soon I will be able to focus on one of them as the location for our next adventure in life!
So far, it has been great. The people, both in my class and the others we've met, have all been amazing. I have not met a person that wasn't kind, helpful, and generous. I am sure I will not always feel this way about all the people I meet in this job but at this point I am hopeful! Haha.
Class is overwhelming but it's good. It is unlike any other job I've had. When I go home at the end of the day, I'm not done being a responsible government employee, which will be even more true when I'm living overseas at the grace of a host government.
Scott has been able to visit, which is nice, but only two weeks in and already it's not easy. He left this morning at 6am and if all goes well he will be back on Tuesday evening. And that will be after he worked a full day and then drove for 7 hours. We know this wasn't going to be easy but already I don't like it.
When he was training in Oklahoma we went three weeks without seeing each other. And although it was never fun we made it through just fine. There were a lot of Skype sessions where I just sat in front of my computer for hours and did homework and he studied. That is really not possible here so far. He works some evenings and when he doesn't work either he or I are out doing something. I'm glad we are out instead of barricading ourselves inside but I think we are already feeling the impact of not talking so often. We are the kind of people who speak on the phone multiple times a day even when we were coming home to the same house at night. Days without constant interaction are not normal for us.
I like to think this will get easier but I am sure it will be anything but. The longer we keep this up the more we will benefit financially (our hope is to go overseas as close to debt-free as possible). But at what point do we decide the sacrifice isn't worth the potential gains?
In other news, we are mere weeks from flag day! I cannot believe it is so close! Our bid lists are due soon and there are so many amazing places on the list. Each day a new one becomes my favorite and I wish I could make a list of all the places I hope to go to someday. Soon I will be able to focus on one of them as the location for our next adventure in life!
Friday, July 20, 2012
First week of A-100
Is over!
This is so crazy. One week of my orientation is already complete. Part of me feels like I have been here for a while but the other part feels like every day is still my first day. I am lost in the city and in the buildings but the amount of knowledge I have gained since Monday is staggering.
Got the bid list. Incredible. There are so many amazing posts and I feel we cannot end up with something we would really dislike. There are a couple unaccompanied posts but we are hoping to avoid those this time around. We are only three weeks away from Flag day, which is also crazy. I really think that is going to be an awesome experience because as excited as I am to see where we will be going I am already looking forward to finding out who gets all these other awesome posts.
I am so tired at the moment that I cannot keep writing. Suffice it to say this has been a great experience thus far and I am looking forward to more!
This is so crazy. One week of my orientation is already complete. Part of me feels like I have been here for a while but the other part feels like every day is still my first day. I am lost in the city and in the buildings but the amount of knowledge I have gained since Monday is staggering.
Got the bid list. Incredible. There are so many amazing posts and I feel we cannot end up with something we would really dislike. There are a couple unaccompanied posts but we are hoping to avoid those this time around. We are only three weeks away from Flag day, which is also crazy. I really think that is going to be an awesome experience because as excited as I am to see where we will be going I am already looking forward to finding out who gets all these other awesome posts.
I am so tired at the moment that I cannot keep writing. Suffice it to say this has been a great experience thus far and I am looking forward to more!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Washington, D.C.
We have arrived! Unfortunately we left Ohio a little later than I was hoping and arrived in Washington, D.C. around 1:45am. The drive was not too bad. We encountered a little rain in Pennsylvania but because Scott plans well not a single item in the bed of the truck was wet when we arrived. In case you hadn't noticed, he is pretty awesome.
I am staying in the apartments paid for directly by the State Department and so far it has been great. The night security guard was amazingly helpful and walked me through the check-in process despite my being half asleep. He then got us a luggage cart to unload the truck and replacement keys for the apartment when the door would not open.
The apartment itself is pretty great as well. It is completely furnished including awesome artwork on the walls. There is even a fake tree and you know a place doesn't feel at home until there is a fake tree. I look forward to hosting some visitors on the hide-a-bed in the couch! (hint hint to all of you)
Tonight was the meet-n-greet hosted by the 166th A-100 class. There are so many people in my class that there was no way I could meet them all in two hours. However, the people I did meet were fascinating. I keep thinking that at some point since I was invited to this class they are going to call and rescind my offer and tell me this has all been a big mistake and they never meant to extend me an offer. And after meeting my fellow classmates I am expecting it even more. Everyone has such interesting stories about their lives and their experiences; I cannot wait to meet everyone else and learn their stories as well.
Tomorrow is my first day and I have a lot to get together before I will feel prepared enough to go to sleep. Hopefully it will go well and I won't forget anything important!
I am staying in the apartments paid for directly by the State Department and so far it has been great. The night security guard was amazingly helpful and walked me through the check-in process despite my being half asleep. He then got us a luggage cart to unload the truck and replacement keys for the apartment when the door would not open.
The apartment itself is pretty great as well. It is completely furnished including awesome artwork on the walls. There is even a fake tree and you know a place doesn't feel at home until there is a fake tree. I look forward to hosting some visitors on the hide-a-bed in the couch! (hint hint to all of you)
Tonight was the meet-n-greet hosted by the 166th A-100 class. There are so many people in my class that there was no way I could meet them all in two hours. However, the people I did meet were fascinating. I keep thinking that at some point since I was invited to this class they are going to call and rescind my offer and tell me this has all been a big mistake and they never meant to extend me an offer. And after meeting my fellow classmates I am expecting it even more. Everyone has such interesting stories about their lives and their experiences; I cannot wait to meet everyone else and learn their stories as well.
Tomorrow is my first day and I have a lot to get together before I will feel prepared enough to go to sleep. Hopefully it will go well and I won't forget anything important!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Its all coming together, or apart...
By this time next week I will be in the midst of my first day with the State Department. I will be getting my picture taken and getting all sorts of new employee paperwork and tasks to complete. This does not seem real at all. Sometimes I feel like Scott and I are a little in denial. Even though we are preparing, packing, and getting everything done I still do not feel like I will be living somewhere different on Saturday night. But then again, what is it supposed to feel like?
You think Scott and I would be used to this by now. The other day I figured out that in the past ten months we have only spent one full month together - May. Starting in October 2011 and coming to this July one of us has always been gone. He was in Oklahoma from October to January and then I was living part-time in Colorado February, March and April. May, we were finally together and even went to Canada as a little celebration. June I was in Chicago for a few days and now here we are in mid-July I will be on my way by the end of the week. This will be much easier than Oklahoma was though. A 7 hour drive is much more manageable than a 10+ hour drive.
The house looks crazy and a little sad. Even though Scott is not moving out yet we took everything off the walls and off shelves to put in piles for the eventual pack out (he didn't want to get stuck with all the moving duties, again). So now our house looks much like it did when we first moved in just six months ago.
And for seemingly silly concerns:
What shoes will I wear on my first day? I don't have them yet. I know all the shoes I currently own are either not dressy enough or will not allow me to last the whole day without being in pain. Where are my comfy dress shoes? I am beginning to think such a thing does not exist. I know you are probably asking yourself, who the heck cares about what shoes they are going to wear? Well, ever since my foot surgeries I cannot mess around with shoes that are not just right and for all the walking I am going to be doing all over D.C. and Virginia, I need good shoes.
And for serious concerns:
The State Department has yet to receive my transcript with my master's degree confirmed. If they don't receive if before Monday my pay has to be downgraded as if I did not possess a master's degree. I called the school and it was sent June 27th. They cannot help me any further. I decided to order another and pay for a rush order and the website timed out so now I cannot tell if it has been ordered properly or if I still need to pay for it. All it says is "pending." That is a very unhelpful word.
And I still don't have my amended travel orders. Not that either of these are huge concern, they are just not helping my already semi-stressed self get stuff together. What justifiably stresses me out: possibly fraudulent e-mails saying I am delinquent on a student loan I never took out for a University I never attended.
I think from the time I sat down and started writing this to the time it is now has been about 2 hours. I have had to make a lot of calls, write a lot of emails, and wait for webpages to load this morning to make sure I have everything in order (and that I am not getting my identity stolen). I am ready to go but I am also not ready. I have so much to do before I feel ready. Speaking of, I really need to get going.
You think Scott and I would be used to this by now. The other day I figured out that in the past ten months we have only spent one full month together - May. Starting in October 2011 and coming to this July one of us has always been gone. He was in Oklahoma from October to January and then I was living part-time in Colorado February, March and April. May, we were finally together and even went to Canada as a little celebration. June I was in Chicago for a few days and now here we are in mid-July I will be on my way by the end of the week. This will be much easier than Oklahoma was though. A 7 hour drive is much more manageable than a 10+ hour drive.
The house looks crazy and a little sad. Even though Scott is not moving out yet we took everything off the walls and off shelves to put in piles for the eventual pack out (he didn't want to get stuck with all the moving duties, again). So now our house looks much like it did when we first moved in just six months ago.
And for seemingly silly concerns:
What shoes will I wear on my first day? I don't have them yet. I know all the shoes I currently own are either not dressy enough or will not allow me to last the whole day without being in pain. Where are my comfy dress shoes? I am beginning to think such a thing does not exist. I know you are probably asking yourself, who the heck cares about what shoes they are going to wear? Well, ever since my foot surgeries I cannot mess around with shoes that are not just right and for all the walking I am going to be doing all over D.C. and Virginia, I need good shoes.
And for serious concerns:
The State Department has yet to receive my transcript with my master's degree confirmed. If they don't receive if before Monday my pay has to be downgraded as if I did not possess a master's degree. I called the school and it was sent June 27th. They cannot help me any further. I decided to order another and pay for a rush order and the website timed out so now I cannot tell if it has been ordered properly or if I still need to pay for it. All it says is "pending." That is a very unhelpful word.
And I still don't have my amended travel orders. Not that either of these are huge concern, they are just not helping my already semi-stressed self get stuff together. What justifiably stresses me out: possibly fraudulent e-mails saying I am delinquent on a student loan I never took out for a University I never attended.
I think from the time I sat down and started writing this to the time it is now has been about 2 hours. I have had to make a lot of calls, write a lot of emails, and wait for webpages to load this morning to make sure I have everything in order (and that I am not getting my identity stolen). I am ready to go but I am also not ready. I have so much to do before I feel ready. Speaking of, I really need to get going.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Papers and balloons
Today is my day off and I planned to get all kinds of things done like packing and planning and sorting and so on. Well, it did not quite go that way.
I slept through my alarm this morning, multiple times (read: I kept turning it off without looking at the time) so I was nearly late to both the groomers and the historic society. After we dropped the dogs off we made it to the historic society to help set up for a silent auction. Unfortunately, I also had to tell them about my new job.
I am so excited about working for the foreign service but my heart just breaks telling everyone around here about it. I was so proactive in trying to meet people and get involved and now after mere months I'm already dating goodbye. The director of the society had to break my heart even more by telling me she was going to have me do research for her next book. I almost told her I would do it anyway, all the way from D.C.
These women at the historic society, the people I work with at the Cheesebarn, and the friends we've made at church have made my short time here so enjoyable. I am truly sad to be leaving but I think that's a good thing. It's better for me to be sad than to hate this place and just want to get out. But I wanted to do that research. I might still find a way....
In FS (foreign service) news, I am not having a UAB shipment anymore. I was already not going to pack out the house at this time since Scott is not moving out yet. But I was informed today that the company doing the moving will not come all the way to Ashland for my little UAB shipment. So I will be taking everything in the car and learning about UABs in the future. Oh well, it's honestly one less thing to worry about now.
Only two and a half weeks left! So crazy. Time is flying by. I am trying to organize all my paperwork today so I know where everything is when I'm asked for it. The house is so hot that I've confined everything to the kitchen table, which is tough when all my scanned documents are on the computer upstairs. But it's like Mordor up there. I'm staying in the Shire.
This weekend is also Ashland's balloon festival! We are going to try to ride a hot air balloon tonight! Should be fun, unless it's crazy hot there too in which I may reconsider getting in a small basket next to a giant flame.
I slept through my alarm this morning, multiple times (read: I kept turning it off without looking at the time) so I was nearly late to both the groomers and the historic society. After we dropped the dogs off we made it to the historic society to help set up for a silent auction. Unfortunately, I also had to tell them about my new job.
I am so excited about working for the foreign service but my heart just breaks telling everyone around here about it. I was so proactive in trying to meet people and get involved and now after mere months I'm already dating goodbye. The director of the society had to break my heart even more by telling me she was going to have me do research for her next book. I almost told her I would do it anyway, all the way from D.C.
These women at the historic society, the people I work with at the Cheesebarn, and the friends we've made at church have made my short time here so enjoyable. I am truly sad to be leaving but I think that's a good thing. It's better for me to be sad than to hate this place and just want to get out. But I wanted to do that research. I might still find a way....
In FS (foreign service) news, I am not having a UAB shipment anymore. I was already not going to pack out the house at this time since Scott is not moving out yet. But I was informed today that the company doing the moving will not come all the way to Ashland for my little UAB shipment. So I will be taking everything in the car and learning about UABs in the future. Oh well, it's honestly one less thing to worry about now.
Only two and a half weeks left! So crazy. Time is flying by. I am trying to organize all my paperwork today so I know where everything is when I'm asked for it. The house is so hot that I've confined everything to the kitchen table, which is tough when all my scanned documents are on the computer upstairs. But it's like Mordor up there. I'm staying in the Shire.
This weekend is also Ashland's balloon festival! We are going to try to ride a hot air balloon tonight! Should be fun, unless it's crazy hot there too in which I may reconsider getting in a small basket next to a giant flame.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Travel Orders
My travel orders have arrived, which is just another step toward this new job feeling real. Of course, since I received them last Friday they have already been amended twice and now I am still waiting for the latest amendment. I have a feeling this a taste of my future life, one of constant change.
I was once told being in the foreign service is like living in a constant state of flux. At the time, I just listened and went on being really excited about this new opportunity. But as I get further into the process I see how that short phrase speaks volumes about what this life really entails. Right now we are trying to decide when Scott will join me in D.C. or if he will come there at all. This is what the people amending my travel orders want to know and this is probably the question I am asked most frequently after "what country will you be going to?" And the answer is always the same: it depends.
It depends on my first post assignment. It depends on how training goes in his job. It depends on how they react to his leaving the facility. It depends on whether or not Midwest ATC (overseas air traffic control contractors) has a presence in that country. It depends. I think this is the new phrase to describe my professional life. But the best part is, this all works for me. I have never been one that needed to have a firm plan for the future. I wanted to rearrange the furniture in our house every few months because I craved change. Now I get to decide what furniture stays and what furniture goes. Of course, it all depends....
I was once told being in the foreign service is like living in a constant state of flux. At the time, I just listened and went on being really excited about this new opportunity. But as I get further into the process I see how that short phrase speaks volumes about what this life really entails. Right now we are trying to decide when Scott will join me in D.C. or if he will come there at all. This is what the people amending my travel orders want to know and this is probably the question I am asked most frequently after "what country will you be going to?" And the answer is always the same: it depends.
It depends on my first post assignment. It depends on how training goes in his job. It depends on how they react to his leaving the facility. It depends on whether or not Midwest ATC (overseas air traffic control contractors) has a presence in that country. It depends. I think this is the new phrase to describe my professional life. But the best part is, this all works for me. I have never been one that needed to have a firm plan for the future. I wanted to rearrange the furniture in our house every few months because I craved change. Now I get to decide what furniture stays and what furniture goes. Of course, it all depends....
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Back Home Again...from Indiana
I feel as if I am going non-stop. A quick trip to Indiana (I left yesterday afternoon) for a graduation and a wedding and I am already back in Ohio. I am here this next week, but then I will be off to Chicago! I am getting very intimately acquainted with where the police like to sit on I-71/I-70, which has so far worked to my advantage but I still have seen entirely too much of them. Also, my car has no A/C. This wasn't so bad on 70-80 degree days but when its 94? Not okay.
In Foreign Service News...
I received my salary offer! Very exciting. My packet with all my moving and transportation information is on its way to my door and next up will be my travel orders. This is where it gets really serious because I need these to book a flight - and that is when I will have a date and time for arriving in D.C. That seems so crazy. Today I realized we still have a video on the digital camera that we took when we were in D.C. the last time, when I was there to take the Oral Assessment for the Foreign Service. That was in September of 2010. Also since that time I have been carrying around my note cards I used to study for that assessment in my backpack. They have gone to school, to the library, on trips with me, all the while sitting in a small pocket in my backpack. I have no intention of removing them and in fact I am probably going to put them in my purse so I will always have them. I kept them because I figured I would use them the next time I took the assessment and I didn't want to lose them. Looks like once was enough for me.
Ah, it is toasty in this house. I miss central air but I suppose this might be the best way to prepare for an unknown foreign locale that may or may not be ridiculously hot. I am guessing most homes in other nations air conditioning is not a standard feature.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Back Home Again...in Ohio...
Back from Canada! It was a good trip, but I was ready to return. Not necessarily to Ohio but I was ready to move on to the next phase in the my life and I knew it wasn't going to happen while I was in Canada.
First, the conference. It was really nice. I was finally speaking on a topic I was passionate about (and therefore I know the most about - literally. There is not a person living who knows more on the subject of the history of the Chinese in Colorado than me. Sounds cool, but really, its a niche. Like most history. Anyway...) and I loved it. I probably obsessed over my presentation a little more than was necessary because it went really well. The rest of my panel were all professors of Asian History (who were also Chinese) but my presentation did not stand out as amateur among theirs. It was awesome.
This actually felt like a nice goodbye to my time in academia. I will never stop loving history, the study or the research of it, but I won't be writing it again for some time. I think graduation would have been a nice ceremony to go to, but it would have been short with my name being called, a little walk, and thats it. I am glad I chose this experience over graduation. I look forward to when I might attend conferences in the future - and maybe I will even catch one while I am overseas. Who knows what might happen.
<Once I figure out how to upload pictures I will post some of the conference, Seattle, and Vancouver - they were all awesome>
Now that I am home I feel a little odd. It reminds me of when we were waiting to hear about the FAA position for Scott. We knew a big change was coming, but out lives were kind of suspended as we waited for it. In that case, we didn't even know the date until about a month before. At least I had two and half months to prepare for this. But now that its only two months left I still feel like I have so much to do and yet nothing I can do until I get more information.
I am currently waiting on a packet that will contain my salary offer as well as other important paperwork about moving and so on. I was hoping the packet would come last week and now I am hoping it will come this week. Something tells me I may be hoping the same thing next week. Once this packet with the salary offer comes I feel like this will finally all be real. But perhaps not. Maybe it won't be real until I am sitting in a room, dressed in a suit I just bought with heels that hurt my feet, being welcomed into a new job and lifestyle with an overwhelming about of information thrown at me. Yes, that seems most likely.
And now, I must get to the Cheesebarn. The cheese is not going to slice itself.
First, the conference. It was really nice. I was finally speaking on a topic I was passionate about (and therefore I know the most about - literally. There is not a person living who knows more on the subject of the history of the Chinese in Colorado than me. Sounds cool, but really, its a niche. Like most history. Anyway...) and I loved it. I probably obsessed over my presentation a little more than was necessary because it went really well. The rest of my panel were all professors of Asian History (who were also Chinese) but my presentation did not stand out as amateur among theirs. It was awesome.
This actually felt like a nice goodbye to my time in academia. I will never stop loving history, the study or the research of it, but I won't be writing it again for some time. I think graduation would have been a nice ceremony to go to, but it would have been short with my name being called, a little walk, and thats it. I am glad I chose this experience over graduation. I look forward to when I might attend conferences in the future - and maybe I will even catch one while I am overseas. Who knows what might happen.
<Once I figure out how to upload pictures I will post some of the conference, Seattle, and Vancouver - they were all awesome>
Now that I am home I feel a little odd. It reminds me of when we were waiting to hear about the FAA position for Scott. We knew a big change was coming, but out lives were kind of suspended as we waited for it. In that case, we didn't even know the date until about a month before. At least I had two and half months to prepare for this. But now that its only two months left I still feel like I have so much to do and yet nothing I can do until I get more information.
I am currently waiting on a packet that will contain my salary offer as well as other important paperwork about moving and so on. I was hoping the packet would come last week and now I am hoping it will come this week. Something tells me I may be hoping the same thing next week. Once this packet with the salary offer comes I feel like this will finally all be real. But perhaps not. Maybe it won't be real until I am sitting in a room, dressed in a suit I just bought with heels that hurt my feet, being welcomed into a new job and lifestyle with an overwhelming about of information thrown at me. Yes, that seems most likely.
And now, I must get to the Cheesebarn. The cheese is not going to slice itself.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Lost in the blogs...
Instead of spending my time working on my speech for next week I spent last night and this morning reading blog after blog of different Foreign Service Officers. I have spent a considerable amount of time with this amazing list of Flag Day experiences (http://www.travelorders.com/flag-day-stories/) so now that is all I can think about.
I was really shocked when I got the e-mail about the Foreign Service this past April. I took the Oral Assessment in September 2010 (I honestly cannot recall when I took the written test, but it might have been February of that same year), and I was excited about passing for probably two months, then the examiner did my background check and I was excited again. In January 2011 I got a letter saying I had been added to the register, but my score was relatively low that I figured I would never be called so I never even checked my ranking on the Consular Register. I kept checking the Yahoo group for a few months but I was pretty sure I was at least 100 people away from being called, so when my husband was offered a government job I stopped checking it completely around the fall of 2011.
Fast forward to April 2012. We have moved across the country for Scott's new job, I just started a new job and am a single class period away from completing my master's degree in history. The morning before my last class I wake up to an e-mail from the Registrar's Office....and I am in utter shock.
I was staying in my parent's house in Colorado so after running upstairs to announce it to my mom I had to call Scott, who was thankfully already awake back in Ohio. I finished my class and we said we would discuss it seriously when I returned home. A long and serious conversation, which this was sure to be, is not a good idea over the phone. I was back in Ohio by Sunday and we had until Thursday to accept or decline the offer. After a lot of talking, thought, and prayer we knew we had the right decision. Foreign Service here I come!
I am still a little in shock. We talk about it everyday now and every hour I have some new piece of information to offer Scott about A-100 class, living overseas, etc. I figure he will tire of it at some point but right now I simply cannot get enough information.
But seriously, that speech is not going to write itself....
I was really shocked when I got the e-mail about the Foreign Service this past April. I took the Oral Assessment in September 2010 (I honestly cannot recall when I took the written test, but it might have been February of that same year), and I was excited about passing for probably two months, then the examiner did my background check and I was excited again. In January 2011 I got a letter saying I had been added to the register, but my score was relatively low that I figured I would never be called so I never even checked my ranking on the Consular Register. I kept checking the Yahoo group for a few months but I was pretty sure I was at least 100 people away from being called, so when my husband was offered a government job I stopped checking it completely around the fall of 2011.
Fast forward to April 2012. We have moved across the country for Scott's new job, I just started a new job and am a single class period away from completing my master's degree in history. The morning before my last class I wake up to an e-mail from the Registrar's Office....and I am in utter shock.
I was staying in my parent's house in Colorado so after running upstairs to announce it to my mom I had to call Scott, who was thankfully already awake back in Ohio. I finished my class and we said we would discuss it seriously when I returned home. A long and serious conversation, which this was sure to be, is not a good idea over the phone. I was back in Ohio by Sunday and we had until Thursday to accept or decline the offer. After a lot of talking, thought, and prayer we knew we had the right decision. Foreign Service here I come!
I am still a little in shock. We talk about it everyday now and every hour I have some new piece of information to offer Scott about A-100 class, living overseas, etc. I figure he will tire of it at some point but right now I simply cannot get enough information.
But seriously, that speech is not going to write itself....
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