Sunday, October 23, 2011

Swearing In and Seeing Family

It's official. I have been formally sworn in as a Foreign Service Officer in the US State Department after six weeks of initial training. From here I will learn how to be a Consular Officer and how to speak Bahasa (Malay Indonesian.) Honestly, I can't wait! There is little in this world that I have looked forward to more than this opportunity to serve my country. I am amazed and humbled by this honor and am confident that I will have a wonderful time in this new career.

Aren't I lucky!

To top it off, the Momma-beast came to DC to watch me get sworn in and today we drove southwest to visit "A", whom I haven't seen in 15 years. What a wonderful day it was! We had a great lunch in Luray, VA at Gathering Grounds, shopped a bit, and then visited some more. While the trees weren't at their most colorful, none the less they were beautiful and the drive was very scenic. The really nice thing is that with "A" living so close, it is likely she will come visit a few times before I move to Jakarta.


Monday, October 17, 2011

And the answer is...

Jakarta, Indonesia!

That's right folks, I am going to be spending two years in Jakarta, after I finish ConGen (I will define this another day) and half a year of language training, learning Bahasa (Malay Indonesian).

This is really an awesome assignment and I am looking forward to it. Jakarta was one of our top choices as a family and everything that I have heard is that it is a great post. Lots to see and do. Lots of travel opportunities. I can't wait!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Almost there!

After three tests over eight months.
After my past being scrutinized with a fine-toothed comb.
After having physicals and and lots of medical tests to insure I am healthy.
After months of answering the same question over and over.
After two weeks of sorting through names of cities.
After two more weeks of waiting.
I am almost there.
Two days and a wake up left.
68 hours to go.
Flag Day is almost here!
Finally I will know what country I am going to for my first post.
What city my family and I will be living in for two years.

Flag Day is almost upon me.

Flag Day, the day that every new Foreign Service Officer waits for with anxiety, fear, hope, dread, longing, anticipation, and excitement.

Flag Day, the day that every other Foreign Service Officer remembers for their entire career.


 I'm almost there!

(The sad thing is, all I can see in my mind's eye is the final battle with the Death Star in the original Star Wars and Red Leader saying "Almost there." Yes, I am a geek. And lucky you, I am also the geek that will represent US interests abroad. Your interests! Isn't that exciting?)