Thanksgiving is a time for family, no matter how dysfunctional, now matter how far apart, it is a time to be together and celebrate. But what do you do when you are 3000 miles from home? Or 5000? What about when you are half-way around the world? This is the world that our military members live in when they are deployed. It is also the world that our diplomats live in as they serve in remote posts around the world.
And then there are those of us who are here in D.C., training to go to our first posts. It is kind of hard to go home when you have to work the day after Thanksgiving. Not impossible, but prohibitively expensive. So, what do you do? Well, I'll tell you. You make your own family with all your friends, and have Thanksgiving pot-luck. 40 of us from the 163rd, plus some visiting family and friends, got together and had a wonderful night. We brought way too much food, too much drink, had a food drive for a local homeless shelter, and basically had a dinner to remember.
I missed being with my family.
I missed being with friends.
But I tell you, the only way it would have been a better night, was if my family had been here with me.
So yes, I am very thankful that I had so many friends to spend this Thanksgiving with, and it is also a good reminder that family isn't always blood. Often it is the people you are with. And they might be more dysfunctional than your Uncle Theo.
____________
That's right, three weeks to go until we are supposed to touch down in Jakarta. Looking at the weather there on my iPhone, I think I am seeing a trend. Monday, thunderstorms, 91 deg, 80% humidity. Tuesday, the same. Wednesday, the same. Thursday, same. Fri...same. Well, you get the picture.
Things left to do before leaving:
Get visas
pack out my apartment
pack out the house in Oregon
get schools finalized
breathe
ship the cats
get tickets
finalize housing
sell the car in Oregon
buy a car in Jakarta
rent the house
breathe again
The list goes on, as does the outlay of cash. I know that those readers who are part of the Foreign Service, with kids, understand just how many suitcases you need, but I never really considered it before joining the ranks. I mean really, who actually owns two full-sized suitcases for every member of the family, plus a carry-on, and a personal bag? With three kids and my wife, that comes to 20 bags.
20!
I'm going to need a Greyhound bus to pick us up from the airport! Or a fleet of vans. Something bigger than a taxi, that's for sure.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The other thing that I forgot
When last I posted, I had forgotten the other thing that I wanted to talk about. Now I have remembered. Actually, I remembered on Tuesday but I've been a bit lazy so I am posting today. Two weeks ago I got to go on a White House tour. This may not seem like a big thing to some of you, but if you have ever tried to get on a tour, it is quite the process. Honestly, it really was interesting to walk through. There are amazing pictures, a mix of beautiful furniture and stuff I wouldn't put in YOUR house. Two things stand out the most from the tour: first was the Army First Sergeant that proposed to his girlfriend in the Blue Room. Turns out that you can arrange it with the Secret Service to pop the question in one of the nicest rooms in the White House. The second thing was that we got to see the First Lady walking the First Dog on the South Lawn. I know, I know, it's kind of lame to be excited about this. But really? How many Americans can say the same thing?
But while these things were cool, and I enjoyed my tour, it was what happened before the tour that was the most interesting. Walking up to the White House, there was a fire truck and an ambulance parked INSIDE the fence. This was, obviously, concerning. What happened? A shooting? Beat-down? No such luck. Just some random tourist that was so moved by the experience of touring the White House she fainted right there.
The second cool thing was, in fact, a beat down. Sort of. As we got to Pennsylvania Ave. there was a large group of police surrounding someone on the ground, and more police were showing up by the second. We didn't see it happen, but some protestor had chosen to get in an argument with the police, and instead of following directions, chose to turn and run. Moron. Seriously people, when across the street from the White House, DO NOT try and run from the police. You WILL get jacked up and be at the bottom of (Ok, I'm really sorry about this, but the pun writes itself) a pig pile.
Yes, I said it, but didn't any of you play pig pile? I'm just hoping you weren't drinking anything when you read that last bit, and did a big spit take all over your computer, cause I'm not liable for damages.
Any-who, our protagonist was trussed up and dealt with in some fashion or another, because he wasn't there when we finished the tour. After the tour, my friends and I headed off to Founding Farmers for a wonderful breakfast, good company, and then went our separate ways for the rest of the weekend.
Tomorrow, if you're lucky, I will tell you about my experience at the Newseum.
Be well neighbors.
But while these things were cool, and I enjoyed my tour, it was what happened before the tour that was the most interesting. Walking up to the White House, there was a fire truck and an ambulance parked INSIDE the fence. This was, obviously, concerning. What happened? A shooting? Beat-down? No such luck. Just some random tourist that was so moved by the experience of touring the White House she fainted right there.
The second cool thing was, in fact, a beat down. Sort of. As we got to Pennsylvania Ave. there was a large group of police surrounding someone on the ground, and more police were showing up by the second. We didn't see it happen, but some protestor had chosen to get in an argument with the police, and instead of following directions, chose to turn and run. Moron. Seriously people, when across the street from the White House, DO NOT try and run from the police. You WILL get jacked up and be at the bottom of (Ok, I'm really sorry about this, but the pun writes itself) a pig pile.
Yes, I said it, but didn't any of you play pig pile? I'm just hoping you weren't drinking anything when you read that last bit, and did a big spit take all over your computer, cause I'm not liable for damages.
Any-who, our protagonist was trussed up and dealt with in some fashion or another, because he wasn't there when we finished the tour. After the tour, my friends and I headed off to Founding Farmers for a wonderful breakfast, good company, and then went our separate ways for the rest of the weekend.
Tomorrow, if you're lucky, I will tell you about my experience at the Newseum.
Be well neighbors.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
What a Wild Week
There are times when people or organizations tell you they have a motto, but really it is just some snide little statement that either makes them feel important or they came up with because some consultant told them they needed one. Other companies, like Nike, have one that they embrace in every level of their culture. State has a motto, or at least maybe a philosophy, that seems, when you are new, to fall in the first category: Be Flexible. This isn't an official statement that appears on our business cards. It isn't part of the logo. It isn't splashed across the top of every Power Point slide. We are just reminded of it, constantly.
Side note; I think State uses Be Flexible because the Boy Scouts already had a lock on Be Prepared.
For those of you that read other Foreign Service blogs, this line of thought should come as no surprise. For those of you that are part of the Foreign Service, either as employees or families, I have a feeling you are cringing at this point, waiting for me to get on with it because you know the other shoe is going to drop and it will sound familiar or with the question of "what happened this time?"
Not even three weeks after Flag Day, I have been reassigned.
Where am I going? To the same post.
What am I doing? Different job.
When do you want me there? NOW!
I'm sorry, what was that last bit? You want me when? How much training do I get? Oh, that little? I see. Well, OK, I'm flexible. Let's do it!
Frankly, this has caused a lot of stress in my household because the family had only just applied for their blue passports, the kids hadn't applied for the new school yet, and frankly, they were in the process of getting ready to move out to Falls Church in December, three time zones East, instead of nine time zones West.
So we are working hard at getting ready to move to Post in December. The kids applications are in, the cats are being prepped to fly, the house prepped for renting, an accountant hired, passports and visas applied for, and expectations are being managed. I have to say that everyone involved in this process has been extremely helpful. Post has been wonderful at answering my wife's questions, and very responsive to my questions. The Bureau has been very helpful and is working closely with me to get as much training as possible in the five weeks I have left in DC, before heading to Post. And the kid's new school is being very helpful with all of the things that we need to get done in such a short time.
I am very excited about my first position, and I can't wait to start this next phase of my career. My family is excited and even the oldest has become excited about it too. She found the schools website and looked at all they had to offer, with no prompting from me or her mother. This is VERY encouraging!
I know I had more to write about in this post, but I started it last week and got sidetracked by something, so that is it for now. My next post will be about my visit home to Oregon and the joys of good coffee and excellent Indian food.
Be well world.
Side note; I think State uses Be Flexible because the Boy Scouts already had a lock on Be Prepared.
For those of you that read other Foreign Service blogs, this line of thought should come as no surprise. For those of you that are part of the Foreign Service, either as employees or families, I have a feeling you are cringing at this point, waiting for me to get on with it because you know the other shoe is going to drop and it will sound familiar or with the question of "what happened this time?"
Not even three weeks after Flag Day, I have been reassigned.
Where am I going? To the same post.
What am I doing? Different job.
When do you want me there? NOW!
I'm sorry, what was that last bit? You want me when? How much training do I get? Oh, that little? I see. Well, OK, I'm flexible. Let's do it!
Frankly, this has caused a lot of stress in my household because the family had only just applied for their blue passports, the kids hadn't applied for the new school yet, and frankly, they were in the process of getting ready to move out to Falls Church in December, three time zones East, instead of nine time zones West.
So we are working hard at getting ready to move to Post in December. The kids applications are in, the cats are being prepped to fly, the house prepped for renting, an accountant hired, passports and visas applied for, and expectations are being managed. I have to say that everyone involved in this process has been extremely helpful. Post has been wonderful at answering my wife's questions, and very responsive to my questions. The Bureau has been very helpful and is working closely with me to get as much training as possible in the five weeks I have left in DC, before heading to Post. And the kid's new school is being very helpful with all of the things that we need to get done in such a short time.
I am very excited about my first position, and I can't wait to start this next phase of my career. My family is excited and even the oldest has become excited about it too. She found the schools website and looked at all they had to offer, with no prompting from me or her mother. This is VERY encouraging!
I know I had more to write about in this post, but I started it last week and got sidetracked by something, so that is it for now. My next post will be about my visit home to Oregon and the joys of good coffee and excellent Indian food.
Be well world.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Snow Storms and Throat Singing?
So, living on the east coast is a very different animal than living on the west coast. For starters, who knew that the sun actually rose OUT of the ocean? I mean, it's only right and proper place is to set INTO the ocean, isn't it? Then there are the houses and apartments in the area. I have never seen so many brick buildings in one place. Or ones clad in granite. Or marble. Or whatever else kind of stone they use out here. Very strange, houses are supposed to be built out of wood or stucco. And oddly, when there is an earthquake, a lot of those bricks either fall off or the mortar is cracked. But they never have earthquakes out here right? Right?
Oh. Yeah.
And then ther was Saturday's surprise storm. It dumped almost three feet of snow on New England, but down here it just made a mess. Lots of snow that didn't stick, lots of rain that just made things wet, and a bit of a cold snap to make things interesting. So what did yours truly do during the surprise snowpocolypse? played video games, ate cold pizza, filed papers, and was generally a slug all day.
It. Was. Wonderful!
Not that I am likely to repeat it, but once in awhile it is ok to do absolutely nothing, and like it.
So that meant that Sunday was shopping day, and get-other-things-done day, followed by dinner and a concert with friends. I didn't go see Jimmy Buffett, Cowboy Mouth, The Beastie Boys, Iron Maiden, or any one else that I know and love. Oh no. When you have 100 new friends that have all traveled the world and seen many things, you end up at a concert of Tuvan throat singing. Right, I'd never heard of it either. I will admit to being skeptical but I had to get out after Saturday, so this was the perfect opportunity. The band's name is Alash Ensemble, and is a quartet of Master Singers from Tuva, and their talent proved it. To say that I was impressed is an understatement. The music was haunting, and like nothing I had ever heard before. I have heard musicians use their bodies as an instrument (Bobby McFarrin, Take 6) but never heard someone create more than one sound from their throat at the same time.
All I can say is that it was amazing. If you get a chance to hear them, or others like them, I highly recommend it. You can hear their music on iTunes, or on their website. Either way, give them a try, and listen closely. When you hear a lonely, high note that seems to be coming from nowhere, you will be hearing a person creating two notes at the same time.
Oh. Yeah.
And then ther was Saturday's surprise storm. It dumped almost three feet of snow on New England, but down here it just made a mess. Lots of snow that didn't stick, lots of rain that just made things wet, and a bit of a cold snap to make things interesting. So what did yours truly do during the surprise snowpocolypse? played video games, ate cold pizza, filed papers, and was generally a slug all day.
It. Was. Wonderful!
Not that I am likely to repeat it, but once in awhile it is ok to do absolutely nothing, and like it.
So that meant that Sunday was shopping day, and get-other-things-done day, followed by dinner and a concert with friends. I didn't go see Jimmy Buffett, Cowboy Mouth, The Beastie Boys, Iron Maiden, or any one else that I know and love. Oh no. When you have 100 new friends that have all traveled the world and seen many things, you end up at a concert of Tuvan throat singing. Right, I'd never heard of it either. I will admit to being skeptical but I had to get out after Saturday, so this was the perfect opportunity. The band's name is Alash Ensemble, and is a quartet of Master Singers from Tuva, and their talent proved it. To say that I was impressed is an understatement. The music was haunting, and like nothing I had ever heard before. I have heard musicians use their bodies as an instrument (Bobby McFarrin, Take 6) but never heard someone create more than one sound from their throat at the same time.
All I can say is that it was amazing. If you get a chance to hear them, or others like them, I highly recommend it. You can hear their music on iTunes, or on their website. Either way, give them a try, and listen closely. When you hear a lonely, high note that seems to be coming from nowhere, you will be hearing a person creating two notes at the same time.
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