Family Ties.

Ugh...I'm crying now, having just got off the phone with a super close cousin whose wedding I am going to be missing due to my compressed training/pack-out/travel schedule. I feel terrible about not being able to be there for this wonderful moment in his life. I have a huge and very close-knit family, and it is difficult to realize how many significant events of those I love will happen without me there. I love him and his fiancee so much, and wish I could change things to attend, but it is the sacrifice I have chosen. I hope he knows that I will be thinking of them from far away, and sending them love and best wishes on their special day.

Flag Day for the 167th A-100!

The flag I was handed on June 22, 2012 was that of India, which will be my first overseas assignment in the Foreign Service! I will be serving as a Consular Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, India. Mad Scientist and I are over the moon!! The vast majority of my classmates are also thrilled about their post assignments, and so I would say our Flag Day was quite a success. Thank you, CDOs, for your hard work in assigning 93 junior officers to jobs all over the world and balancing our individual circumstances with the needs of the Service.

We leave in August, which means the next eight weeks will be rather crazy. It isn't easy to wrap up a life lived entirely in the DC area, with a huge family, a lifetime of friends, and work obligations all calling for proper attention before we leave. I will do my best, and ask everyone to forgive me and understand my situation. Between renting our house, sorting out two vehicles, figuring out financials, packing up all our belongings, obtaining our diplomatic passports, immunizations, etc. I feel utterly overwhelmed. Good thing I love a challenge :) More to come when I can breathe...

Hump Day!

Ok, more like Hump Week. Completed 3 weeks of A-100, and just finished the Wednesday "hump day" of Week 4. Officially on the other side of 6 weeks now, yes? And our offsite overnight trip couldn't have come at a more perfect time- I was sensing a fading of energy at the end of last week but have since recharged my batteries. Really enjoyed the camaraderie with my classmates, and now, back to work!

And yes, inching closer and closer to "the" day. Mad Scientist and I joke that these days in our conversations, all roads lead to Flag Day. Our conversations about work, living, family, all inevitably end up with something like "So...I guess it depends on where we are going." I am truly trying not to be insufferable about it, both amongst my colleagues and home life, and have avoided discussing the bid list once I turned it in. I see little point in debating the minutia of possibilities that may never come to pass. Once we find out, however, I wholeheartedly admit I shall be engaging in endless research to ensure we are very well prepared (and know what we want to pack and take)!

Intense.Exhausting.Whirlwind.

That's the best way I can describe the last couple weeks. I had imagined myself writing on this blog about my experiences much more regularly, but given the fact that I live, eat and breathe A-100 right now, my time has been more limited here than I'd like. That said, orientation has been amazing, chock-full of useful and interesting information, and my colleagues are a COLOSSAL and wonderful lot of people from such a diversity of backgrounds. I feel privileged to be here among them, and hope to continue our connections as we move forward in our FS careers.

One of the most important segments of A-100, our bid list, has come and gone. I was, for the record, very pleased with the positions and posts, and the countdown until Flag Day begins! Mad Scientist and I were on the same page about pretty much everything, for which I feel really lucky. We share a similar outlook and regional interests, so it made much of our post research and selections quite easy. Now that it's out of my hands, my focus is on moving the next 2.5 weeks as quickly as possible (and I am grateful to the action-packed A-100 classes for playing a large helpful part in this). Most importantly, MS and I have embraced the "world-wide availability" aspect of FS openly, and will be looking forward to any post where we may be sent. Needs of the Service!

For those friends I have not been able to return the call/text/e-mail/FB post, I truly apologize, and appreciate you reaching out to me during this stressful but unique time. I will be back in touch soon!