As previously posted here in my blog, Ma and I were anticipating going to Niamey, Niger in mid-August. However, on July 26 that country's presidential guard staged a coup, deposing the president, Mohamed Bazoum, and closing its airspace and land borders. A week later, after meeting a number of requirements, the State Department ordered all… Continue reading best laid plans
testing the subscription bar
Will it work? Who knows! Home gnomes are the best, I know, but we aren't always up on the latest tech (or even WordPress templates, if I'm being completely honest) and my Auntie V says that this blog needs a subscription form so all of you people out there who might be interested in what… Continue reading testing the subscription bar
spring and summer in the DMV
Ma has been in the DMV (DC/Maryland/(Northern)Virginia) area since April 8 for training. It has been a wonderful experience for foodies like us since there are restaurants from pretty much everywhere. It's like the foodie equivalent of the Field of Dreams: if you build it, they will come. It has also been fantastic being in… Continue reading spring and summer in the DMV
mama’s first flag day
A Foreign Service Officer will be directed on their first two tours. Which is to say that although some things are taken into consideration, entry level officers (ELOs) will essentially be told where they're being sent for their first two tours of two years each. At the beginning of their six week orientation, US direct… Continue reading mama’s first flag day
embrace SNAFU because it’s not FUBAR… yet
The parental units are stressed. There's no other way to start off this blog. The packers/movers have been and gone and nothing went the way we expected it to go. Ma moved a lot growing up, and this was nothing like that. When she tried to document what was going in each box, she was… Continue reading embrace SNAFU because it’s not FUBAR… yet
Foreign Service Timeline
Guest submitted by "Ma," because I hear people like this kind of thing... Disclaimer: at some point between when I applied in the summer of 2020 and now, the whole process was overhauled for both the generalists and the specialists, so this timeline will seem a little strange to some. 7/20/2020 - My application (including… Continue reading Foreign Service Timeline