On to China

Six weeks ago, if you would have asked me what my dream post was, it most definitely would not have been a subtropical city in China. Just tells you what managed expectations can do for a person. :)

With no Japan or Korea post on the list of available jobs, I lobbied to get assigned to a place that would allow me to pick up a third language. I wanted Mandarin. Hong Kong would have been a wonderful place to live, but the work would not have anything to do with my career track in public affairs. To make matters more complicated, junior officers are required to stamp visas during the first two tours in order to become tenured. So I wanted to work the visa line in China so that by the time I get to my second tour, I can take a job related to my "major."

We leave in July. Until then, I'll be learning Mandarin here. We hope Aric can continue to work until we leave and finish his coursework. The timing of everything continues to be impeccable.

Come visit us in D.C.!

Autumn in D.C.

Fall is finally here in D.C.

Summer was relentless this year. It was odd running around the city in my Rainbows in October. This past weekend, Aric and I -- with a dear, dear friend visiting from Kent -- finally got to take in the crisp, autumn air while taking long walks with coffee in hand.

Training at the State Dept. was overwhelming the first week, bearable the second week, fun the third week, really fun the fourth week, and now I actually look forward to waking up at 6:30 a.m. everyday to catch the 7:50 a.m. shuttle to the campus where they train diplomats in Virgina. Now that I'm used to the day to day rhythm, the 7-week orientation with 89 other new foreign service officers is nearly over. We find out where we will be posted this coming Friday, and then I am sworn in ceremoniously in two weeks. What happens after that depends on where they assign us.

Aric has made an ultimatum about not daydreaming about our assignment and where we will live the next two years. I have this bad habit of drawing up scenarios in my mind about our future and then getting very grumpy when they don't pan out. So I'm taking it one day at a time. The fleeting smell of falling leaves is a nice companion.