Foreign Service Specialist - My OMS Journey

And my second directed assignment is...

2011-11-29T03:35:00.000-05:00

Chennai, India!!!

I typically avoid crowds. The local grocery store is too crowded for me on Sunday afternoons.

I don't like hot, muggy weather. 10 years in South Carolina was PLENTY...and we even got a break in winter.

I don't care for Indian food.

Needless to say, I think I am in for a bit of culture shock. :-)

I am looking forward to my tour in India...it just may take me some time to adjust!

I am looking forward to learning about a new culture. I don't know much about India, so I think it will be a fascinating journey.

I have a few colleagues who will also be in country...so I will have some familiar faces around.

I can't wait to throw my tea cup on the ground after drinking Chai.

I hope I can find the "living bridge" in Meghalaya state.

The ladies back home can expect to receive some silk scarves next Christmas.

A colleague from my previous career grew up in Chennai. His parents are still there. I admire my colleague...so how can I not love Chennai?

I now have experience driving on the left side of the road.

My son (who turned 21 today!) tells me that he will come to India...if we can all go see the Taj Mahal.

What else is there to look forward to??

Farewell Spit

2011-11-27T12:59:00.001-05:00

We traveled to the South Island and went to Farewell Spit. It is the northernmost point on the South Island (it is actually further north than Wellington). We took the Ferry across the Cook Straight, drove along the Queen Charlotte Sound, drove through the city of Nelson, and over Takaka Hill. It was a long journey, but worth it. We stayed at a luxurious cabin on the sea, and the next day we hopped on a big red tour bus and drove out to the dunes.

Queen Charlotte Sound

Takaka Hill

We had one sunny day - and it was lovely!!

Gannet Colony on Farewell Spit

This is the road from the lighthouse out to the beach/sea

Jumping off of the dunes - so much fun!!!

We are heading back to the South Island next week - I can't wait!

Pumpkin Pie in New Zealand

2011-09-17T05:14:00.001-04:00

Apparently, not everyone has canned pumpkin on their grocery store shelves. They do not have it in New Zealand. The Kiwi's say "Why don't you just cook your own pumpkin?" (When they do cook it, it is usually used for Pumpkin Soup or roasted like a potato. They do not typically make pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, etc.)

I was fortunate enough to have some canned pumpkin in my HHE, and my family has sent some along as well. So when a local employee asked if I knew what it was, I had to laugh! Of course I knew what it was!!! He said his Kiwi friend knew of it and wondered if she could get her hands on some. I happily brought in a can to share. My colleague's friend was going to make a Pumpkin Pie!

The friend was so happy to receive the canned pumpkin, that she invited my colleague and his family, and J and I over for lunch - and to enjoy some of her pie. Lunch was great. The pie was great...she followed the recipe right on the can, and it was perfect. She even whipped her own cream!

J and I had such a lovely (sunny) day getting to know my colleague and his family better and getting to know some new Kiwi friends. We talked about their trips to America, we talked about the Marines, horse races, Pacific Island swim competitions, we explained kick-ball...the conversation just flowed. The day flew right by. We all had to get back in to town watch "The Rugby" and to say goodbye to a few Marines, so we had to wrap up our lunch and hit the road at 5:00!!

Who would have thought that sharing a little can of pumpkin would generate such great returns??

New Plymouth

2011-09-06T04:29:00.002-04:00

Here are a few pictures of our recent trip up the west coast to tide us all over until assignments are handed out...

It is SNOWING in Wellington!!!

2011-08-16T02:47:00.000-04:00

BRRR!!! It is COLD!!

It has not snowed like this in Wellington for 40 years. I hear we made the news back in the States. Everyone is excited about the weather, and worried at the same time. Many houses are at the top of steep, narrow, winding roads. It would be very scary to live up on one of those mountains this week...although very cool to sled down!

Last night when I got home, the power was out. The thunder rattled our nerves - at first I thought it was an earthquake, The lightening sent shivers down our spine as it lit up the night sky. The power came back on long enough for me to whip up a pot of chicken stew with dumplings. Thirty seconds after the timer went off - and the dumplings were done, the power was out again. Luckily, we had the fire going already and had some candles lit. I also hit up the earthquake survival bag and pulled out a few flashlights.

I received a fews calls to make sure we were OK. I checked in on a few other folks. We were all hunkering down for the night. J and I bundled up in our long johns and wool socks. I had on my lambswool slippers. We talked about how it looked like Christmas, and then laughed when we remembered that it is AUGUST!!!

An hour or so later, our power came back on...thank goodness! It would have been a long, cold night without heat!

Stay Warm!!!

First Year

2011-06-17T22:02:00.000-04:00

I left a good job last June. I was happy there, I enjoyed what I was doing, I made decent money. However, I could not see myself staying there for another twenty or thirty years. I was ready for some excitement. I was ready for a change. I stumbled upon the OMS opportunity and stumbled over all of the hurdles until I finally crossed the finish line.

It was hard to say goodbye to my colleagues. They had become like family to me.

My parents wished me well on this new chapter in my life. Thankfully, they are in good health and were very proud of me. My older son had started his own adventure in the military and did not look back often. I decided it was my time to have some fun too. My younger son chose to come along for the ride.

Orientation and Training: What a ride! State was cramming gobs of important information into my brain via PowerPoint while I was still trying to figure out where the nearest grocery store was, how to have my suits dry-cleaned, how to get around without a car, and how to fnd Georgetown Cupcake. I met many nice women in my class and consider each of them a friend. It was great to meet up with people I had previously chatted with online and get to know them in person.

Directed Tour: My first two tours are directed. I can give an opinion as to where I would like to be sent, but in the end, you are told where you are going…like it or not. Most people in our class were assigned to places that were high on their bid list. I was happy to hear that J and I were heading to Wellington – it was number two on my list. Once I was given permission to reach out to post, I reached out to the CLO to ask about schools for my son, and sent off the standard notes to my new bosses. Shortly after, I received emails from my future colleagues welcoming me. Then came the emails from my sponsor – who hooked me up with others in the community to answer all of my questions. It was such a great welcoming feeling – everyone seemed so happy to have us join the team. It is now my turn to sponsor a new family. They are arriving this summer. I hope to be half as good to them as Joe was to us.

Arrival at Post: After a two day trip, J and I finally made it to Wellington. We were met at the airport by our sponsor and work colleagues. It was a beautiful sunny day. Joe took us to our temporary apartment and helped us settle in. We then drove around what would be our neighborhood, Joe took us to the grocery store, and had us over for dinner. In the early days, he even test drove a few cars for me as I was still nervous about driving on the left. I did not go in to the embassy the day I arrived, but needed to go in and meet the Ambassador and the RSO the next day. Wouldn’t you know it that the apartment had no power adapters, so I had no hair dryer, flat iron – nothing. I looked lovely that day…still have my id badge to prove it!

The job: Some days are more exciting than others. There are times when I just really cannot reformat another cable, and then there are days when things are humming right along. I still struggle with E2 – I forever step right into each booby-trap laid out before me. Payroll is a mess – there never seems to be a week when everyone just shows up for work the way I want. Someone has to have OT, HO, SL, SLA, AL, XA, XD, FQRPLKIUHKL….good grief!! Initially I sometimes felt left out when everyone was working on a project or event that I did not have a role in. They all just talked around me. I guess this is why Elizabeth kept repeating that we need to insert ourselves. I have done that, and it has paid off. I have played small roles in the Pike River mining disaster, the two earthquakes in Christchurch, the Secretary’s visit, the Partnership Forum. We have 4th of July, the Pacific Islands Forum, Rugby World Cup, and National Elections coming up. I expect to have small roles in these as well. I was asked to cover for the Ambassador’s OMS while she was on leave for a month. I was a bit nervous, but anxious to gain the experience. Everyone missed the Ambassador’s OMS while she was away, but I did not set the building on fire, so I am calling it a success!

Opportunities: My request to attend OMS training on PPT and Excel was turned down. Naturally, it was disappointing to see colleagues going to Frankfurt/Bangkok to obtain required qualifications and I was denied the opportunity. I will try again next time – keep your fingers crossed that my next request is approved. I did start some Distance Learning in a language. I sucked. I will not give up though, I am a glutton for punishment. I have volunteered for a few positions at post such as CFC Coordinator, Federal Women’s Program Coordinator, Gifts Coordinator, etc. I also volunteer with our employee association and with some of the events sponsored by J’s school. Lot’s of opportunities to learn new things, meet new people, and make a difference. I encourage you to do the same…wherever you are.

Small Community: It is nice to have a built in small community. There is always someone to have dinner with, go hiking with, etc. But that also means that whatever you open your mouth and say will be repeated. If you do not want your business to be repeated throughout the embassy, don’t say anything to anybody. Period. That is tough for some of us. :-) Get out and meet the locals. They will gossip about you in their own circles and you don’t have to work with them. Another point about small communities: you get to know people quickly (we are all gossiping about each other, remember?) It is tough to say goodbye to those who touched your heart. My colleague, Adam, just said yesterday that we often see our American colleagues at future posts or in Washington - but we often don’t see our local colleagues ever again. That is just so sad.

All in all, it has been a good first year. As much as I am enjoying my time here, I can’t wait for the bid list to come out and see the possibilities for my next directed tour. I imagine this second year is going to fly right by.

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-22T21:44:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter Everyone!!

My big baby (he is 20) is in the States, I will not get to see him this Easter. My little baby (he is 18) went camping this weekend. I am left to do what mom's do when their kids are not around for the holidays...stroll down memory lane. :-)

His second Easter. No little brother yet. This was in Pittsburgh, PA...I think at the little home daycare across the street.

Easter 1993 - At Aunt Darlene's in North Carolina. Josh was too little to know about the Easter Bunny yet, but Jerry sure knew what to do!!

Same year...1993. Not too scared of the Easter Bunny this year. :-)

Is this 1994? Where is Josh?

Penn Hills, PA. What a cutie!

And another cutie! Coloring Easter eggs.

Is this at the Greengate Mall? Maybe when we lived in Hempfield?? Hey moms...be thankful you have digital cameras these days...you can use the date stamp to keep track of when you took the pictures!!

Coloring eggs with cousin Joey at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Grandma and Grandpa invited lots of kids over for a fun Easter Egg hunt in their back yard.

The older the boys got, the more creative they became.

Bea's son - Timmy?, Cousin Johnathon, Josh and Jerry

Another Easter in North Carolina at Aunt Darlene's. The Easter baskets seem to grow bigger as the boys grow taller!!

And the best for last...Josh, Cousin Joey, and Jerry...laying their own Easter Eggs!! In South Carolina.

Happy Easter!!! (and may you have WHITE eggs to decorate, wherever you are this Easter!)

Best Disguised Foreign Service Couch Contest

2011-03-04T19:51:00.000-05:00

I had planned on going over the Waiarapa mountains at the crack of dawn this morning to go a shopping festival with a few ladies from work. When I got up at 5am, it was pouring buckets and the wind was howling. The rain was blowing sideways. I decided shortly after I woke up that I was NOT going over the mountains in that weather. I texted our fearless leader and bailed. There are wooden picket fences for guard rails (see first picture here: http://omsjourney.blogspot.com/2010/11/lord-of-rings-valley-of-deathor.html); and I had no intention of being blown off this mountain today. Turns out that the rain stopped shortly after and it is not too bad of a day. I am kicking myself for not going. Instead, I am catching up on my email/blog/facebook, and generally wasting time...after having a lovely morning tea, of course. In my web surfing, I came across this fun contest and had to submit my entry.
http://somethingedited.blogspot.com/2011/03/announcing-best-disguised-foreign.html

We had these two burlap beauties in the tv room when we first moved in. I later learned that they were in my boss's house when he moved in to his place, and he successfully lobbied to have them relocated. They are itchy and scratchy, the arms practically reach the ceiling, and they are generally unappealing. When he saw them in my house, he chuckled to himself but said nothing to me. It took a little while for him to confess that those couches were his rejects. He felt just a tad bit sorry that they were in my house, but still very happy that they were no longer in his place.

When my HHE arrived, my own tiny sofa and chair fit very nicely in the tv room, and the burlap beauties did not. My son and I moved them to the garage and they were shoved in there for a few months with all of the packing materials and extra furniture that did not fit in the house. We finally cleared out the garage and made it into a neat little place for teenagers to hang out. I have asked GSO to move them into proper storage or wrap them in plastic. Until then, they are perfectly disguised as teenager furniture.

Two Part Post

2011-03-04T19:25:00.000-05:00

1 - Earthquakes

We are starting to get back to "normal" at work after the Christchurch earthquake. I am very proud of all of our employees who were still in Christchurch during the earthquake. They were all exhausted after working for weeks/months preparing for the triple hit CODEL, DHS Secretary and A/S visit that took them to Christchurch. They were looking forward to the end of the Partnership Forum, so they could get some sleep and actually see their families. They were not expecting to become heroes of a natural disaster, and yet, they all stepped up to the plate when the situation demanded. Please keep them in your prayers and hope that the earthquakes in Wellington stay small and create no damage. We have had three in the past week and everyone is on edge, especially those who were in Christchurch on 2/22.

2 - SCONES

I volunteered to help with the Devonshire Tea stall at J's annual School Gala. (pronounced GAlla, not Gale-A) I have been asked to make 2 dozen scones (pronounced Scons, not Scones). The event staff is very particular about their scones. They have provided a recipe. Scone mix is unacceptable. Recipe is below.

SCONES

Ingredients:

4 cups self raising flour
*355 ml lemonade
1/2 tspn salt
*250 ml carton uht cream (you can use a 300 ml bottle of standard cream but dont use all of it as the mixture will become too sloppy)

Method:
combine ingredients together, then tip out onto a floured surface and pat into a flat cake the depth of the cutter-(3cm). Using the cutter which has been floured, cut and place onto baking sheet.

Bake at 220 C for 15-20 mins.

*We have not been able to find lemonade since we left the States. Everytime we would order it at a restaurant, we would get Sprite. I did confirm that lemonade in the recipe is actually Sprite (or lemon lime soda). You would ask for lemon cordial if you want lemonade. And Yes, I did ask another shopper where to find the "uht cream", as I could not find it with the fresh cream. She was not too sure, but suggested I look at the "shelf stable" milk. And there it was!!! U.H.T. cream, not "uht cream". I went back and bought the fresh cream. I made a practice batch of scones and they are not too bad. Very similar to buttermilk biscuits, without the buttermilk. Add some freshly whipped cream and jam, serve with a cup of hot English Breakfast tea, and you are good to go.

Happy 2011!! (or I survived the first trip of the year)

2011-01-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

We started the year off with a 5 day weekend (Yes, we also ended the year with a 5 day weekend – love the local holidays!!) We spent New Year’s Eve at a fun party with friends and then on New Year’s Day we drove up to Rotorua. It is about 6 hours north of Wellington. The scenery was diverse and beautiful. We drove along the coast for a while, and then through a “desert” area where we drove around a corner and saw a huge volcano staring back at us. We drove a bit further and J noticed another volcano that I had somehow missed. One or both were used in the filming in The Lord of the Rings movies as Mt. Doom. They were truly awesome!

After driving up and down and all around the mountains, we made it to Rotorua without much incident. We checked in to our hotel with no AC…in summer…with only one small window (sans screen)…with lots of Lake Flies. We did have a small circulating fan in the room, and we left the door open all night. [We were on the (2nd floor) back porch of the hotel, so our door opened to the outside] I don’t think I would consider leaving my hotel door open all night anywhere else besides New Zealand…and even then I was nervous, but too hot to really care.

On the first full day, we popped in to the information center and could not easily find a map, and J was rushing me out, so we just decided to “wing it.” We tried to use the little maps on the backs of the brochures to find the tourist attractions. We mostly just drove in circles, but did eventually find what we were looking for. We were 20 minutes late for the Hangi (like a Hawaiian Luau), we thought it was right up the road. We left 15 minutes early. I drove right past it and couldn’t figure out why it was not where I thought it was. We drove in circles further out until we found that it really was just 5 minutes up the road. UGH! We missed a lot of the Powhiri ceremony, but did get dinner and saw the geyser blow afterwards.

The next day, J rushed me through our first tourist site so he could get to the Quad Ride that was next on our agenda.

We did not get lost on the way to the Quad Ride, we were actually on time. It all went downhill from there! Josh was putting on a pair of long pants and the guide said he would be too hot…it would be OK for him to wear shorts…my ‘mom’s radar’ went off: “shouldn’t you always wear long pants as a safety precaution?” Our guide said shorts were fine, so I assumed the ride would be easy, breezy. I was WRONG!!! I have heard that New Zealanders call the US a Nanny State…as we have too many safety precautions. I LIKE our safety precautions. So anyhow, Josh leaves his pants on and just the two of us take off with our guide. We drive around a small field so he can see how experienced we are on these things before we take off for the ride. (My only experience was taking the boys on a nice, easy, pleasant ride in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada about 10 years ago) I was squealing like a little school girl on the drive around the small field…that was enough fun for me. Unfortunately, the trip was scheduled for an hour and J did not want to drive around the field in circles for an hour, so we had to up the adventure. We drove straight up the side of a grassy cliff. I was in the rear, and I saw J and the guide stopped at the top of the hill. I did not want to run them over, so I slowed down (Ok – so maybe I stopped…on the hill) Apparently, this is a big No No. The guide came running down yelling at me to give it gas. It would not move forward. I was stuck on the hill…he was afraid that I was going to start rolling backwards down the hill and was trying really hard not to freak out on me. Eventually, he had me jump off and he backed it down the hill and then drove it up to the top, where he allowed me to get back on. (Why, I do not know) We then proceeded to drive through cow fields and up more mountains. I was terrified. We were on the edge of cliffs with NO Guardrails!! We then drove through the forest. Lots of mud and trees, and ruts and tight corners. I was holding on to the handle bars for dear life. I was trying to steer around the trees, mud and ruts. J laughed when I steered around the mud and ruts, but almost went straight into a tree!! OMG!! I am CERTAIN this trip was NOT mom certified. We went around another tight curve, and I halfway fell off the darn Quad. My foot was on the ground. I stopped. I was afraid to give it gas up the hill, in case the guy came back and yelled at me again. J and the guide came back and said it was OK…while laughing under their breath. So we make it to the top of the MOUNTAIN, and yes, the view is to die for…literally. (In the pictures below, you can see how the edge just drops off in front of us. J asked if we were going to turn around to get back down...the guide says "No, we're just going to drop down there." And drop down there, we did.)

I was really wishing our hour was up. It wasn’t. Not even close. We had to get back down the mountain. OMG!! We drove back through the cow fields, and even though the guide said the cows were used to people riding through, they seemed pretty mad to me. They were getting up and moving around. I thought they were going to start chasing after me. I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure they stayed away from me. We then had to go back down the same steep curvy mountain paths that have NO guard rail…and I have NO brakes!!! J says I did have brakes, they just are not supposed to STOP you…they only slow you down. HMMMM. I didn’t like that AT ALL. Driving straight down hill on a huge tank actually picks up speed. When I am going around the curve on the edge of a cliff, I like to be in a bit more control…like being able to stop before I have a nervous breakdown. You may have guessed (since I am writing this blog post) that I did survive my hour long quad ride on the mountain. I won’t be doing that again.

J and I headed home the next morning. Our muscles were sore. We drove past all of the lovely scenery. We saw the volcanoes, we drove along the coast. It really was a lovely trip. We pulled in to the driveway and noticed that the front door was open. I looked at my son and asked if he left it open for the whole time we were gone…he said "maybe". But was more concerned that someone came in and stole his laptop. His laptop was fine. The only difference in the house from when we left is that the living room was sprinkled with bird poop and feathers.

2011 is off to a great start!!

Christmastime in New Zealand

2010-12-20T01:55:00.000-05:00

Christmas is almost here. It is summer and it has been raining - I am NOT anticipating a white Christmas.
It is a bit of a challenge trying to get everything done. There are no Christmas trees on the street corners...heck, there are no corners...only traffic circles!!! Seriously, no Christmas trees around. (I think if you hunt for them, you can find some Christmas bushes) I decided just to use the little decorative Christmas trees we have. I threw some ornaments on them, and called it a day.

I wanted to bake some Christmas goodies, but many of my staples are not to be found in New Zealand. No Anise for biscotti, no peanut butter cups for PB cup cookies, no candiquick or Dulci Fruit for Christmas candies. No Sara Lee pound cake or Cool Whip...what grocery store does not have Sara Lee pound cake or Cool Whip???

I have invited some folks over for a party on Christmas eve. It has been a struggle to decide what to serve. I want to serve the traditional dishes, but it is summer here and I have decided to go with some tapas with Sangria. Not very Christmassy, but probably most appropriate for the weather. They actually BBQ on the grill for Christmas...they cook fish. The Kiwi's also eat Pavlova...a giant meringue with freshly whipped cream (no Cool Whip here), and fresh fruit like strawberries and kiwifruit layered on top. Some folks here actually MAKE Christmas Cake (fruit cake). I know in the states we keep regifting the same fruit cake year after year, but here, they actually make the stuff.

It will still be light out when the kids are supposed to be getting ready for bed in anticipation of Santa's arrival.

I hadn't really noticed that no one has decorations/lights on their house until I turned down the wrong road by accident and found, there, in the middle of my suburban neighborhood, the Griswald's house. It is a spectacle. I can't wait to go back and check it out again. (I can only imagine what their neighbors think)

I HAVE noticed that only one Christmas card has made it to New Zealand. Josh's dad sent him a card. I miss my family and friends, and sure would love to hear from them. We still have a few days before Christmas...perhaps a card or two will make it here this week. (Lesson learned: next year, I will have to send cards...and I will have to send them EARLY)

All that being said, we are going to church with another family before the party on Christmas eve. I am looking forward to that. It will be a good Christmas in New Zealand.

Thanksgiving Week

2010-11-26T16:07:00.000-05:00

What a whirlwind week!

Monday: The Americans provided lunch for our Kiwi co-workers. We roasted one turkey and fried two others. We also had a delicious ham. All of the American employees (or their wives) brought in delicious side dishes. I made "Corn Pudding", a green salad, and a relish tray - with black olives, all the way from South Carolina. I was on the committee that organized the lunch, so I helped set up and clean up as well. It was a fun day, and our Kiwi friends all enjoyed the meal. They did, however, ask if the "fruit salads" were dessert...since they were mixed with whipped cream and marshmallows. We explained that those were considered sides...the desserts were pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, etc. :-)

On Wednesday, many embassy employees and their families went to the downtown community mission and served lunch to the disadvantaged. This was a new experience for me. There was an early crew who went and set up the room and then the second crew came and actually served the meal and cleaned up afterwards. I joined the second crew. We received a quick briefing, were assigned tables to work and then the doors flung open and about 200 folks rolled on in. I had a table of 8, and since there were so many people, those without a seat at a table, sat around the edges of the room. I had about 4-5 more folks sitting along the wall that I helped. They were all great. Very polite, very happy to be there. When I asked everyone what they wanted to drink, one lady asked for fizzy cola...I took that as Coke, and I was right! She liked her fizzy cola, and I refilled her cup several times. Each volunteer was to pick up the lunch plates full of food from the front of the hall and carry them to their tables. As I had at least 12 to feed, that would mean 6 trips to the front of the hall - waiting in line behind the other volunteers - if I only took two plates at a time. I carried 3 plates, and then a fellow volunteer offered me her tray, and I think I got about 6 plates on it. She helped me deliver the food quickly and with a smile. We did have to fight off another volunteer, who kept cutting the line and taking plates of food to his table, making the rest of us wait. He was called on that pretty quickly, and the elbows came out. :-) Clean up was pretty quick, with everyone helping, and back to work I went.

Thursday: Initially, I was asked to host Thanksgiving dinner at my place for the embassy singles, to make sure they had a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Then, the meal was moved to another house, and I was a guest. It was a nice reprieve, as I "only" had to make the pies. If you recall from my previous post, this was not going to be as simple as I thought. I did find some pastry crust squares. I cut off the corners and patched together enough dough to go in the pie plates. Unfortunately, my TINY oven could not handle more than one pie at a time. I did put the pumpkin and pecan pies in at the same time. I tried to stagger them in the oven, but it seems the top pie got all of the heat, and the bottom pie took longer. I then threw in the apple pie, and finally, a batch of corn pudding...Yes, I made it on Monday and again on Thursday...it is that good. It was time to head to my friends house for the feast, but J was not yet home from school. (Yes, he had school on Thanksgiving!! - The actual learning is over for the year...they are now taking exams. If you have taken history, and the history exam is scheduled for Thursday, then you have to go to school on Thanksgiving to take the exam). Back to the story...J did call and said "OOPS! I forgot it is Thanksgiving." He was hanging out with other test takers. It was like 75 degrees outside and the sun was shining...It did not feel at all like Thanksgiving! He took the city bus home, and I picked him up after everyone else ate. He had chips (french fries) and pizza with his mates for lunch, so he showed up just in time for dessert. We had a lovely meal with more turkey, more ham, more stuffing, more sweet potatoes...it was great. Our hostess sent us home with loads of leftovers, but we were too stuffed to eat any more that day.

Friday, we were back to work, and now - on Saturday - it is time to get the housework done and think about Christmas. I have not seen any Christmas Tree stands on any corners here...oh wait...there are no corners here...everything is a round-about!!! Still no Christmas Trees anywhere. I checked online and see that I can drive up the mountain range and pick out my tree today...and then go back and pick it up next weekend. Hmm...Do we really need a Christmas Tree this year?????

Lord of the Rings - Valley of Death...or something like that

2010-11-16T11:46:00.000-05:00

J and I ventured over the mountains last week and headed to the Pinnacles. This is where they filmed the Death March or whatever it is called in Return of the King. (My DVD is refusing to play right now...and I cannot recall the details)

We hiked along the stream bed for about an hour until we came across them. It was a great day trip. We will do it again before we leave New Zealand...and we will be sure to continue down the road a bit to see Cape Palliser, the seals and the lighthouse.

I also went on a tour of homes this weekend, it was like mountain climbing...all of the houses were on STEEP hills, so it was a hike just to get to the houses, and then all of the stairs to get up and down in the houses and gardens. It was well worth the effort, though. I had a lovely time, and we helped raise money for a local school.

November

2010-11-08T01:50:00.000-05:00

Well, I survived my first "S" visit. Secretary Clinton came to New Zealand for two days. I went down to Christchurch to assist with that leg of the visit. It was a great experience. J went with me and he actually got to help out on one of the events. He also posed for our group picture with the Secretary. We felt a few aftershocks...the entire hotel rumbled and shook. It was pretty eerie, especially when you are not an earthquake expert.

As an OMS, we can actually bid on a Line Assistant job as a DC rotation. I am definitely considering it as an option when I complete my directed tours. It seems like a pretty amazing experience.

I did not have much time to get out and see Christchurch, hopefully I will get a chance to go back. It was a quaint, walkable city. I missed the Botanical Gardens, I hear they are lovely.

Halloween was fun. One of the mom's organized a haunted walk through a local park on Friday night. She arranged to have all of the dads dress up in scary costumes and hide in the woods along the trail. As we walked through in the dark, the dads jumped out and scared us. It was so much fun. The best part may have been when the dads jumped out at a group of Germans. There were three young ladies and a gentleman having a nighttime stroll on the trails. The dads decided they were already hiding in the woods - in costume, so they jumped out and yelled "Happy Halloween" at them. The Germans screamed a good bit, and once they realized what the crazy Americans were up to, they got a good laugh too. At the end of the walk, we found lots of Glow Worms along the trail. It was like lots of white Christmas lights lighting the way. It was so pretty. J had a blast playing paintball with another boy from the embassy on Saturday, and on Sunday we went to the embassy Halloween party at the Marine House. I think just about everyone was there, and the kids had a blast.

Wednesday is the Marine Corps birthday, so I will be making a birthday cake for our Marines. Our ball has been moved to December due to the S visit, so no official birthday cake until then. I am just making something very simple to mark the day.

After that, it is time to start planning for Thanksgiving. I hear turkeys here cost $75-$150 per turkey!! Fortunately, I have been invited to share someone else's turkey. I just have to bring the pies...which does not sound too hard until you learn that I have to make my own pie crust - no Petz-Ritz frozen pie crusts here! wish me luck...I tried to make pie crusts many years ago, and they were not flaky and delicious AT ALL!!

My parents shipped me a huge Thanksgiving box filled with canned cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, instant pistachio pudding, marshmallows, crushed pineapple, Jiffy Corn muffin mix...the list goes on. It kind of feels like I am cheating, by using items not locally available...but then it is THANKSGIVING...an American holiday...so I guess I can cheat just a bit. I will still be using room temperature brown eggs...that has to count for something.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

2010-10-05T03:37:00.000-04:00

I have been in New Zealand for a little over a month now. I am getting settled in a bit and I made a list of things that stand out in my mind. Some good, some not so good.

It will be interesting to see how the list changes over the next few years.

The Good

I have a beautiful view on the way to work each day.

I love the towel warmer in the bathroom.
I have a lovely house with a gas stove, fireplaces, beautiful woodwork. Lots of large picture windows.
I can't believe how nice everyone is.
I love the tiny teaspoons in the welcome kit – they remind me of my grandma...she had those tiny teaspoons too.
I am very thankful for the welcome kit.
J is happy at school and making friends.
I saw a rainbow

Someone stopped by and cut my grass unexpectedly. (don’t know who)
I found the fur seals after walking for an hour along the beautiful coast on a gorgeous day.

The Bad

Oreos - the Oreos here are just gross.
Earthquakes - very scary! I actually felt my first tremor EVER, last week.
Steering wheel, turn signal, gear shifter - Perhaps I will get used to driving on the left side of the road with the steering wheel, turn signal and gear shifter on the right side of the car. I still turn on the wipers when trying to signal. Perhaps not.
Roundabouts - Grr! Still not used to these!
Hot dogs - J says they are no good. I just heard that they add mutton to their hot dogs...that would be why they taste different.
Brown onions - I am still not used to these. I miss my sweet onions. The brown onions smell like dirty feet and I get a similar reaction peeling onions as I did coming out of the gas chamber in boot camp. :-(
Swearing & naked people on regular tv - SHOCKING!
18 year old drinking age (my son just turned 18)
~~Brown eggs that are not refrigerated~~ - I learned that room temperature eggs whip up fluffier than refrigerated eggs, so I am crossing them off the bad list...but not yet ready to add them to the good side.
Cost of Living is crazy expensive. A book on Barnes & Noble.com is $11.50. Same book is $31 here.
My cookie sheet does not fit into the TINY oven. How am I supposed to cook for the holidays???
No Pandora. :-(

The Ugly

These things are hideous, and I cannot stand the buzzing noise...but I love that I have them! I use them for curling/flat irons, hair dryer, laptops, cell phone chargers, camera charger, hand mixer...and my HHE is not even here yet. I think I am going to need MORE!!

We're not in Kansas anymore!!

2010-09-10T05:06:00.001-04:00

After consultations at Main State, J and I packed up and met R and C in the Super Shuttle, and off we went to the airport. We ran into a bit of a snag checking in...the airline insisted that I needed an Australian visa to board the plane. I had already had this conversation with the visa guy at Main State, and he was sure that I did not require the visa. I asked the airline rep to put in writing that he would not allow me to board the plane without the visa. (I could purchase them for $25 each, and I expected to be reimbursed) The rep did a bit more research, and eventually allowed us through. We then got pulled in security for having toothpaste in a carry on bag. It was neither a liquid or gel, but it had to go. By the time we got through security, it was almost time to board the plane. Since R and C had no troubles getting through, they were ahead of us, and we were not able to meet back up and say goodbye. They are such nice people, and I am happy to have met them both.

We flew to LAX, and then to Sydney for our rest stop. Sydney was great. We actually spent two whole days there. We took the red bus tour around town and headed out to Bondi beach. We found the fruit bats at the Botanical Gardens, we had meat pies at the fisherman's wharf, we saw the opera house and the harbor bridge.

We then boarded one last plane and made our way to Wellington. It was a beautiful sunny morning. We were met by our sponsor, my boss and another co-worker. They were a welcome sight. Everyone has been so friendly and kind. We have really felt welcomed. There were flowers on my desk when I arrived at the office, we have received several invitations for lunch and dinner.

We bought a right hand drive car, and I am driving back and forth to work. We have ventured out a bit on the weekends, but I am still not comfortable...the windshield wipers still get turned on when I am trying to hit the turn signal!! Ugh!

I still struggle a bit with the accent. I swear they were selling beards on the radio...they had the best beards, the most comfortable beards, etc. Turns out they were selling BEDS!!! who would have guessed??

My camera battery died, and the charger just arrived. I will get out and take more pictures and post them soon.

We have had lots of rain, there have been loads of earthquakes all around (north and south islands), and plenty of wind. Everyone is so thankful for the sunny days. We even saw a "full" rainbow the other afternoon. It was really close and so beautiful.

The food is a bit different, nothing tastes the same. We did find a Burger King in the neighborhood, and they are pretty darn close to what we are used to. Our UAB should be in country on Monday. It should be delivered later in the week. We have 450 pounds of peanut butter, pop tarts, chocolate chips, Gatorade, etc. Can't wait!!! :-)

DC Metro

2010-07-30T20:34:00.000-04:00

I have been trying to get out and about while not in class. With the help of some great colleagues and friends, I have found a few fun places to visit by way of the Metro. Since I do not have my car in DC, I am stuck taking the metro everywhere. This is a huge change for me. I am used to jumping in my car and driving where I want to go, when I want to go. Plus, I have Air Conditioning in my car. The metro platforms are HOT and sometimes you have to wait 15 minutes for the next train. (Yes, I know...I am spoiled)

Below is a list of some cool places that you can visit when your only mode of transportation is the metro:

1 - Pentagon City Mall/Fashion Centre Mall - nice mall right at the Pentagon City stop. (Macys and Nordstroms)
2 - Indoor Ice Skating at the Ballston Mall - about 2 blocks from the Ballston stop.
3 - Cafe Belga and Eastern Market - walking distance from the Eastern Market stop.
4 - Clyde's restaurant - around the corner from the Gallery Place/Chinatown stop. (They acccomodated our party of 10 with no advance reservation)
5 - Georgetown Cupcake: yes, the small cupcakes are $2.75 EACH, but they are delicious! Get off at the Rosslyn stop and take the 38B Bus to Georgetown. (Georgetown is a great place to window shop when it is not 110 degrees outside)
6 - Target - Columbia Heights stop. It is in a mall with Bed, Bath and Beyond, Best Buy and I think a Marshalls. Also, there is a 5 Guys (Burgers and Fries) nearby. Very convenient to the metro. You can buy a "personal shopping cart" at Bed Bath and Beyond (using your coupons, of course) to lug your goodies home.
7 - Ray's Hell Burgers - up the hill and on the right from the Rosslyn stop. Nothing fancy at all, but yummy burgers.

We are near the Arlington Cemetery stop, and plan to visit before we leave. Also, there is a shuttle from Arlington Cemetery to the Iwo Jima memorial on Tuesday evenings for a military musical presentation. I am looking forward to seeing that before we leave.

You can visit the aquarium by getting off at the Federal Triangle stop, but I would not recommend it. The cost is $9 to get in, and there was not much to see. I think we looked at everything in 15 minutes.

I have a few weeks left here before heading off to Wellington and I hope to do a night time memorial tour, pay a visit to the spy museum, and walk around Dupont Circle to check out the other embassies. So much to squeeze in, and so little time to do it all. Remember the zoo is free.

Also, I wanted to shout out to all of the OMSHopefuls who are waiting for their OA's. Good luck to you all!!! :-)

and my first assignment is...

2010-07-09T18:54:00.000-04:00

I have been having a great time attending Specialist orientation over the past three weeks. There are a lot of nice people in my class and we have met up a few times for drinks/dinner/fireworks. We received lots of information and had lots of homework...but I still tried to allow time to make new friends. R and I have become quick friends. We met through the Yahoo OMS boards and have lots in common, so it has been great to have a friend in class every day! I even met up with a few other OMS's who I found online and are currently in the area. They are super nice, I am so glad they came out for our Girl's Night. We definitely need to have another get together! (I am thinking we should get together for Brunch on Sunday-what do you think?) :-)

I am pretty good on the Metro now. I have a SmartPass that allows me to swipe and move along...so I do not have to buy an individual ticket for each trip. You have to buy the SmartPass at a commuter store, but you can load it at any ticket station. (You put any amount of cash you want on the card, and refill it as necessary) I actually bought the card for J. Since he is flying in tomorrow morning, I may have to buy a separate one for me.

Flag Day was pretty cool! My mom, aunt, and son drove up for Flag Day (and left early Wednesday morning). I was one of the earlier names called, so I did not have too much nail biting...but it was pretty intense before they called my name. J and I are heading to Wellington, New Zealand!!!! :-) What an awesome first tour. I have a few more weeks of training before heading off to post. The schools there are not the same as in the US, so I will have to do some research there for J. They also drive on the opposite side of the road, so I am not sure if I am going to take my car or not. Apparently, I do have the option. I also have to figure out insurance...seems everyone likes Clements. And cell phones...I think I read that post will issue a phone to me, so I guess I just need service for J. So much to figure out, and I still have to attend class all day. Fun times!

We are going to have such a blast in New Zealand!! The Lord of the Rings and Narnia movies were filmed there...it is so beautiful! We can see the Glowworm Grotto, the Maori, hot springs, glaciers, Milford Sound, J. can snowboard in the summer!! I'm wondering if it is possible to get to Antarctica on my budget...my goal is to hit all of the continents...and I will be sooooo close! (Will also have to visit Australia while I am there!)

Life is good today! :-)

It's a Small World

2010-06-20T23:34:00.000-04:00

I was talking with my friend Judy and filling her in on my OMS adventures. She let me know that her niece was doing something similar. Of course, I never thought her niece was in the Foreign Service. That is, until she started sharing more details about her niece's adventures. I eventually put the pieces of the puzzle together. Judy's nephew's name is David. He and Natalie are married. Turns out that I have been reading their blog for a little while now!! David, from EF'M: The Life of an FSO Spouse, is my friend's nephew!!!

If that is not enough for you...I went to the Happy Hour for new Specialists this afternoon. I walked in and started to say hello, and introduce myself. I actually recognized one of the first people I saw! Her name is Debbie. She was in the class that just ended. She applied to the March 2009 job opening as an OMS, just like I did. She is from my hometown. She worked at the same place I worked. As soon as I saw her, I said "I know you!" It took a second for me to place her, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks! How on earth do two people from the same small, two red light town end up at a happy hour in DC on the same day...after applying for and accepting the same job with the Department of State!!

It truly is a small world!

PS - Class starts tomorrow! I am SOOOOO excited!! :-)

What a Great Week!

2010-06-20T23:16:00.000-04:00

This past week has been great! I enjoyed staying in the hotel after packout. I loved the fact that someone else made the beds and took out the trash!

My employer had a luncheon in my honor on Thursday, which was my last day of work. The president of the company said some very kind words and mentioned that they had ordered a plaque for me...it just hadn't arrived in time. They will mail it to me as soon as it arrives. I can't wait to see it!! My coworkers gave me two charms for my charm bracelet. A Palmetto Tree and a Flip Flop...to remind me of my home in South Carolina. They are beautiful charms, and it was such a thoughtful gift! Thanks guys!

I took Friday off and had lunch with some girl friends. I had such a lovely time visiting with everyone, that I forgot to take pictures until after two girls left. Oops! Friday evening was dinner out with the family. Friday morning I arranged to have my UAB delivered Saturday morning, as it had arrived on Thursday.

On Saturday, my parents and my son drove me to the airport and said goodbye. J will be joining me in July. My parents are going to hang on to my car until I know where I am going..and know if I can take it with me.

I arrived in DC around 1:30 or so. I quickly checked in to my apartment and then unpacked my bags and my UAB. I met up with R, who I have talking to since we "met" on the OMShopefuls board. It was so great to finally meet her in person. I was not sure if she was a true OMShopeful, or a serial stalker...but I really enjoyed getting know her over the internet, so we met up and had dinner together. What a fun afternoon! We even popped in to Rite Aid together to get some grocery items before heading back to the apartments.

Lugging Tide, milk, juice and water back to the apartment was a bit of a hassle. We both jumped on line and ordered some staples from peapod.com. It was great! We checked off what we wanted from an online list, and they delivered the groceries the next day!

Sunday, R and I headed to the Crystal City Fashion Mall and I had my new charms attached to my bracelet. They look fantastic! After a manicure and poking around for a few hours, we braved the Metro and headed to the Happy Hour social that was put together by the previous specialist class.

I had a great time at the social. I did not get to meet everyone I was hoping to meet, but I did meet Sam, Christine M., Christine, a woman from Tiblisi (sorry, I could not hear her name...it was loud in there), Don, Todd, Sean, Paula, Rich and Debbie. Those are the names I remembered.

I have a funny story to tell about Debbie, but that needs a separate post. Stay Tuned.

Groceries were delivered between 9:30 and 10pm tonight. I now have something to take for lunch tomorrow!

All Moved Out

2010-06-11T07:59:00.001-04:00

Packout is complete, and I think it went well. I had plenty of extra room for UAB that I did not take advantage of. I had a "hopeful" pile and they were able to throw all of it in my UAB shipment, and I still had another 200 pounds allowed! There were 5 guys from two different moving companies swarming the place, so I did not push to have anything more added. At least I now have an idea of what 250 pounds looks like. I can pull some stuff out of storage in DC prior to my first assignment and put that in my UAB if I think of anything else that I cannot live without.

All of the movers were very nice. The UAB and HHE teams were from two separate companies and they arrived at the same time. The UAB team came and went in about an hour or so. The HHE team was there until about 3pm. They worked hard and worked fast. I provided donuts, ham and sausage biscuits, coffee and Gatorade. They seemed happy with that.

The HHE team did not crate/seal my stuff on site. I called my travel coordinator, as I was expecting this. She said it was normal for them to take it back to the warehouse and repack. I've got my fingers crossed that all of my boxes end up in the right place! I know that I am way under the weight allowance, so that is not a concern of mine at all, but I did expect them to seal my shipment on site.

I made sure all of the trash was out of the house, so it did not get packed. I put our suitcases, laptop, personal papers such as car title, passports, etc. that were in my purse - in the car. (I also scanned copies of these documents earlier) They did allow me to leave the pictures on the walls - and they took them off the walls so they were not on the floor and getting knocked around. I took down the curtains and things that were screwed into the walls myself. They also allowed me to run the vacuum sweeper one last time after they had everything out of the house before packing it. I actually remembered to remove the bag and wiped the vacuum down with a Clorox wipe before they took it away.

I made a trip to my parents house with all of the things the movers did not/could not take and then checked in to the hotel. Now it is time for a relaxing weekend before the whirlwind of next week. Class starts in 10 days!!!!!

Pack Out Countdown is on

2010-05-31T11:54:00.000-04:00

The movers will be here in 10 days. I have been busy organizing and purging, it seems to be an endless task. I really do not want to leave boxes of my stuff in storage. If it is worth hanging on to, I need to make room for it. Exceptions are the fridge, washer & dryer, beds, sofa, etc. that I don't expect to need, but would like to have in the event I go to an unfurnished post.

Here a few of my favorite things that I definitely have room for~

Souvenirs from Germany & Austria...

Souvenirs from China...

Souvenirs from Scotland & Ireland...

I have pitched, shredded, donated and it honestly feels good to part with a lot of it. I would much rather someone else enjoy those little treasures, than for them to sit in a box in a warehouse for years and honestly, do I really need to have the movers pack my son's teeth that were extracted before he got his braces 4 years ago???? (OK, yes it was a tough decision to put them in trash) :-)

It dawned on me yesterday that if I pack all of my cleaning supplies, how am I going to clean after my stuff is gone? I'm still working on that. In a perfect world, there would be no dryer lint stuck to the floor behind the dryer, but in my world, there is.

And my last dilema is what to do with my Coke machine? I love my Coke machine. It works, and holds bottles of beer and wine coolers perfectly. It would be a shame to put it in storage, but can I realistically expect to have it delivered to me in Sierra Leone/Dhaka/Paris? Another option would be to leave it with my ex-husband. He loves it almost as much as I do. I am not really digging that option.

(Is it obvious that I just now discovered the button that allows me to add photos to my blog??) :-)

Tips from Heather

2010-05-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

Here are some excellent tips from OMS Heather.

Thanks again, Heather, for sharing!!

Jeff's tips are spot on for the orientation segment of the OMS career. I cannot emphasize enough how important your corridor reputation is, even from day 1. You really must be your most helpful, cheerful self day in and day out if you want to advance.

A couple of other things to keep in mind once you're at post:

--Grab every opportunity to get training, either online or in class. An OMS is the go-to person for just about every question an officer might have, so the more you know, the more you can help.

--Carve out a role that makes you stand out from everyone else. Whether it's maintaining the classified website or chairing a committee, promotion boards want to see an exceptional effort.

--Respect the hierarchy at post, especially in the Front Office. A lot of people take it very seriously, and you don't want to offend them.

Best of luck to you all!

-Heather

Helsinki, Fort Lauderdale, Lima 2010

Jeff's Top 10

2010-05-17T21:56:00.001-04:00

A short while ago I asked for tips on how to find success once we actually got in to the Foreign Service. My OMS buddy Jeff offered the below tips for us.

Thanks Jeff!!

(1) Write down your questions.
(2) Create a daily task list.
(3) Find and engage your mentor.
(4) Network with your fellow new employees
(5) Be prepared to go anywhere or nowhere
(6) Take the language test
(7) Bring appropriate business attire (job interview attire) and business casual attire
(8) Bring adequate funds to cover your initial stay in DC for the first four weeks
(9) Stay at the Oakwood
(10) Fill out all the paperwork and send it in before you get here.

(1) Write down your questions.
You are going to get a LOT of information in a VERY small span of time. Often it is quite overwhelming. You need to write down your questions and save them for the appropriate time.

The best time to ask your questions is at the conclusion of the briefing for that particular topic. You know you are really on the ball when you have prepared questions ready to go following a speaker's presentation. Often, your questions will be answered during the course of the presentations, so do try and wait before asking to see if it will be answered later. Each new employee is given a schedule of presentations. You want to wait to ask your questions at the appropriate time and to the appropriate person.

If you have a question that is not of a general nature and is unique to you and your situation, please request a sidebar or communicate offline (don't hold the rest of the class up - remember time is limited and you may be taking away from others students questions or even other follow on speakers presentations). If you have questions of a general nature that can benefit several people, not just yourself, by all means go ahead and ask them in class.

Sometimes you really have to be your own detective and acquire information on your own. There just isn't enough time in training to cover every topic. Overseas schools, for example, is an extremely important topic to those of us who have kids, is NOT covered at all EXCEPT at an OPTIONAL brown bag lunch during your orientation. The ladies from the office of overseas school had wonderful handouts and gave a very informative presentation. I would have been in the dark had I not attended this optional brown bag presentation.

Finally- if you have any pressing specific questions - ASK. Your course coordinators will provide their email address and you will get contact information for all your guest speakers ahead of time. It is TOTALLY up to you to get the answers to your questions. Having been a retired military soldier - this is a night and day difference between state and DOD. In the military, they try to anticipate your needs and questions and fill you up with endless repetition of information. State, by contrast, may often (not always) tell you one time and one time only - and you'll be expected to remember and fend for yourself. Sometimes you may not be told at all - and you need to be responsible enough to seek out the answers to your own questions by contacting the appropriate people and being persistent until you get the correct answer.

(2) Create a daily task list.

There are certain tasks that you alone will be responsible for. You have to be here; you have to be there; you need to do this and that on this date and time...

You have a time sheet that needs to be turned in every two weeks. A travel voucher your first ten days - then every thirty days after that. Oh by the way, you need to attend this online class on this date and your CDO has assigned you to a class at this place (each place different - up to you to know where to go) and time...

You can see its a challenge to stay on top of all this. If you miss one, you might not get paid, might not get that advance, might have problems moving, or might get an earful from your CDO (who is your supervisor while you are in training).

That is why I recommend a master task list so that you (I) can stay on top of everything. I also recommend email reminder alerts. You cannot afford to miss a deadline or a suspense. It is your job.

(3) Find and engage your mentor.

During training, you are going to be assigned a mentor. You will get one when you pass the OA - but will get another one during your orientation training. It is up to YOU to arrange the meeting and to stay in contact with this person.

Your mentor is an experienced OMS who is at the level you aspire one day to be at. You want to remain in contact and develop a professional relationship, if not a friendship, that lasts beyond your initial training.

Later in your career, you will want to have a chance to bounce your evaluation report off your mentor to gain their input and advice. Your mentor will tell it like it is and give you some "tough love" you most likely will not find elsewhere. Your mentor might be the only person to take an interest in your career besides you and your family. They do this out of the kindness of their hearts and often to "pay it forward" vice "paying it back" to the people who mentored them along the way in their careers. They owe you nothing and give up their own private time (lunch breaks, etc) to meet with you. Respect them; thank them, cherish this relationship. This is the best free advice you're going to get and it may save you when you get in a tight spot. Mentors are also good folks to ask those questions not covered elsewhere.

(4) Network with your fellow new employees

You are going to hear a lot about "corridor reputation" in training and in your career. This reputation begins on your first day. The facilitators of your courses go to great lengths to introduce you to your fellow students so that you can begin networking. It even starts a day before class does with a happy hour! (and please don't say you're not going - optional means you should be there unless you have a good reason not to be there)

Message - stay in tough with your classmates. Even those in different specialities. You never know when you will run into them again. Every "low ranking person" knows a "decision maker". Treat everyone with respect - you have no idea if they later could open a key critical career door for you that you otherwise would not gain access to.

The 111th Specialist Class set up their own facebook "group" page; a terrific idea! I love facebook as I can reach out to a group of people with the same amount of effort to reaching out to a single person. I believe in the saying s/he who knows the most people ... wins. By the way - my email is ironfox@... invite me to be your new friend on facebook.

(5) Be prepared to go anywhere or nowhere

Everyone should know that this job requires "worldwide availability". This means that you should be ready to go IMMEDIATELY after training. You MIGHT NOT get consultation days or be permitted to take leave to go back and settle your affairs. You need to settle them before you depart for orientation. You should have a plan in place before your training starts - a plan that means you can pick up the phone and say "Honey, we are going to Djibouti" or "Honey - Im staying in Washington DC for the next year".

Speaking of DC - we had a lot of folks , not OMSers this time around, but other specialists that were surprised to be assigned to Washington DC. The bad news about DC is that you are formally told on flag day, which is on a Tuesday, and you have till Friday of that week before you have to move out of the Oakwood and your per diem STOPS. Oh, you'll still be in school between Tuesday and Friday; so hopefully you can set something up in the evenings otherwise you will be paying out of pocket for hotel costs (around 140 a night/up - conservative estimate). You DO get locality pay (25% of your salary I believe for DC area) but NO free housing like you would get overseas. Its ALL up to you to make your own arrangements.

So hopefully I didn't scare anybody - I know its a great career, and once you get in the system, the shock isn't so bad. But you need to know ahead of time about what could happen so that you will not be caught short. Flexibility is too ridged; you gotta be fluid.

For the 111th Specialist Class of the OMS group - there were nine assignments and nine students. I believe that this is typical that there is one student for every assignment - so when you get your bid list on the afternoon of the second day - you know that all these assignments will be handed out regardless. You'll see assignments that require language training and assignments that need the nominee to be there NOW. That will be your first clue. If there is a DC assignment, you know somebody is going to get it and that somebody could be YOU!

(6) Take the language test

One of the big messages that career development officers (CDO) are putting out is that language testing waivers are becoming nonexistent. Congress has mandated that Foreign Service personnel have language proficiency and fund the Foreign Service Institute to train people to speak languages before going to post. In my opinion, It doesn't look good for so much money to be put into something and folks being assigned to places in which they cannot speak the local language. How much good would that individual be if that is the case?

So like I mentioned in recommendation #5 - on your bid list will be the language requirement that comes with the assignment - and the arrival needed date post needs the person to be there. If they need a french 2/2 speaker now - most likely a new employee who already some kind of french is going to get the assignment.

You are encouraged to take the telephone test and the written test! Passing the telephone test ONLY means that you have more "points" for your position on the register of eligible hires in being called up. Once you are hired - that all goes out the window and is meaningless. Pass the phone test or fail the phone test, you still need the sit down reading and speaking test given at FSI. This determines your proficiency level from 0/0 to 5/5 (or maybe 4/4 - I think the military has a sightly different system of numbering and I might have that mixed up a little).

I did read somewhere at FSI that If you can speak/read as little as 30 words, that is good for a 0+/0+. This is useful for bidding purposes as a bidder bidding on a language requirement assignment stands a better chance of getting selected for the assignment over someone who has no knowledge or testing of the language at all.

Language testing also can mean additional pay if you speak certain languages and also is important for promotion in the higher levels of the Foreign Service. Foreign Service Officers MUST have an acceptable level of proficiency and are on "language probation" for their first few years of service. If they cant test out in a foreign language - they lose their jobs!! Specialists don't have such a requirement, but nevertheless it is really important for promotion much later on. Let me remind you that the Foreign Service is an up or out career. You either make career progression or you will later be asked/forced to leave.

(7) Bring appropriate business attire (job interview attire) and business casual attire

The first three weeks of your training you need professional business attire. I would describe this as what you would wear to a job interview.

The next three weeks of OMS training is business casual. This is for men a collared shirt and pants/dockers. No jeans or t-shirts.

After that - I believe the language training attire is informal and you can wear what you feel comfortable. There are many people dressed very casually at the FSI campus and you can pick out the new people with their suits/ties and name tags.

(8) Bring adequate funds to cover your initial stay in DC for the first four weeks

It will be about two weeks before you get a travel advance (if you are not a local hire, if you want one, and put in for one) and about four weeks before you get your first paycheck.

DC is very expensive. Just for lunch - my organic pizza, bag of chips, and and a diet coke is $8.50. I'm used to getting a full plate of all you can eat grub at a military chow hall for $2.75. But hey - I'm not complaining. You'll make good money in the FS - and organic pizza is surprisingly really good!

The message is bring lots of money to help keep you float during the first few weeks. It will get better - but DC again is very very expensive. The OMS class went out together at the Cheesecake factory at I'm on a diet. A small dish and a drink just for me was $30 bucks. Ouch!

You can save a LOT of money by following my next suggestion.....

(9) Stay at the Oakwood

If you being hired OUTSIDE the local DC area, then I would say that this is a must. What I love about working with the Department of State versus the Department of Defense is that State will have NO PROBLEM letting you do what you want to do. They actually let you manage your own affairs.

You want to stay somewhere else besides Oakwood? Knock yourself out! Just remember that if you get selected for long term training that your hotel lodging allowance gets cut in half after the 60th day and cut in half again (25%) after the 120th day.

But if you stay in Oakwood, you forfeit the lodging allowance for the guarantee that no matter how long your training goes, you will NEVER be out of pocket. You don't have to put down ANY money - you arrive and sign - here are your keys sir or ma'am and they have a nice apartment for you and your family if you choose to bring them.

You have free cable TV, free Internet, free laundry, free gym, free breakfast on Sundays, free tennis courts and swimming pool, free business center, and free parking. You also have free shuttles to the local metro rail station that take you there every 15 minutes that run seven days a week up till late at night. You also have free shuttles to FSI as well.

As soon as you get a confirmed offer of employment - you want to ask about and reserve a room as early as you can. Remember what I said about taking responsibility for your own career earlier? Well , this is one of those times. YOU have to make your own arrangements on where you are going to put your own head down at night. Nobody cares where you stay as long as your seated in class on time and ready to go. So - you got to ask - and Oakwood does fill up from time to time. State has a contract program with Oakwood that makes it possible - but up to you to make ALL the arrangements between State (your assignments technician) and Oakwood personnel.

(10) Fill out all the paperwork and send it in before you get here.

Just make copies of everything. It makes it so much easier if you have everything filles out and you decide on what health plans and insurance options you want ahead of time. Again, if you dont submit , you wont get. Your open window only lasts a cartin period of time. Its best to do all this on your first day with your paperwork filled out and the HR people there to receive.

Hope you found this helpful.

Jeff

PACKOUT

2010-05-16T18:10:00.001-04:00

I am packing out in less than 30 days. I am sure I will be well within weight limits, but I want to be sure I am only bringing my most treasured possessions and not trash that has been hanging out in cupboards and closets for years.

My 19 year old is in the Marines. He currently has no room for his "stuff" and I decided it was best to take his "stuff" to his dad's place for storage. It will be easier for him to access when he finally does have room - no sense in me carting it around the world or storing it in Maryland where he would not have access. I packed up 7 boxes of books, video games, etc. and held back the tears. I cannot believe my baby is all grown up...and I will be leaving him behind. Now I know how my mom felt when I joined the Navy and met (and married) the man of my dreams at 18. I never looked back...and my mom did not hold on...she let me go to grow up and live my own life. I am trying to do the same for my son, but gosh, it is HARD!!

After I dried my tears, I noticed that I had less "stuff" sitting around. It actually felt pretty good. So I packed up a few bags and dropped them off at the Goodwill box down the road. Goodbye clothes that are no longer worn, goodbye Beanie Babies that were in the back of the closet, and goodbye empty carrying case for the old video camera that has not been seen in years. This actually feels really good.

I was not able to part with many of the papers and notes from elementary school, but what the heck. I can squeeze them under the bed if I have to. And yes, I pulled my son's Hard Rock Cafe mugs out of the box and put them back on the shelf. I am not ready to get rid of everything just yet!

:-)

The FEDEX has arrived!

2010-04-25T19:26:00.000-04:00

I received a letter in the mail from State this week. When I saw the return address, I just knew they were writing to let me know there was a horrible mistake, and they did not actually intend to invite me to the June class after all. To my great relief, it was just a paper copy of the invitation that I had already received by email. Whew!

Friday morning, I was walking out the back door to get into my car...heading to work. I saw the FEDEX truck pulling out of the driveway. He did not even knock on the door. I ran around to the front porch and there was a fat FEDEX envelope. I ran back inside and let R know that it had arrived (she is also sitting on pins and needles awaiting her package) and then I had to get to work. I did peak in the package to see what I was holding, and reviewed in greater detail on Saturday. I still have lots of questions.

I have been having a blast chatting with R on a slew of questions - none of these seem to be answered in the FEDEX package:

1 - Should we buy an iphone from ebay now, do we wait, do we have to have at&t as our service provider? Does it really cost $800 for a factory/legal unlocked phone? (NOT in my budget)
2 - Should she plan to take her 50" plasma tv that she won at the office Christmas Party? Will the movers pack it upright?
3 - Can I take my king sized bed that I love? What if I say "Pretty Please?"
4 - Which Oakwood location is best for us - single moms with teenagers? If we get language training, and stay in DC past summer, we need to consider the fact that our kids may be attending school in DC. Does that trump the construction at Falls Church?
5 - Do we have enough "Business" clothes, what about Business Casual? Will we be wearing suits every day once we arrive to our posts? Do we need a ball gown?
6 - Is the off site training overnight? (Don't want to leave anyone unattended in a strange new place) Answer: No

The answers to these questions are NOT in the FEDEX package - so we have joined Livelines and are also asking those who have walked this road before us on the OMS Hopefuls boards and Facebook. Thanks to all for patiently answering. :-) We do know that most of the answers to the questions above are the same: IT DEPENDS.

The journey continues...

I'm In!!!! I'm In!!!! I'm In!!!!!!!!

2010-04-16T12:56:00.003-04:00

I have been invited to the June 21 class!!

I am still in shock!

J is still deciding on whether or not he is coming to DC with me, or staying here with his dad for the summer. He still has several weeks to think about it.

I have lots of lists, so now I guess I need to start checking things off...

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...

2010-03-27T14:40:00.004-04:00

After completing additional paperwork and retaking some tests (and waiting on the results), we finally have our Worldwide Medical Clearances! Yeah!

After submitting three sets of fingerprints, I am still waiting on the security clearance. I was told to check in at the end of March, so I sent an email on the 26th requesting status. I hope to hear something "positive" soon.

I have done some Spring Cleaning - getting rid of extra junk that is just hanging out in closets, etc. Just in case we need to move quickly. If I receive the clearance at the end of March and then receive an invite to the May 10 class, that does not leave much time.

Also, I have been learning a few more German words. I understand that if you can speak/write at least 30 words in a foreign language, you can qualify for a 0+ on the language test! :-) (This MAY give me a boost when competing for a country that speaks that language, so what the heck!)

I even bought two new suits...just in case.

I am hopeful that I will hear something soon.

Moving right along...

2010-01-27T19:39:00.002-05:00

Our physicals are complete, I will be faxing the paperwork off tomorrow.

The security investigation is underway. I have met the agent, and he is going to reach out to my current employer shortly. I notified my boss today. She took the news quite well, I must say. My references have been contacted. They even spoke with my ex-husband. :-)

I had to send an extra set of my fingerprints in this week. I was REALLY hoping no one at work would notice that my fingertips were tinged with black ink.

This is all going very fast. From what I've read; however, this is where things slow down considerably. Maybe I can take a few minutes to catch my breath and stop thinking about what I need to stock up on the next time I am at Sam's Club! GEEZ!

Moving on to the clearances!!!

2010-01-10T08:29:00.002-05:00

I had my Oral Assessment at 8am Monday morning, January 4. I was the first specialist candidate of the new year to take the OA.

When the assessors called me back to let me know whether I passed, I felt good. I knew that I had given it my best shot. If I did not pass, I was not going to beat myself up...as I was very proud to have made it that far. When the assessors informed me that I had passed, I think they were almost as excited as I was. They both are very nice and I hope to run into them again someday. It really was a great experience!

We have appointments for our medical check-ups. I took the physical form to our local doctor's office to make sure they knew exactly what tests were needed. They had never seen such a form and had lots of questions. I have my fingers crossed that all will go well.

My understanding is that the background check will not start for several weeks, and I can expect a call from the security agent when the check commences. I will have to let my employer know soon. I am not looking forward to that conversation.

I guess it is also time to clean out the junk drawer and closets. Fun Times!! :-)

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-25T18:23:00.002-05:00

December has been a whirlwind. My son graduated from Parris Island on Friday, December 4. He proposed to his girlfriend that very evening. They married the following Tuesday!

Just minutes before the kids arrived for the wedding ceremony, the OA Scheduler called to schedule my Oral Assessment!

Needless to say, it has been very difficult to study and enjoy the holidays...so I have been doing a little of both.

The kids are visiting with their dad tonight, so I am jumping right back in to my studies!

My OA is in January...wish me luck!!!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

No word from the scheduler...

2009-11-16T06:24:00.002-05:00

It has been 2.5 weeks and I have not yet heard from the scheduler. Perhaps my OA will be after the holidays. I have been reading Woe is I by Patricia T. O'Conner and the Administrative Assistant's and Secretary's Handbook by Stroman, Wilson and Wauson. My son actually helped me to review the "difficult to spell words" last night. Now I can spell drunkenness, rheumatism and idiosyncrasy.

I have been reading as much as I can about the position so I can prepare some hypotheticals and think through how I might handle varying situations. I am open to suggestions here.

I am reviewing my application and work history to make sure everything is fresh in my mind.

My thinking is that if I am well prepared, the COMPOSURE dimension will be manageable.

I know I can, I know I can, I know I can...

Happy Halloween!!

2009-10-31T22:16:00.002-04:00

What a great week...I passed my Word certification test and sent the results off to State! Now I am waiting for the scheduler to reach out and schedule the OA.

I bought the study guide and it was a tremendous help!

Next up: Practicing my proofreading and writing skills, while staying focused on the 12D's.

Composure

2009-10-04T11:23:00.003-04:00

The past two weeks have tested my composure. I was expecting to hear from State in August, so by the end of September I decided it was time to move on with my life and I put an offer in on a house. Of course a few days later I received my invitation from State to send in my MCAS certification. Talk about a difficult and stressful situation! I stayed calm and weighed the pros and cons of each option. I decided to pass on the house and spend my time preparing for the Orals instead of packing up and moving before the holidays.

Composure. To stay calm, poised, and effective in stressful or difficult situations; to think on one's feet, adjusting quickly to changing situations; to maintain self-control.

YIPPPEEE!!!!

2009-09-24T13:51:00.001-04:00

I received the Congratulations email from State yesterday!!! One step closer!!! :-)

Planning & Organizing

2009-08-10T18:17:00.002-04:00

I am exercising my Planning and Organizing skills by planning a trip to Ireland. All rooms are booked, the route is mapped, the bag is being filled a little bit each day. I definitely have limited resources, and plan to make appropriate use of what I have!! :-)

We leave in about 3 weeks!!! Maybe I will have good news from State when I return.

Planning and Organizing: To prioritize and order tasks effectively; to employ a systematic approach to achieving objectives; to make appropriate use of limited resources.

I'm not out yet!

2009-07-20T17:11:00.003-04:00

A few OMS Hopefuls have already received their Congratulations email inviting them to send in their MCAS certificates. The next step is getting invited to the Oral Assessment.

I have not yet received any email from State. I have been patiently waiting...and checking my email. Today I actually called the OMS contact and asked if all of the emails had been sent. She reassured me that they have not all gone out and my file had not yet been reviewed. There is still a chance!

I was so elated by this news that I did not ask many other questions. I guess it would have been a good time for me to restate my interest, but I think she could tell I was excited. She did state that there were over 760 applicants and only 50-90 would be hired...meaning many qualified Hopefuls will be eliminated.

I am staying positive and keeping busy. If not this time, I should be well prepared for next time! :-)

Independence Day!

2009-07-04T08:31:00.003-04:00

I wonder what types of celebrations are happening at the embassies and consulates around the world today. I bet our OMS's have been hard at work to make it all happen.

I have been working 12-14 hours a day and I worked straight through last weekend, so I have not done as much studying as I wanted. However, I am getting experience working with "difficult" people. I should definitely be prepared to answer those types of hypotheticals! :-)

My Word projects are coming along. I am glad that I purchased the study guide. It has lots of great information and I am utilizing all that I can in my projects while making my boss look good at the same time.

Also, I have been reviewing a book called Administrative Assistant's and Secretary's Handbook, Third Edition. It is VERY BASIC, but has lots of good information on grammar, commonly misspelled words and punctuation. That should certainly help with the proofreading exercise.

Happy 4th of July!!

Still Waiting...

2009-06-21T00:46:00.003-04:00

No word from State...

I joined Toastmasters International a month or so ago and we had a meeting this week. I did bring the snack for the evening, but I am sure I would not win any creativity contests...I wanted to make homemade Mango Bread, but just did not have the time. I picked up Little Debbie cakes instead! I am working on my Icebreaker speech and expect to deliver it in the next few weeks. Surely the Table Topics will help me prepare for the OA!!

I am taking on a few new projects at work that require work in Word, so I can continue to brush up on my skills. I will have to work on the weekends to complete the projects, but the practice will be good for me.

I am getting up at 5:30am to walk 2 miles most mornings. My goal is to also walk another 2 miles in the evenings, but it is so hot now. I might have to start walking indoors.

My Foreign Service Journey

2009-06-12T13:34:00.007-04:00

I applied for the OMS position in March 2009. I am ready for a new adventure and feel confident this is the perfect one for me!

I have been studying the 12D's, practicing Word 2007 and working on my grammar and punctuation. We have been told that we may not receive word until August, but I am still checking my email several times per day. I imagine that the day we give up and stop looking for an email from State is the day the email will arrive...so maybe I should stop checking now.

The wait to see if your application has been accepted is maddening! I hope to pass the time by documenting the steps I am taking to make myself a better candidate. One day I hope to Blog about my actual adventures!