Bid List Delivered...

...and now the waiting begins. It's less than three weeks until Flag Day--not the holiday, but the day we get little replicas of the flag of the country we'll be serving in! Can't wait to find out and to have an excuse for D to visit. After much research on pet regulations in various posts and soul-searching on whether embassy A is a high, medium, or low preference, it's mailed in and unchangeable. Now there's nothing left to obsess about until Flag Day. Whew!

In other news, Murphy, the temp cat, is working out nicely. He's a declawed grey tabby. Downsides: litter box and his tendency to bite without warning. Upsides: he's a cat! Plus he's a pretty ideal combination of affectionate and aloof. He's mine, all mine until November 1.

Finally, went for a slog of a run outside. It's not that hot, but it's very muggy. Still, as sweaty and disgusting as the run was, it was not as disgusting as it felt to sit around all day every day. There are scads of biking/running trails around here, so I hope to explore while the weather stays snow-free.

Week Two? Survived.

Quick update on the week:
1) I did exactly how I thought I would on the French test; I need another 8 weeks to get to a 3/3 (those numbers mean nothing to you, but if I could find the dadgummed video of an English-as-a-second-language speaker speaking at a 3/3, you'd see that it's not great, but basically workable in a professional setting).
2) I got my UAB (unaccompanied air baggage), 250 pounds of the stuff I thought when I left home that I could not do without. Sadly, living beings were not allowed in UAB, so I found that I'd sent myself lots of "huh?" items, like facial masks from Korea, vintage 2008, and more pedicure products than I'll ever use. Still, I'm happy to be wearing my magenta fuzzy socks, knitted by Aunt Jessie, if memory serves.
3) I got a fierce cold from all those germ bags I call my colleagues. We're packed like sardines in a room designed for about half our numbers. And we all picked up the cream of the virus crop from our flights in from Azerbaijan, Brussels, and Honolulu to share with our new best friends.
4) D and I chatted with my career development officer (known as--you guessed it--my CDO), with little closure or inkling on what to expect on October 14, flag day. We need to get our bid list in by Tuesday morning
4) I met up with a bud and colleague from home for delicious Turkish cuisine at Agora. Actually, through the veil of phlegm, I could just get hints of the deliciousness, but I'm definitely going back when this all clears up.
5) I got a handful of emails from the old job that nailed home how glad I am to be taking on a whole new universe of challenges.
6) Took the Meyers-Brigg test for the first time - wondering if it'll agree with my billion iterations of the Keirsey temperament sorter, where I'm an ESTP. If you don't know what that means, consider yourself fortunate!

Bidding Preferences--Done!

Tomorrow morning at SOB (that's start of business, or 8am, for you acronymically challenged individuals), our bidding preferences are due to our CDOs (career development officers). My priorities are (1) traveling with pets, (2) using a language other than English (I'm hoping for French, Turkish, Swahili, or Arabic), and (3) not leaving DC before D's ready to leave Hawaii. Other people might prioritize having opportunities for their spouse to work, working in their field (mine is public diplomacy), going to a post with high pay differential (that's the hassle factor, which might reflect disease, crappy Internet, danger, and lack of access to great beer), or a custom-designed preference. About the only places that are really off the table are ones D couldn't accompany me on (only two jobs, in one city), although places that don't allow the full complement of 4 pets are not the slightest bit interesting. We all signed a page that indicated we're worldwide available, so if push came to shove, I'd need to take one for the team. I just don't think the team wants to test us that way. [fingers crossed]

Happy Hours

Monday night at a bar? Seriously? Apparently part of our training--even this very informal type--is in being sociable, or "representation." As it turns out, it was perfect, with the possible exception of being horribly overdressed. It was a low-pressure way to learn that we have one competitive and one aspiring curler in the group, meet "tipsy C--", discuss pet-importing possibilities in Turkey, and hatch the schemes for a weekend in New York, the 163rd symphonic orchestra, and karaoke! After a long afternoon of diplomatic prose, that was what I needed. Tomorrow we go to "Main State," which is the mother ship in Foggy Bottom, not our normal, cozy nest of a Foreign Service Institute. We'll meet with D.C.-based folks who work in the regional and topic-area bureaus and learn more about career development. Then there's an after-work reception for public diplomacy folks (that's my concentration).

And So It Begins...

Glory, hallelujah! I started down this road almost exactly two years ago, signing up for the Foreign Service written exam on 9/11/09 and arriving in DC 9/10/11 as a member of the 163rd A-100 orientation class. I continually reassured my hubby, D, that there was no way I'd ever get through the whole process, but as time and hurdles passed, I wanted it more and more. And miraculously, the world's most supportive husband went along with this crazy scheme!

So I got here a week ago yesterday and have survived an entire week of suits, closed-toe shoes, and an instant community of 93 A-100 classmates. Others in my class have summarized the events better than I have (will try to link to their blogs once I figure out how), so I'll just share a bit of the culture shock.

• Bureaucracy: I've been working for the federal government for 9+ years, so the number of acronyms and forms is not a problem. There is a fair amount of protocol to learn, which will keep me on my toes (or feet, anyway, when an ambassador enters or leaves the room).
• Housing: Living in a furnished corporate apartment in the hinterlands of suburban Virginia is downright weird. Something I need to get used to, apparently, since housing at most posts overseas is government provided and furnished. I'll probably look back fondly on the luxurious Oakwood Falls Church some day...
• Singledom: I've left behind my Hawaii family and friends. D, the dogs, and the cat; my best buddy, J, and her dog; a lot of beloved colleagues (and maybe a few I won't miss that much); the beaches; the house; the ahi poke... I hope that D and the critters will join me in April or at post, whichever comes first. A fair number of my classmates have also left their S.O.s to keep earning, man the fort, or close up shop. I will be getting a loaner cat next weekend; hope that's not a huge mistake that Harriet will hold against me forevermore.
• Clothing: I have to wear suits. And shoes that enclose my entire foot. Waaah! I believe this may be enforced only for the six weeks of A-100, because many of the folks roaming the halls of the Foreign Service Institute are wearing normal clothes. I even saw some slippahs!
• Colleagues: Wow, you thought I have a strong personality? Loads of super smart and talented people, but there's a lot of generals and not many privates. I'm hoping we can all mellow out a little; I think it's better already. Next week we have a two-day team-building trip. That'll probably make us all more comfortable and relaxed.
• Classes: I've been out of school for a while, but as a perpetual student, this doesn't bother me a bit. We're in a classroom, scrunched in ludicrously tight, 8:30 to 5 most days of the week, and all the sessions are fascinating (at least so far).

We got the list of available entry-level positions on Wednesday, so research is the name of the game. This week we'll turn in our bidding preference documents (listing what criteria we'd like the career development officer to consider in assigning us), and next week the list of positions, with each post marked high, medium, or low. I'll have a quickie French test this week to see if I have any hope of qualifying right away for a French-speaking post or need additional instruction.

I'm completely happy with the decision to join the Foreign Service. If I could have D and the pets here, all would be well.