That Time Again

Late every summer, I get this nagging feeling that there is something I should be doing.

Of course, it comes from all of the years (and years and years) I spent in academia. The end of summer signals the anticipation of the start of the new school year.

The same thing happens to Foreign Service folks. Usually about 6 months before we need to head to post.

We start getting the nagging feeling we should be getting ready.

It has started for me. I am beginning to sort in my head. I'm making lists of things I want to make sure I have in my UAB...and I keep meaning to ask post how long it typically takes there to get it. And I need to start thinking of what I need to mail to myself (pet supplies, etc).

I am also thinking about what I can get rid of, and what I can leave behind in storage. I plan to take much less with me this time (thank god for the kindle! now I can take lots and lots of books with not much added weight!).

And my big fret...winter clothes.

I don't really have them...at least not THAT kind of winter!

And apparently I should have looked for a winter coat in JULY instead of now.

Now how the hell was I supposed to know that??

And I am discovering that what I thought I would do, which is just get an LL Bean coat, probably will be insufficient. Well, insufficient if those coats weren't sold out!

So now I am getting recommendations of coats like the Canada Goose Mystique. but of course, those are long since sold out. As are the Patagonia Downtown Loft, and the North Face Arctic Park. People, I am Southern! I am going to die if I can't get a decent coat!

And it gets worse. I need boots. They need to be warm, waterproof, and professional-looking enough to wear to work.

Here's the monkey-wrench...I am a lesbian.

And not a lipstick lesbian.

I don't do girly. Ever. No heels. No "pretty." Ever.

I don't own a dress. I haven't worn one in longer that I can remember. Not to my graduation, not to my mother's funeral. And if those don't rate a dress, nothing does.

That is severely limiting in the boot department even before you add in the requirements of living in arctic-stonia.

Yeah, that nagging in my head is rapidly turning into alarm bells!

ON EDIT: I just realized I misspelled heels. Not all that surprising, actually.

Area Studies

Area studies is better, at least in that the instructor knows something more than one country.

But seriously, is it not possible for him to teach without all the self-aggrandizing?

And maybe he could conceal the distain he feels for government employees, since that is who he is teaching!

Grumble.

In other news, I finally went and got the report on my progress test. Yes, the text I took in, um, November?

I should have gone sooner...then I would remember the positive things the instructor said at the time rather than the only negative things the LTS wrote (we never write down the positive because we don't have much space, she says).

At least they said I was doing well and on track.

No, I am really selfish

I had lunch with Kolbi and James today.

Kolbi thinks I am nicer than I really am.

She thinks this because I like to help people as they come into the service and as they navigate things I have already experienced.

But really I do it because I am selfish. Profoundly selfish.

The Foreign Service is much more than a job. It is a lifestyle. And it is one where you become very good friends with the people you work with. One where you will become closer to more of your co-workers than any other career I can imagine. Even in the military, the community is so much larger than our tiny little service that I think one bad apple can't affect you they way they can in the Foreign Service. And you have more possibilities of a life separate from your co-workers than we do.

So I want to work with good people. Because I know those people will be part of every aspect of my life.

So I want to help good people join the service.

And I want to help good people stay in the service.

Being in the Service can be hard...navigating the bureaucracy can be maddening. And sometimes when you are in the middle of it, it seems like the Department has never gotten anyone to post and will never get you to post. But of course, they always do. So if I can pass on some of what I know to you and help keep you from getting frustrated and quitting (or worse, frustrated, bitter and staying, I win.

See? Selfish.

Good timing

We all know I am not a fan of snow.

I like ice even less.

We got sleet last night so our stairs were a hazard.

But the timing of it was pretty good.

I forgot to set my alarm yesterday after the long weekend. Not something I ever do. I HATE being late. So when I rolled over and looked at the clock, and discovered we had overslept by 34 minutes, I was mortified.

Thankfully, the sleet bought us a two-hour delay.

So I rolled back over and slept for another hour.

But I remembered to set my alarm before I did!

The Good Parts Can Also Be The Bad Parts

I remember watching the movie Mask years ago (the one with Cher in it, not to be confused with "The Mask"...Let's just say I am not a Jim Carrey fan).

The movie is about Rocky Dennis, a kid with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia,known for its disfiguring cranial enlargements.

In the movie, he writes a poem for school:

"These things are good: ice cream and cake, a ride on a harley, seeing monkeys in the trees, the rain on my tongue, and the sun shining on my face.

These things are a drag: dust in my hair, holes in my shoes, no money in my pocket, and the sun shining on my face."

Sometimes the Foreign Service reminds me of that poem.

For example:

One of the cool parts about being in the Foreign Service is that you end up with friends all over the world. People you care very deeply about. Pick a place in the world to go on vacation and chances are good you have a friend there. Take a look at your next bid list and call your friends there for the inside scoop.

And one of the bad parts about being in the Foreign Service is that you end up with friends all over the world. People you care very deeply about. Pick a place in the world where there is conflict and danger and chances are good you have a friend there. Someone you worry about.

I have several friends in Tunisia. And I am worried about them.

I pray things calm down there soon and that everyone stays safe.

Goodbyes are always a little sad

Today is the last day that Estonians can make purchases with the kroon, their national currency that was introduced following independence in 1991. After today, they will have to use only the Euro for purchases.

There is a story about it today on NPR's All Things Considered.

I do have to say that you have to give props to a country which, after getting its independence back from Russia, put a picture on the 5 kroon note of the border between Russia and Estonia. There is a castle/fort on each side, and on the Estonian side, the sky is clear. On the Russian side, it is cloudy.



Just a coincidence, right? ;)

Clown Car

Today was area studies again, and so I welcome you to the latest episode of "how many people can we fit into this classroom?"

Several languages have just started new classes. Among them, Polish. So we had lots of new people in our classroom.

Now you might remember my previous complaint. We have some 45 students in class and seats for 36.

Well, no one has left.

We don't have a new room.

And now we have MORE students. Awesome.

As my friend S said, it was like fitting people into a clown car (wish I could take credit for that. I rewarded her for her creativity by annoying her while she was trying to study a flashcard program in her language on her phone by saying the Estonian version of those words. And yet Kolbi at A Daring Adventure thinks I am a nice person!).

Our speakers were some folks from INR's Opinion Research shop, and as you should already know, I really like INR. They did a good job.

Our new instructor was absent. No idea why.

You Don't Know Me

Or do you?

Today, for the second time this week, someone I had never met before, at least in person, came up to me and knew who I was.

Both knew me from the blog.

Darn it folks, aren't you paying attention? I am anonymous!

Or not!

Anyway, both of them had to suffer through my unsolicited two cents worth, only because I really like to try to help people. Of course, take free advice is sometimes worth what you paid for it! :)

Today, my poor classmate came in looking exhausted. He normally is tired anyway because his wife, who is also in our class, just gave birth to their second child. So now they have a two year old, a two week old, and two full-time careers (she is on maternity leave at the moment). And now they have visitors. And last night, they lost their power.

For four hours.

With snow, two small children and two houseguests.

So he was tired.

Our teacher can make a teaching opportunity out of just about anything.

So she had him call the electric company (me).

And as good as our teacher is about making a teaching opportunity out of anything, I am even better at making a smart ass opportunity out of any teaching opportunity.

So he "calls."

I answer.

"Thank you for calling the electric company. All of our lines are busy. Please wait."

Cue musak.

I come back. "Thanks for waiting. How can I help you?"

"As you know, it snowed last night."

"Yes, I can see the beautiful snow from my nice warm office."

"Yes, well I don't have power."

"Let me check our computer. Please wait."

More musak. Teacher at this point is rolling.

"No, I don't see that your power is off. Are you sure you have no power?"

"Yes, I am sure."

"Oh, did you pay your bill?"

"Yes! Where are you located?"

"India"

We finished with me saying workers would be there in six hours, hopefully, and for him to call back if they hadn't arrived.

Okay, but it is really being a smart ass if I was just doing an accurate call?

Meeting the Boss

Our boss was in the country yesterday, so we all trekked over to the Mother Ship (Main State) to meet with him.

I had met him when I was bidding on him, but I continue to be impressed with him. To a person, everyone who has worked with him has had good things to say. I am looking forward to working with him. I can't wait to get there.

And yet, I am still really enjoying language class. I finally have the ability to be a smart ass in Estonian, something that is really important to me. Because I really need to be able to be myself.

Funny thing happened yesterday though...our boss was speaking with a group of expats from our country. One woman spoke to us in Estonian afterward and asked how we liked our teacher. Then she switched into English, and she had an American accent. I mentioned this to our teacher this morning, and she said, " Oh, that was so-and-so."

REALLY small expat community I guess!

Advocate Cover Story: Madame Secretary

Kerry Eleveld did a great story about Secretary Clinton for the cover story of this month's Advocate.

Secretary Clinton is a true ally and I am honored to have her as my boss.

You Know You Want To...

visit that is!

The NY Times has a list of 41 Places to Go in 2011, and our future home (for the next three years anyway) makes the list at #21.

Of Tallinn, the article says:
The beautiful capital city aims to shed its stag-party past.

Soon after EasyJet began flights from London and Berlin to the Estonian capital in 2004, Tallinn became known as the Las Vegas of the Baltics, luring hordes of party tourists with its cheap liquor and wild seaside night life. But now, with the city’s selection as a 2011 European Capital of Culture, cash is flowing in and pulling Tallinn out of its stag party adolescence.

Some seven years after Estonia joined the European Union, large-scale infrastructural and restorative work, including several rebuilt museums, a waterfront promenade and a large arts venue, KultuuriKatel (Culture Cauldron), are reshaping Tallinn’s cultural identity. Much of Northern Europe’s arts community will converge on the city this year, as it debuts a yearlong schedule of European Union-sponsored events, including the student-focused contemporary art triennial Exsperimenta! and “Stories of the Seashore,” a project that enlists writers, actors, artists and musicians to reflect on the sea that has been so central to Estonia’s development.

The rest of the list is:
1. Santiago, Chile - Undaunted by an earthquake, a city embraces modern culture.
2. San Juan Islands, Wash. - Bold-face restaurateurs vie with unspoiled nature. Nature wins. (Pulling Stakes used to live here, and my friend Sez and her wife E still do)
3. Koh Samui, Thailand - A toned-down version of Phuket, heavy on wellness and food.
4. Iceland - Where a country’s hardships are a visitor’s gain.
5. Milan - A reborn cathedral joins fashion-forward galleries and hotels. (I wonder if Z over at Something Edited This Way Comes has room...)
6. Republic of Georgia - A rustic ski wonderland on the verge of discovery.
7. London - Anticipating the 2012 Olympics, a slew of new hotels and restaurants. (Been there, but hey, the Olympics are coming!)
8. Loreto, Mexico - A beach hideaway with sport fishing gets a luxury resort.
9. Park City, Utah - Beyond the film festival, a growing group of top-tier resorts.
10. Cali, Colombia - Cafe culture is on the rise while salsa fuels the night life.
11. The Danube - From Budapest to the Black Sea, new cruises on a storied river.
12. Niseko, Japan - An Aspen emerges in Asia, with luxury to spare.
13. Oahu - Hawaii’s most developed island adds resorts and attractions.
14. Antwerp, Belgium - A new breed of boutiques have made it a fashionista’s paradise.
15. Melbourne, Australia - New hotels plus big-name chefs put Sydney on notice.
16. Tlemcen, Algeria - An ancient Islamic city dresses up for a gala year. (Don, you got room?)
17. Sopot and Gdansk, Poland - Poland’s Baltic coast welcomes party hoppers and soccer fans.
18. Erzurum, Turkey - Skiing in Turkey? A winter sports capital emerges in Anatolia.
19. Hyderabad, India - Dynastic grandeur in the heart of modern India. (Andrea...need a dog sitter?)
20. Manchester, England - An industrial city reinvents its famed musical past.
21. Tallinn, Estonia - The beautiful capital city aims to shed its stag-party past. (Home Sweet Home to be)
22. Fogo Island, Newfoundland - An art colony blooms on remote and rugged shores.
23. Singapore - With new resorts and casinos, the city lets its hair down.
24. Port Ghalib, Egypt - A low-key beach escape with clear water and sea creatures. (I've been near here, but I'd go back).
25. Whistler, British Columbia - The Olympians are gone. Now it’s your turn.
26. Guimarães, Portugal - A city of youth is fired up by its art scene.
27. Olympic Park, Wash. - Bad weather is good for skiers and storm-watchers.
28. Dresden, Germany - A new museum leads the way to a historic city’s future.
29. Oualidia, Morocco - On a Moroccan lagoon, oysters, flamingoes and no crowds.
30. Zanzibar - On an African isle, luxury lures the après safari set.
31. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay - The ranches beyond a historic village offer a dose of rural chic.
32. Tozeur, Tunisia - Camel racing, souks and eco-lodging in a Saharan oasis. (I could hang with the Four Globetrotters...I think.)
33. Hangzhou, China - An hour from Shanghai, a historic jewel goes five-star.
34. Iraqi Kurdistan - Safety, history and a warm welcome in a stable corner of Iraq.
35. Durham, N.C. - A downtown turnaround means food worth a trip. (Used to live near here...a famous blogger I used to date still does.)
36. Kosovo - Mountains, medieval architecture and unexpected night life. (Todd K...I know you are reading this!)
37. Pingyao, China - Ming architecture is intact as contemporary culture takes root.
38. Salonika, Greece - Out of the country’s economic woes, a new wave of artists. (T, how far are you from here?)
39. Okinawa, Japan - A ‘Japanese Amazon’ with some luxury thrown in.
40. Budapest - A scene pops up in abandoned buildings, and glamour rises.
41. Miami - Big-time music arrives in a town known for beaches and art.

Now I just need to figure out which of my friends are close enough to each spots so I can begin my vacation planning!

Kids with Two Moms or Two Dads can now fill out their passport applications accurately

I saw this in the Washington Post this morning, and the usual cast of characters are already losing their collective minds over it. But this change, which costs the taxpayers NOTHING simply represents a way to deal with the reality of our world. There ARE children with two mothers or two fathers. Those children have the SAME RIGHT as every other American to get a passport and travel. And we should be insuring that passport applications are accurate.

So thanks again State Department! I continue to be proud of my boss and the place I work serving the country!

Parent One, Parent Two to replace references to mother, father on passport forms

By Mary Beth Sheridan and Ed O'Keefe
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, January 7, 2011; 11:47 PM

Goodbye, Mom and Dad. Hello, Parent One and Parent Two.

The State Department has decided to make U.S. passport application forms "gender neutral" by removing references to mother and father, officials said, in favor of language that describes one's parentage somewhat less tenderly.

The change is "in recognition of different types of families," according to a statement issued just before Christmas that drew widespread attention Friday after a Fox News report.

The announcement of the change was buried at the end of a Dec. 22 news release, titled "Consular Report of Birth Abroad Certificate Improvements," that highlighted unrelated security changes.

The new policy is a win for gay rights groups, a vocal and financially generous Democratic voting bloc that has pushed for the change since Barack Obama began his presidential transition in late 2008. The decision follows last month's vote to end the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which gay leaders consider one of their biggest victories in years.

Fred Sainz, vice president of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights advocacy group, called the news "a positive step forward for all American families. It was time that the federal government acknowledged the reality that hundreds of thousands of kids in this country are being raised by same-sex parents."

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, blasted it as reflecting the "topsy-turvy world of left-wing political correctness."

"This is clearly designed," he said in a statement, "to advance the causes of same-sex 'marriage' and homosexual parenting without statutory authority, and violates the spirit if not the letter of the Defense of Marriage Act," the federal law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

He called on Congress to take action.

It was not immediately clear whether a similar change would be made to all federal documents. But after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced in 2009 that partners of gay American diplomats would be eligible for benefits accorded to spouses, the rest of the U.S. government followed suit.

In 2000, Clinton was the first wife of a president to march in a gay-pride parade, and as secretary of state she has advocated on behalf of gay rights. In a speech in June she said the United States "was elevating our rights dialogues with other governments and conducting public diplomacy to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons."

Rosemary Macray of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs shrugged off complaints of political correctness and described the switch as an unremarkable bureaucratic tweak.

"Really, there have been so many changes in the last 10 or 15 years with reproductive technology and the like, and so this is why it is important for us to accurately reflect families in these applications," she said.

The DS-11 form is required of first-time passport applicants and children younger than 16. The change will go into effect Feb. 1 and will be part of an already-scheduled revision of passport forms, Macray said.

"It's not going to really involve any expense to taxpayers," she said.

Well that was painful

So I managed to survive my first week back after a vacation of only a week.

It was painful.

Our teacher is a kind and generous person who said we were doing remarkably well for having been on vacation.

I'm not convinced.

She tells me I am too hard on myself, but MAN have I felt stupid this week.

Hopefully next week will be better.

Much Better, But Much Longer Too

So today was our first day of area studies with our new instructor. Our previous instructor retired at the end of the year.

I had mixed feelings about our new instructor. On the one hand, he knows MUCH more about the Balts, which made me hopeful that we'd get more useful information. Our previous instructor seemed to know LOTS about one of the other countries lumped in with us, but not so much about the Balts. And with few exceptions, his speakers didn't seem to know much more. I am not the only one who felt that we were not getting out of area studies what we needed, and we really really need to have good area studies before going to post.

So like I said, I was happy the new guy had potential to give us great info on our countries. In fact, I took a one-week course from him before, though not at FSI, so I knew he was really knowledgeable.

He is also a little full of himself. When he spoke to our area studies a few weeks back, he still seemed really dismissive of the government and those of us working for it. Plus, he told all the same jokes.

Today I was pleasantly surprised.

He brought in a speaker today who seemed knowledgeable about all five countries we cover. And he seemed a little more circumspect. This gives me great hope for the remainder of our area studies.

The class was also our first to go the full three hours, so my backside was a little tired when we were done. Even so, I am optimistic.

Also, he had GREAT things to say about the local staff I will be working with in Tallinn. This is not the first time I have heard this...in fact, every single thing I have heard about the folks I will be working with has been positive. I am unbelievably excited about getting to post! I am certain this is going to be an awesome tour!

I Have a Past

And I am ridiculously giddy about it.

No, not that kind of past. I'm the one who got my clearance in 2.5 months...that should tell you a lot about my actual past.

Which is to say I am pretty boring!

No, what I mean is that we now have a past tense in language.

Unlike many languages, future tense is really pretty easy in Estonian. Because there isn't one. You just use the present tense and add a time in the future. As in, "I am reading tomorrow."

For past tense, we have been using present perfect. But now, we can use a real past.

I'm a nerd...it makes me really happy to say "I was" instead of "I have been"!

A Good Way to Start the New Year

There are not many ways to start off a new year than with a great new job.

Not me, silly.

Yesterday was the start of the 158th A-100 class. Welcome to the Foreign Service!

As has become my tradition, I am moving the following blogs from the future FS blogs blogroll to the FS blogroll.

Career Diplomat

The B Files

Where in the World is Zehra?

Zvirdin's at Large

Welcome to the Foreign Service! And let me know if I have missed anyone.

Also, if you haven't already, check out the Department's newly redesigned page at careers.state.gov. They even have a section of FS blogs...yours truly isn't listed. I admit my ego is a tad bruised, but since DiploPundit and Email from the Embassy are also missing, I guess I am in good company!

Goals, not resolutions

So as I mentioned yesterday, I don't do New year's resolutions.

I made a resolution probably in high school not to make any more resolutions. And I have kept it. Because other resolutions usually end up not being kept.

I do have some goals though.

The easiest...and maybe the hardest...is to get back to running. I haven't really run much since I did my 10K on Halloween. I am registered for the Shamrock Half Marathon in March, so I need to get my backside in gear. Plus, Noostie misses running.

So that needs to start this week.

Next, I need to get a 3/3 in Estonian. My secret goal (shhh, don't tell anyone) is to get a 3+/3+. I don't know if that will happen. But at least the 3/3 has to happen before I go to post. And of course, I have already been working on this goal since September. And I can honestly say I have been putting in more effort than I have with previous languages I have studied (but oh my god is going back after vacation HARD! My brain was seriously failing me today! Plus, I was tired because the vacation was less than relaxing...though I feel bad about complaining since my classmates had a baby over Christmas break. They are way more tired than I am...but I still want to go take a nap.)

Another thing I need to do before we move to Estonia is declutter. We once again have too much crap. But that probably won't start immediately.

Perhaps my most important goal, and probably the actual hardest goal, is to finish my dissertation. UNC granted me a final extension, so I have to finish by May or not at all. And I really want to finish. It is a good topic and it still interests me. I just have to apply butt to chair. That too needs to start this week.

Finally, a goal I only have a limited amount of control over is settling my grandmother's estate. I need to sell most of the property she left me (because managing it from overseas would be too much of a hassle) before we leave in July or August. But with the market the way it is, who knows if I will be able to.

So those are my goals. I think/hope I can reach all of them. What are your goals?

Re-surfacing

Well, we are home.

Sadly, our vacation was not as restful as I had hoped.

We missed the first day because, as you know, snow hates me.

We made it to Folly Beach on Monday evening. We got to our rental house, unpacked...and discovered we had no water.

The company came to turn it on, and a pipe burst. So we had to move.

The house we got was nicer in some ways than the original, though the view was not as good.

Then our cat started getting sick. She had been coughing since Christmas, and we figured it was a hairball. But she seemed to be getting worse, so on Tuesday, we took her to the vet. Likely diagnosis: hairball.

Tuesday night, we started panicking that she might have a blockage, so we went to the emergency vet at midnight. Several hours, some x-rays and $250 later (wow...vet prices are so much lower in SC!), we confirmed our suspicion that we are overly paranoid because of the recent death of our older cat. Likely diagnosis: hairball.

Vacation improved from there, though we didn't get much sleep with our cat coughing every night. She started improving by Thursday, and we had a nice New Year's eve Friday...until the Gamecocks lost their bowl game. But then we had a nice toast at midnight. I have decided that since 11 is my favorite number, 2011 is going to be awesome.

I don't do New year's resolutions...some twenty year's ago, I made a resolution not to make any more New Year's resolutions, and that one I have kept. I do have some goals unrelated to the New Year. But I will share those tomorrow. For now, I am going to savor being back in the land of the interwebs and our awesome bed.

Happy New Year y'all!

Happy 2011!

Happy New Year!

I hope this year brings you and yours all the best!

See?

I told you snow hates me.

The storm has dumped snow all along I-95, which is of course the route to the beach.

So we are stuck, for today anyway, at home

I know the decision to leave tomorrow is for the best. And on the bright side, we are getting to play some games and just relax at home.

But still. If it weren't for snow, we'd be on our way to the beach.

Snow hates me.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I hope you are having a very Merry Christmas with all your loved ones.

I am heading to the beach for the new year and will likely not have internet access. So I hope you have the best of holidays and I will see you in 2011!

A Relaxing Christmas Eve

I have completed my last days of Estonian language training at the Foreign Service Institute until after the New Year (not including self-study, of course). The shopping is done. The wrapping is done.

So I am spending Christmas eve hanging out with my wife and our critters, playing video games and just relaxing.

It is awesome.

Tomorrow we will head up to my in-laws for Christmas day. Then Sunday, we head to the beach for a week.

I hope whereever you are this holiday season, you and those you love are happy, healthy and together.

GLIFAA Statement on the Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

December 22, 2010

GLIFAA Statement on the Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA) commends President Barack Obama and the United States Congress – Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike – for repealing the unjust policy against lesbians and gays serving openly in the military. Today, the United States discriminates a little less. As we work toward the day when we do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, we pause at each step to recognize the leaders who advance this cause. We commend all who seek to align our laws and practices with the values of our great nation – freedom, justice, peace, and equal opportunity for all. As President Obama said today, “For we are not a nation that says, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We are a nation that says, ‘Out of many, we are one.’”

Snow Hates Me

I don't think it is any secret that I am not a big fan of snow.

I used to be. Of course, coming from the South, "snow" was the 2 or so inches we got every 3-4 years.

Then I moved to Syracuse. And they have an annual snowfall greater than my height. So I got to like it less.

I liked it a little better when I was in Chapel Hill...we got 20 inches in one storm and it was pretty awesome.

Then we had a snow and ice storm, and I disliked it again. We were without power for weeks (and because we were on a well, also without water...good times), but luckily my department at UNC allowed us to sleep in the lab...with my pets (archaeology department at UNC seriously rocks!).

Last year's snows in DC didn't help me like snow any better...when our roof people finally shovelled it off our roof (all like four feet of it), they dumped it on our stairs. And created an ice ramp that I had to try to shovel footholds into while in my work clothes so I could get into my house, change clothes and shovel the steps.

But we had snow last week, and I thought, well that is pretty. I can deal with that. I will think positively so I will be happier with the weather in Estonia.

Now I am positive snow hates me.

Why?

Because they are calling for a possible white Christmas.

Which WOULD be awesome. I have never had one. I once drove two hours to get to a place on Christmas morning where there was snow. That is the closet I've come.

So like I said, that WOULD be awesome.

EXCEPT...

We are supposed to drive to the inlaws' Christmas morning. And back home Christmas evening. So we can drive to the beach the day after Christmas. And have a much needed break, especially after the last few weeks.

That much driving is fine...without snow.

And they are calling for EITHER snow showers OR a big storm. 50-50 shot. Awesome.

Snow hates me.

A great few days...so why the hell haven't I written?

I have really had a great few days.

This weekend, I finally got a letter from the grad school. They approved me for a one semester extension to finish my dissertation. They said they don't approve those extensions lightly, but given my extenuating circumstances (my service and my grandmother's death and having to handle her estate) plus strong support from my department, they were willing to approve it. So I have one last chance to finish my PhD. And I really want to finish.

Then Saturday, my wife and I did some running around, including a trip to the animal shelter. Our older cat passed away two weeks ago, and we have been thinking of getting another cat. Not to replace her, because that isn't possible. We are still both terribly sad. But we also feel that we know we can take care of two cats and there are lots of cats that need homes.

Saturday evening, the Senate voted to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. There is still some implementing to be done, but finally we can see a day when, like LGBT Foreign Service Officers, Gays and Lesbians will be able to serve openly in the military. Hoorah!

Saturday night, I went to the GLIFAA party, though only briefly. I didn't really feel up to it (I'm getting a sore throat), but my teacher said she might go (at my invitation), so I felt like I had to. I didn't stay long, but I was glad to see a good turnout.

Sunday, we went back to the shelter and looked at some more cats. This time, we found a little guy we liked. He is a seven month old kitten with black and white medium length fur. We picked him up today.

Of course, introducing a new cat is always challenging, but I think the pets will sort thinks out. He already showing signs of being a good traveller, a must for a DiploCat.

And today, we had our Christmas party for the Nordic languages and Greek. We did a presentation which was basically a quiz about Estonian Christmas traditions. We translated the questions into Estonian before letting the audience translate. While there were other presentations that were fancier or seemed better orchestrated, I was proud of us. We were the only language group NOT to read their parts. And what we said wasn't memorized. We just translated. So, I think our presentation demonstrated that we are getting a handle on the language.

And I was pretty proud of that.

Wikileaks releases alleged US Candid Assessment of Santa Claus, North Pole

I can not confirm whether this is really a State Department cable, but I share this alleged cable with you because this is clearly information the public needs to know! (and no, I didn't write it, nor do I know who the author is or whether this is really a State Department cable).

SUCRET NOFROST

To: SECSTATE WASHDC
From: AMEMBASSY NORTHPOLE
INFO: AMEMBASSY FRANZ JOSEF LAND
AMEMBASSY NUUK
AMEMBASSY LONGYEARBYEN
AMCONSUL NORD
JTF WRANGEL ISLAND
NORTH POLE COLLECTIVE

TAGS: OVIP, ECON, PREL, PSANTA, XMAS, HOHOHO,

SUBJECT: Upcoming Arctic Negotiations - Background for USDEL

(SU/NF) Negotiations scheduled for December 16 in [location redacted] represent an important opportunity for the USG to improve relations with a globally influential Northern neighbor while increasing the delivery of child-oriented luxury/leisure goods to the United States. This cable provides background information on the North Pole’s enigmatic leader and his policies.

NORTHERN STRONGMAN

(SU/NF) Mr. Santa Claus is the undisputed leader of North Pole. He has been in power for many generations, and we see no prospect for polar regime change. While reported to be “jolly,” some overseas critics note that North Pole has never had an election, and that workers there toil under intense deadline pressure (one BIG deadline!). These workers - referred to disparagingly as “elves” -- work in what - but for the temperature! - would be referred to as “sweat shop conditions.” Claus is said often be quite cross with the elves -- one contact characterized his leadership and management style as “an iron fist in a red flannel glove.”

(SU/NF) Claus dominates the political and economic life of one of the world’s most isolated societies. Communication with the outside world is limited to one delivery of mail each year (mid-December, incoming only). Claus is the only citizen permitted to travel, and he only leaves North Pole once each year. Perhaps in an indication of concerns about personal security we note that Claus ALWAYS travels at night, and never publishes his itinerary.

POLAR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: THE KINDLY OLD MAN FACADE

(SU/NF) Through his connections in Hollywood, Claus has over the years carefully cultivated the image of a kindly, avuncular senior citizen. But behind the scenes he has shown himself to be capable playing an almost Nixonian brand of political hardball. He seems to have a harsh, black and white, good and evil, with-us-or-with-the-terrorist worldview. We are told that each fall, Claus’s staff prepares for him a worldwide “enemies list.” Enemies are listed as “naughty,”
friends as “nice.” To prepare this list, Claus seems to make use of a sophisticated intelligence network. One staffer told us (in an arrogant tone): “Look, it’s like this: He’s gonna find out
who’s naughty and nice.” And then, a threat: “You better not pout, you better not cry.” Claus himself reportedly checks the enemies list… twice.

THE INNER CIRCLE: THE WIFE AND THE ELVES

(SU/NF) Claus has reportedly surrounded himself with a small group of sycophantic advisors. We hear from contacts that no dissent is tolerated. Claus’s wife (Mrs. Claus) is widely seen as “the real power behind the toy bag.” Also influential is a my sterious figure referred to only by his first name: Rudolf. Claus frequently seeks “guidance” from this person. Post has not had contact with him, but the name does raise the prospect of Russian influence. Other influential advisors reportedly include staffers named Donner and Prancer. Claus’s relationship with an aide nick-named “Vixen” has raised eyebrows in conservative, traditional North Pole society and has caused unsubstantiated rumors of personal indiscretion.

THE POLAR FAST LANE: “IT’S NOT ALL COOKIES AND MILK”

(SU/NF) There have also been rumors of substance abuse. One sarcastic doggerel that has recently been muttered by Claus-critics (with obvious use of drug slang) says: “The stump of a PIPE he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his HEAD like a wreath...” Other
observers note that Claus is almost constantly giggling: One contact notes: “He has a broad face and a little round belly that shakes when he laughs like a bowlful of jelly.” Another observer told us: “His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples were merry. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow. And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.” Our DEA office note that Claus and his inner circle seem to have developed a sophisticated global shipment network that allows for clandestine delivery of packages. They also note that Claus and his advisors are frequently overheard discussing “snow” and “ice” and “candy.” Clearly, the rumors of drug abuse have to be given some credence.

NORTH POLE ECONOMICS: “ONE HUGE-MUNGOUS TRADE SURPLUS”

(SU/NF) The North Pole economy is highly seasonal, and is dominated by the export of leisure/luxury goods aimed primarily at the under 10 demographic. The Claus government recently came under criticism after the IMF carried out its first ever Article IV consultations. North Pole exports were found to exceed imports by 6,000,000 percent. In fact, the IMF found essentially no imports (they bring in only a small quantity of egg-nog). This trade surplus has caused one prominent Washington pundit to claim that the “North Pole makes China look like a free and open currency market.”

(SU/NF) Rumors of Claus’s alleged communist leanings were quite common during the Cold War years. Observers frequently noted that Claus ALWAYS dressed in red, and promoted “a gift-based economy.”

(SU/NF) There is a strong internationalist and humanitarian streak in North Pole economic policy. International Development is a high priority - Claus attempted to add an additional goal (The Right to Toys!) to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. He is a big supporter of UNICEF.

ENVIRONMENTAL VIEWS: “SCREW THE POLAR BEARS!”

(SU/NF) Claus’s views on environmental issues are nuanced: for obvious reasons he is deeply concerned about global warming, but he has not been a strong supporter of CITES and other efforts to protect endangered species. He is clearly not fond of Polar Bears, quipping to the press that “Those damn bears are always trying to eat the elves” and that if it was up to him, “they’d be a whole lot more endangered.” Claus does, however, seem quite fond of Reindeer. And Post believes we can count on North Pole support for our efforts to save the whales. Claus has no strong feelings on Cetaceans, but we hear that he has a long-standing grudge against Iceland (a whaling country). This is apparently related to a 1979 episode in which a bouncer at a Reykjavik night club denied Mr. Claus and his elf entourage access, and made disparaging comments about both their attire and their physiques.

(SU/NF) Perhaps in another indication of his concern about global warming Claus has made “a lump of coal” an important symbol of societal disapproval.

MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICIES: SANTA IS WEAK ON TERROR

(SU/NF) For many years Claus and his staff have annually flaunted international flight clearance procedures, and he regularly crosses borders without submitting to document checks or customs inspections. This has recently caused FOX News to question Claus’s commitment to the war on terror. DHS is very concerned that Claus’s very lax immigration policies and non-existent border controls are making the North Pole a potential avenue for the infiltration of terrorists into the United States. Claus himself has frequently come close to arrest (usually on charges of trespassing or breaking and entering).

(SU/NF) Claus obviously could be a key figure in the coming war for the Arctic. While we cannot take his support for granted, we are encouraged by the participation of North Pole assets in an annual U.S. Marine Corps exercise (“Toys For Tots”).

PROTOCOL TIPS: ITS ALL ABOUT DAIRY AND PASTRIES

(SU/NF) USDEL should be aware that North Pole culture puts a premium on late night socializing. The preferred beverage is milk (WHOLE milk) and the preferred food is cookies (CHOCOLATE cookies). Carrots are also sometimes provided. Most entertaining takes place close to chimneys.

COMMENT

(SU/NF) Long considered the alpha dog of the high north, Claus has a complex personality that mixes a strong ego, a desire to be the center of attention, and a burning desire for adoration and celebrity. He is a very challenging diplomatic interlocutor. While he has his flaws, Post believes that Claus will be in power for many centuries to come. Like him or not, we believe that Santa Claus is a leader we can and should work with.

Best FSI Day Ever

Today was a great day at FSI.

I was in language training alone today because one of my classmates is sick and the other may or may not be having her baby.

While being alone in class is exhausting, today just felt great! I was able to work on stuff I needed, plus we talked a lot abut all kinds of things (like my complex family!) and used very little English.

I even commented that I felt like I did better alone...my teacher said I seemed calmer. Weird.

Anyway, then we had area studies...

Which was ALSO awesome!

We had the DCMs from the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian embassies here in DC come talk to us. It was great to listen to people with real, current experience in the countries we are heading to. It was interesting and useful. Which area studies unfortunately almost never is.

Of course, some people might also say today's snow would add to the awesomeness of the day...I am not one of them. My teacher said "Yay!" and I said "Ei" (Estonian for no, and it rhymes with yay). I think poor Ben was pretty cold too, though at least he is in the spirit with his Santa hat.

But I don't cook

So we have a party coming up.

It is a party for all the folks under our LTS. So it is students and teachers in the Nordic languages, Estonian, and Greek.

We are all supposed to bring a dish from our country.

Have I mentioned I don't cook?

So I am hunting for recipes for Estonian Christmas foods...sadly, it looks like I will need to cook, since there aren't any Estonian grocery stores around here. My apologies in advance to everyone who has to eat it. I am leaning towards cheese crisps, only because they seem really easy. Plus I like cheese.

We also have to do some sort of performance in our language.

I'd rather cook.

Not under, IN

So I got back to class today. Luckily, my day off didn't make me too rusty...though I worry what the holidays will do!

Because I was in South Carolina and didn't manage to hear much in the way of non-local news, I didn't have much to write about for my daily news assignment. So I just wrote about my trip, trying to use the from and to cases we have been practicing. You know...I drove from the party to the house. Those directions are indicated by word endings (ah, cases...).

I capped it off by saying we came home to discover the cat had been sleeping IN the tree.

My classmate said, did you mean UNDER the tree?

No, not under, IN the tree.

My teacher asked, did you mean ON TOP OF the tree?

No, no, I meant IN.

The cat slept IN the tree. The bottom branches are a bit lower than when we left.

Bets on how long the tree remains vertical?

RIP Richard Holbrooke

About the only news of any non-local sort I heard during my trip to SC was of Richard Holbrooke's aortic tear and his subsequent death.

I was sorry to hear of his passing.

How Cool Is That?

I will be missing class on Monday.

It will be my first absence since language training began back in September. In fact, it is my first missed day of work since my ceiling collapsed in July.

I have a good reason. My Dad's family is having their Christmas celebration this weekend, and I am driving down today to see him. I don't get to see him often, and I really look forward to seeing him and my family.

As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I was thinking about what I needed to do this morning to get ready to leave.

And suddenly I had a pang of, I don't know, disappointment.

I was sad that I will miss class on Monday. I am glad we have holidays coming up, but I won't be missing any instruction on those days.

Class will go on without me Monday...and I will miss it.

How cool is that? I am a little sad about missing something they PAY me to do.

Seriously loving my job right now.

Feeling Good

So on Fridays, we always talk about what was discussed (or not) in area studies. Suffice it to say, I now have the phrase for useless.

But since the first part of yesterday's class was useful (at least to those headed to Ukraine), our teacher asked us to talk about what was said in that part of area studies.

I told her about how he had talked about problems with the environment. One of the problems I mentioned was that there was a lot of rural development without much thought given to HOW the development was done, and there are lots of tourists going to those areas.

She asked why tourists were a problem.

I wanted to say that part of the problem was pollution. But we don't have that word. I don't even know the word for air.

But I today I was making a real effort not to ask for things in English.

So I said it was like bad things in the sky.

Blink blink.

Struggle, struggle...ah...like bad things in the sky...from factories!

And she understood...and gave us the word for pollution.

I was very pleased with myself (stop laughing).

It is all about the little victories.

Whistleblowers?

Lest you think ASSange and his crew are whistleblowers and heros:

Whistleblowers don't threaten to release more sensative information if their leader is arrested on completely separate charges.

Extortionists do.

(Because if you really thought people needed to know that stuff, you'd release it regardless, right?)

And Whistleblowers don't attack the livelihoods of businesses who don't want to be associated with them.

Criminals and Thugs do.

Just saying.

Can't believe they pay me to do this

And not in a good way...

Let me say first that the idea of area studies is a great one. Awesome. Vital.

But it just seldom translates to that in reality.

Last week, our area studies class was cancelled. Apparently there was a death in the family of our speaker, and no time to reschedule. That said, there was NEVER a noticed up saying what that week's program was and where it was to be held. So I suspect they knew early on that it was cancelled, and never bothered to let us know. I had to hunt down the info on Thursday afternoon.

So we actually had class today. But once again, our speaker knew next to nothing about the area we were going to. Our area studies professor is an expert on one of the five countries we cover in area studies, and our classes and speakers lean hard towards that country. So today's lecturer spoke knoweldgibly about that one country and had nothing really for the rest of us. He read some stuff from the computer, and made a couple comments...that were wrong.

Total waste of time.

I am interested. I WANT to know more about where I am going. I think it is really important. But only about two classes so far have been useful. Really annoying.

We also found out today that our professor has decided to retire. Next week, we have breakout sessions (hooray! We'll have folks from our countries to talk to!), and he is going off campus for one of them. Starting in the new year, we will have a new instructor.

We have had our new instructor speak to us already. He knows a lot, particularly about our countries. But he thinks he knows everything. And that he is smarter than everyone else.

And he is very dismissive of folks in the government, because they are all clearly too stupid to never listen to him.

Sigh.

You Have to Go Now

I am not a morning person.

Even so, our first hour of class is my favorite. I like talking about issues and such in Estonian. I think it is fun.

Go ahead and insert your insult of choice. Yeah, I have a perverted idea of fun. Yes, I am a nerd. Have you looked around at the other Foreign Service Officers? These are my people.

So I was surprised when there was a knock on our classroom door.

I sit closest to the door, so I opened it. I expected it to be our LTS...she is the only one who ever interrupts us, and even she very rarely does it.

But it was not her. It was a man wearing a red hat.

No, it wasn't Santa (I'm disappointed too).

He said, "You have to go now."

I said, "Why?"

No, I don't have a problem with authority. Why do you ask?

He said, "You must leave."

It was then that my more observant classmate noticed the fire alarm was going off...though not in our hallway.

So I look back at the red-hatted guy, and notice his hat says "warden." Well that would have helped to know. "Is this a drill or a real fire?" 'Cause I'll lug my books if the fire is real, but I only want my coat if it is just a drill.

"You have to go!" And he runs away to the next classroom.

This is the part where I tell you I am going to die in Estonia. Because it was frickin' COLD outside today (...at least it wasn't raining)! Even our teacher went to get her coat.

We all stood around in the courtyard waiting to get the signal to go back in. At one point, they yelled at us to be at least 50 ft from the building. How far is 50 ft? And is 50 ft from F Building too close to the cafeteria?

We never did find our teacher...turns our she went out the back of the building after going upstairs for her coat...she said she needed her coat since she didn't have her swimsuit.

Yep, I'm gonna freeze to death in Estonia.

In Case You Think We Are Overpaid

In case you think Foreign Service Officers are among the "overpaid" federal employees, you should check out this post by Four Globetrotters.

She describes her experience identifying American victims of a plane crash...even with some of the more gruesome details spared, you should be happy she serves you. She writes:

"This was seven years ago this month, and time has made it easier to deal with what was ultimately diagnosed as PTSD. I still have nightmares sometimes. But I would do it all over again.

One of the things I took from ConGen training was the following: "There is no substitute for personal appearance." This means that when at all possible, we need to be physically present to help our American citizens in their time of need. Whether that's going down to do a jail visit, or helping an Amcit file a police report for a stolen passport, or identifying their remains and notifying their families, when at all possible, do it in person.

My story is only one of many. My colleagues around the world have many similar stories to share. I couldn't even imagine what it must have been like in Haiti earlier this year. But we do it, because we love our country and we take our responsibilities seriously. The vast majority of us are highly educated, intelligent, dedicated professionals. Sure there are things that can be improved. That's the case with any organization. But overpaid? I think not."

She, and nearly all Foreign Service Officers, could make far more than they are paid to serve you, and they are worth every penny.

Happy Independence Day Finland!

I like herring.

Who knew?

Today is the 93rd anniversary of Finland's independence. Following revolution in Russia, Finland declared its independence from Russia on December 6, 1917.

To celebrate, the Finnish language section at FSI had a party and invited folks from the other Nordic language programs. So we represented Estonia.

Their class did a good job with the program...I will just assume their Finnish-language presentations were spot on. And I hope they will give us the same benefit of the doubt when we do ours for Estonian Independence Day (there are two of them actually...February 24 and August 20). Like us, they will probably be able to understand a handful of words.

They also provided a sampling of Finnish foods...good stuff! I was brave and tried two forms of herring, one with potatoes and one without. Both were pretty good! Who knew I'd like it?

Sharing the Sacrifice

Seems like when the economy is bad, federal workers are some of the first targets Congress and the general public take aim at.

It is getting old.

You know the story...we are all overpaid and lazy. And when the economy was great, we were told how stupid we were for serving the country at a much lower salary than we could make in the private section. But now that the economy has turned south, everyone is all about freezing our pay so we can share in the pain. There was a great letter to the editor by a federal worker who said she looked forward to sharing in the bonuses all the private sector folks will get once the economy recovers.

There was a also good article in the Post today about Five Myths about Federal Workers.

They are myths that really need debunking. Myths like that we are overpaid compared with the private sector.

According to the Post:

"federal employees make on average 24 percent less than their private-sector counterparts. The Congressional Research Service reported in 2009 that private industry pays higher salaries than the government for PhD-level employees in computer science, information science, mathematics, statistics, biological sciences, environmental life sciences, chemistry, economics, and civil, architectural, electrical and computer engineering. In addition, the average private-sector salary in 2010 for a recent college graduate was $48,661. Entry-level federal workers start at $34,075, or $42,209 for candidates with superior academic achievement.

On the other hand, some federal blue-collar and clerical workers are paid more than those in the private sector. The ongoing debate about federal pay, however, does not address the root problem: The government does not have a pay system flexible enough to recruit the best talent and pay in accordance with the market."

Myth: That we are paper-pushing clerks

"The vast majority of federal workers hold white-collar professional, administrative and technical jobs, and aren't just college dropouts archiving triplicates of your tax return. Approximately 20 percent of federal workers have a master's degree, professional degree or doctorate, vs. 13 percent in the private sector. Fifty-one percent of federal employees have at least a college degree, compared with 35 percent in the private sector.

Remarkably, more than 50 current or former federal employees have received Nobel Prizes. In fact, about one in four American Nobel laureates have been federal workers. Their contributions have included the eradication of polio, the mapping of the human genome and the harnessing of atomic energy. Federal employees protect our food and drug supplies, manage airline traffic, foil terrorist attacks, care for our wounded veterans, and make sure the elderly and those with disabilities get their Medicare and Social Security benefits. This is hardly paper-pushing."

And finally, the Post points out that freezing our pay won't necessarily help with the budget. First, the amount saved is tiny compared with the deficit. And if they cut 200,000 jobs like the Debt Commission wants, even that could COST MORE money if the tasks performed by federal employees are contracted out.

But yeah, go ahead and cut my salary so I can share in the sacrifice. I hope you'll share your bonus when the time comes.

I Like To Talk

Yes, I know. And the sky is blue.

Seriously, I realized in class today that our first hour of class each day is probably my favorite.

Each of us comes in with our uudis, or news. Usually, it is something we have read about in the paper or online that we have written a few sentences about in Estonian. This, coupled with our warm up conversation, leads us to talk about some really interesting topics.

Today we talked some about Judaism and the different holidays and their relative importance to Jewish people. We also talked about the OSCE meeting in Kazakhstan and how the capital has been relocated to Astana from Almaty. And whether Kazakhstan is in Europe or not.

It is kind of fun to be able to have a conversation. Of course, we are still pretty limited in what we can say, but we finally have enough vocabulary to talk our way around the words we don't have. And doing it is a lot of fun.

But we all already knew I liked to talk, right?

Mindy R. Michels and Melissa E. Schraibman Win Secretary of State Award for Voluneteer Activism in Albania's LGBT community

Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg will present the 2010 Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad to the six winners from different geographic regions at a ceremony on Thursday, December 2 at 10:00 a.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the Department of State.

The awards recognize U.S. Government employees; family members, including domestic partners; and other members of household at embassies and consulates who gave exceptional volunteer service to their communities, mission or host country, or rendered outstanding assistance in emergencies. Among this year’s award winners are Mindy R. Michels and Melissa E. Schraibman, who were serving in Tirana, Albania.

FS employee Schraibman and her partner Michels helped a small group of Albanian activists to create a vibrant and active lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Albania where none had existed.

Violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was common in Albania. But through the collaborative efforts of this newly-formed group, Mindy and Melissa helped establish a grassroots organization, Alliance Against LGBT Discrimination. The couple met each week with the members of the Alliance and provided support, inspiration and skills development. They hosted strategic planning sessions for the new NGO, defining its identity, core values and mission. Over time, Melissa and Mindy trained and mentored the leadership team in grant writing, membership recruitment, press strategies, organizational development, and grassroots activism.

This bench reads "Homophobia Kills" in Albanian

The Alliance has succeeded in creating a social and activist network that transformed the lives of the people it reached. There are now weekly discussion groups, weekly social events, regular grassroots actions, and a very active Facebook group with over 1100 members. Mindy also participated in an ongoing working group sponsored by the Dutch Embassy on LGBT issues. As part of the group, she assisted in drafting a comprehensive non-discrimination law in Albania covering everything from discrimination on the basis of religion to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The volunteer accomplishments of Mindy and Melissa showcase what volunteer service can achieve on behalf of transformative diplomacy.

You can check out an album of their photos here.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the SOSA awards by Secretary of State and Mrs. James Baker. To honor this milestone, the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide have created an on-line publication entitled “FS Volunteers – 20 Years of Grassroots Diplomacy.” The publication documents the contributions and outstanding volunteer service provided by over 400 Foreign Service employees and family members at U.S. embassies and consulates all over the world. The publication, including a brief synopsis of the volunteer activity that earned all of this year's award winners their awards can be found at here.

The award ceremony is open for press coverage. Members of the press wishing to attend should contact Public Affairs Officer Brenda Greenberg at 202-647-4282.

Pre-set time for cameras: 9:00 a.m. from 23rd Street lobby
Final access time for all press: 9:30 a.m. from 23rd Street lobby

Media representatives may attend this award ceremony upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport). Those who do not have a State Department building pass should allow adequate time to clear through security at the 23rd Street entrance.

GSA adds "domestic partner" to definition of immediate family

I got the below today from Federal GLOBE:

The General Services Administraiton is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) by adding terms and definitions for "Dependent," "Domestic partner," and "Domestic partnership," and by revising the definition of "Immediate family" to include "Domestic partner" and children, dependent parents, and dependent brothers and sisters of the Domestic partner as named members of the employee’s household. This interim rule also adds references to domestic partners and committed relationships, where applicable, in the FTR.

It was proposed on November 2nd and comment period ends December 20th. The effective date will be March 3, 2011.

Deeply Personal

Muttering Behind the Hardline has one of his best posts ever (in my opinion) with a dead-on description of what it feels like to have your cables leaked through Wikileaks.

He compares it with the abused woman you tried to help only to have her abusor find out because you tried to help and have you be powerless to assist with the fallout.

NDS writes:

"You have the sickest of feelings in the pit of your stomach. It wasn’t your fault, but the weight of the responsibility you feel is crushing. You want to make it right, but how? You feel helpless, ashamed, regretful, frustrated. You’re terrified that something awful is about to happen. You hope Sarah and her kids somehow make it through, and that you find some way, any way to help in time.

You feel, well, you feel like a political officer who, with the news of the Wikileaks dump, saw flash through his mind at lightning speed every confidential interview he ever did with every human rights or social activist he ever quietly met with working in a country governed by a totalitarian regime. And with 250,000+ documents out there, it’s not just possible but likely that those brave men and women he considered friends may be facing a very rough time ahead. And chances are now that he’s long gone, he will likely never know whatever became of them.

Julian Assange and Bradley Manning apparently don’t have to worry about walking around with that sense of guilt. They don’t personally know the people who trusted us with their inner thoughts and secrets, hoping we might be able to help bring light to their very dark place.

This is more than treason. It’s more than a leak or an information dump.

For many of us, this is deeply personal."

Amen.

Yay me!

First, I want to start off saying I had a great lunch today with the new A-100's GLIFAA folks. I love these lunches...I find them energizing! I love meeting the newest diplomats and helping them any way I can.

But I gotta ask...where the hell are the lesbians? Really folks...it seems like there are maybe five of us...and me and my wife count for two of them! Okay, I am exaggerating, but still...we need more women!

Anyway, today was also a good language day. We regularly listen to taped dialogues in class and translate to our teacher what we heard. And I understood today's really well...by the second time she played it, I was able to relate back to her almost everything that was said. Our teacher even asked if I had heard this dialogue before. But I hadn't.

Yay me!

I am sure I will be back to being stupid in Estonian by tomorrow!

TODAY: GLIFAA Lunch at FSI!

If you are around the Foreign Service Institute today and are interested, please join us for the GLIFAA lunch welcoming the newest A-100 from 12:30-1:30. We will be in the cafeteria in the small room on the end closest to the Visitor's Center. There will be a sign on the door.

Allies are very welcome!!

Where, Oh Where?

....have the yahoo groups gone?

Tumbleweeds noticed yesterday that the FSOA and FSOT Yahoo Groups have apparently been deleted. The moderators are working with Yahoo to get them restored as quickly as possible, and have set up a temporary group, "FSOT-FSOA" for information updates.

According to the group:

The fswe, fswe_essayprep, fsscareers, and fsoa boards were hacked today (November 27). As you must be aware of by now, the perpetrator(s) deleted all three groups.We are actively working with Yahoo! to resurrect the boards, but it will likely take a few days. We know that some of you rely on the information contained being readily available at the click of a mouse, but don't panic. As Kungfu Panda learned, "There is no secret ingredient."People have been getting into the Foreign Service long before these groups were even a glint in Steffan's eyes.You can do it.--

I'd love to hear any updates anyone has. I think it is a realy shame, because I know a lot of people rely on these groups not just for information but also support. Joining the service is a long a tedious process, and having comrades who are going through the same thing is a real help.

Here's hoping they get restored soon.

Despicable

I had been pondering what to say about the wikileaks debacle. But I couldn't have said it any better than NoDoubleStandards.

In Here's Hoping You Choke on that Whistle, NDS writes:

"There isn't anything virtuous about what Wikileaks -- and the scumbag USG employee who leaked these documents to Wikileaks -- has done.

Thanks to everyone disseminating this information, my colleagues at many posts around the world are literally in mortal danger.

Literally.

And for what?

To satisfy the idle curiosity of a few.

To all who complain about the conduct of our foreign policy: how the hell do you expect us to protect this country and advance our foreign policy objectives without the least expectation that your reporting and analysis will be protected?"

I hope the traitor who released these is punished to the fullest extent of the law. He has put this country and the people serving it in danger for no good reason.

Top 10 Cultural Must Sees in Tallinn

UK's Guardian had this piece Saturday on our future home. Are you planning your visit yet?

Top 10 cultural must-sees in Tallinn

Local residents recommended their favourite cultural spots in the Estonian capital, including a new rooftop cinema and a museum with a labyrinth of underground passages

1. Balti Jaama Turg
This wonderful Russian market is a must-see. Every day, 50 or so stalls fill the streets opposite Balti Jaam, Tallinn's main railway station, selling anything from antiques to locally made jam. I come here to buy beautiful second-hand plates and dishes for photography in my cookbooks.
• Kopli 1, jaamaturg.ee
Anni Arro, chef and co-owner, Komeet

2. Saint Olav's Church
This 12th-century church, at the end of Pikk street, is the most beautiful in Tallinn. It's also the most unlucky: it has been hit by lightening at least eight times, and burned down three times. Once the tallest structure in the world, its 124m spire can been seen from all over the city. Climb the narrow stairs to the observation deck at the base of the spire for sweeping views.
• Lai 50, oleviste.ee; fee for tower £1.60
Julia Kuznetsova, concierge, St Petersbourg Hotel

3. Kiek in de Kök
The museum inside this great artillery tower (whose name means "peep into the kitchen" in low German because from the upper floors soldiers could peer into the houses of the lower town) is interesting, but don't miss a guided tour of its limestone bastion passages, which reopened in March with new video and sound effects. Built to conceal the movement of soldiers, the 500m of passages (half are still being dug out) were used as a bomb shelter during the 1944 Soviet bombings, and inhabited by a large community of homeless people in the 1990s.
• Komandandi tee 2, +372 644 6686, linnamuuseum.ee/kok; tour £4.70 adults, £2.60 children (booking essential)
Mikk Tamme, business consultant

4. Old Town
Katariina Käik (St Catherine's Passage) in the Old Town, lined with craftsmen's workshops, is a favourite for many visitors, but I love Pikk Jalg, or "Long Leg" (there is also a short, steep alley called Lühige Jalg, or Short Leg), which winds up to Toompea Hill. Stop on the way for coffee and a croissant at Bonaparte, a charming French bistro (Pikk 45). At Toompea Hill are the great Russian Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St Mary's Cathedral (the oldest church in Estonia, founded in 1219) and several viewing platforms, where you can see over red-tiled roofs to the Baltic sea.
• tourism.tallinn.ee
Roman Zaštšerinski, chef and co-owner, Kohvik Moon

5. Von Krahl Theatre
When I get time off, I like to watch a show at this wonderful avant-garde theatre, in a back street of the Old Town. The performances, by Estonian and foreign troupes, range from contemporary opera and dance to theatre and musicals.
• Rataskaevu 10, +372 626 9090, vonkrahl.ee; prices vary
Mae Kivilo, theatre designer and co-founder of Emma Leppermann studio

6. Kumu Art Museum
Housed in a striking limestone and glass building in Kadriorg, Kumu is Estonia's largest art museum. It houses several permanent exhibitions, as well as temporary modern painting and sculpture exhibits. Next summer, as part of the Capital of Culture line-up, it will host Gateways, presenting experimental art by younger artists.
• Weizenbergi 34, +372 602 6000, ekm.ee/eng/kumu; admission to all exhibitions £4.45 adults, £2.60 children
Georg Poslawski, coordinator at Enterprise Estonia

7. Open Air Museum
For an insight into old Estonian life, head to this open-air museum – a reconstructed rural village in a forest park on Kopli Bay, a short drive from Tallinn. Open all winter, its buildings include 12 farms, windmills, watermills, church, fire station, tavern and schoolhouse.

• Vabaõhumuusemi tee 12, +372 654 9101, evm.ee; £2.60 adults, 50p children
Triin Tähnas, freelance journalist

… and if you go later in the year …

8. Kadriorg Park
This is the first place I head once spring arrives. It is a leafy park a few tram stops from the centre, filled with oak and lilac trees and surrounded by wooden houses – many of which house small museums. It is also home to one of Tallinn's greatest buildings – the Kadriorg Palace (built by Peter the Great in the early 18th century for his wife Catherine I), which also houses the Estonian Art Museum.
• Weizenbergi 34/Valge 1, +372 602 6001, ekm.ee; palace admission £3.40 adults, £1.80 children
Bruno Marques, landscape architect and university lecturer

9. Song Festival Grounds
This stadium, just east of Kadriorg, is an amazing sight. The stage can hold 15,000 singers! Song festivals mean a lot to Estonians. In 1988, thousands gathered here to sing patriotic hymns in what became known as the Estonian Singing Revolution, which overthrew Soviet rule. Next year, from 1-3 July, a youth song and dance celebration will be a highlight of the Capital of Culture calendar, with over 35,000 young performers from across Estonia.
• Narva mnt. 95, +372 611 2102, lauluvaljak.ee
Jaak Johanson, singer and actor

10. Katusekino
This rooftop cinema is on top of the Viru shopping centre. It's closed now until May, but there's a massive inflatable screen and deckchairs for 300 viewers. Movie screenings in Tallinn will get even more exciting next year: from May to September, as part of the Capital of Culture line-up, films will be screened in museums and parks.
• Viru väljak 4/6, +372 5609 1577, katusekino.ee; tickets £3
Sten Saluveer, musician and CEO of the Plektrum Festival

Further information
How to get there: Estonian Air (0844 482 2327, estonian-air.com) flies from Gatwick to Tallinn from £142 return.

Where to stay: the Meriton Old Town Garden Hotel has doubles from €60 (+372 667 7111, meritonhotels.com)

Tip: the Tallinn Card, offering entrance to most museums and attractions for a day, discounts in shops and restaurants and free travel on local transport, costs €24 adults, €13 children (tourism.tallinn.ee)

More information: visitestonia.com and tourism.tallinn.ee

Compiled by Nicola Iseard

Culture takes centre stage in 2011
Capital of Culture Opening Ceremony 31 December-1 January

Events culminate in a midnight firework display on a platform out to sea in the Gulf of Riga. Watch from the Russalka monument in Kadriorg.

Fire Sculpture World Championships January (exact date to be confirmed)

Tallinn's skies will fill with light as the city hosts the first world championships in fire sculpting. Giant artworks of wood and straw, will be set alight – to "transform" them.

Tallinn Music Festival 24-26 March

Around 100 Estonian bands and artists will perform in the city's clubs, theatres and bars.

Straw Theatre 1 May-30 September

The Straw Theatre, to be erected at the Skoone Bastion Park, will be the biggest structure of its kind in the world. It will act as a stage for contemporary productions by both Estonian and visiting artists.

For a full calendar of events, go to tallinn2011.ee/est

Tumbleweeds is back!

Most of you don't know this, but Editfish over at Tumbleweeds was the inspiration for my blogrolls. Editfish had a pretty substantial blogroll of FS blogs, and it was that which gave me the idea of trying to have a blogroll of ALL the Foreign Service blogs (or at least all that I could find...I still search for new ones every day).

But alas, Editfish stopped publishing back in 2007. I left the link up just in case.

And it seems Editfish is back! I noticed yesterday that there were three new posts (two of them are backdated) talking about Editfish's renewed process of taking the FSOT.

I hope Editfish either is or soon will be part of the FS family.

Welcome back!

A Question for You

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a wonderful dinner with my inlaws that included things like:

My wife: Admiral Mullen reminds me of Dad.
Mother in Law: Your father is nothing like him!
Father in Law: He's a nerd.
Me: :::Falling over laughing::::

Pot, this is the kettle. You're black.

Oh my father in law is definitely a nerd. And his daughter didn't fall far from that tree!

Anyway, while I was away, a reader asked me a question. She is likely to get "the call" soon and wanted to know what I wish I had known when I was "called up/accepted/packing out/moving to DC."

I had an unfair advantage: my wife.

So I knew I would likely be sent to Jerusalem. I knew I would likely be in DC for nearly a year getting language. So I knew I should bring to DC all the stuff I'd need to live for a year. And that I could rent an unfurnished apartment and rent furniture.

When filling out forms, I had her send me hers for me to copy.

You get the idea.

Plus I am old...my momory is fading...it seems like a really long time ago!!

So especially you newer officers...what do you wish you had known? You will be helping a lot of your future colleagues by sharing.

So Much To Be Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I hope you are able to spend this holiday with those you love.

As I think about this holiday, I am overwhelmed with all the blessings in my life.

I am thankful for my beautiful wife who does double duty as my best friend. She is the person I hope to grow old with. I am thankful that we were able to be married legally, and I am hopeful we will one day soon see marriage equality throughout the country.

I am thankful for our family. I am especially grateful for those in my family who reached out to me after my estranged grandfather died this month, and for my dad, who assured me the loss was my grandfather's. My dad is a rock star. I am thankful for our friends, old and new. I am fortunate to be surrounded by so many people from all parts of my life, from my past and my present, who I love and who love me. There is simply no shortage of wonderful people in our lives.

I am thankful for our home. It is a warm, comfortable, decent place for us to live with our fur and feather children. And I am profoundly grateful for our fur and feather children, especially Koshka, who was supposed to only have a few weeks left more than a year and a half ago. We know she won't be with us much longer, but we are grateful for every day she is with us.

I am thankful for our jobs. They are stable and secure in a time when that is not something to be taken for granted. They pay us enough that we are comfortable. I am grateful to be able to pay my bills when they come without worry and to have money left over for us to do some of the things we love. We are not rich, but we are comfortable. I could not ask for more.

And I am thankful that our jobs are rewarding personally as well. We get to do interesting and meaningful work. And for me, even when it is hard, getting paid to learn a language full time for a year is a dream job. I am also deeply thankful for the honor of serving my country openly and with dignity. I hope one day soon, our brothers and sisters in uniform will be able to say that as well.

And while my year began with the devastating loss of my beloved grandmother, I am grateful for having had her in my life.

I hope that this Thanksgiving you too have much to be grateful for.

A Message from AFSA on the QDDR

Subject: AFSA President's Message on QDDR Draft Recommendations on "Recruiting & Training"

Dear Fellow Members of the Foreign Service,

As you know, the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review has been a close- hold exercise in which AFSA has not been involved. (At our request, we received a briefing just before the draft was leaked.) I want to share our preliminary views and solicit yours, particularly on those aspects of most direct concern – hiring, training and retention. As the process unfolds we will provide updates, and we encourage your feedback on specific proposals at President@afsa.org.

Broadly speaking, AFSA welcomes the QDDR’s call to rely on America’s diplomats and development experts to be the “first face of American power.” We concur in the need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service and the International Broadcasting Bureau. And we want to be active partners in the process as it moves forward – but we need basic information so that we can contribute constructive proposals to improve “cost-effectiveness and results” – a QDDR goal.

In its briefing to AFSA, the department has asserted that it does not intend to establish a mid-level lateral entry program at the State Department. We will work to ensure that this does not happen. What has so far been revealed about the QDDR draft recommendations relating to recruiting and training suggests that it seeks to address the (unspecified) mid-level experience gap in broad terms. AFSA’s position remains clear: We believe that mid-level hiring programs are not and have not been the best way to address mid-level experience gaps for the Foreign Service at all agencies. Like our military, the Foreign Service consists of commissioned officers, who serve on an up-or-out basis and are subject to the discipline of worldwide availability. Lateral entry is disruptive to the system and undermines morale in the same way it would if introduced into our military services.

At State, the “hiring surge” of the last few years has brought in thousands of new entry-level officers, many with strong academic credentials and extensive work experience. We believe that a better, more flexible, quicker and less costly way to address any mid-level gap is to identify and give opportunities for rapid advancement and training in supervision and management to the best of the entry level officers and to draw on Foreign Service retirees – in effect, our “Foreign Service reserve” – who have the needed experience, need no training, know how embassies and missions work, can mentor and coach, and are, by definition, short term. More flexible hiring authority to use retirees to fill mid-level experience gaps, with appropriate sunset provisions, is a tool the Secretary of State should have and should use.

In contrast to the State Department, the QDDR recommends hiring 95 mid-level technical experts at USAID. While AFSA recognizes the occasional need to bring in mid-level technical experts not currently available in the agency, we are not convinced that the numbers proposed are critical to carry out USAID’s work. The need at the FS-2 and FS-3 levels can be largely met in a cost-effective manner by appointing personnel with the same skills at the FS-5 and FS-4 levels. In any case, AFSA needs to be included in any work-force analysis in order to assure that only justifiable hiring takes place.


The QDDR recommends expanding opportunities for State Department Civil Service personnel to convert to the Foreign Service, seeking more flexible hiring authorities to attract expertise, and tying promotion to training. The current conversion procedures were negotiated with AFSA, and we continue to welcome qualified career Civil Service colleagues who utilize these existing procedures.

We have asked for a detailed briefing about the scope and nature of the mid-level deficit of positions at State and USAID, and expect to receive it shortly. I have communicated these points to Director of Policy Planning and QDDR Coordinator Anne-Marie Slaughter and to Director General Nancy Powell. We are also seeking more specific information about hiring authority and tying promotion to training.

We remain ready to contribute constructive proposals to ensure that the QDDR process enhances the operation of the Foreign Service. We look forward to working with management to ensure that: (1) any mid-level needs are carefully and transparently identified and documented; (2) established procedures to fill such gaps are followed; and (3) any remedial measures proposed strengthen our professional diplomatic and development services rather than weakening or politicizing them.

Best regards,


Susan R. Johnson
AFSA President
president@afsa.org

See on raske!

Today I got a taste of things to come.

Holy crap!

One of my classmates was out today, and the other had to leave after two hours.

That left me alone for the rest of the class. And let me tell you, that is exhausting!

And like I said, that was just a taste of the future. Friday, I will be in class alone for the whole day.

Then next month, I could be alone for as much as two weeks. It all depends on the timing.

I am glad for what amounts to getting tutored privately, but boy is it hard (which is basically what the subject means, in case you were wondering)!

I need a nap!

Marriage Injustice

Many folks don't understand what the big deal is with marriage equality. You have love and nothing else matters, right? Marriage is just a piece of paper. Right?

Wrong. When it comes to protecting your family, those more than 1,000 rights that heterosexuals get for getting that piece of paper matter a lot.

The Washington Post had a nice piece in the editorial section today talking about some of those inequalities that matter and some lawsuits that are trying to address them. Like these couples, if I died, my wife could not inherit my pension. And if I died, she would have to pay inheritance taxes for "inheriting" our home.

Marriage Injustice

EDITH "EDIE" WINDSOR and Thea Spyer were together for 44 years and legally married since 2007. They lived in New York, which recognizes same-sex marriage. But none of that mattered when Ms. Spyer died at 77 in 2009 after a decades-long struggle with multiple sclerosis.

Ms. Windsor, now 81, was treated like a stranger to Ms. Spyer because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which recognizes only marriages between one man and one woman. She was forced to pay $350,000 in federal inheritance taxes.

Gerald V. Passaro II and Thomas M. Buckholz had been a couple for 13 years when they were married in 2008 in Connecticut, which legally blesses such relationships. Mr. Buckholz had worked for 20 years for Bayer Corp., which extends certain benefits to domestic partners; he was also vested in the company's pension plan. But when he died in 2009, Mr. Passaro was denied benefits for surviving spouses. Because federal law governs the pension plan, DOMA applies.

This month, Ms. Windsor filed a lawsuit in New York challenging the constitutionality of DOMA. Mr. Passaro is one of the plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit in Connecticut. Their experiences demonstrate the injustice of this law.

DOMA was created for the purposes of "defending and nurturing the institution of traditional heterosexual marriage," "defending traditional notions of morality" and "protecting state sovereignty and democratic self-governance" - dubious goals, at best.

How does the denigration of committed same-sex relationships strengthen opposite-sex unions? How could it be moral to pile hardship upon grief by forcing surviving spouses to deal with financial strains others are shielded from? How is federalism bolstered when states are prevented from applying policy and legal preferences in defining marriage, long considered the states' domain?

This year, a Massachusetts judge ruled that DOMA violated the equal-protection rights of same-sex married couples. Ms. Windsor and Mr. Passaro offer convincing arguments for why the jurists overseeing their respective cases should reach the same result.

Plaintiffs nationwide will probably try to chip away at DOMA's indefensible foundations. And the Supreme Court may yet have a chance to weigh in. But justice would best and most gratifyingly be served if Congress simply repealed the law, once and for all.