Mul on mantel!

Which means...I have a coat.

I finally bit the bullet. Okay, actually I finally found, after a lot of searching, a price I wanted to pay for a coat that seemed to be of the quality I wanted.

I found a deal on a Mountain Hardwear Downtown Down coat and it arrived yesterday.

It comes almost to my knees (it is supposed to be mid-thigh, but I'm short!) and is 650 count down. It has cuffs on the sleeves to keep the wind out, a detachable hood, and fleece on the inside for extra warmth. It is only water resistant, not water proof, but I found online that I can use Scotch Guard for Outdoor Material to make it waterproof (something very important in Estonia).

I do not, however, think this will be my true winter coat. I think this will be my fall/early winter coat. And maybe my spring coat. This coat has great reviews, but I am not sure people have used this against an Estonian-type winter. And it seems really light, especially compared with my really old down coat (appropriate for going out in the snow but not work), and I don't think that they have come up with great innovation in down, since it is the geese who actually make the down.

I plan to use my wool/cashmere dress coat as my summer coat!

And Then There Were Two

So today was the last day for one of my classmates.

He took his test today...I hope it went really well.

He isn't leaving yet...he has more training to do...but once again I am reminded of just how little time we have left.

Cue panic.

It suddenly occurred to me that I am not feeling like I have improved much since we got back from our immersion. And so now I am worrying about whether I will get my 3/3.

Not that this would be the end of the world...it would mean the end of my vacation, since I would get extended in language. But it wouldn't be the end of the world. Or maybe it would be...I could really use a vacation, and I think my wife will die if we don't get one soon.

Still, I can't shake the feeling that I should be better by now. Long-term language training is HELL on your self esteeem. No matter how good a language learner you are. No matter how good or nice (or bad or hateful...I have really lucked out on that account! Not all language teachers are created equal.) your teacher is.

So twelve weeks....11 1/2 really. Not much time to become awesome. And not a lot of time to get everything organized, since so many other things are up in the air...little things, like whether my wife will be with me.

Sigh.

We Missed You!

We had a nice GLIFAA lunch with the 160th A-100.

We had several folks show up from the 160th, including allies (we LOVE allies!).

It was good to get to know some of the newest FSOs. They speak well for the future of the Service!

Let's Do Lunch!

GLIFAA tries to have a brown bag for each new orientation class. Monday, the 18th, is the brown bag for the current A-100 and anyone else who would like to join us.

We LOVE allies!

We will be in one of the rooms off of the cafeteria at FSI (C-2107 I think, but I need to verify that!) beginning at 12:10.

Hope to see you there!

Beginning of the End

We had a party today for the first of this crop of Estonian students to head off.

He wasn't in our regular class...he was just doing the short course. Still, I have served with him before and am delighted to serve with him again. So I am happy for him and sad to see him leave.

It signals the beginning of the end.

Next week, one of our core three in class will test and head off to other training. Then it really starts to get real.

We only have 12 weeks left of training. Twelve weeks to get to that elusive 3/3.

A little unnerving, but also a little exciting.

I think I would be more excited if more were nailed down for me and my family.

We still don't know what is going on with my wife's training.

Will she with me in August? Stay behind for a year? Only six months? Go to Baghdad instead? We just don't know.

And then today, we got our housing assignment.

It isn't the place I wanted, but I am sure it will be fine. It looks like it is gi-nourmous. And our bed will definitely fit in the master bedroom.

But because it is so huge, Post has to get a waiver for us. Because there are only two of us. Plus, even though we will be section heads, we are still only mid-level.

So more waiting...another week or two. More things up in the air.

I've blogged before on how you have to give up your need to plan when you join the service, right?

Yeah, I'm still working on that.

Back to Area Studies

I haven't been in area studies for a bit.

We (my classmate and I) missed a week for our immersion.

And then, for the new area studies studies, our instructor played Everything is Illuminated again. Those who had seen it were excused.

So I was back today...and it was a pretty good one.

We had a speaker come talk to us about Polish politics. And even though I am not going to Poland, I found the talk interesting and relevant.

Just wanted to give credit where credit is due.

We still have no news on my wife's In Country Language Training. We are crossing fingers, toes, eyes and everything else we can think of that her appeal will be approved.

I really don't want to spend another year apart.

We apparently got our housing assignment today and it wasn't the apartment we requested. However, it is supposed to be a bigger and even better apartment nearby.

I can't wait to see the pictures.

Freudian Slip

So here's something funny.

I now know enough Estonian to make a Freudian slip.

We were talking about the budget and how we were relieved that the shutdown had been averted so we didn't lose our pay.

What I meant to say was:

"Tänan Jumalele" or Thank God.

What I actually said was:

"Tänan rumalele" or Thank Stupid.

You can just make of that what you will.

Who Was Happy To Go To Work Today?

Me, that's who.

Yes, really.

I really love my job...I also really like getting paid for it, so I can do other things I really like.

Like pay my bills!

I also like being better able to focus...my background is solidly and proudly working class. My mom came from mill workers and military, my dad from coal miners and military (we believe in service). I am the first in my family to graduate college, and I was graduated from a state university in my home state. Nothing fancy here.

And I know from experience what it is like not to have enough money to pay my bills. I know, and wish I didn't, how long you can put off paying certain utilities before they get cut off.

I haven't been in that position in years, far longer than I have worked for the Department. But I remember it...and I never want to go there again.

So yeah, really really happy to be at work today.

Sorry to Disappoint Them

Don't you just know they were scheming on how to redecorate the place once the government shut down and they were finally able to take over FSI?

Working On It

Okay, so we have a budget.

I am happy, relieved and still pissed off.

Why did it have to go right to the edge before the people whose job it is to pass the budget and who would be least affected by a government shutdown could get off their collective a$$es and pass a budget? And could we go ahead and do the 2012 one, due in September, while we are being agreeable, rather than giving federal employees another collective ulcer and panic attack?

That said, I am trying to relax, breathe, and focus on the positive. I can go to work. I can pay my bills.

And I can focus on trying to get the Department to agree to let my wife come with me to post in August.

I can also start thinking again about going to post.

So today, I finally recycled computers that I have had longer than my wife. Arlington was having a special recycling day, so I removed the hard drives got rid of the rest.

And I have started thinking of other things I can donate to Goodwill. Like my crappy bike. And the old bread maker we have NEVER used. And the VCR and tapes we haven't touched since the advent of DVDs. And the stereo that plays CASSETTES (to be fair, it plays CDs too, but who doesn't just use their ipods these days?). And I got buy in on all of the above from my wife, so a trip to Goodwill is in my very near future.

I also checked out this site, and I wonder if any of you have heard of/used it:

StrongVPN

I saw it suggested to someone as a way that you can do things like watch tv on hulu when you are overseas. Or order things from the US like e-books for your kindle when the servers want you to be originating from a US IP address.

That would make living overseas much easier.

Speaking of which, when I was in J'lem, I also used ShipitAPO when we wanted to order electronics and such from places that would not ship to an APO address. They give you a physical address where your order is shipped, then they send it on to you at the APO for a small fee. I found it very worth it.

Okay, back into planning mode...maybe soon my inner calm will return.

This Is What Patriots Look Like

Another thing to be mad about

One more way this whole shutdown thing is ticking me off:

It makes me a stupid language student.

If you know me, you know I am a doer. I don't like to sit around and worry about something. I like to try to fix it.

These days, I am angrier than I have been since I was in Jerusalem, and for the same reason:

I am powerless.

And on two sides. Both from Congress and the Department.

In Jerusalem, I felt that my life was no longer mine to control. That people who did not have my best interests at heart had too much control over my life. I was powerless, and I very nearly left the service over it.

Being powerless is not my talent.

There is nothing, nothing, nothing, I can do to make Congress do the right thing, do their job, and pass the budget.

So as a result, I could go without pay for who knows how long. And for those who say that non-essential workers got paid in the past, I say two things: first, the climate in Congress is different now. I doubt this Congress will approve pay for those who didn't work. And second, during the last shutdown, people went without a paycheck for six weeks. Could you do without your pay for six weeks? And even if you could, is that really the emergency you had your savings for?

There is nothing I can do to supplement my income, even if I wanted to. I can't get a job waiting tables or what have you...not allowed. I have to sit and stew. And hope they figure it out before I can no longer pay my mortgage.

There is nothing I can do to change the fact that even if I don't get paid, I will have to pay back the government for my insurance premiums...so I will have less money even when I get paid.

There is nothing I can do to keep the government from targeting only the lower and mid levels of the Foreign Service with a 24% pay cut when we go overseas. There is nothing I can do to stop them from freezing my pay for nearly 1/4 of a 20 year career.

And I really hate being able to do nothing.

It makes it difficult for me to concentrate, to focus on ANYTHING else. It makes me want to sit on my couch and eat chocolate.

And it definitely makes me a bad language student. I have no focus left for it. And the sad thing is that I love it. I didn't go to the AFSA rally today because I didn't want to miss any time in class. And I was sad as I left FSI because I want to come to work on Monday. I want to serve, and right now my service takes the form of learning a lnaguage even though it likely means I won't get promoted this year because that is what my country needs for me to be the best FSO I can for it.

And then there is the Department.

What I also really want to do is go to post in August.

I LOVED being in Estonia. And every single person I have talked to, right up to the Ambassador, has said I have a section full of rock stars. Having met them, I agree. I want to work with them. I don't want to delay coming.

But as I told them when I met with them, I believe in family. I believe in a work-life balance.

I don't want to go without my wife, especially not for a full year, especially when it is completely avoidable. Especially when we have already spent three years apart for the service.

And yet, the Department, or at least the committee of those nameless people who get to decide, has determined that she may not study language in Estonia.

Even though Estonia has GREAT language school.

Even though learning a language in a country where that is the language spoken is MUCH better than learning it here (and the Department knows this, which is why we have so many people studying Arabic overseas instead of here).

And even though it will cost the Department somewhere in the neighborhood of $60,000 MORE to force her to study here. (Oh but they are different pots of money...of course all those pots come from the same big pot, right?)

Of course we are appealling...the appeal goes to the same people who already rejected it.

It makes me wonder, given some of the comments coming out of CDA lately, whether part of the problem is that the committee doesn't consider us a "real" tandem, a "real" family.

So I am angry. I am powerless.

And I really hate it.

Let Us Serve

From the Washington Post:

Latest from AFSA President Susan Johnson

I deeply regret that the failure of Congress to reach a compromise on the FY-11 budget means that the possibility of a government shutdown looms ever larger. The Department has now sent three ALDCAS to the field (11 State 031766, 11 State 031767, 11 State 031768) outlining guidance for a possible shutdown. We have posted these ALDACS, together with other information, in our “Government Shutdown Information Center” on our website (www.afsa.org). Please monitor that site for news on developments. Also, please read the final paragraph of this message for important information on our “Rally to Serve America” at the Harry S. Truman Building on Friday, April 8.

We still hope that Congress will enact appropriations for 2011 (or, failing that, pass another continuing resolution) in time to avert a shutdown. If these efforts fail, however, we know that the professionals of the Foreign Service will uphold the highest standards in managing an orderly process that will enable us to resume our full range of duties as quickly as possible after a budget is passed.

A warning to all of you: Please take very seriously the State guidance that, “… no employee may work if he or she is in a non-excepted status. Employees are advised that 'work' includes reporting to work as well as using fobs, Blackberry, and teleworking.” (In preliminary briefings, Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy has assured us, however, that employees may continue to use government-issued fobs and Blackberries to communicate with AFSA in the event of a shutdown. AFSA staff and officers who rely on state.gov and usaid.gov addresses will retain access to them in the event of a shutdown.) The imminent possibility of a furlough is a good opportunity for each of you to ensure that we have a current personal e-mail address for you. If you have not received this message at such an address, please take the time to send an e-mail to member@afsa.org, giving us your current non-government e-mail address.

All of us in the Foreign Service are accustomed to going the extra mile, and doing whatever it takes to get our jobs done. It goes against our instincts to simply leave work undone. But, if you are designated a “non-excepted” employee and are furloughed, you must exercise the service discipline which has guided you through your career and simply force yourself not to perform official work in any way, shape or form.

The Department has noted that Chiefs of Mission have broad authority to determine which personnel at post are necessary to conduct essential functions in the event of a shutdown. It has issued guidelines to assist COMs in making these decisions, but we may reasonably anticipate that there will be some differences among our many posts in the implementation of these guidelines. 11 State 031768 notes that, “Rotating personnel to perform excepted functions may be made at bureau and post discretion.” We encourage decision-makers to be flexible in their application of this guidance, as a means of sharing the economic losses among employees in the event of an extended shutdown. (Note that, at this point, we have no indication that furloughed employees will eventually be paid for hours not worked because of a shutdown.)

Please note that AFSA staff, including our Labor Management staff at Main State and USAID, will continue to work during a shutdown, and can be reached as usual by e-mail and phone. 11 State 031768 notes that questions regarding your rights and entitlements during a furlough may be directed to your Executive Director and Post Management Officer. It also notes that you may use grievance procedures under 3 FAM 4400 to contest decisions regarding the furlough. If you believe that decisions implementing the furlough have not been made in an evenhanded manner, please let us know. AFSA stands ready to assist its members in these uncertain times.

RALLY TO SERVE AMERICA:
AFSA, in coordination with our colleagues in AFGE, is organizing a “Rally to Serve America” this Friday, April 8, at noon in the Edward J. Kelly Park opposite the Marshall Center entrance of the Harry S. Truman Building (i.e. opposite the 21st and Virginia Ave. entrance of the Main State Building). We have alerted Members of Congress and the media to our intent to demonstrate our simple desire to do our jobs. Please come out to support this effort!

A non-response from Sen. Hagan on OCP

Remember how back in February, I asked you to write your Senator about not taking away our overseas comparability pay and thereby forcing only the lower and mid-leveled among us to take a 24% pay cut when we go overseas?

Well I wrote my Senator, NC Senator Kay Hagan. I told her about how I was an FSO...how my colleagues serving overseas would be taking an immediate pay cut. How they were serving in places like Libya longside folks from other agencies along with the higher ranking of our own service, who did not have to take such a pay cut (any pay cut, in fact).

I asked her to help fight the cut.

Here is the response I got...makes me doubt anyone actually READ my letter. Notice there is not the first mention of the Foreign Service. And it took her two months to come up with this...

Guess who I will not be voting for next time?


April 6, 2011

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me regarding federal spending and the national debt. I share your concerns about the need to encourage fiscal responsibility and use taxpayer dollars wisely. I apologize for my delayed response.

Our nation's debt has been accumulating dangerously over the last decade, primarily as a result of not paying for two wars, two tax cuts, and an expensive prescription drug program. On top of that, the severe economic recession that began in 2007 led to lower tax revenues and higher deficit spending as Congress took steps to unfreeze credit markets and revive the economy. All of these factors combined to put us on a fiscally unsustainable path that must be rectified. I understand that our country cannot continue deficit spending far into the future and I am working to enact a number of policies that will help address our nation's deficit and debt.

During the 111th Congress, I voted for an amendment to H.J. Res. 45 to reinstate the budget principle known as "pay-as-you-go," which requires that legislation increasing the deficit be offset by measures that reduce the deficit by an equal amount. It will help ensure that we do not burden future generations with the bill of our policies today. That amendment was agreed to by a vote of 60-39, and I believe it is a good start to controlling deficit spending.

In an effort to strengthen the pay-as-you-go budget principle and reduce the deficit, I have supported numerous bipartisan amendments to establish a five-year cap on discretionary spending. Discretionary spending caps have a proven track record of controlling government spending and reducing the deficit. In the 1990s, both discretionary spending caps and pay-as-you-go policies were in place under bipartisan agreements, and produced four balanced budgets and budget surpluses from 1998-2001. The five-year cap on non-security discretionary spending in President Obama's 2012 budget is a good start, but we must take a comprehensive approach to deficit reduction that includes entitlement spending and tax reform.

In addition, I also supported a proposal offered by Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) to create a bipartisan commission to address our long-term deficits. While that proposal did not receive the 60 votes required to pass, I was encouraged when President Obama announced plans for a similar commission co-chaired by former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, of North Carolina, and former Senate Republican leader Alan Simpson.

I was among the group of senators who advocated for the creation of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which President Obama created on February 18, 2010. The 18-member Commission was tasked with producing recommendations for reducing the deficit, and its leaders showed tremendous leadership throughout the process. On December 1, 2010, the Commission published its final report, which you can read here: http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/.

The Commission produced a set of bipartisan recommendations to help us get the national debt under control. Although a majority of commissioners supported the final report, it did not receive enough support to trigger automatic consideration in Congress. I do not agree with everything in the report, but I believe that the commissioners showed tremendous courage by addressing a wide range of issues, from tax policy to health care costs. Most importantly, their work will help keep the process of addressing our fiscal outlook moving forward. On December 3, 2010, I was one of 14 senators who sent a letter to the White House and the bipartisan congressional leadership, urging them to address our pressing fiscal challenges by considering the Commission's report.

As Congress considers deficit-reduction measures and budget proposals for fiscal years 2011 and 2012, I will certainly keep your thoughts about federal spending in mind. I look forward to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to put our fiscal house back in order.

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is truly an honor to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future should you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kay R. Hagan

Let Us Serve America!

I got an email this afternoon from AFSA State VP Daniel Hirsch saying that AFSA is holding a rally at the Edward J Kelly Park near the 21st Street Entrance of the State Department on Friday April 8, 2011, at noon.

The theme will be "Let Us Serve America!"

This is an opportunity to turn out and help AFSA protest Government shutdown. I plan to attend, and I hope you will come and will urge as many people as possible to attend with you.

You can also visit AFSA's Shutdown Information Center here.

The site reminds members that "Lessons learned from the shutdowns in the 1990s indicate that most problems were financial in nature. Members who do not have overdraft privileges or lines of credit with their banks may want to set them up as a precaution. Remember that if you have a mortgage that is paid automatically, you need to have sufficient funds in your account to cover your mortgage payment."

How To Screw Those Who Serve

Brought to you courtesy of Congress:

* Freeze federal employee pay. The latest proposal from the Republicans calls for our pay to be frozen for FOUR YEARS. Make this freeze include step increases and promotions. This means that pay will be frozen for nearly 1/4 of a 20 year career, which will also affect our retirement income.

(A report released by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis) said, "Federal workers deserve to be compensated for their important work but pay levels, pay increases and benefit packages need to be reformed to be in line with the private-sector.” Please do...because studies show that white-collar federal employees earn about 25% LESS than similarly experienced people in the private sector.)

* CUT the pay of those serving overseas by 25%, but only those who are in the Foreign Service and then only those in the lowest levels.

* Shut down the government, so that "non-essential" employees can not work and may not be paid...not a problem really, since we don't have mortgages, utilities, kids...oh wait. We do. Just like every other taxpayer.

*Generously offer to continue paying insurance for federal employees, but insist that they pay back their portion of the insurance when the government re-opens, EVEN IF THEY DON'T GET PAID.

*DON'T allow furloughed federal employees to get another job, because that would be considered separation from service. (You didn't really need to eat did you...guess there is more than one way to be inspired to diet...)

*Allow furloughed federal employees to apply for unemployment, depending on the state's rules, bearing in mind that if they DO get back pay, they will have to pay back the assistance they got, including the taxes paid on it. Of course, they won't get that tax money back until they file next year, but hey, who wouldn't want to give an interest-free loan to the government that clearly values you so much?

If you can't say anything nice...

You probably shouldn't write a blog post.

I haven't felt much like writing lately...I feel like things have been coming at me from all sides.

First there is the shutdown...it is looking more and more likely. And I am really tired of being America's whipping boy.

Federal employee salaries make up about 0.25% of the budget. It is the big untouchables that make up 85% of the budget: social security, medicare, defense, and debt maintenance. But of course, let's see if we can balance the budget by cutting NPR, foreign aid, federal salaries. Oh, and let's not forget to give the rich a tax cut. Because they'd take that money and create more jobs...except that as recent tax cuts and record profits have shown, they aren't.

And there are folks just jonesing to shut the government, many of them in Congress. Of course, THEY won't lose their pay. Those Congressmen, like the one who complained he was "barely scraping by" on $174,000 a year (wish I had THAT problem), can't go without his salary during the shutdown because his family needs the money. But those Congressmen, unlike the "essential employees" who will be forced to work but may never get paid for it, won't even have to wait for their paycheck. They'll get paid all along...because they need their salary.

But I guess my family doesn't need ours. Yes, we have two incomes, but we are both federal employees. So we lose both of our salaries.

Makes it challenging to pay the bills.

And for those who are calling for all "non-essential" employees to be fired...I would remind you that they are people like me, who are in training. They are people like park rangers, janitors, and more. Hard working people who the government can do without so long as it seriously scales back what it does. Things I bet you'll miss when it happens.

And then we have it coming from the other side...the Department.

The committee of those who get to decide decided that my wife could not do in country language training.

Meaning we will likely have to spend a year apart.

Even though we have already spend THREE YEARS of her nine years with the Department apart at the needs of the service.

Even though it will cost tens of thousands of dollars MORE for her to stay here rather than come with me. (But it is different pots of money, they tell me...like those pots don't all come from the same big pot...no wonder we have budget problems).

We are appealling, but not optimistic.

Told you I had nothing good to say...

Vote!

If you are a member of AFSA, you probably got a ballot in the mail in the past week.

All too often, active duty members are less likely to vote than retiree members. I think you should vote, and I am going to give you my two cents on who to vote for even though you didn't ask.

First, two-time GLIFAA board member Ken Kero-Mentz is running as a state rep. He is smart and committed and I think he will represent us well on the board. Also, because not enough people stepped up to run for State Rep, I hope you will consider writing in Mary Glantz. She had not expected to be in DC this year, which is why she did not run for re-election. But she now thinks she may be here...I hope you will consider writing her in, since she is on the current governing board and makes certain that the needs of the active duty and the future of the Foriegn Service are foremost in the minds of the members of the governing board.

This time, only one position is contested, that of president. Long-time AFSA board member Tex Harris and current president Susan Johnson are running for the position.

I think Tex is a great guy, super committed. But I hope you'll consider voting for Susan.

And here is why: I sincerely believe that we need an active duty person as president.

Of course we need to take care of the needs of our retirees. But Tex once said that we are all retirees, that some of us just are future retirees. And this simply is no longer true.

I think that someone who is not active duty is not in touch with the issues we face. Many of us, far more often than in the past, will leave this career for a variety of reasons. Ours is not the Foreign Service that the current retirees served in. We have far more unaccompanied posts that in the past.

In the past, people could not imagine quitting this career once you got in. And now, plenty leave over a variety of issues. When I was in Jerusalem, every person I served with (including me and my wife) were looking for other jobs. At least three have left the service.

Which is why we need to keep Susan Johnson.

She has, over her past term, proven she understands our issues and deals with them with a deft touch. She has formed alliances with management without forgetting that her job, first and foremost, is to advance the best interests of the foreign service, even when this conflicts with management.

I hope you'll consider voting, and voting for Susan, Ken and Mary.

Diplopundit going dark??

One of my favorite blogs, Diplopundit, received a "polite" take down warning about the blog. Scary stuff. Makes you wonder who will be next?

Giving Credit

I always like to give credit where credit is due. And so... Area studies was great today! Our speaker today talked about energy issues in the Balts and Poland. It was interesting, useful and relevant. It takes so little to make me happy! And more credit...immersions are great! I have to tell you that I really find that I feel more confident and fluid talking, reading and writing now. I am really glad I went. Wish it had been longer.

Welcome to the 160th!

My apologies for being late. The 160th A-100 began on Monday, but of course, I was on the other side of the planet. And then I was jet-lagging. So I only just around to doing my traditional graduation of the Future FS bloggers to the FS blogroll. But I am rectifying that now by welcoming the 160th and all of their bloggers to the Foreign Service. The following blogs have been moved to the FS blogroll: A Sojourning Life Diplochick Knocking About The Red Menace Abroad We Are Alive, Mom White Waters & Black Welcome!

Catching Up

Okay, I know you are dying to know who won the Amazing Race, so I'll just tell you. It was a tie. We got back at the same time...but you knew that already. So just as a wrap up (sorry about not blogging sooner, but I was really wiped out...Ii was even too quesy for sushi last night, so you know how bad that was!). Anyway, our time in Tallinn was brief, but good. We met with our sections at the embassy, as well as with the Ambassador, DCM and the person we are each replacing. And everything, everything, everything exceeded my expectations! The people are great, the place is great. I think we will love it there. Except. Yesterday, we were told that my wife was not approved for In Country Language Training. Which could mean we spend a year apart. Not something I am thrilled with, since we have already done almost 2.5 years apart during our careers. At this point, I don't know what we will do. We are going to appeal. We are going to try to get help from anyone we can think to ask. We are considering all options. Keep your fingers crossed for us that the appeal won't be rejected, though really we expect it will. I am not sure where we go from here.

Amazing Race Estonia: Leg 5

Make your way to Koeru, a village east of the road from Tallinn to Tartu. Find a small home on a side road belonging to the Aunt of one of your teachers and deliver a package. Warning: Road block ahead.

I want to start off with my only complaint so far about the trip. No one should have to go through daylight savings time change twice in two weeks. Estonia is two weeks behind us in springing forward, so I got the joy of doing that for a second time. I don't approve.

We made our way to Koeru. I drove most of the way, until we got to a small side road in Koeru that was entirely ice. Then I turned the wheel over to my classmate, who has more than 1.5 hours experience driving a stick shift!

Koeru is tiny...teensy tiny. No stoplight kind of tiny.

But thanks to our teacher KK's directions, we found her aunt's home with no trouble. However, since we were nearly an hour early, we drove around a bit.

We found a store that has a big sign saying "Avatud Iga Päev" or, open every day.



But as you will notice from the sign in the window, it is "suletud," or closed, on Sunday. Guess that is not a day.



We also found this interesting church...the stained glass looks oddly like a bomb shelter sign to me...

The "window" just above the stained glass is a door...wouldn't want to walk out of that accidentally!

Anyway, we made our way to KK's aunt's house. MV was incredibly nice. We gave her a gift sent my KK. She made us an excellent lunch of ham, potatoes and saurkraut, followed by a cake she made. Yum! I am still stuffed, six hours later.

ROAD BLOCK: A Road Block is a task that each participant must do alone. In this road block, interview MV about her family history and draw her family tree. Find out where she has travelled and wants to travel.

So I interviewed MV and found out she has travelled to all sorts of places, particularly in the former Soviet Union, but has never made it to America. I hope she comes to visit. Once we finished with our visit (and let me tell you that carrying on a conversation in Estonian for two hours is EXHAUSTING!), we headed back to Tallinn. We arrived at our colleague PM's apartment in time to wander a bit in the Old City of Tallinn.



And clearly, this place is already throwing out the welcome mat for me (I was too polite to tell them Carolina is spelled with a "C").



And for those of you who watch the real Amazing Race, and saw the season where they came to Estonia, I thought you might regognize this door:

Amazing Race Estonia: Leg 4

Here is your next clue: Make your way to Viljandi. Tour the city and visit the city museum

We got up this morning at about 8 since we didn't have meet anyone today.

We passed a really cool old church and cemetery along the way. I thought I saw a sign nearby that said Mähla, but I can't find that or anything like it in my atlas. there was no sign on the church...it was I guess 15 kilometers west of Tartu near Puhja. We stopped and took some pictures. (EDIT 5/24/2012: I discovered that the church was St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church in Mõisanurme. Like many churches, it was likely closed in the mid-1960s by the Soviet authorities.)

We made it to Viljandi, but no one old us nothing is open this time of year! The tourist office was closed, the museum was closed...even the restaurant was closed. So we made the best of it, driving and walking around the city, checking out St. John's and St. Paul's churches and the old water tower. Then we drove back to Tartu...just in time to drive through another snowstorm. At least this one was quick and mild!



Once we got back to Tartu, we decided to wander around the city for a while. I found the university bookstore and bought a nice road atlas and some postcards. Then I found a little cafe' on Raekoja plaza, ordered some soup and wrote my postcards.

On my way back to the hotel, I stopped in a souvenier shop.

And this is where I got my big score!

The clerk in the score spoke to three women who came in after me. She addressed them right from the start in English. Then she turned to me and asked if I needed any help...in Estonian! Big score for me! I asked her about some of the items, and then got directions to the post office...all in Estonian.

I left the shop and found the postoffice, bought some stamps, and mailed the postcards. Then I headed back to the hotel. I think I earned a nap.

Tomorrow, back to Tallinn.

Remembering the Deportations

It is no exaggeration to say that there is not a single Estonian family untouched by the deportations. Between deportations, executions, and conscriptions into the Red Army, as much as 10% of the country's population disappeared. It would be like losing 35 million Americans...

In the plaza here in Tartu, there is a makeshift memorial I wanted to share with you. I promise to get back the the Amazing Race tomorrow.



From our Embassy's website:

March 25, 2011
Sixty-two years ago today, Soviet forces that illegally occupied Estonia and its Baltic neighbors launched an unprecedented wave of deportations. The human scale of these deportations is unfathomable; within three days, nearly three percent of the Estonian population had been sent to Siberia. Early Soviet mass deportations and executions had been aimed at destroying Estonian society, culture, production capabilities and defensive infrastructure. This wave of deportations was crafted to break the stiff Estonian resistance to collectivization; it was targeted at the citizenry and included vastly disproportionate numbers of women and children. The train cars that bore over 20,000 Estonians east included a one year-old infant and a ninety five-year old woman.

History bears testimony to the indomitable Estonian spirit and the tenacity of this nation's culture. Today, Estonians will gather to reflect on their unique and oft-harsh history. Our Ambassador and Mrs. Polt will participate, laying a wreath and lighting candles in Tallinn's Freedom Square, in memory of those who suffered during this tragic time. In a society that has come so far since the restoration of its independence, memories are never too distant. Together with Estonia, America recalls the past and lives for the future.

Amazing Race Estonia: Leg 3

Here is your next clue: Make your way to Võru and meet up with TK, the director of the daycare center in Võru. She will give you your instructions. Warning: Road Block ahead

We got up this morning at 7:30 and helped ourselves to the free breakfast at the hotel. I had some cheese and turkey ham, plus a few pickles. And coffee...really good coffee. Caffeine is the best thing ever, especially when you are jet-lagged.

We left about 8:30 to head to Võru, not wanted to be late. Being late is extremely rude in Estonian culture.

So we got there about an hour and a half early.

We used the time to check out the frozen lake (people were ice fishing on it) and the local market. Then my classmate offered to teach me something I firmly believe every foreign service officer should know but I did not.

How to drive a stick shift.

Don't judge me...I had a traumatic experience with a stick when I was a freshman in college and haven't attempted it since.

And to my credit, I didn't stall the car even once. I didn't attempt any hills though. Baby steps...there was a lot of ice in that lot.

So we finally headed over to the daycare, now only 20 minutes early (well within acceptable arrival time in Estonia). The director, who it turns out is our instructor's first cousin, showed us around the center...it is pretty big and has more than 200 students between the ages of about 3 and 7. Estonia has no need for daycare for children under three because they have very generous maternity leave.

After we listened to some children sing and dance for us (they were VERY cute), we were treated to some excellent soup and some sort of bread pudding for dessert. It was very tasty. Then we walked around the city.

And here I will just insert that weather.com LIES! It had said no snow while I was to be here, and then only a day or two of snow. But it has snowed EVERY day.

Luckily, the roads have been great...until this afternoon. I'll get to that.
So we walked around town in the snow...it wasn't much snow...just fits and starts. But it was windy and cold. We walked to TK's home, accompanied by her son, who was along in case we needed a translator (he's a teenager...I think we bored him! And we only asked him for the occasional word anyway). We met their dog (not friendly) and their cat (nearly stuffed her in my pocket...so sweet!) and then walked though the park in town, past the Orthodox church, to the F.R. Kreutzwald museum. Kreutzwald was Voru's doctor and is famous for his writing, his scientific work, and much more. He penned the Estonian National Tale, Kalevipoeg, based on an old oral tale. He also did archaeological research, so he in now near and dear to my heart.

After we finished at the museum, we walked back down to the lake to see the statue of Kreutzwald. Then we headed to the kohvik (coffee house...remember the trend?).



ROAD BLOCK: Answer a series of questions about the cultural life of Voru. Each participant will have his our her own questions.

We each have individual assignments. TK asked about our plans for tomorrow, and when I pulled the schedule out of my pocket, I had with it my questions. She went through them with me and told me about what was available in this small town of 14,000 (answer...not a lot...they call go to Tartu or Tallinn).

We left the Kohvik and headed back to their house. At this point, the snow started in earnest. You know it is bad if an Estonian calls it a snow storm. In the 15 minutes it took to walk to their house, probably an inches was already on the ground. So we said quick goodbyes and headed back. The snow was really blowing for much of the trip...there were white outs at points.


There was even an accident on the way back...luckily no one seemed to be hurt. But the roads got crappy fast. Luckily, they use good salt here, so they also cleared up pretty quickly.

Make your way back to the hotel London in Tartu. This is your pit stop for this leg of the race.

Amazing Race: Estonia Leg 2

Here is your second clue. Make your way to Tartu by car to the main building of Tartu University. There you will meet a university instructor (aka LP) who will give you your next clue.

We got up at 7 am…we were told the drive to Tartu would take about 2 hours and we needed to be there by 11 am…wisely, we decided to give it more time. It takes more like 2 ½ to 3 hours. But the drive is beautiful. Once you get out of Tallinn, it is farmland and woods dotted with tiny groups of old houses. There are a few restaurants of the mom and pop variety (like the one below) and some gas stations.


We stopped at one place to take a potty break…you had to pay to use the restroom, which was fine. Except that the country has converted to the Euro…but the restroom had not. Luckily, the cashier keeps 1 Kroon coins on hand for just such an occasion.

We made it to Tartu at a little before 11, found great parking, and called the person we were supposed to meet. Unfortunately, she wasn’t supposed to meet us until noon. So we went to the University Coffee House and got an early lunch.

The food was amazing…I was expecting snack food. What I got was a wonderful grilled salmon!

Interesting thing happened at the restaurant…our waitress at one point accidentally spoke in English…she then apologized and went back into Estonian! She was Estonian, and I heard her speak perfectly good English to some tourists who came in afterward.

Here is your next clue. Go with the university instructor to her class. Speak in English on a topic of your choosing and listen to the students interpret. Answer questions. When you have completed this task, the teacher will give you further instructions.

We actually got our onward instructions before the class started…we were to meet another Estonian, AU, at 3 pm in front of the main building at the university to go on a scavenger hunt of sorts. More on that in a bit. So anyway, we went to a classroom across the street from the Main Building (our teacher was right, you can't miss it).


In class, I chatted for about 7 minutes about PeeDee Indian history (gotta spread it where I can!) and answered questions. My classmate, being braver than I, chatted about Iraq. The students did a pretty good job of interpreting, though at one point, I took the headset off and just listened to the Estonian because the student doing the interpreting was having a few difficulties. As was the headset…it kept cutting in and out.

When we finished, we went and located our hotel, which was about a block away. We moved the car over and put our stuff in the room. By then, it was time to meet AU for the scavenger hunt. She sent us all over the city center finding out what the names of bridges are, what the monuments in Toomemagi park are for (magi means mountain, but where I come from, that is a hill…same for the rivers…they are more like creeks, except Suur Ema Jogi, which means Big Mother River and it is), where the giant pig and the kissing/compass statues are, etc. I feel like I got a good overview of the city….I am still not sure about the building that seems to be intentionally leaning.


Afterward, we met our guide at a coffee house and discussed our results. Then my classmate and I had dinner at the Gun Powder Cellar, which allegedly has a mug with our instructor’s name on it on the wall…I couldn’t find it, but I am sure it is there.

This evening, we went with LP to the theater. We had a bit of a mortifying misunderstanding…our instructor had said something about the possibility of going to “a play” if there were tickets, and I thought at some point we were told there were none. So when LP gave us tickets to something, we thought it was a movie. And when she said Evita, we assumed a movie dubbed into Estonia.

No, it was Evita…full stage performance with small orchestra. People dressed to the nines. Except us…dressed more like to the fours…in jeans. At least I wore a sweater….

The performance was exceptional…all in Estonian with a sign for English and Finnish subtitles. Amazing performers. I had a really good time…after the performance, we went to a coffee house (sensing a trend?) and had some dessert.

Oh, and lest you doubt how fully wired this country is (as I used the hotel's free wifi), this is across the street from our hotel (yes Virginia, there IS an iPhone in my future!):


Next Clue: Make your way back to the Hotel London for a mandatory rest break. In the morning, make your way to Tartu, where you will receive you next clue.

Amazing Race: Estonia Leg 1

Welcome to the Amazing Race. This is a race from Washington, D.C. to Estonia and back. Two Estonian language students will compete for an (almost) all expenses paid trip to Estonia for three years. Along the way, there will be tasks you must complete in order to continue.

This is the Amazing Race Estonia!

Here is your first clue:

Make your way from Washington, DC to Tallinn, Estonia. Fly into the airport and rent a car. Make your way by car to an apartment on Roosikrantsi, and wait your next instructions.



So we caught the 10:50 flight from Dulles to Frankfurt. And I have a confession...I felt a true sense of panic when I hit Frankfurt. It was a total Jerusalem flashback. I thought, oh my god, what am I doing? I don't want to live overseas. Living overseas is AWFUL! I want to go home. I can't go through this again.

It took me until the next morning for the feeling to completely pass (but it did...I'll get to how awesome this place is in a bit). Anyway, we made it to the airport in Tallinn, which as you can see from the picture, is interesting looking. We made our way to Budget, where we had a reservation for a car. My classmate brought his GPS, so we were able to find our colleague's apartment pretty easily. It is a really nice place (covet, covet...hmmm...he IS leaving right before I arrive....) and you can see Herman Tower from his living room. It is walking distance to the old city and so guess what we did for dinner?

We walked to the Old City.

And ate at an Indian Restaurant.

Don't judge me. It was his suggestion and really good.

You have reached the pit stop for this leg of the race. You have a mandatory rest period before the next leg.

Going Dark

I sometimes wonder how many potential recruits we lose when a good blog suddenly goes dark.

One of my favorite ones just did, and I am pretty bummed about it. Some of you have figured out which one and have asked me about it.

I asked the author why they shuttered the blog, and the blogger told me that post had asked that it be deleted.

And why??

This blog never that I saw mentioned anything of "official concern." The blogger had a really funny take on our experience, and anyone who knows me knows I place a high premium on humor. (It is one of the main reasons I married my wife...she is seriously a riot!).

It is sad for me to see this happen, because this blog was just the kind that would convince good folks to join the service. And if there is anything we need, it is more good folks.

I have asked the blogger to consider going anonymous.

I really hope it happens.

P.J. Crowley's top 10 tweets

This is from Josh Rogin over at The Cable.

P.J. Crowley's top 10 tweets

When State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley resigned on Sunday afternoon, the U.S. diplomatic establishment didn't just lose its top spokesman -- it also lost one of its most prolific, entertaining, and sharp-tongued tweeters. Since Crowley began tweeting in May 2010, he's told off dictators, criticized Congress, and talked some baseball as well, 140 characters at a time.

Crowley's Twitter personality mirrored his real-life personality -- affable, edgy, sometimes sarcastic, and occasionally a little off-message. Crowley's energy and willingness to take measured risks by going beyond the Obama administration's standard talking points is what endeared him to the reporters he worked with each day. It was that same openness that cost him his job, after he admitted that he believed the Marine Corps' treatment of alleged WikiLeaks source Private Bradley Manning was "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid."

Crowley's last tweet before resigning was a gem, but he deleted it. "We've been watching hopeful #tsunami sweep across #MiddleEast. Now seeing a tsunami of a different kind sweep across Japan," read the March 11 tweet.

Of the remaining 400-plus tweets he sent out to his 24,000-plus followers, here are The Cable's top 10, in reverse chronological order:

March 1, 7:08 a.m.: "#Qaddafi tells #ABCNews: All my people with me, they love me. They will die to protect me. The #Libyan people tell Qaddafi: You go first!"

[...]

Feb. 22, 7:28 p.m.: "We are surprised that #Argentina has chosen not to resolve a simple dispute involving training equipment. And we still want our stuff back."


Feb. 16, 7:56 a.m.: "#KimJongIl's son attended an #EricClapton concert in Singapore? Actually, the #DearLeader himself would benefit from getting out more often."


Jan. 22, 5:40 a.m.: "The claim by the lawyer for #JulianAssange that his client could go to #Guantanamo is pure legal fantasy. Save it for the movie."

[...]

Aug. 27, 5:38 p.m.: "Americans should heed our #travel warning and avoid North Korea. We only have a handful of former Presidents. http://go.usa.gov/cAO #DPRK"

You can read the entire article here.

PJ started tweeting while I worked for him, and I used to love to listen to him come up with some zingers (the best ones never got published). The Cable left out two of my favs that did though:

June 11:
@chavezcandanga sings to @SecClinton? Can #Vegas be far behind? Maybe he should stay in Vegas.

May 12:
Heard that Hugo Chavez has 200 people helping him tweet. Here at State, I have two. Out-numbered, but not out-gunned.

Absolutely.

Planning

Soon, you will be able to insert me into this picture.




On Tuesday, one of my classmates and I are heading to Tallinn for our immersion.

Our poor spouses don't get to come.

We have our plans from our instructor, and have begun emailing people we are to meet there. People who alledgely don't speak English (except for the one who actually teaches English, but she has been instructed to refuse to speak it with us!).

One of the things I am most excited about though is getting to meet the folks in my section. I have heard positively awesome things about them, and I can't wait to meet them in person. I am certain working with them is going to be incredible.

I am also looking forward to being adventurous in eating. I'm willing to try almost anything...still not sure about the meat jello though.

Our hotel has free wifi, so I expect to be able to post some pictures and stories while I am there.

I probably won't be in the pictures though...this blog is anonymous you know! ;)

Happy and A Little Sad

We had a great turnout for the GLIFAA brown bag. Fifteen people showed up.

That should make me happy, right?

Well, it does...except...

The new A-100 has seven out LGBT folks, including a tandem couple. To my knowledge, it is the most that has ever been in an A-100. Which is awesome...I love that more and more LGBT people are joining the Department.

But...

The previous record for the most LGBT people in an A-100 was six.

And it was held by my A-100.

So it is bittersweet.

You ARE coming today, right?

Today is our regular GLIFAA A-100 lunch.

We will be meeting from 12:55-1:25 in room F2304 just across the breezeway from the cafeteria.

I hope you will be there. I am going to be late to area studies (which you know just kills me!) just to have lunch with you!

Hope to see you there!

March 17 - Save the Date!

We will be having our regular GLIFAA lunch, Thursday, March 17 at 12:55-1:35.

We are meeting in a room just outside the FSI cafeteria...of course, I don't have the room number with me, but I promise to post it tomorrow. Mostly I just wanted you to plan to be there.

Yes you.

I don't care if you are LGBT or not.

We LOVE allies!

ON EDIT: We will be in room F2304. See you there!

Welcome to the 119th Specialist Class!

Today starts the 119th Specialist class!

We have two Foreign Service bloggers in this class:

Foreign Obsession

Seltzer Water and Other Things

Tabbies In Tow

I will be moving them today from the list of Future FS bloggers to the FS bloggers blogroll.

Welcome to the Foreign Service!

PJ Crowley Resigns over Manning Remark

I saw this today over at The Skeptical Bureaucrat, and I am sad to see it. As you probably know, I worked for PJ in my last assignment and I had, and continue to have, a lot of respect for him.

To me, this is just one more reason to hate Bradley Manning, Julian ASSange, and Wikileaks.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - P.J. Crowley abruptly resigned Sunday as State Department spokesman over controversial comments he made about the Bradley Manning case.

Sources close to the matter the resignation, first reported by CNN, came under pressure from the White House, where officials were furious about his suggestion that the Obama administration is mistreating Manning, the Army private who is being held in solitary confinement in Quantico, Virginia, under suspicion that he leaked highly classified State Department cables to the website Wikileaks.

Speaking to a small group at MIT last week, Crowley was asked about allegations that Manning is being tortured and kicked up a firestorm by answering that what is being done to Manning by Defense Department officials "is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid."

Crowley did add that "nonetheless, Bradley Manning is in the right place" because of his alleged crimes, according to a blog post by BBC reporter Philippa Thomas, who was present at Crowley's talk.

[...]

Crowley has told friends that he is deeply concerned that mistreatment of Manning could undermine the legitimate prosecution of the young private. Crowley has also made clear he has the Obama administration's best interests at heart because he thinks any mistreatment of Manning could be damaging around the world to President Obama, who has tried to end the perception that the U.S. tortures prisoners.

Nevertheless, Crowley's political fate was sealed on Friday when Obama was asked at a White House news conference about his comments regarding Manning.

Obama revealed that he had asked Pentagon officials "whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of (Manning's) confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards."

In a comment that drew howls of protest from liberals, Obama added that Pentagon officials "assure me that they are. I can't go into details about some of their concerns, but some of this has to do with Private Manning's safety as well."

[...]

Crowley is highly respected on foreign policy matters, dating back to his time as National Security Council spokesman under then-President Bill Clinton. He has been the Obama administration's public face on many international stories as the daily briefer at the State Department for Secretary Hillary Clinton.

But he has not had a completely smooth relationship with officials in the Obama White House, and eyebrows were raised several months ago when White House aide Mike Hammer was sent over to the State Department to serve as Crowley's deputy.

Hammer will replace Crowley as the assistant secretary for public affairs, Hillary Clinton said in a statement Sunday.

She said she accepted Crowley's resignation "with regret."

Immersion Trip, Here I Come!

For me, today had a very auspicious beginning...(not so much for Japan. I have several friends there, including two folks I have served with and one of my very favorite A-100 classmates. I hope you will join me in keeping them and all of the people in Japan in your thoughts and prayers.)

I woke up in a really good mood. You wouldn't think I would have, since I had my progress test today. The one I needed to do well on because you are supposed to be within a 2/2 range in order to go on an immersion trip.

Which I am scheduled to do...in eleven days. The ticket is already purchased.

And yet I did. Our new kitten was cuddled next to me, my dog was snuggled at my feet, and our other cat come over to see me as soon as the alarm went off. I snuggled with all of them.

I had class for two hours and felt really relaxed...that NEVER happens to me before a test...ANY test.

And then there was the test.

I was a little nervous but not terribly so. And I felt pretty good with my performance. Not perfect, but where I felt I should be.

And I got the score I needed.

The LTS made me feel pretty good...she said that I seemed very comfortable and fluid when I was speaking, which she said was hard to do with these hard languages. And she said I was very good at talking at my level and at talking around something if I needed to say something or understand something and didn't have the words.

That said, I could tell exactly when my teacher was pushing to see how far I could stretch. I didn't handle that part as well as I had hoped. All I can say about that is "ow ow ow. Brain cramp."

But it is done...now I can relax.

It Was The Best of Times...

...and then it was area studies.

Sigh.

First the good stuff.

Despite the fact that I have a progress test tomorrow (and on a slight tangent, please please please cross your fingers and toes, pray, send positive energy, or whatever other assistance you can offer that I do well...), I had a really good day in language class.

Specifically, I was really happy with my performance during speaking at length. We had Culture Shock as a topic, and I felt like I did pretty well with it. I was comfortable. I had anecdotes. I had a point I wanted to make and I feel like I made it. And I spoke for six minutes. And when the teacher asked me a follow on question, I had an answer and an example for why I thought my answer was true.

Yay!

And then we went to area studies.

I so shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

Last week was great...I foolishly thought we had turned a corner. And the topic this week seemed relevant.

Sadly, it wasn't. And our countries weren't mentioned. And he took the whole three hours. And at one point, he was taking so long on each slide that the computer went into screen-saver mode. He literally spent 45 minutes on the first three slides...and he had 32 slides.

Just painful.

Next week is supposed to be on the Balts. But I am afraid to get my hopes up.

In better news, how cool is my post?! They assigned me a control officer for my immersion trip.

I don't need one, of course...it is an immersion trip. Even so, their doing so makes me feel welcomed and valued.

And that means a lot to me.

In Case You Needed Proof of Congress's Disdain for Federal Employees....

If you needed more evidence for Congress's utter disdain for the Foreign Service and other Federal employees, look no further than Joe Davidson's piece in the Washington Post.

One particularly telling section:

The Senate federal workforce subcommittee hearing was chaired by Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii). He was alone on the dais, except for a brief appearance by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The top Republican on the panel, Sen. Ronald H. Johnson (Wis.), was a no-show because, he said, he attended a Budget Committee hearing.

Coburn arrived a half-hour late, told witnesses to expect even less money for staffing and training, and was gone in about eight minutes. He asked no questions.

Coburn's reaction to overseas comparability pay is particularly infuriating..."it's going away." How someone who is supposed to represent Americans and who certainly benefits from the Foreign Service, particularly when he travels overseas, can be so glib about handing us a 24% pay cut is beyond comprehension.

I certainly hope that the next time he travels overseas, he travels economy class, because in his words, "we just don't have the money."

And I hope he gets very little assistance from post, because he doesn't seem terribly interested in us.

Hearing highlights need for Foreign Service training, lack of congressional interest

At a time when some North African and Middle East states are in chaos and America is posting large numbers of civilians in war zones, the United States is sending Foreign Service officers abroad poorly equipped to deal with the critical situations they face.

That's the takeaway of a report by the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Stimson Center, which was discussed at a congressional hearing Tuesday.

"There is little question that under-investment in diplomacy over the last decade or so has left our Foreign Service overstretched and under prepared," the report says.

Yet, despite the gravity of the situation, the hearing had a distinct lack of urgency. The poor attendance by senators was indicative of scant attention too often provided issues involving federal employees - except, of course, when they can be convenient whipping boys.

Former ambassador Ronald E. Neumann, president of the academy, supplied a shot of energy when he told the hearing that "our government lacks sufficient trained Arabic-language-speaking officers to fully understand and assess what is happening - to go beyond the glib, English-speaking reporters in Tahrir Square to take the full measure of what Islamists, younger people, the demonstrators and the jobless are saying off camera."

"We lack these capacities because for years the Department of State has lacked the resources to train enough officers in language skills," he said.

Although the hearing focused on Foreign Service officers, training is a universal issue in the federal workplace and often among the first items to be cut. For State Department workers - and the nation - it's also a matter of national security.

In a forward to the report, Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to presidents Gerald R. Ford and George H.W. Bush, said the study "emphasizes that on-the-job training alone is no longer a sufficient method, if it ever was, to develop a US diplomatic service that is second to none."

The Senate federal workforce subcommittee hearing was chaired by Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii). He was alone on the dais, except for a brief appearance by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The top Republican on the panel, Sen. Ronald H. Johnson (Wis.), was a no-show because, he said, he attended a Budget Committee hearing.

Coburn arrived a half-hour late, told witnesses to expect even less money for staffing and training, and was gone in about eight minutes. He asked no questions.

[...]

Coburn's single focus was saving money. He dismissed State's plans for a 25 percent Foreign Service increase by 2014, saying, "It's not going to be ramped up because we don't have the money to do it."

About overseas locality pay for Foreign Service officers, Coburn said: "It's going to go away. People ought to be expecting that."

[...]

You can read the entire piece here.

How Did You Get This Number?

Okay, this is not my story, but I had to share.

Today, my wife got a phone call transferred to her from the operator at Main State. She wasn't in the office, so he left a message.

Several messages in fact.

Saying he is sick of the way this country is going and he wants to defect.

Yes, really.

He didn't mention to where.

Now seriously, what about that suggested to the operator that he should be transferred to the Poland Desk???

Well Crap.

Cue doomsday music.

The test has been scheduled.

Our teacher came to class today and asked if my classmate wanted to do his test on Thursday and me do mine on Friday.

I said "want" was a very strong word.

So if I can get through Friday, I can start to enjoy the anticipation of heading out for an immersion trip.

And can I just tell you that I am going to have the best colleagues ever there?

I wrote them asking for hotel recommedations in Tallinn and Tartu, and they said they would find us rooms with embassy folks instead.

How nice is that? I can't wait to work there!

That was fun!

It is official. I am a nerd.

Yesterday, Estonia had elections. Naturally, we spent a lot of time talking about it today.

It was awesome!

It was so much fun to just talk about politics. Estonian politics.

What is even cooler, is that I can!

Yep, big ole nerd.

Don't Know Much About History

Actually, that isn't true. I'm pretty good with history.

But I suck at economics.

And so of course, our topic for speaking at length was economics.

I knew it was coming. Our teacher, who is incredibly organized, has us do our readings each week on the topic that we will speak on the following week. We get new vocabulary and we write sentences, paragraphs and stories using that vocabulary.

It is a great system that really prepares you for speaking on a topic.

Well, sort of. Usually it has worked that way.

But our teacher then gave us the specific topic.

"How do we fix the world's economy?"

Really?

If I had that answer, I would be making lots more money than I am!

Pleasantly Surprised

It is no secret that I have been incredibly frustrated with area studies. The countries we are going to haven't been discussed AT ALL for weeks. In fact, before today, we had gone six weeks with no substantial discussion of any of the countries alledgedly covered by the course. Five of those weeks had been spent discussing Russia. The sixth was the manditory Appeal of Conscience (where they asked for a show of hands from "believers." Really? In a government class?)

And today's topic was Russian Foreign Policy. To say I was not optimistic is an understatement.

But I can admit when I am wrong.

Our speaker, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, was interesting and knowledgable...about our countries!

He talked about Russia's policy towards our countries. When I relayed some of what he said about Poland to my wife, she said it was an incredibly accurate assessment.

Numerous people went to our course coordinator (the one who returned today after a two month absence) after class today to tell him how this was about the best class we have had so far.

I agree completely...more please!

Telling Our Stories

The Washington Post had a good piece today on the impact the unrest in the Middle East has had on the children of our diplomats who have been evacuated.

Children of diplomats displaced by strife often caught between two worlds

With each regime that teeters, each uprising that forces a U.S. embassy to be evacuated, more American diplomats, aid workers and their families seek shelter at a nondescript Falls Church apartment complex with a nondescript name: Oakwood. The only hint of its connection to international affairs is the United Nations flag flying overhead.

You can read the whole article here.

This piece is exactly the kind of story the State Department and AFSA need to be getting out.

Our biggest problem, the reason we keep being the whipping boy for the budget cutters, is that we are no ones constituent. We are small and not well understood, so that makes us an easy target.

These kinds of stories help the American public get a better idea of the challenges we face.

Let's do more. Let's let the public hear the stories from our folks serving in Libya, Cairo, etc. Let's hear from those who experienced the earthquake in Christ Church.

We have an awesome, exciting job that we are priviledged to get to do. We also have a frightening, challenging job that demands great personal sacrifice.

America needs to know.

Oh, Hello Wall!

Walls hurt. They leave bruises.

I felt like I hit one on Monday.

I was just feeling stupid. Like simple things I should know weren't coming. And to top it off, there is the guilt.

Yes, guilt.

I was raised Catholic. I have said before that we have a guilt sponge inserted at baptism and for the rest of our lives, whether we practice Catholicism or not, we will absorb any free-floating guilt in the room and make it our own.

I just have this overwhelming feeling that our teacher is disappointed. Disappointed in me.

For today's fun, we decided to add a bit of panic to the bruises and guilt.

I was just discussing with my classmate my feelings of guilt and my fear that I wouldn't get a 2/2 on my next progress test. And my classmate suggested that maybe I could take the test after my immersion trip, which is coming up in a couple weeks.

And I thought, yeah, a week of immersion in language, I'll be good to go!

But no.

We got back to class, and out of the blue, our teacher says, "so we need to schedule a progress test before you go to Estonia."

BEFORE?!

Yes, before. Because I have to be in the range of a 2/2 before I can go.

In the range of apparently being the key phrase. She said not to worry, I was in the range.

Okay, but what if I don't test that well? I have already paid for my ticket! I am supposed to leave in like 22 days!

And of course, to me, in the range of means, no, not yet a 2/2.

Sigh.

You Should Have Been There!

Many thanks to Lisa and Paul at Paul Benjamin: Writer, Editor and Supermodel for organizing the Foreign Service blogger potluck!

It was awesome!

It was great to put a face with some many of the blogs I really enjoy. Probably about 30 or more folks were there, with spouses and children in tow. I'd list off all the blogs represented there, but I fear I would leave some out and I don't want to offend!

I hope we do another one soon. It was great fun!

Make That Letter Real

The letter that Four Globetrotters wrote to her representatives is amazing. It really brings home some of what we experience, and why we earn every dime and then some of what we earn overseas. I hope her Reps read it all, and I hope you do to. And model yours after it. It is very moving.

And while you are at it, go check out Diplopundit's 10 Ways to Debunk the Myths to Congress and Elsewhere about our "cushy" lives.

I especially like #5 and #6:

5) State has always called its FSOs smart; logic follows, they are smart enough to know what not to blog. Take the gag off FSOs. Allow them to blog about their lives in vivid, true colors, warts and all without a career penalty. Not in DipNote, silly [Action: STATE All hands; FSO]

6) Educate post management that every quietly shuttered blog is one less advocate for the Foreign Service. [Action: STATE/HR, EMB, FSO/EFM]

You should read that whole post too.

And above all, write your Congressmen. And get your family to do it. The lowest paid of the Foreign Service shouldn't be the only ones taking a pay cut, especially a 24% pay cut, especially because we have been guilty of putting too happy a face on what we do.

Yes, Congress, we love our jobs. Those in the military love their jobs too, but you don't cut their pay because of it.

We love our jobs because we love our country. Don't punish the lowest ranks of us for it.

Why We Deserve Our Pay Cut

You need to go read this post at Email from the Embassy. Donna is spot on. As usual.

She writes:

So you see, all you Foreign Service Officers out there, it's your fault all of these congresspeople think you deserve a pay cut. They have no idea what work you put into that recent visit. They don't know what you just gave up in order to make sure their visit was a success. They don't understand that your life isn't all cocktail parties interspersed with awesome trips to exotic locations. They don't know that you live in a place where your every move is recorded. Or maybe you live in a place where the locals want you dead. Or you live in a place where your baby has nightmares from the malaria medication. Or your spouse isn't allowed to work because the host government forbids it. Or maybe you're black, and the locals don't like black people. Or maybe you're gay, and that's a punishable offense in your host country. Or you're a woman, so you have to cover up when you walk outside. Or the signs are all in Arabic, so every time you leave the house, you're lost, and you can't ask for directions. Or maybe you went permanently deaf in one ear while you were serving in a country without proper medical care. Important Politician didn't see any of this from the window of the Prime Minister's residence.

She is right, but we are sort of damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we don't cater to their every whim (like demanding a supply of Diet Dr. Pepper in Ickystan), we run the rist of pissing them off and having them retaliate against the Department budget. But if we DO cater to their every need, they think we have such cushy lives that they should cut our pay.