Time marches along with a steady beat, and the move to Mauritania draws ever closer. As I mentioned in my previous post, relocating overseas for a diplomatic assignment is no small feat, and it involves a lot of moving parts. Making sure you get it all set up by the time you are expected to arrive can be really stressful, and it’s important to just stop every once and a while, and remind yourself things will be just fine.

I’m at the stage of my relocation preparations where a lot of it is just out of my hands, and am just rolling with it. Initially, I was getting myself stressed about the “what if’s”. “What if my visas aren’t ready by the time we leave?”, “what if Virginia doesn’t process my car title before it’s supposed to ship?”. Eventually, it’s important to realize that chances are, they will happen as scheduled, and if they don’t, there’s a reason the State Department gives you plane tickets that can be moved around infinitely, and a wide berth in when you can arrive at post. The downside of not meeting my self imposed deadline to move to Mauritania? More time in the D.C. area, which has been pretty fantastic.

Although I am rolling with the process as smoothly as I can, not helping me find my Zen, I had to shave my face after probably a decade of pure beard action for a State Department respirator fit test.

It got even more baby faced than that, since stubble isn’t allowed either, but the internet doesn’t want or need to see that. Aside from the butchery to my face for the good of my country, MED orientation had been just down right awesome.

There’s a certain informality to it, where it feels like a never ending Q&A with a parade of different experts/providers, that all have such varied experiences all over the world. Finally being able to grasp what our day to day might look like and learn from those that have been to all corners of the globe is fascinating. Thinking back to the never ending list of “Duties” on the application page when I first applied, it’s true that this job requires us to wear a lot of hats, but having that articulated to us by real people provides so much useful clarity. MED orientation has been a joy.

Outside of work, I had a great friend from El Paso in the D.C. area for a few days. It was wonderful to be able to catch up with him and his family. We took in a Nats game (yes they are still terrible), and went to the famous Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown, which is well worth a visit if ever in the area (reservations strongly recommended). The weather though has started to turn brutal, with high humidity and 90+ degree temps, just walking to the metro has me sweating like a stuffed pig and sort of grateful to be getting out of here before the worst parts of the summer. Give me that dry Nouakchott heat all day baby.

I’m enjoying my final moments in DC, and in the process just learning to take things as they come. Help shape/control what you can, and learn to adjust and adapt to what you can’t. If you can be successful at that, you will find your Zen and hopefully lead yourself to a fulfilling career. — Nick