As I begin my move to the DC area, and make my way to the airport in just a few short hours for FS orientation, I find myself reflecting on just how much I love and will miss my hometown of El Paso. Located in the far tip of West Texas, El Paso is where
One week from today I will be sitting in orientation, beginning my journey with the Foreign Service. I honestly still can’t believe it’s happening. Part of it might be that I am still working my current position in New Mexico until the bitter end, literally giving myself a single day off between my last day
Well, my transfer orders finally came in this week, and with them came my first taste of government fun. I had informed State that I would be going to my orientation solo, so wouldn’t need tickets/lodging for my family. This was confirmed by them in an email, and all my lodging was set up on
Pun intended. Sorry, not sorry. Just a quick update as there has been some movement over the last couple of weeks. I have continued to steadily pack out my stuff. Last week I basically got all my clothes separated into a UAB pile, or packed in luggage I will be taking with me, saving just
It still feels surreal that exactly one month from today I’ll be sitting at orientation in the DC area. Sure it might be virtual to start, all done remotely (but we still have to be physically in the DC Metro), and I might have shorts on below my suit and tie that the camera can’t
It’s been exactly a month since I got my formal invite to join the Foreign Service, and every day feels just as surreal as the moment I was invited. I thought the excitement would start to dwindle, but as each day moves closer to the start of the journey, instead it builds. Even rough days
This will be the last AMA post for a bit unless I get some more that trickle in. I am thinking of applying for the Foreign Service, but I’m worried about what that might mean for my husband and his job. Would he be able to work abroad or is he relegated to stay at
The last two weeks after getting invited to April orientation and setting up my PCS lodging in Washington have been fairly calm. This week I received my Salary Offer from the State Department, and as expected, I was salary capped in my entry level grade. I wrote an AMA here, about salary and all the
What is your ideal post/country if you got to choose anywhere in the world? Tough question, but a fun one. Ask my wife and she is going to tell you Spain or Italy. Broadly, the ideal post is a place I am happy in my job, enjoy my coworkers, has good local and regional travel,
After accepting the position with the State Department, I immediately knew it would mean parting with my beloved Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, aka ‘The Crimson Fury’. I have always been a car guy, specifically a luxury/sports car guy, and since graduating from college in 2007, I have had some pretty cool cars. In order since
