Oh, my dear reader, how I have neglected thee! But I'm back and I'm pumped!! Hamdu lillah! (hom dilly la) meaning "Praise to God." It is one of my favorite Arabic words, its just such a happy little word, much like serendipity.
I am back in DC for training for my next assignment: Iraq. I'm actually heading out to one of the three Consulates, not the main Embassy in Baghdad. I quite think the bureaucracy there might actually kill me.
I spent the day learning Iraqi history, cultural norms and basic language skills. I see there is a great depth of history and culture...and I'm just excited!
Strange way to meet your new boss - via introductions in a classroom. I realized about half way through the student's introductions that my new boss was sitting right behind me!!! Oh horror!! I was sitting with my feet under me in the chair and my shoes off....oh no! He has seen my toes!!!! LOL, I don't know why, but that was my first thought. :)
Coming back to DC for training is a lot more fun than coming here for the first time...it is much like coming home. You see friends and colleagues everywhere.
I have a few more weeks of training and I'm sure it will be enlightening. This after some serious downtime and personal time with those closest to me. I spent a week at the beach, just to catch up on my own sleep and list of stuff to do. Then a day or so visiting a friend who is fighting for his life - all my very best to him and his family, always in my thoughts. The fun highlight of my vacation was a week plus with my brother and his family on a trip to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Historic Route 66 and to Las Vegas. Taking this trip cut down on the amount of time I could spend in my hometown and visit friends, though I did manage to see several, but I so enjoyed spending this time with my family. It was/is immensely precious to me.
I'm excited again about the future and look forward to sharing with you the experience of heading out into the diplomatic field. I am looking forward to the challenges I know I will encounter and the opportunities to succeed.
Thank you for sharing my adventure, Shukran (shoe Kran, means thank you).
I am back in DC for training for my next assignment: Iraq. I'm actually heading out to one of the three Consulates, not the main Embassy in Baghdad. I quite think the bureaucracy there might actually kill me.
I spent the day learning Iraqi history, cultural norms and basic language skills. I see there is a great depth of history and culture...and I'm just excited!
Strange way to meet your new boss - via introductions in a classroom. I realized about half way through the student's introductions that my new boss was sitting right behind me!!! Oh horror!! I was sitting with my feet under me in the chair and my shoes off....oh no! He has seen my toes!!!! LOL, I don't know why, but that was my first thought. :)
Coming back to DC for training is a lot more fun than coming here for the first time...it is much like coming home. You see friends and colleagues everywhere.
I have a few more weeks of training and I'm sure it will be enlightening. This after some serious downtime and personal time with those closest to me. I spent a week at the beach, just to catch up on my own sleep and list of stuff to do. Then a day or so visiting a friend who is fighting for his life - all my very best to him and his family, always in my thoughts. The fun highlight of my vacation was a week plus with my brother and his family on a trip to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Historic Route 66 and to Las Vegas. Taking this trip cut down on the amount of time I could spend in my hometown and visit friends, though I did manage to see several, but I so enjoyed spending this time with my family. It was/is immensely precious to me.
I'm excited again about the future and look forward to sharing with you the experience of heading out into the diplomatic field. I am looking forward to the challenges I know I will encounter and the opportunities to succeed.
Thank you for sharing my adventure, Shukran (shoe Kran, means thank you).
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