Foggy Bottom Rambles

Peek inside...

2012-02-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

Take a look at these recent photos of life inside U.S. Embassy Baghdad. Also, have you seen U.S. Embassy Kabul's flickr photos? Check them out here. Don't forget you can follow U.S. Embassy Baghad, Kabul, and Islamabad on Facebook and Twitter.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T13:28:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day and....

Join us next Friday!

2012-02-08T10:26:00.003-05:00

All UT family and friends in the DC area are invited to join the UT Team next Friday, February 17th at 2:45PM for a small, fun get together at a local Afghan restaurant in Arlington.

Please email FLOaskUT@state.gov for details. We hope to see you there!

2012-01-18T08:58:00.001-05:00

Appreciation is a wonderful thing:

It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. – Voltaire

MHN Orientation Postponed

2012-01-17T09:28:00.002-05:00

Many of you who attended the December reception received a list of scheduled 2012 UT events. We are postponing the MHN Orientation Webinar originally scheduled for January 19th. Once a new date is finalized, it will be posted on the blog. Sorry for the confusion!

Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes.

2012-01-13T12:29:00.001-05:00

Do you love to take photographs of your travels? Are you also a previous or current member of the Foreign Service, Civil Service, or U.S. Military? Enter the Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes photo contest before February 20th! Submit up to ten of your best photos from your overseas travels since 2000 and have a chance at being honored in Washington, D.C. along with nine other finalists. Some of the winning photographs will be displayed at U.S. Embassy Kabul.

To submit your photos, click here.

Because we all want to start the New Year right...

2012-01-11T09:59:00.002-05:00

Take a look at this great article: 30 Things to Start Doing for Yourself. I think I am going to print it out and keep it where I can see it.

My favorite point from the article:

"Start noticing the beauty of small moments. – Instead of waiting for the big things to happen – marriage, kids, big promotion, winning the lottery – find happiness in the small things that happen every day. Little things like having a quiet cup of coffee in the early morning, or the delicious taste and smell of a homemade meal, or the pleasure of sharing something you enjoy with someone else, or holding hands with your partner. Noticing these small pleasures on a daily basis makes a big difference in the quality of your life."

Read all thirty here.

Smile.

Did you attend the Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays Reception?

2012-01-04T16:27:00.000-05:00

Check out this article and a few photos from the event featured in The Washington Diplomat.

Reminder for the New Year

2012-01-04T11:07:00.000-05:00

Unaccompanied Tours Employees and Families,

If you are not receiving updates from us and would like to, please send us an email at FLOaskUT@state.gov. With this contact information we will reach out to those listed and explain our program of support for unaccompanied tours. Remember we are only a few keystrokes away if you wish to talk or ask a question. Hope to hear from you soon!

Cheers to 2012!

2011-12-30T14:52:00.000-05:00

Are you missing your family on New Year’s? Here are some ideas to still have fun and ring in the New Year with a smile.

Put together a New Year’s Eve party for others. Gather your closest friends who are in the same boat and enjoy the celebration together.
Call an old friend or your family. Spend some time talking on the phone, watching New Year's Eve specials together, and reminisce on the year gone by and discuss what's ahead.
Cook a great dinner. Just because you're alone doesn't mean you have to dine on bad food. By cooking a swanky meal, you can enjoy the holiday and put a little spectacular into the everyday. Consider combining this cooking experience with calling an old friend/family via Skype.
Indulge in your favorite hobbies or interests. If you're a reader, curl up with a novel. If you're a film buff, have an all-night marathon of your favorites. The possibilities are endless - just enjoy yourself.

Also, check out these funny New Year's superstitions. Did you know that one superstition says the first person to enter your home at the stroke of midnight will influence the year you are about to have? Preferably, *the superstition says*, the person should be a dark haired, tall, good looking man – bearing gifts….hmm…interesting.

Happy New Year!

Home for the Holidays

2011-12-28T12:35:00.001-05:00

Thank you to everyone who attended Diplomacy and Home for The Holidays and we hope you all had a great time. Sherri and I really enjoyed meeting everyone! We hope to be receiving additional photos soon, but here are a few shots FLOsters Liz and Lycia took for us.

A glimpse of the beautiful hors d'oeuvre table

One of the most impressive gingerbread houses I've ever seen...

Frosty!

UT Team saying goodnight and handing out Hallmark Recordable Storybooks

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T17:12:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Today's Event: Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays

2011-12-14T13:05:00.002-05:00

Today, The Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, will host Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays for 350 unaccompanied tour family members. For those who are able to join us, we look forward to seeing you today. For those who are unable to join us, we want to invite you to take part in some of the exciting virtual opportunities offered by our partnership with Skype and the Department of State. If you have any questions about how to join via Skype please contact FLOaskUT@state.gov

You can learn more about starting to use Skype at http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/support/user-guides/start-skype/. You can also find more info about making video calls using Skype at http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/support/user-guides/video-calling/.

'Tis the season to...

2011-12-07T16:29:00.000-05:00

~~...be stressed!~~ Being apart from loved ones during the holidays isn't always easy. Take a look at this website with five tips about how to manage stress from separation and stay positive during the holidays.

Where in the world is Santa?

2011-12-02T13:18:00.002-05:00

Track Santa this year here.

How about a trip to Rome?

2011-11-30T16:32:00.000-05:00

Planning your next R&R? Check out Yahoo's article about the top five holiday destinations.

Or, maybe Paris?

Check out these hooches...

2011-11-28T09:51:00.000-05:00

These hooches have a had a facelift. Check out these creative contructions here.

Take ten minutes...

2011-11-25T16:42:00.006-05:00

...to watch this video. We received an email from a UT daughter who wanted to share the video with fellow UT family members, and said, "for all the families out there who aren't physically together -we still share the same sky, the same earth".

A nice thought for Thanksgiving...

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

One thing leads to another...click-click...

2011-11-21T16:06:00.004-05:00

...and that is what makes the internet so entertaining.

I'm always interested in staying current with vast collection of Foreign Service blogs, so I make an effort to check out the official State blogroll. After a few clicks here and few scrolls there, I landed on the well-known Life After Jerusalem blog. This blog includes the longest list of Foreign Service blogs I've seen so far. The list just keeps going...and I keep clicking...

What I found:

A blog I'd never seen before- all about life in Kabul as a Cultural Affairs Officer. It has some interesting pictures. Click here.

Another find: A NY Times article about biometric data collection in Afghanistan. If you are an EFM, and have worked in a consular section before capturing fingerprints, you will appreciate this article. Click here.

Wing Tips On The Ground, one of our favorites, includes a packing list and tips (including some great pictures) before heading to Iraq. Click here.

Happy Monday!

Quick Tuesday tip!

2011-11-15T09:05:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for the holidays? Click here for a well organized checklist to help you manage your time.

4 days remaining...

2011-11-04T16:04:00.003-04:00

...Until the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) which will take place at 2:00 PM EST on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. The test should last about 30 seconds and will transmit via TV and radio. For more information, click here. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and thank you to everyone who RSVPed to this year's Holiday Party.

Tricking and treating...

2011-11-04T15:44:00.000-04:00

...Outside the box...

To show our support, we are collecting leftover candy from our colleagues in DC to send to our colleagues serving unaccompanied tours around the world to celebrate a belated Halloween - because a chocolate bar tastes good anytime of year...

...Inside the box... it is filling up quickly!

If someone asked you...

2011-10-28T12:07:00.000-04:00

Would you be able to come up with a list of "life lessons?" What would they be? I found the essay, 30 Lessons I’ve Learned In 30 Years, and thought it had some really interesting points. I've just pasted the first five, and will add another five next week, but if you can't wait click here to see all thirty.

1. We must love. You know the saying, “tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” right? I know, such statements sound so banal and vapid on the surface that we often dismiss them with a waive of the hand. But it’s the cold truth, a truth so profound that perhaps we can only discuss it with little clichéd statements. But we must love, even if it breaks our hearts. Because unless we love, our lives will flash by.

2. Love isn’t enough. Although we must love, love is not enough to survive. We must take action to show others that we care, to show them that we love them.

3. Happiness is not for sale in any store. We can’t buy happiness. It sounds cliché to even say that, and yet we search the aisles and shelves and pages on eBay in search of something more, something to fill the void. But we can’t fill the void with stuff. It doesn’t work that way, no matter how hard we try or how much stuff we buy, because that stuff won’t make us happy. At best it will pacify us momentarily.

4. Success is perspectival. I used to think I was successful because I had a six-figure job that my friends and family could be proud of. I thought the house with too many bedrooms would make me look even more successful, and so would the luxury car and the tailored suits and the nice watch and the big screen TV and all of the trappings of the material world. But I got all of that and I sure didn’t feel successful. Instead, I felt depressed. So what did I do? I bought more stuff. And when that didn’t work I figured out that I had to do something else with my life, that I had to stop living a lie and start living my dreams.

5. You must make change a must. I knew that I wanted to change my life for the longest time. I knew I was unhappy, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled. I knew I didn’t have freedom. Not real freedom. The problem was that I knew these things intellectually but not emotionally. I didn’t have the feeling in my gut that things must change. I knew they should change, but the change wasn’t a must for me, and thus it didn’t happen. Anthony Robbins has a good aphorism to describe all these shoulds in your life: he says “after a while you end up shoulding all over yourself.” But once you understand these things on an emotional level you are able to turn your shoulds into musts. I believe that that is the pivotal point, that is when you get leverage, that is when you are compelled to take action. Thus, a decision is not a real decision until it is a must for you, until you feel it on your nerve-endings, until you are compelled to take action. Once your shoulds have turned into musts, then you have made a real decision.

What are some lessons you've learned so far? Please share...

Holiday Party at the State Department

2011-10-21T15:47:00.001-04:00

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, will host Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays, a reception for family members of unaccompanied tour employees this December at the Department of State. This is a wonderful opportunity for family members in the Washington D.C. area to get into the holiday spirit and to honor the work, service and sacrifice of State Department men and women that are currently on unaccompanied tours.

In order to receive an official invitation, please contact FLOaskUT@state.gov for details within the next week. Please note that ‘Family’ is defined broadly to include spouse, partner, fiancé, parent, sibling, and children of anyone under Chief of Mission at an unaccompanied tour posting.

And you thought your hooch was small...

2011-10-18T14:18:00.001-04:00

Check out these international hotels!

Are you in the D.C. area on November 30th from 6pm-9pm?

2011-10-14T13:31:00.000-04:00

Learn how to nurture and strengthen relationships during unaccompanied tours with FSI's Long Distance Relatioships class, MQ801. This class is open to all foreign affairs agency employees and adult EFMs. To register, email FLOaskUT@state.gov to find out how to register. I took the class last year and thought it was well worth it!

Enjoy the weekend!

2011-10-07T08:42:00.004-04:00

FOUR QUICK STRESS BUSTERS

Use these quick techniques whenever you feel
stressed at work or home:

1. Count 10 slow, deep breaths.
2. Do five slow, small circles with your head,
stretching out your neck muscles.
3. Stop what you are doing and get up. Walk
around your office or go to another room for
just a few minutes.
4. Picture yourself in a place you find relaxing

Kerri's Corner

2011-10-06T07:58:00.003-04:00

Apples, apples, come get your apples! Fall is my favorite season. My number one reason for loving Fall is because Honeycrisp apples are out. Every Sunday we go to the local neighborhood market and buy no less than 3 pounds of apples for the week. A relatively new variety, Honeycrisps have a sweet, mellow flavor. They're very juicy and full of flavor. You can eat them raw or make an apple crisp with them. Some people enjoy their Honeycrisp with a dollop of yogurt. There is no wrong way to eat a Honeycrisp. Go get one!

Try Honeycrisp Apple Bread

2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup sour milk (add 1 teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to fresh milk)
1 teaspoon soda
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups chopped Honeycrisp apples
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Mix together all ingredients. Divide batter between 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees (at times I have to bake the loaves for 10 or 15 minutes more until they feel set when tapped). Note: Batter will be stiff.

Enjoy!
-Kerri

Employees headed to hooches...

2011-10-05T10:48:00.000-04:00

Items you might want to include in your consumables shipment...

Soup mixes/cans

Any speciality food items you like, Thai Mexican, Indian...

Tea, coffee, coffee filter

Crackers and snack food

Laundry soap, dryer sheets, bleach, spot remover

Towels and washclothes
Bedding (beds are twin size), pillows
Small pastic container with drawers
Clorox wipes
Bath soap
Swiffer wet/dry ones (for the kitchen floors)
Small pastic bags (for the wastebaskets)
Dust cloths (it is very dusty and dirty)
Good quality air purifier and humidifier
Shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, hair color
Cosmetics you like...very little available, even the basics like mascara
Toothpaste, mouthwash
Contacts and lens cleaners, Visine
Calendars, family photos
Candles
Holiday decorations, birthday candles
Greeting cards
Any hobby items that you want to work on (in moments you have some free time)
Toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, napkins

220 Volt Coffee Pot, Tea Kettle

Bed risers to maximize storage under the bed (you can buy these at Bed, Bath and Beyond)

Dishes (if you don't want to eat off paper plates), flatware, glasses, mugs, plastic storage bowls with lids

Adaptors, batteries

Small stereo system

Hooches are provided with TV/DVD, microwave, small refrigerators, telephone and shower curtain

2011-09-29T14:55:00.001-04:00

AAFSW “Happy Hour” at Oakwood Apartments Falls Church

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7 – 9 p.m.

For new diplomatic spouses (whose partners are in A-100, BSAC or other training), current AAFSW members and any local foreign affairs agency spouses who may be interested in joining AAFSW. Newcomers can meet others in the same situation, talk to experienced spouses and learn about helpful resources and groups. Snacks and drinks, including wine, will be provided (bring a finger food if you like, not required).

Please RSVP with your name, contact information and affiliation by Friday, Sept. 30 to office@aafsw.org , or send questions to the same address. If you are in the DC area, we hope to see you there!

Just a small note...

2011-09-26T16:02:00.000-04:00

The other day I found this article about five important things to remember to avoid when attempting to build stronger relationships and thought I'd share.

Happy Monday! Can't believe September is almost over...didn't it go by so fast?

Traveling soon?

2011-09-23T08:19:00.001-04:00

Check out Yahoo's article about the top ten airlines to fly.

If you are a visual person, you will appreciate this...

2011-09-20T11:28:00.001-04:00

Are you working on your resume? The website Vizualize.me automatically connects to your LinkedIn account and creates a visual resume all about you. In a world where plain old resumes are becoming obsolete...this might be something to consider to stand out. Of course, some industries and sectors will be more receptive to this kind of resume than others, but no matter what, it will definitely make a statement and will be hard to forget. What does YOUR infographic resume look like?

(Also, don't forget, if you are researching job opportunities and need guidance, FLO has an Employment Team dedicated to helping you! Just email FLOaskEmployment@state.gov.)

Do you know about our new program...

2011-09-19T11:06:00.002-04:00

..."Ask A Returnee"?

Whether you are posted to an unaccompanied tour, getting ready to go, or just thinking of bidding, you may have questions about life before, during, and after an unaccompanied tour. We have assembled a group of people that are either serving or have served at an unaccompanied post. They are ready to answer your questions and make suggestions about rules, regulations, and everyday life. This is a great opportunity to ask real people, FSOs, EFMs, contractors, and others what life at these posts is really like. Remember “to know the road ahead, ask those coming back”.

We have provided our volunteers with pseudonyms so they will feel comfortable responding honestly to your questions. If the pseudonyms look familiar; good for you, they were first made popular by Ben Franklin.

We just launched this program and we are starting with Monterray. Read Polly Baker's responses here. Have a question about Monterrey? Email us at FLOaskUT@state.gov and we will direct your question to Polly and post the response here.

Some light reading...

2011-09-16T09:37:00.002-04:00

It's Friday!

10 Coolest Small Towns in the U.S.A. - are any of our readers from these cool towns?

Top Fall Getaways - guess what city is first?

Lazy Mammals Live Longer - another excuse to sleep in this weekend...

Ten Ways to Live Longer - keep your head up!

Qualities of The Highest Earning Women - from now on, just call me Deborah.

Have a great weekend!

Update on Kabul

2011-09-14T10:29:00.000-04:00

Many of you have been contacting FLO to ask if we have more information on the recent incident in Kabul. First of all, we are happy to report that all Embassy personnel are safe and accounted for. So far, all we know is on Tuesday afternoon (Kabul time), September 13, 2011, suicide bombers and gunmen launched a coordinated attack on the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul. Again, the U.S. Embassy is reporting no causalities among Embassy personnel. Please refer to the U.S. Embassy website for further information. FLO continues to follow the events taking place in Afghanistan.

This might be a good time to remind you that FLO’s Unaccompanied Tours staff (and all of FLO) are here to support you at all times. I encourage you to email FLOaskUT@state.gov, or call us at the numbers listed below if you would like to know more about our program.

We would also like to remind you of the many services designed for individuals looking for counseling or life style coaching are available through MHN. MHN is a free, anonymous, confidential service trained in telephonic counseling skills. Access the website here at https://members.mhn.com/ and use the company code ‘unaccompaniedtour’ to login. If you would like to call them, their number is 1 800 213 5811. Let the telephone operator know you are associated with an unaccompanied tour through the State Department. If you experience problems accessing the service, please contact us at 202 647 1076, FLOaskUT@state.gov.

We remain committed to our motto: Unaccompanied, but not alone.

2011-09-12T11:56:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday!

Some activities for younger children while mom or dad is serving at a UT post...

The Counting Chain

Unlike most chains this one actually counts how many days daddy/mommy has been away, the perfect thing about this is it can be used as decoration. This is the same type of chain that a child would make in school to count down until Christmas. As every day passes, write something you did that day or remember. It' a great way to remember everything they want to tell the loved one that isn't there. Once daddy/mommy is due home, use the counting chain as a welcome home gift...it'll definitely be long enough to decorate the living room.

The Keepsake Box

Get a shoebox and have your child decorate it. Inside the box they get to add something every day or week (depending on what you want to try) and once daddy/mommy comes back they can tell them all about the items.

These ideas are courtesy of this website.

Also, remember to stick to routines. Routines will help your child feel secure. As time goes on and she/he feels more comfortable, ask your child to help you create new family routines, such as Backward Day (try eggs for lunch, sandwiches for breakfast). Take care of yourself by including physical activity in your routines: a family walk, a game of tag, or dancing to favorite tunes. Also, eat (and serve) good foods to feel your best and get plenty of sleep. By keeping yourself physically healthy, you’ll keep yourself emotionally healthy, too.

More resources can be found at this website.

Returning to D.C.?

2011-09-07T15:04:00.001-04:00

On September 18^th the Foreign Service Youth Foundation is hosting a welcome-back picnic for Foreign Service families that recently returned to the D.C. area from overseas. Whether or not your family falls into that category, we hope you’ll attend—to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and welcome home your colleagues. The picnic offers food and fun for the entire family.

If you would like more details about the event, please email us at FLOaskUT@state.gov.

Why we do what we do...

2011-08-29T13:58:00.000-04:00

Check out this great article about the positive contributions of the Department of State and USAID: "10 Things You Should Know About the State Department and USAID."

This week taught us something...

2011-08-25T14:20:00.000-04:00

= to be prepared. So, with a hurricane on the way to D.C. (maybe) take a second to review the tips in this article.

(My backyard in Florida after a CAT3 hurricane years ago...)

Pastime...

2011-08-23T13:17:00.003-04:00

Check out this interesting website - D (our intern) found it for us, of course. If you love photography- check out the inspiring collection of shots. If you are looking for ways to design your new house, apartment, or hooch, check out their home and furniture section for unique ideas.

Warning: you might spend way too much time mesmerized by this website.

A great book for Foreign Service kids...

2011-08-22T09:57:00.003-04:00

Three Little Kids and the State Department, an illustrated children's book by Foreign Service spouse Elaine Guihan, tells the story of her three boys growing up in a Foreign Service family, told from the children's perspective. Perfect for eight to thirteen-year-olds it covers some of the problems and joys that children experience moving from post to post and culture to culture. This book will give children a preview of what they might experience over the years. Here are excerpts from the description in the November, 2008 issue of "Foreign Service Journal":

"Alex, Colin and Jim's dad is an FSO. At an early age, they leave home with their parents and live in Mauritania, France, Cote d'Ivoire and Turkey with a surprising interlude in Washington, D.C. Their life is not always easy but it's never dull. Plunked down in the Sahara, the boys play in the desert, learn how to wear a headscarf and drink camel's milk. After two years, they pack their suitcases and move to France, an amazingly beautiful place. There they visit historic castles and roller skate at the Place de la Concorde. More adventures follow in Turkey and Cote d'Ivoire. Written in a light, wry tone the book is colorfully illustrated."

The book is available on Amazon.com or Xlibris.com.

Invite to Diplomatic Reception Rooms Tour

2011-08-12T11:54:00.000-04:00

As an unaccompanied tour family member, you are invited to a tour of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms on September 8th at 9:30AM. If you would like to attend, please RSVP before September 1st to FLOaskUT@state.gov.

Home sweet home...

2011-08-10T16:18:00.000-04:00

We've followed The Perlman Update blog for months now and we are happy to see that her husband has returned after a year in Baghdad. Read her posting about his return here. Enjoy VA and hope you keep blogging!

Have you ever had Afghan food?

2011-08-09T11:57:00.002-04:00

Are you in the NoVa/DC area and want to try some Afghan food? Check out this bargain from The Capitol Deal for the Afghan Kabob House in Arlington.

2011-08-08T09:38:00.008-04:00

Foreign Service Officer Michael recently returned from serving one year in Monterrey, Mexico. Shortly after Michael's family arrived in Monterrey, the post was declared unaccompanied. Michael's family had to unexpectedly turn right back around and return to the United States while he remained at post for the next year. Michael's son, Michael Jr., is seen in this video receiving his Medal and Certificate of Recognition on June 9, 2011 - in appreciation for the sacrifice asked of him while separated from his father. Congratulations to Michael Jr.!

If you want information on how to nominate your child for a Medal and Certificate of Recognition, email us at: FLOaskUT@state.gov

Thanks for sharing this video with us!

Just for kicks...

2011-08-04T16:12:00.003-04:00

Our summer intern D put together some fun links to include on the blog. Click below:

Animal Voiceovers (hilarious)

Surprised Kitty (too precious)

10 trips to soothe your soul

World’s 50 most delicious foods

Smile and enjoy your day!

2011-08-03T16:10:00.002-04:00

Why I Serve

by Courtney Beale

Courtney Beale serves as Acting Spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. The following is from the Department's DipNote blog:

The insistent ringing penetrated my slumber. I woke up and looked at the clock. It was only 1:00 am, so it couldn't be the alarm. Then I realized it was the press phone, the one that all the journalists knew to call when they had questions for the U.S. Embassy. What now? My contact's questions shook me wide awake. An American official, he said, had been taken into custody at the airport trying to leave the country with sensitive military equipment. "Is it true?" he asked.

In a highly charged press environment leery of America and Americans, the last thing we needed was another inaccurate story to fuel further suspicions. I spent the next hour on the phone with the embassy's security office piecing together what had really happened, which was -- as usual -- much less newsworthy than the rumors. Just as the papers went to press, I was able to call back the journalist, tell him he had his facts wrong, and stop the non-incident from becoming front page news that morning.

In press work, especially in Pakistan, we often count our victories in what we prevent rather than what we create.

I volunteered for a tour in Islamabad wanting to serve my country. The same motivations prompted my father to join the Navy 45 years ago. He flew F-4 Phantoms off aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War, putting his life on the line to defend our country. He also developed a lifelong passion for flying. I had always deeply respected him for having seen history in the making, and for helping make it himself. I grew up inspired by his service to America. Seeking an unaccompanied assignment and spending a year away from my husband was my own way of giving back to our nation.

While I can never compare squashing rumors during middle-of-the-night phone calls to flying a jet over a war zone, I feel honored to work in the press section at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. I was drawn to press work in this volatile region, because it is the great nexus of policy, public diplomacy, and national security. Pakistan has arguably the most intense and freewheeling media environment in the world, and conspiracy theories and misinformation about the United States run rampant. Having served in India and speaking Urdu, I felt called to use my skills and experience to tell America's story sensitively but honestly, and help create an environment of opinion conducive to U.S. policy goals.

From the massive U.S. relief effort after last summer's historic floods to the death of Osama bin Laden this spring, there has not been a dull moment since I arrived. I have certainly collected a few tales to tell my own children one day. But more than that, my service has also helped me discover new passions of my own -- the music, the people, the food, and the history of South Asia -- that I'll carry with me wherever I go in life.

So you think it is hot....

2011-08-02T09:43:00.000-04:00

At the start of Ramadan, a public holiday was declared Monday for Baghdad as the temperature hit 122 Fahrenheit!

"For UT Team"

2011-07-29T14:36:00.000-04:00

Our favorite "junior intern" drew the UT Team a beautiful picture! Thanks, Tyler!

ZZZzzzzzzzzzZZzzz

2011-07-28T15:53:00.000-04:00

Having trouble sleeping? Check out this article about ten foods that help you sleep better.

The world's skinniest house?

2011-07-27T15:07:00.001-04:00

This house makes hooches look spacious! I guess it would inspire you to stick to your diet...

Save us from the heat dome!

2011-07-22T13:51:00.000-04:00

With 45% of the US population under a heat advisory, here are some tips to stay cool from CDC.

FYI, it is supposed to be 114 tomorrow is Baghdad, 113 in Basrah, 105 in Mazar-I-Sharif, 94 in Kabul, 97 in Islamabad, 90 in Karachi, 95 in Monterray, and 85 in Juba... I guess we aren't the only ones feeling the heat!

Some silly jokes to make you smile...

It was so hot that I saw a bumblebee back its stinger into a Popsicle.

It’s so hot…

The robins are laying their eggs sunny side up.

All the water buffalo at the zoo have evaporated.

The birds had to pick up the worms with potholders.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.

Don't you want to just jump right in?

Have a fun and safe weekend!

Four Afghan women make history...

2011-07-21T15:18:00.003-04:00

... as the first female pilots from their country. "We should show the world that the women of Afghanistan are strong," said Lt. Sourya.

The women are also the first to attend the Defense Language Institute's general English course, where they will not only perfect their English skills, but also learn about U.S. history and culture. "What a fantastic opportunity for us and the wing to build coalition and bilateral partnerships across the world," said Col. Eric Axelbank, the 37th Training Wing commander. The Institute represents 85 countries with over 1,100 students.

Check out the full story and see pictures here.

Free PIZZA!

2011-07-20T12:59:00.002-04:00

Are you in DC/VA? You get a free pizza from Papa John's if you register below!

Click here.

The Wandering Drays...United.

2011-07-18T16:08:00.003-04:00

Fellow Foreign Service blogger, Heather, eloquently describes all her anticipation and excitement as her husband returns from a year long tour in Iraq...

"Finally. Just One Week.

I'm feeling melancholy tonight, thinking back over my husband's unaccompanied Baghdad assignment. It's been nearly 1 1/2 years since Jason started the seemingly never-ending journey to Iraq. Six months in D.C. for training; nearly a year in Baghdad. And now, we have just a week.
One teensy weensy week. But the longest week. Ever. To get through.

In just one week...Jason will be home. And I won't have to look forward to NOT looking forward to him heading back to Iraq.  Come to think about it, in just one week...  I alone won't have to bandage up boo-boos and wipe away tears when the kids fall and get hurt. And I alone won't fail at mending broken hearts when friends hurt the kids' feelings.  There will be a real cook in the house. One who makes meals. That actually taste good.  Someone else will be here to carry the never-ending mountains of laundry down two flights of stairs to the basement.  I won't have to eat lunch alone in a restaurant reading a newspaper.  I won't have to walk through the house with the cell phone hoping for great reception in a room that won't dump our call into the black hole abyss of dropped calls. Or hold my free hand over one ear while squishing the cell phone up to my other ear as tightly as possible so I can hear him better. Because even a call that I can barely hear him is better than no call at all.  I'll be able to get mad at someone else, other than the kids, for using up all the hot water just before my shower. Or for using my towel. Or for forgetting to put a new roll of toilet paper in the bathroom on the dispenser.  

We'll watch the kids as they catch fireflies with the sun drifting off into the horizon. We'll both hear the baby as he tries to say new words and watch as he climbs into things he has no business climbing into.  We'll stay up late and talk about our dreams and plans. And listen to the kids giggling upstairs as they pretend to fall asleep.  I won't go to sleep every night feeling all alone in a house full of sleeping children.  

We'll be a family again. All together, as we should be. What a journey we've made to get back to exactly where we belong."

Thank you, Heather, for letting us share this on our blog.

To follow Heather's blog and read more about her experiences during the UT, click here.

Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend...and remember...

2011-07-15T08:43:00.000-04:00

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ~John Shirley

Don't forget...

2011-07-13T15:54:00.002-04:00

We will conduct an interactive in-person and virtual "Orientation Session" with MHN tomorrow at 09:00 AM EDT in the FLO office. Participants may call in to participate virtually.

Please email FLOaskUT@state.gov for details.

Hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July!

Are you a foodie?

2011-07-13T15:48:00.001-04:00

If so...

check out this Washington Post's Blog: All We Can Eat for the food-obsessed living in D.C.

(I took this pic at a new restaurant in Chinatown! Yum.)

Nostalgia...

2011-07-01T08:37:00.001-04:00

Our new summer intern sent me the link to this website: Dear Photograph. It is amazing! So what is it? Well, we all have photos from years ago---maybe photos of our parents traveling through Europe when they were young or photos of the family reunion in front of the grandparent's house during the holidays. So these photographers took those old photos and matched them up perfectly with a present day photo, in the exact same location. They then imposed the old photo as an overlay. The website describes the technique as "taking a picture, of a picture, from the past, in the present." Actually, this would be a great hobby for Foreign Service families as you travel the world---I think it'd be fun and a great way to preserve memories.

Happy Friday!

Thanks, D!

Declutter your mind a little...

2011-06-29T12:36:00.000-04:00

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

-Dalai Lama

Check out this article about simple "zen habits" to declutter your mind and your life: click here to read.

How sweet...

2011-06-27T14:00:00.003-04:00

I love fun facts so I found this website: didyouknow.org and pulled a few fun things about sweet products...just like the amazing donuts featured below (which are found only in El Salvador---totally worth the trip)...

In the Middle Ages, sugar was a treasured luxury costing 9 times as much as milk. Ironically, now that sugar is plentiful, sugar-free products are more popular than ever before. Every year, more than $40 billion are spent on imitation fats and sugar substitutes and a further $80 billion are spent on diet programs.

The servants of Queen Isabeau (the wife of King Charles VI who ruled France from 1380 to 1422) may have appreciated diet products. Because the queen decreed that the waistline of her ladies-in-waiting should not exceed 13 inches, causing a few of them to starve to death.

To make 2 lb of honey bees have to visit 4 million flowers, traveling a distance equal to 4 times around the earth. WHAT!?

Just some thoughts to get your mind off the fact that is Monday. Also, these are always good back-up conversation starters to remember for those awkward silences at cocktail parties!

Anyone have any other fun facts?

Have you recently taken a class at FSI?

2011-06-24T16:03:00.003-04:00

I recently learned some interesting facts about our friendly feathered guests that live on the campus, the geese, if you wondering what I mean. Many of the geese suffer from "Angel Wing” which I learned from reading on Wikipedia can be caused by the geese eating too much human food like bread and popcorn...

Angel Wing also known as Slipped Wing, crooked wing, or drooped wing is a disease that affects waterfowl, primarily geese and ducks, in which the last joint of the wing is twisted with the wing feathers pointing out laterally, instead of laying against the body. Males develop it more than females.

The disease manifests as an incurable anatomical condition which is acquired in young birds. Due to a high-calorie diet, especially one high in proteins and/or low in vitamin D, vitamin E and manganese, one or both (wrist) joints are retarded in their development relative to the rest of the wing; for reasons unknown, if only one wing is affected it is usually the left one. The result is a wrist which is twisted outwards and unable to perform its usual function.

The only wild waterfowl populations known to be affected are those fed by man. So, as tempted as you may be to share, save your chips for yourself, you will need them to get you through class!

"Hillary's Angels"

2011-06-22T15:46:00.002-04:00

While browsing A Daring Adventure's blog I couldn't help but steal the great idea for posting this fun article about the Secretary of State's female security detail and post it on here. The article was published in Elle magazine this month. Check it out by clicking here.

Do you know about MHN?

2011-06-17T10:45:00.005-04:00

Our office has a contract with a behavioral health care provider, MHN, to enhance access to support services for Department of State employees and their families during unaccompanied tours. Those eligible include direct-hire employees on permanent change of station assignment and long-term TDYers to unaccompanied posts and their family members. The program includes a customized website, online training, 24/7 call-center support with licensed clinicians (this particular service for USAID and State employees only), and face-to-face counseling for State employees only.

It is free and strictly confidential.

Anyone can log on to the website, which includes tons of useful articles on a variety of emotional health topics, including coping with separation, maintaining bonds with children, and communicating at a distance. The website also contains online multimedia programs with self-assessment and self-help tools for dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression.

How to use MHN:

To call: (800) 213-5811, TDD: (800) 327-0801

To use the website: members.mhn.com, company code: unaccompaniedtour

If you have any questions, please email us at FLOaskUT@state.gov.

Be inspired to turn obstacles into opportunities...

2011-06-13T16:14:00.003-04:00

Last week some of us in our office had the opportunity to attend a lecture “Obstacles or Opportunity: The John Robinson Story” and we all agreed it was very special. Part of the lecture included a short video, providing a look into John’s day to day life as a congenital amputee--- and as a successful businessman, husband and father.

He has an amazing and truly inspiring story. Click here to watch the eleven minute video about John. Learn more here.

.Make a wish.

Having technical difficulties on the blog...

2011-06-10T16:07:00.002-04:00

Please stand by!

Have a great weekend.

"Change your mind, change your life!"

2011-06-02T12:09:00.001-04:00

Martin Seligman founded the field of positive psychology in 2000, and has devoted his career since then to furthering the study of positive emotion, positive character traits, and positive institutions. It's a fascinating field of study that had few empirical, scientific measures -- traditional clinical psychology focusing more on the repair of unhappy states than the propagation and nurturing of happy ones.

Check out this link to a short video lecture by Seligman on positive psychology.

(Source)

Happy Friday!

2011-05-27T15:51:00.001-04:00

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend! Have fun and enjoy the warm weather and pool openings!

Ideas for students...

2011-05-18T11:18:00.003-04:00

A few years ago I had the opportunity to work as a summer hire in an Embassy overseas. Not only did I really benefit and learn a lot from the experience, but I also had a really great time! Are you the parent of a high school or college student interested in opportunities at the Department of State? If so, encourage them to check out the newly revamped State website to find the program that best suits them! Click here to see the list of the various programs to consider.

Opportunities like internships are available in Washington D.C...or...

...in cities all over the world!

"My family are the true heroes, I was just doing my job"...

2011-05-11T15:01:00.006-04:00

All of us recognize the great contribution you and your families are making during the unaccompanied tour and the burdens and stresses this places on your children in particular. To recognize the sacrifice that children make while their parent is serving a high-risk unaccompanied tour, our office distributes Medals and Certificates of Recognition to children age 0-21.

Jason Banks recently returned from a one year assignment to Pakistan and ordered a Medal for his five year old son, Matthew. Because Jason and his family are unable to attend the mid-July Washington D.C. award ceremony event, Jason thought of another creative way to honor his son: he contacted his Mayor. After speaking with Mayor Maher Maso of Frisco, Texas, Jason arranged for his son Matthew to be publically awarded his well-deserved medal. Jason explained, "I told my son it was for being so brave while I was gone and that the Secretary of State gave it to him. I told the mayor that since we could not attend the ceremony in Washington, it would mean a lot to me, to have the Mayor present him with his award. I personally emailed him and he responded in a couple hours saying he would love to do it and said that we should be at the city council meeting the following day." Jason and his wife, Denise, were kind enough to share some adorable pictures of the ceremony with us to share on the blog. We hope that this inspires UT families who have yet to request a medal for their children to do so!

"I think the Mayor Maher Maso did a good thing...and wanted to show that the sacrifices made by the military and other federal government agencies are felt at the local level. He went on to explain how proud he was about a Frisco resident for serving in such an austere environment and I told him that without the support of my family and a wife that was capable of “doing it all”, I never would have been able to mentally survive. My family are the true heroes, I was just doing my job."

We hope the Medals and Certificates of Recognition will in some small way let UT children know their sacrifice is appreciated and reaffirm the proud tradition of the Foreign Service. To request a medal for your child, please click here. Please stay posted for details about the mid-July award ceremony at the Department.

Thank you to Jason, Denise and Matthew Banks, Mayor Maher Maso and Kerri- UT Team's Medal specialist!

Jen's "Navigating Life's Unexpected Realities"

2011-05-11T14:18:00.002-04:00

Jen, a UT spouse who was diagnosed with cancer during her husband’s tour to Iraq, wrote a moving article about her experience in this month’s Foreign Service Journal. Take a moment to read her story: Navigating Life's Unexpected Realities. Also, follow her blog here.

A blog for kids?

2011-05-05T11:03:00.001-04:00

Well, kind of! More like a family network. Sesame Street has a fun way for families to stay connected while one parent is away. It is kid-friendly and interactive, just like a blog. All you have to do is create a free account, share the log-in information with each family member, and then you can share drawings, photos, messages, videos, and audio recordings on one website--- accessible to each family member. Check it out here.

Food truck fiesta!

2011-05-04T12:04:00.002-04:00

Use this real time food tracker to follow the location of the most popular trucks in the DC area. If you need help choosing the best truck, check out this posting which links to the Washington Post's review of 13 of the District's food trucks. Don't forget, if you have a favorite...most food trucks can also be followed on the Twitter.

Anyone in the DC area have a suggestion for a great food truck they have tried? Anyone think it would be fun to open your own food truck? What would you serve?

I think I'd serve a to-go version of this...with a fresh mini baguette...(of course, along the coast of a beautiful beach)...and accompany it with fresh mango or passion fruit juice :)

A small project to start...

2011-05-02T11:11:00.001-04:00

Did you know that Ronald McDonald wants your soda/coke/cola/soft drink/pop (whatever you choose call it) tabs? It is an easy, fun way to recycle. It is a great idea to start in your office or school. We have a tab collector in our kitchen and everyone in our office contributes. It is a fun way to finish off your soda! Collect the soda pop's tabs and when you have a sufficient amount, send them to participating Ronald McDonald houses and they will use them to raise money for their cause. If you have questions, just email us or comment here and I can give you more details about how to get involved.

Click here for more information.

Does anyone else have any ideas to share? Is anyone involved in charities or volunteer? Tell us about it.

The Sewing Circles of Herat by Christina Lamb

2011-04-28T10:04:00.001-04:00

Christina Lamb does an excellent job explaining the history of Afghanistan while giving the readers a chance to understand the beauty of the country and its people.

Imagine a time when women cannot wear lipstick, go out in public, wear white shoes or shoes that click. Women cannot laugh out loud or be seen from the window not even their silhouette. A time when not even parks can be named for women, when no music is allowed and the only entertainment is public amputations and executions. This according to Ms. Lamb is life under Taliban rule.

In Herat, once the centre of Persian culture ruled by a powerful queen, the oppression of culture and women is the worst. It was in the city of Herat that Christina Lamb came across the Golden Needle Ladies Sewing Circle. This group of heroic women was teaching something the Taliban approved of, sewing. But in between stitches the ladies are teaching something very much forbidden; they are teaching literature to the women of Afghanistan.

Don't forget...

2011-04-21T13:51:00.001-04:00

...the UT coffee this Thursday at Ballston Mall Starbucks at 10:30am! See you there!

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22

2011-04-20T14:02:00.001-04:00

This relaxing video reminds us of the beauty of our planet...

Check out the Earth Day website and learn how you can get involved and make a difference (even if it is small) in your home or office.

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
~Native American Proverb

Meet me halfway...

2011-04-18T13:47:00.001-04:00

Planning your next R&R? Want to do something a little different? This website has a great choice of vacation homes all over the world. If you have a big family and like to cook together (like my family does), sometimes renting a house or an apartment is a much cheaper (and usually nicer) option to consider over a hotel. If you meet "halfway" in London, click here for a list of apartments and homes or for Paris click here.

Some pictures from London and Paris for inspiration!

Tiny houses, but BIG ideas...

2011-04-14T19:42:00.001-04:00

Check out http://tinyhouseblog.com/ or http://thistinyhouse.com/...

Need ideas on how to maximize your hooch space? Look at what this New Yorker did with her 90 square foot apartment! Click here for the video.

As Maya Angelous says, "I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself."

2011-04-08T12:49:00.000-04:00

Get togethers in Brussels

Partners Apart:

All those trying to maintain a long-distance relationship are welcome to attend our meeting on Thursday April 21 in the basement conference room. Our group is especially supportive to those with loved ones serving in the Near East. This month our special guest will be Steve talking about his experiences in Afghanistan. For more information please contact Dodie or write FLOaskUT@state.gov

21 ideas...

2011-04-06T13:20:00.005-04:00

This website shares 21 tips on how to most successfully deal with being apart from your significant other during an unaccompanied tour. Click here to read.

Listen to...

2011-04-05T14:56:00.003-04:00

A beautiful video animation and song...check out this link.

Mark your calendars...

2011-04-04T16:19:00.001-04:00

We will be meeting for coffee again on Thursday, April 28th at 10:30 at Ballston Mall Starbucks. We have changed the time in hopes that more people will be able to join us! Please email FLOaskUT@state.gov if you have any questions.

The cutest lap pet...

2011-04-01T10:31:00.003-04:00

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!

To learn more about adorable (but unfortunately not real) creatures, check out this site. Send it to your friends as an April Fool's joke and you will be surprised by how many of them think it is real...

2011-03-30T16:21:00.000-04:00

Another fun article on happiness is Time Magazine's top twenty ways to stay happy...I think one of my my favorites is number six...curious?...browse here.

Happiness...

2011-03-30T09:37:00.006-04:00

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

- Buddha

Everything is material for the seed of happiness, if you look into it with inquisitiveness and curiosity. The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment. There always is the potential to create an environment of blame -- or one that is conducive to loving-kindness.

- Pema Chodron

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.

- John Barrymore

BBC has a collection of articles and videos on the study of happiness, from the science behind happiness to the politics of happiness--- all of which are very interesting. Take a look.

Makes me hungry!

2011-03-28T11:14:00.003-04:00

Check out Kerri's WeHeartFood contribution about shawarma here. Don't forget you can contribute too...Send us pictures of what you are cookin' up in the kitchen!

Thanks!

2011-03-28T08:47:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our monthly coffee event. Hope to see everyone again next time. :)

Moving into the future...Check this out!

2011-03-23T14:17:00.002-04:00

2011-03-18T15:26:00.002-04:00

This coming Thursday, March 24th at 1:30 we will be meeting again for UT Coffee at Ballston Common Mall Starbucks.

Please RSVP to FLOaskUT@state.gov for details. We hope to see you there!

Have a great weekend!

Some fun reading...

2011-03-17T15:59:00.000-04:00

Check out AFSA's list of other Foreign Service blogs here.

Because we heart food...

2011-03-16T16:40:00.000-04:00

Do you find yourself taking pictures of food on your smartphone almost more than you take pictures of friends or family? Join the club. Check out our new page dedicated to foooood! If you have any food pictures to share and happy memories associated with them, please send the pictures and the story to FLOaskUT@state.gov and we will be happy to post it on the blog. Please share!

Thoughts and prayers to Japan.....

2011-03-14T19:32:00.000-04:00

Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. your stay is but short and the moment of your departure unknown.

None can live without toil and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and wearness will overtake you, and you will denied the joy that comes from labour's end.

Speak quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others.

Be near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered.

Take small account of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds.

Treasure silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with yourself.

Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are.

Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light, rather then blame and condemnation.

You, no less than all beings have Buddha Nature within. Your essential Mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remose nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on.

Faith is like a lamp and wisdom makes the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the Light.

Dhammavadaka

.

Book Lust to Go

2011-03-14T19:17:00.000-04:00

Looking for an unusual book about a particular area? This is the book for you. This book "Book Lust to Go" does a good job of listing areas of the world, topics and books about them. Everything is easy to find and there are both fiction and nonfiction titles listed. This is one book of a series and I would recommend them all. I think the author Nancy Pearl has done a great job assembling interesting books about interesting areas. This is a great book to buy or check out so you can plan your next 10 years of reading. The cover says "Recommended reading for travelers, vagabonds, and dreamers."

Expat ladies...

2011-03-14T11:39:00.000-04:00

Check out this site dedicated to helping expat women overseas. It includes tons of articles, country specific information and over a thousand blogs written by women all over the world. A great resource---even if you are currently residing in the States.

Want to get involved?

2011-03-14T11:06:00.002-04:00

Do you love animals? If you are looking for a way to get involved in your community, consider volunteering at your local animal shelter. They are always looking for help. Just Google "Animal Shelters + your zip code" to find your local rescue groups.

There are tons of different ways you can help. This website has numerous creative ideas about how to get involved. Do you love photography? You can volunteer to take the pictures of the homeless animals used online for adoption. Are you good at blogging? Volunteer to create a blog for the shelter.

Don’t forget you can always foster (or adopt) an animal too! I visited a shelter this weekend and was overwhelmed with the amount of adorable animals.

Breathe...just breathe...

2011-03-09T15:10:00.002-05:00

For some quotes about how to best deal with stress check out this website...

http://www.beyondthequote.com/stress-relief-quotes.html

Warning: Make sure the volume on your speakers is not too high!

Don't forget this Friday...

2011-03-09T13:29:00.002-05:00

We will conduct an interactive in-person and virtual "Orientation Session" with MHN on Friday, March 11th, 2011, at 09:00 AM EDT in the FLO office. Participants may call in to participate virtually.

Please email FLOaskUT@state.gov for details.

:)

2011-03-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

To start your day with a laugh...check out this short YouTube video...It is bound to make you smile!