Happy Friday!

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

Ideas for students...

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"...

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"

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?

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!

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...

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

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...

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

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22

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...

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...

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."

                                                         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...

 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...

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

Mark your calendars...

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...

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...

 

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...

 

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!

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!