Always flexible.
This week, I was thanked for my flexibility in being willing to stay an extra 6 weeks in DC. Yes friends, you all have the pleasure of having me around this summer, I hope you're excited.
I'm not the first of my classmates to have a change, and definitely have one of the most minor. One colleague learned that her job had switched, and she managed to get her post to grant her an extra couple months in DC to do some more training to help her with the new portfolio. Another colleague got moved from a country's consulate in one city to its embassy in another. In the scheme of things, being asked to stay an extra 6 weeks to do consular training isn't a big deal at all. I guess I'm glad to be getting my first dose of gumby-required changes at this early stage of things.
So I will get to take the infamous ConGen afterall. In addition to that, when I go to post I'll have under my belt Political-Economic Tradecraft, Religion and Foreign Policy, and several security trainings.
While I'll be uber-prepared, it's hard not to be a bit disappointed that my departure has been delayed, mostly because I'll now be missing the South's independence, scheduled for July 9th. Of course, I would be in Khartoum, not in Juba, and the 9th would likely be just like any other day in that part of north Sudan, but c'mon, who wouldn't want to be in a country when such an important event is going on?
Yet I guess there's no use in being bummed. Honestly, I may not have been able to make it by then anyways, with the potential hold up on my visa. And this gives me more time to acquire stuff (which I made some darn good progress on last weekend), be here for my sister's 21st (what kind of older sister would I be if I didn't take her for a drink?), spend a 4th of July in the States for the first time in about 5 years, and since my 160th colleague also assigned to Sudan is heading out before me now, I can learn from everything she experiences while there.
So DC summer, bring it!
This week, I was thanked for my flexibility in being willing to stay an extra 6 weeks in DC. Yes friends, you all have the pleasure of having me around this summer, I hope you're excited.
I'm not the first of my classmates to have a change, and definitely have one of the most minor. One colleague learned that her job had switched, and she managed to get her post to grant her an extra couple months in DC to do some more training to help her with the new portfolio. Another colleague got moved from a country's consulate in one city to its embassy in another. In the scheme of things, being asked to stay an extra 6 weeks to do consular training isn't a big deal at all. I guess I'm glad to be getting my first dose of gumby-required changes at this early stage of things.
So I will get to take the infamous ConGen afterall. In addition to that, when I go to post I'll have under my belt Political-Economic Tradecraft, Religion and Foreign Policy, and several security trainings.
While I'll be uber-prepared, it's hard not to be a bit disappointed that my departure has been delayed, mostly because I'll now be missing the South's independence, scheduled for July 9th. Of course, I would be in Khartoum, not in Juba, and the 9th would likely be just like any other day in that part of north Sudan, but c'mon, who wouldn't want to be in a country when such an important event is going on?
Yet I guess there's no use in being bummed. Honestly, I may not have been able to make it by then anyways, with the potential hold up on my visa. And this gives me more time to acquire stuff (which I made some darn good progress on last weekend), be here for my sister's 21st (what kind of older sister would I be if I didn't take her for a drink?), spend a 4th of July in the States for the first time in about 5 years, and since my 160th colleague also assigned to Sudan is heading out before me now, I can learn from everything she experiences while there.
So DC summer, bring it!
Sarah! I'm sorry for the delay and yet happy for you all the same! Sounds like you're taking every curveball in stride, and I'm sure you'll be a great addition to Khartoum whenever you get there. There is a slim chance I may make the July class, but it looks like Sept.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best,
Aaron
Ah, sorry to hear that Sarah.
ReplyDeleteNow that the heat is hear, are you regretting the summer in DC? Hope the training is going well. Best of luck!
ReplyDelete