Weekly State Department Round-Up

Around the world:
One of the best parts of reading blogs from around the world is the way you get to glimpse places you may or may not ever visit in your life. But you still get to experience it.

Judie is in the Czech Republic, and in her eloquent way, she presents a first-person (okay, okay, third-person, if you want to be technical) account of how someone with disabilities finds challenges and improvements in their surroundings. I love peeking at the world through Judie's eyes!

Some workmen in an Italian elevator obviously know who the man is who does pushups by pushing the world down. And who won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game UNO.

When you think of snorkeling, make sure that Jordan is on your list of hot spots. Connie writes about their recent beach trip in Aqaba, and it's hard not to be jealous!

Next time you're in New Zealand, after your LOTR tours, of course, you'll have to check out the Agrodome Sheep Show. I never knew there was so much to learn about sheep!

One of the most frightening parts of living overseas (in either Tijuana or San Diego... it's hard to tell) is when a woman armed with scissors takes a stab at your head. And your brother is already sitting in the back of a police cruiser. It's a rough time, I tell you!

Rich in Benin explains that there is more than one way to drive the wrong way on the highway, and even more ways to cross roads-- possibly even without getting hit!

Minnesota Gal, Sarah, writes about the typhoon she experienced in Manila, complete with electricity loss, elevator loss, flooding on the 39th floor, and a night on the lobby couch.

Also in Manila, Barry and Jess got to experience a little bit of Oregon. First, a fir tree: And then some awesome lightning (Lightning --> rain--> clouds--> Oregon. I'm sure you made the connection as well). You gotta love these photography skills!

And Megan had a couple epiphanies when listening to the following song.
First, the Spanish language finally just clicked for her. Congrats!!
Second, Enrique Iglesias. Enough said.




Crystal and her Briden Bunch take some time out to reflect and enjoy the spirit at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. And while they were there, she took this BEAUTIFUL shot:

And in photography this week, props to SassAndSweet (what were her parents thinking?! ;) for this amazing shot from Tofino, BC, Canada:

Work and the Foreign Service Life: It's all part of the job

Both Andy and Alex from Travel Orders swear they didn't ask to be in separate classes to learn French before heading to Benin. Hmmm...

Nick and Liz (who went global) discuss some of what goes into makings one's bid for an upcoming post. "Nick and I review the list, pick three countries that sound like fun, and then we get assigned to one of them. Quick and painless, right? Wrong." As is the case with bureaucracy, it's a much more INVOLVED process.

And Michel from the place where Facts are Optional has a dilemma that makes buying Christmas gifts for your mother-in-law seem ridiculously simple and easy.

David, the Hick/Hitchhiker/Diplomat, muses on the mantra, "When we're fully staffed," and some of the benefits and challenges of working in a smaller embassy.

The (Perlmans? Perlmen?) Perlman family reflects on what all is entailed in packing those few big boxes.

And at some point, almost everyone lives at the Oakwood Apartments in DC. Turns out, it's not as bad as it seems.

Not there yet:
Plenty of folks are either waiting for 'the call,' finding out where they go next, or somehow else waiting in limbo.

David, the EF'M, is on his way to Hermosillo, Mexico, but stopped in Nogales, Arizona, and paints a picture of that ghost town.

And at Kitty Non Grata, she is super excited about Cambodia in October, except for the one downside....

Daniela posted about some embarassing scores from her FSOT. The only reason I'm posting that link is that maybe she could use some tips from I'll Take Mine To Go. Take notes for next time!

Valdysses shares this awesome eBay find. It's neat-o to compare then and now, and I especially liked the message to youngsters. We should really resurrect that word.

Exotic America:
At this time of year, it seems that there are just as many FS families visiting the United States as there are around the world. And just because this is home base, it doesn't mean it can't be exotic and cool in its own right!

Anyone planning on ever going on home leave should probably read this post.

The Lees did stuff, went places, and bought some cool new things while they vacationed in Northern California with their youngsters. She beautifully summed up a common sentiment, I believe: "What the time really comes down to isn't what we did, where we went or what cool new things we may have bought. Home is really about seeing the people we've missed the most." Well put!

Massachusetts may not be at the top of some people's "most exotic places" list, but it's obviously because they haven't encountered the giant fauna that inhabit the area. Be careful, it might eat your youngsters!. Or at least certain parts of the area. And the Dinoia family also went exploring to find the wreck of the Titanic, among other treasures.

Kolbi is takin it easy down in Florida, showing us that if your camera is good enough, you can actually tell what kind of bird it is, rather than identifying everything as "some sort of seagull.... or maybe a duck."


And of course, no trip to Florida-- and no blog round-up, for that matter-- would be complete without toe-sock shoes. Or whatever they're called.


And I feel like I should probably post a million more links, pictures, and various updates from around the world. But I'm afraid this is going to be it for this week's blog round-up. Thanks for coming!

PS: If you'd like to try your hand at putting together a massive blog round-up (or if you just want to one-up my attempts!), leave Kolbi a message on her calendar.