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TCD posted:That's also magnified in the FS as when you're overseas, the post community can play a large part in your personal life. Be a good person as often as you can be and people will be more accepting of you into the community which at some posts some of the only contact you'll have (compound living etc.) Seconding this. "The fishbowl" is a term coined for a reason. Even if you're not a jerk but somehow manage to offend in the off hours via your own personal conduct, it can come back to bite you. I knew of one colleague whose party-hard lifestyle somehow made the gossip rounds at Post, then on to DC, and then back to Post thanks to the DC-based tandem spouse of said colleague's boss. Cue another awkward conversation on corridor reputation. 
Zoots fucked around with this message at 21:09 on Apr 30, 2012 |
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Apr 30, 2012 21:05
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Vasudus posted:Yeah, now I can't remember if they called me or emailed me last year. I know they did both but I don't remember in what order A lot of people applied this year. So many that the online assessment, or what I like to call the idiot test, isn't much of an idiot test anymore.
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May 1, 2012 00:26
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At some point we should get a mailing list or something.
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May 1, 2012 07:16
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https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/fsgoons Though not sure if this is meant to be an FSO-only group, or FSO and applicants as well.
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May 1, 2012 11:55
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Diplomaticus posted:https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/fsgoons I think there should probably be one just for current/past members of the FS.
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May 1, 2012 15:08
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Diplomaticus posted:I'd put him in there but i don't know his info. Her info - pol generalist, arriving in Tripoli next month. Served previously in Riyadh and Istanbul. You want blogs, you can toss mine down if you'd like. I think my stuff from Riyadh's my most interesting... hannahdraper.blogspot.com.
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May 1, 2012 15:43
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Jedi Knight Luigi posted:It was an Exkursion for the NGO head's (who was also my boss, this guy) philosophy class. Here's a press release. I was the only American in the group. Best lunch I ever had in my life was in the Kurdish quarter of Ankara on mother's day. We went to I think 3 different Syriac Christian monasteries in the Mardin province and even met the archbishop. drat! If y'all go back on a similar trip, let me know - our Consul in Adana (which covers Mardin) and my successor in Istanbul (who covers all religious issues across Turkey) would love to have more info.
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May 1, 2012 15:47
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the_chavi posted:Her info - pol generalist, arriving in Tripoli next month. Served previously in Riyadh and Istanbul. Oh ok, we're twitter friends.
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May 1, 2012 18:38
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TCD posted:I think there should probably be one just for current/past members of the FS. Yeah, I agree. Allows for a bit more freedom in what can be said. Anyway, go ahead and sign up for the group.
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May 1, 2012 18:40
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If the OP is still being maintained I guess you can add me as "awaiting clearances".
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May 1, 2012 19:19
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Tyro posted:If the OP is still being maintained I guess you can add me as "awaiting clearances". I'm not sure what Dip is doing for all potential members who are in the application/clearance process.
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May 1, 2012 20:09
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I was originally having the OP updated with people at different stages; but I've since decided to do it just for OA passers (since so many more people are getting hung up at the QEP lately). I'll update you Tyro
Leif. fucked around with this message at 06:26 on May 2, 2012 |
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May 1, 2012 21:11
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Assuming the class in September that I see rumor of has IMS vacancies, how far would I would need to take myself off the do-not-call list to have the potential to be called? I've got until mid-next year on the Register, but I keep seeing everyone talking of budget cuts and whatnot, so I'm starting to care less and less about the things that made me put myself on the list in the first place.
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May 2, 2012 04:15
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Bunch of people added to the mailing list. A couple people rejected due to the decision to make it *Not sure what exactly to call it, but FSOs (gen. and spec.), AID, Department staff, DS, etc. only.
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May 2, 2012 06:29
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mute posted:Assuming the class in September that I see rumor of has IMS vacancies, how far would I would need to take myself off the do-not-call list to have the potential to be called? Not sure. However, if you have a love of traveling, this job is pretty awesome - even with budget cuts and purposed cuts to pay/benefits by the House. I went to two wineries and Punta Del Este last week. I don't think I would have ever been to Uruguay if not for this job.
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May 2, 2012 12:50
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So today in things I love about my job: I'm on the phone with my mail-order pharmacy company, trying to explain why I need 15 months of meds at once (no APO/pouch service in Libya, yet, and I'd rather not go without my happy pills), and the woman on the phone thanked me for my service. It seems silly - I'm used to armed service members getting thanked for their service, but me? Aww, shucks, ma'am, t'weren't nuthin'...
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May 2, 2012 19:23
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Tyro posted:If the OP is still being maintained I guess you can add me as "awaiting clearances". Oh hay, for OP updates, the Tunis field school is back up and running. Also, when I did consular work in Riyadh, we had 80-hour work weeks. I laugh, and laugh, and laugh every time a consular colleague goes home before 5... then I mix a drink and keep going. >_<
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May 2, 2012 19:42
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the_chavi posted:Oh hay, for OP updates, the Tunis field school is back up and running. We had a consular "thank you"/mixer event for our contacts today - thus ending a long work day around 8 PM. But I can't complain; the venue was a rooftop terrace with a view of St. Peter's all lit up at dusk. Plus, hey, prosecco. I love my job.
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May 2, 2012 20:12
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eh, nm
Leif. fucked around with this message at 20:27 on May 2, 2012 |
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May 2, 2012 20:23
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TCD posted:Not sure. I'm definitely still wanting to do it (after going through all the hassle of clearances/everything, I'd never back out now), I'd just put myself on do-not-call status because of some personal stuff due to be finished end-year that I wanted to have handled before I was out of the country. I just wanted to try and figure out a "go/no-go" date for taking myself off the list and becoming available to be invited or staying on until late-year as planned and hoping there's another class before I'm dropped and that enough people haven't been put ahead of me on the Register.
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May 2, 2012 21:53
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the_chavi posted:So today in things I love about my job: I'm on the phone with my mail-order pharmacy company, trying to explain why I need 15 months of meds at once (no APO/pouch service in Libya, yet, and I'd rather not go without my happy pills), and the woman on the phone thanked me for my service. It seems silly - I'm used to armed service members getting thanked for their service, but me? Aww, shucks, ma'am, t'weren't nuthin'... My foreign service life has been a lot more dangerous than my military life ever was. I've had AK-47's shoved into my chest twice, and a rocket nearly blew me up in Baghdad, but in the USAF all I had to worry about was getting fat off of chow hall food.
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May 3, 2012 07:55
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Mine's about fifty-fifty. On the one hand, nobody's shooting at me. On the other hand, I don't get to shoot back. On the one hand, I have hyenas living in my neighborhood and have now twice found myself in close contact with a large wild animal. On the other hand, they were huge babies (cheetahs) or huge pussies (hyenas) and it made for some rad pictures.
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May 3, 2012 11:48
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So far the most dangerous things I've faced in three posts are sunburn, vodka, and the Swiss cost of living
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May 3, 2012 12:18
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Diplomaticus posted:Mine's about fifty-fifty. On the one hand, nobody's shooting at me. On the other hand, I don't get to shoot back. On the one hand, I have hyenas living in my neighborhood and have now twice found myself in close contact with a large wild animal. On the other hand, they were huge babies (cheetahs) or huge pussies (hyenas) and it made for some rad pictures. I love this life.
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May 3, 2012 12:42
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AKA Pseudonym posted:So far the most dangerous things I've faced in three posts are sunburn, vodka, and the Swiss cost of living Amen to the vodka. My Russian tutor offered me some samogon once (Ukrainian moonshine). I was intrigued but too scared to accept. pamchenko fucked around with this message at 20:18 on May 3, 2012 |
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May 3, 2012 17:30
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pamchenko posted:Amen to the vodka. My Russian tutor offered me some samogon once (Ukrainian liquor). I was intrigued but too scared to accept.
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May 3, 2012 19:40
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worst i've had was changaa, which is considered budget kenyan moonshine. With all honesty, if someone offers? Politely decline. (some people add battery acid..for taste.)
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May 3, 2012 22:59
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The worst I had was natural bananna beer. Oh god.. I tried some Waragi (Ugandan 'gin' moonshine) and it wasn't too horrible. Just be careful as some of the stuff does the usual blindness/death etc. Here in Brazil, it's all about Cachaca in Caipirinhas and these are the best drinks on earth.
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May 3, 2012 23:05
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TCD posted:
the ones I had must not have been well made then, I thought they were nothing special.
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May 4, 2012 01:13
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There have been tariff based import restrictions on proper cachasa; USTR just had them lifted recently. So now we can get the good stuff. Also, don't ever drink Tejj. Leif. fucked around with this message at 07:50 on May 4, 2012 |
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May 4, 2012 07:15
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Tried Sorghum beer in South Africa, No thanks.
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May 4, 2012 07:27
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Ah, pack out. The most beautiful time in an FSO's life. Although, how I'm supposed to eat for the next 5 days is a mystery, since they've packed literally everything in my kitchen.
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May 4, 2012 08:20
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Tyro posted:the ones I had must not have been well made then, I thought they were nothing special. Were you in Brazil? The ones I had in DC weren't the best. I tried a caipiroska in Uruguay and that was a huge mistake. A caipirinha taste depends on the cachaca used, the amount of fresh limes, and the sugar. My recipe is 2 heaping tablespoons of sugar in a shaker, 2 Brazilian sized limes halved with the core removed (this is important) - then quarter them. Muddle the limes and the sugar until sugar is mostly dissolved. Ice, and 3oz of cachaca and mix well. Pour into glass and enjoy! I like mine without so much sugar, so I'll do 1 tablespoon. But this starts to taste almost as strong as a martini. However, when you're relaxing on the beach and it's 95 degrees out, caipirinhas taste pretty drat good. Caipiroska (vodka) Caipirissima (rum) Lots of capiroskas can be made with other fruits like passion fruit, strawberry, etc. As a foreigner if you ask for a caipirinha, half the time they'll make it with vodka. I always ask "com cachaca e azucar" which usually gets me a smile. TCD fucked around with this message at 18:12 on May 4, 2012 |
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May 4, 2012 17:57
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To be quite honest, I'm surprised it has taken so long for the diplomatic thread to have proper boozechat.
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May 4, 2012 20:01
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TCD posted:Were you in Brazil? I was in Sao Paolo. The foreigner thing may explain it. Compared to the ones I had, I would take a good authentic mojito instead.
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May 4, 2012 20:02
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Tyro posted:I was in Sao Paolo. The foreigner thing may explain it. Compared to the ones I had, I would take a good authentic mojito instead. Yeah, I think a caipirinha is harder to make well than a mojito and I have had some misses around Brazil. Cachaca, particuarly good cachaca has a very different taste than rum too, so if that's what you're used too, it will taste different. When I was in Uruguay it was mainly wine and mojitos.
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May 4, 2012 20:48
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Business of Ferrets posted:To be quite honest, I'm surprised it has taken so long for the diplomatic thread to have proper boozechat. We don't have enough Aussies or Brits in here 
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May 4, 2012 20:49
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I got an offer today!!! I'll be in the July 16th specialist class. I wanted to thank everyone on this thread for all the information and advice. It does help. Side question: Is Oakwood open to people who live in DC or do you need to be from outside the area?
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May 4, 2012 21:53
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^ ^ ^ Congrats! Your process seemed to go pretty quickly. That gives me hope.
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May 4, 2012 22:06
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AgentSythe posted:^ ^ ^ Congrats! Super quick. My OA was 2/3 and got my clearance 4/12. Then again, I don't have foreign contacts and have only traveled overseas once in the past 10 years. I snuck in this class becuase the vast majority of the September application people haven't passed clearance yet it seems. I was 27th on the register.
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May 4, 2012 22:12
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