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caberham posted:My personal experience with corporate travel agents have been nothing but misery. Yeah, they can negotiate bulk deals but for hotels I just need the corporate code or something like that. As we pay "full fare" flights, they are always adjustable. I've heard it's quite common to upgrade via miles.
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Mar 10, 2014 01:31
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caberham posted:My personal experience with corporate travel agents have been nothing but misery. Yeah, they can negotiate bulk deals but for hotels I just need the corporate code or something like that. It depends, really. There are always unique cases and special circumstances. if it's longer-than-8-hours I have heard there is justification for Economy Plus (vice Business Class); but I have also heard of approvals and denials based on interpretation of policy. Some people believe it applies to everyone and others believe it applies to Senior servicemembers. You can always upgrade (via fees or milage) straight/right at the airport or post-booking of the Economy seats. They just will not reimburse you for any cost differences you incur. if it's your dime, they really don't care. I would say as a personal preference, if your flight is longer than 8 or 10 hours and you can afford, then do the upgrade. Shorter flights (1-5 hours) just aren't worth it as for hotels, usually Embassies will have a network of trusted hotels. depending on where you are, this will constitute a reduction in price or you'll get pricejacked something like 3-5x because they know the gov't will pay. You can always say F that and book your own, but it has to be within per-diem guidelines to get reimbursed.
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Mar 10, 2014 02:48
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caberham posted:Or "man, I'm as tall as a Christmas tree, I'm going to upgrade to business class or exit row on my own: Here's a fun tidbit: Upgrading is near impossible if it's a city pair and it's not a code share. Delta / Air Chance are notorious for this, and they make the experience VERY painful.
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Mar 10, 2014 05:46
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As an abnormally tall person, this is yet another reason why I love Southwest and their choose your own adventure seating: the middle seats in the exit row are always empty.
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Mar 10, 2014 10:42
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caberham posted:My personal experience with corporate travel agents have been nothing but misery. Yeah, they can negotiate bulk deals but for hotels I just need the corporate code or something like that. You can cost construct (e.g. pay the difference between the government rate and the rate you end up choosing) sometimes, but not all the time. Skandiaavity posted:It depends, really. There are always unique cases and special circumstances. if it's longer-than-8-hours I have heard there is justification for Economy Plus (vice Business Class); but I have also heard of approvals and denials based on interpretation of policy. Some people believe it applies to everyone and others believe it applies to Senior servicemembers. Economy Plus is super easy because you just cost construct the extra $50-$130 difference. If the flight is longer than 8 hours and you can write a justification why you need it (e.g. "I have meetings immediately on landing and need to be fresh and presentable") you can get business class lounge access at your intermediate point. It's frustratingly not worth it -- my credit card gave me more access. There is an even stricter justification for Business Class along the same lines, but the one time I applied for it for my Ambassador, we didn't get it (they gave him lounge access instead).
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Mar 10, 2014 13:49
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I fly so much on United that I always get upgraded to at least economy plus, and have gotten the upgrade to business on rare circumstances. But I would never pay for business on my own. It's like an extra $1500 when I'm flying to Dubai and I'm certainly not well paid enough that I can drop that much for a flight. Business class is lovely though. That ice cream cart.
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Mar 10, 2014 15:28
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Leif. posted:You can cost construct (e.g. pay the difference between the government rate and the rate you end up choosing) sometimes, but not all the time. Like I said earlier - it really depends on who is reviewing. The policy has been updated quite a few times; although its quite clear, it became a matter of interpretation from whoever is the approver. Someone senior (MC? Higher?) has to sign off on it, and thats where I'd predict most get shot down. Your Ambassador really should have gotten it, I can't recall off the top of my head but I think AMB and Couriers are the two explicitly-stated-exceptions. For everyone else it has to be "unusual circumstances" i.e. full planes within +/- 2 days, reasonable accomodation, etc.
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Mar 11, 2014 01:18
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Who all around here just started A-100?
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Mar 12, 2014 02:39
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Today I got an email from State asking me to complete a survey regarding my recent OA. Ugh, that sucked. It's like a woman who broke up with me just sent me a survey asking what kind of girlfriend I thought she was. At the end of the survey, they asked if I had any feedback regarding how to improve the assessment process. I mentioned that it would be nice/reasonable/equitable for candidates who narrowly failed to be given a second chance to pass the OA on a space-available basis within a certain period (like 6 months or something). Treating a candidate who got a 5.2 the same as one who got a 3.8 just seems cruel, especially since all failed candidates have to make it past the frustrating QEPs one year later. I don't know if they'll ever consider such a change, but I think it sounds reasonable. Probably too late for me though! Anyway, I'll keep reading and posting here. I can experience the FS vicariously through you guys. And good luck to all of you who started A-100 this week!
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Mar 12, 2014 05:26
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Hey, at least you can reapply! Lots of places won't even look at you ever again when you failed the interview. You just suck and there are lot of other candidates out there who are more capable than you! It really is "better luck next time" when you failed on a merit based test. If you really want a hug box you can post in e/n about it. I'm sorry for being such a horrible human being for saying that. I actually have no idea what I'm talking about. At least I'm not competing for your dream job, anyways good luck and I'm sure you got the support of some very very nice goons  So do you guys get Army/Navy/Diplomatic post box offices? That means free shipping for Amazon Prime right? Granted, there are restrictions like no bulky items or a crazy large BBQ  Giodo! posted:I fly so much on United that I always get upgraded to at least economy plus, and have gotten the upgrade to business on rare circumstances. But I would never pay for business on my own. It's like an extra $1500 when I'm flying to Dubai and I'm certainly not well paid enough that I can drop that much for a flight. Don't you guys get like a nice foreign stipend, foreign housing and all that expat jazz? Spending $1500 extra still sucks though. Nutrimentia posted:As we pay "full fare" flights, they are always adjustable. I've heard it's quite common to upgrade via miles. Paying for full fare is insane  TCD posted:From what I've seen, there's quite a change in rates from coach to business class in long haul flights... especially if you are paying for a family. Usually Business is double Economy and First is triple the price of economy. I'm not tall at all so I have no problems with economy. Reimbursed travel expenses is definitely the most economic option, but subsidized business class rocks. It's a god send and makes trans continental flying comfortable. But then that means staying on American carriers 
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Mar 12, 2014 07:05
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caberham posted:So do you guys get Army/Navy/Diplomatic post box offices? That means free shipping for Amazon Prime right? Granted, there are restrictions like no bulky items or a crazy large BBQ Not always - it depends. Larger Posts tend to have it. We use FPO or DPO, same thing... not always free shipping, either, and i think there's only a 65 KG restriction. (people have ordered crazy large BBQ's among other items, too). also Blackberry 10 sucks. There, I said it.
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Mar 12, 2014 10:30
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Does anyone have any blog links or articles specifically about spouses who are able or who attempt to continue to work in a private sector professional capacity overseas? Most of the trailing spouse blogs I can find are of the stay at home home parent variety, or "being CLO isn't so bad. " Also interested in people who are able to telework back to a US company. I know that that's the exception rather than the rule, but I'm hoping that's something we can work out for at least the first tour. If a spouse is able to work in a non USG position, I assume they would qualify for the foreign earned income tax exclusion?
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Mar 12, 2014 12:15
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Tyro posted:Does anyone have any blog links or articles specifically about spouses who are able or who attempt to continue to work in a private sector professional capacity overseas? Most of the trailing spouse blogs I can find are of the stay at home home parent variety, or "being CLO isn't so bad. " Tyro, it's possible depending on the Post. However, even when it's easy, it's a giant pain in the rear end.
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Mar 12, 2014 14:29
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Tyro posted:If a spouse is able to work in a non USG position, I assume they would qualify for the foreign earned income tax exclusion? Yes, I would say so: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bona_fide_resident_test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_presence_test#United_States
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Mar 12, 2014 14:51
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caberham posted:
FSOs generally do, but that's still a pretty big luxury. I'm based in DC though and don't get those perks, so it's a bit more stark.
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Mar 12, 2014 15:15
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TCD posted:Tyro, it's possible depending on the Post. However, even when it's easy, it's a giant pain in the rear end. Yeah I figured. But the alternative will probably be an unaccompanied tour...
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Mar 12, 2014 15:38
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FSOs, what's your budget like? I know when you're overseas, lease and basic utilities are paid for, but what other bills do you have to pay that I may not know about? Internet? Additional insurance? Cars? Also, I just saw an announcement on the DoS forums, they will be hiring at attrition rate for the rest of FY2014. When does the fiscal year end? October?
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Mar 12, 2014 21:43
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Skandiaavity posted:Not always - it depends. Larger Posts tend to have it. We use FPO or DPO, same thing... not always free shipping, either, and i think there's only a 65 KG restriction. (people have ordered crazy large BBQ's among other items, too). I got a 94" 16:10 projector screen through DPO. That seemed to be the limit on how big of one I could get through. As for BB10, I still say it is light years ahead of the old BBs. I mean I actually do use it by choice occasionally.
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Mar 12, 2014 23:26
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Stolennosferatu posted:FSOs, what's your budget like? I know when you're overseas, lease and basic utilities are paid for, but what other bills do you have to pay that I may not know about? Internet? Additional insurance? Cars? You pay for your own Internet, cable, and don't forget car insurance. Most places your provided with a cell phone for which they may or may not have you pay for personal calls. Honestly you save a ton of money if you aren't prone to spending all your discretionary income. The housing is really a huge plus.
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Mar 13, 2014 00:26
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Skandiaavity posted:Not always - it depends. Larger Posts tend to have it. We use FPO or DPO, same thing... not always free shipping, either, and i think there's only a 65 KG restriction. (people have ordered crazy large BBQ's among other items, too). APO/FPO isn't free and there's a max weight of 70 pounds.
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Mar 13, 2014 02:35
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i think he was referring to amazon prime (which does offer free shipping); not that it is always elgible. but yes you will pay typical or military rates via USPS.
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Mar 13, 2014 03:57
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AKA Pseudonym posted:You pay for your own Internet, cable, and don't forget car insurance. Most places your provided with a cell phone for which they may or may not have you pay for personal calls. Honestly you save a ton of money if you aren't prone to spending all your discretionary income. The housing is really a huge plus. Being at post only 3 months now (how time flies) I concur you can save money, if you aren't all crazy and order a ton of stuff online. Because my daughter isn't in kindergarten yet (she has another year until then) we have to pay for her to go to school. We shop 99% on the local economy, so we aren't spending crazy amounts on Amazon grocery orders and such. It does suck that some things you could just run to the store in the US to grab you do have to order (ex: my router died last night so I had to order one from Amazon, my wife ordered some Easter candy for the kids). The big thing is have a budget, so you know what you have coming in, and what you are spending it on. My wife doesn't work, but we are still able to save a good amount each month. It's not all Scrooge McDuck swimming in a pool of money amount, but it's a nice amount. The big one, as AKA said is the housing allowance. I don't miss having a mortgage!
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Mar 13, 2014 04:01
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SCRwM posted:Being at post only 3 months now (how time flies) I concur you can save money, if you aren't all crazy and order a ton of stuff online. Because my daughter isn't in kindergarten yet (she has another year until then) we have to pay for her to go to school. We shop 99% on the local economy, so we aren't spending crazy amounts on Amazon grocery orders and such. It does suck that some things you could just run to the store in the US to grab you do have to order (ex: my router died last night so I had to order one from Amazon, my wife ordered some Easter candy for the kids). Can't you grab a router in your local computer mall  Every goon has to know where the computer mall is! Are you posted in some obscure place? Complaining about ordering from Amazon US will not net you any sympathy from anyone else  Most people have to rely on 3rd party forwarders. How much is Kindergarten? And do your children get free international schooling? quote:The big thing is have a budget, so you know what you have coming in, and what you are spending it on. My wife doesn't work, but we are still able to save a good amount each month. It's not all Scrooge McDuck swimming in a pool of money amount, but it's a nice amount. Come now, if you can't save money on a government job on top of a free house, you should stop ordering American frosted flakes(I did a double blind test, the American ones did taste better).
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Mar 13, 2014 05:04
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caberham posted:Can't you grab a router in your local computer mall well, no. Not every place is good as Singapore  ..for example, in manila it's all poo poo third party chinese routers, nobody you would want to be purchasing from unless you absolutely needed it. A lot of the time, even though it goes unsaid, connections have a high probablity of being monitored. also in singapore (ditto Australia I hear), it's cheaper to order U.S. food off amazon than it is to buy locally! (it really depends on where you are!) Your children will get free schooling - up to end of High School. I don't want to say "Pre-K onwards" as some posts do offer allowances for Pre-K schooling; whereas others (possibly a majority) don't.. You get to choose the school. Kindegarten costs vary from country to country; some posts do not even offer Kindegarten, and depending on which school.. boarding school is always an option though. it's not always easy to save money as often times you can/will be the only person working (possibly feeding a 3-4 person household); you forget to take into account some places don't have safe water, etc. It's by no means an easy job & the small things add up quick, but you should be able to save something as the housing is provided. in places where housing is not provided, you may lose out more because you may end up paying extra on top of the stipend they give you. (ex: you prefer a place that is $3500/mo, the stipend is 2800/mo; you will pay $700 a month for that place) Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 06:44 on Mar 13, 2014 |
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Mar 13, 2014 05:52
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Skandiaavity posted:well, no. Not every place is good as Singapore Sim Lim is over rated, and most home routers are made by the same manufacturers in the world, perhaps the packaging and software(software) is different. But yeah, buying straight from Amazon Prime is definitely a great perk. You guys can make so much money smuggling things and selling boutique baby products or whatever on the local ebay listings. quote:connections have a high probablity of being monitored. Last time I heard, it was the American NSA snooping in on Hong Kong's traffic quote:also in singapore (ditto Australia I hear), it's cheaper to order U.S. food off amazon than it is to buy locally! (it really depends on where you are!) US food is sacred. It's like prison cigarettes. HFC's have this hidden taste and makes everything awesome (and health problems). It's probably cheaper to just buy groceries at your locally unless you want to make a turkey for Thanksgiving. Now if only alcohol can be shipped across State lines then you guys can access craft beers world wide and drink all the Rogue Beer you want! quote:it's not always easy to save money as often times you can/will be the only person working (possibly feeding a 3-4 person household); you forget to take into account some places don't have safe water, etc. It's by no means an easy job & the small things add up quick, but you should be able to save something as the housing is provided. in places where housing is not provided, you may lose out more because you may end up paying extra on top of the stipend they give you. (ex: you prefer a place that is $3500/mo, the stipend is 2800/mo; you will pay $700 a month for that place) I was going to ask. Is employment for spouses difficult because of security issues? There's just a long process to get vetted? And can you do small time part time work like English tutoring on the side? You still get a free house and free schooling for your kids which goes a really long way. Granted, it's a very exclusive job with nice perks but I don't think you guys are in the realm of Hard Times here. That's why bubble expats are the butt of many jokes.
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Mar 13, 2014 10:49
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caberham posted:You guys can make so much money smuggling things and selling boutique baby products or whatever on the local ebay listings. I hope you can see why there's an issue with this statement.
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Mar 13, 2014 13:56
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TCD posted:I hope you can see why there's an issue with this statement. I can.
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Mar 13, 2014 17:27
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Homie S posted:I can. 
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Mar 13, 2014 18:20
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I'm just picturing some junior political officer wrapping up a meeting with a low-level counterpart functionary, furtively looking around, and then slyly opening up his briefcase. "So, friend, now that our negotiations are finished, can I interest you in some hand-crafted educational baby products? What about Frosted Flakes?"
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Mar 13, 2014 22:10
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Is there a stigma about working in an IPC vs ISC -- for career advancement and such? Or, at least, was there one back in the "communicator support" days?
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Mar 13, 2014 22:22
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problematique posted:Is there a stigma about working in an IPC vs ISC -- for career advancement and such? Or, at least, was there one back in the "communicator support" days? Hit me up at work.
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Mar 13, 2014 22:41
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Nutrimentia posted:Who all around here just started A-100? I did! I feel slightly destroyed from my 1.5-hour Russian test today. I actually took an FSI Russian test back in 2007 (as part of a fellowship, not as a fed), and back then I got a 3+/3. However, I really haven't spoken Russian at all in the seven years since. Things were ugly. Still, I feel like I have to have at least gotten a 2/2, and that's all I need at this point.
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Mar 14, 2014 02:05
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Shotar-Didi posted:I did! I feel slightly destroyed from my 1.5-hour Russian test today. Congrats for getting in! I thought you find out your test scores immediately (well, soon thereafter). I'm guessing you'll be language obligated in Russian then? Problematique and I tried to get together for lunch last week but I was struck down by POMA and had to postpone. We should have a little get together sometime.
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Mar 14, 2014 02:21
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Currently going through FS clearance and not yet on the register. I believe everyone has been contacted and all the investigators have submitted their documents. Is it uncouth to reach out to the local investigator to ask about status and a potential timeline? I know the process (and the Department) is notoriously slow, but I thought I might glean some information. I know the FSRB is the next step, I'm just hoping to have any frame of reference re: time. Is there a better contact I should be using?
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Mar 14, 2014 02:30
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Skandiaavity posted:i think he was referring to amazon prime (which does offer free shipping); not that it is always elgible. Just read that Amazon Prime will increase to $99/year starting later this year. Just FYI.
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Mar 14, 2014 02:44
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Nutrimentia posted:Congrats for getting in! I thought you find out your test scores immediately (well, soon thereafter). I'm guessing you'll be language obligated in Russian then? Thanks! A get-together sometime would be great. We have our offsite on March 24-26, but otherwise we have an hour free for lunch at FSI on most days. Yeah, when I took the language test before, I got my scores there at the test, along with feedback from the testers. But this time they gave me a print-out saying that I should look on HR-online for my score in the next couple of days, and that I can make an appointment for feedback if I wish. I came in with an obligation for Russian, since I got bonus points on the Register for passing a Russian phone test. As a local hire, I'm hoping to get assigned to a Russian-speaking post for my first tour, just to get out of DC quickly. I'd really love to spend a long time at FSI for intensive language study--but really only once I'm eligible for per diem.
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Mar 14, 2014 06:50
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zzonkmiles posted:Just read that Amazon Prime will increase to $99/year starting later this year. Just FYI. They auto-renewed my account just a few days ago at $79 so I am good for the next year. Some Amazon shippers just won't ship to a DPO even for something that is totally allowed under the rules. caberham posted:
Clearances can take a long time but you are also competing with other spouses that may have their clearances already, have already done the job you are appyling for or just happened to get to post or assigned to post a little before you. The U.S. also needs to have an agreement to let you work in the host country if you are going to get a job outside the mission. You also have to get permission from your Ambassador. Teaching or subbing at local schools is common. TCD posted:I hope you can see why there's an issue with this statement. DS is watching. 
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Mar 14, 2014 10:02
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Strudelmeyer posted:DS is watching. Hello! 
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Mar 14, 2014 10:36
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Shotar-Didi posted:Thanks! A get-together sometime would be great. We have our offsite on March 24-26, but otherwise we have an hour free for lunch at FSI on most days. Looks like you guys had a good number to choose, 8-10 or something if I remember. Interesting list. So many Mexico . Hopefully you get one you're looking for. I'm at FSI all next week, so we should get lunch with nutrimentia if you're around.
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Mar 14, 2014 20:24
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I'd love a Mexico City gig. Also, I really can't wait for tomorrow afternoon.
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Mar 14, 2014 21:35
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