On Work
The past two weeks I think I have been working about 12-13 hours per day because JA has been out of the office, which means I have been responsible for everything economic that comes across the desk. Even though I feel that I've learned as much or more while filling in than I have in the past two months, I still feel behind; I still have hundreds of unopened e-mails in my two e-mail inboxes. I'm fortunate because I enjoy what I do and working with my colleagues; were it otherwise I think I'd be very unhappy right now. Last night I went to a dance party in Adams Morgan sponsored by the aptly titled U.S. Department of Bhangra. One Sikh was ripping up the dance floor and there were a few white people who gave a pretty good effort. I was happy to be there, but I left relatively early because I wanted to avoid an awkward situation, go see Miller (but is always in bed before one now), and get up for a soccer game (which I later found out was cancelled). The self-described "brown people" of my office are my favorites. BS shares my love of everything imperial and I love ND's sarcasm and humor. Both are also a good dancers. Their knowledge and experience with Indian culture makes me want to rediscover my ethnic roots and become a real Irish Jew and learn how to cook Jewish food, ferment grapes from Israel into wine, learn Irish dancing and music.
This weekend I have to finalize my draft bid list for my next assignment. I am quite excited at the prospect of going abroad, but I'm still surprised that not only do I not really have strong feelings about where I'd like to go, I've only glanced at the list and this is a little disconcerting even for someone as spontaneous and impulsive as I. I think I'd prefer to go to Latin America for a consular-econ rotation (in that order) for my first tour abroad because it's relatively close to my friends and family, I could top-off my Spanish all while jumping into economic work, but a myriad of other posts appeal to me also: Tel-Aviv, Israel; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia are just a few.
I'm wary of becoming a boring old bureaucrat. Playing soccer, volunteering on the ambulance, and going out all help, but I feel like I need to develop more fun skills. But really I just want to be as cool as Sherif and have a cool band, but the sad truth is I have very little music talent.
It's a little weird seeing many people I used to know relatively well in really serious relationships, living together, engaged, married, or (gulp) parents. I surprised myself when I told Lacey how alien all of those ideas seem to me right now. While most other people are beginning to settle down, I'm just getting ready to explore. I'm anxious to get on with it already, but I know it will mean I will become remain rootless for quite some time and despite all of the fun that I know will be at my fingertips, it's a little unsettling to think my decision will necessarily weaken my relationships with those I care about.
This weekend I have to finalize my draft bid list for my next assignment. I am quite excited at the prospect of going abroad, but I'm still surprised that not only do I not really have strong feelings about where I'd like to go, I've only glanced at the list and this is a little disconcerting even for someone as spontaneous and impulsive as I. I think I'd prefer to go to Latin America for a consular-econ rotation (in that order) for my first tour abroad because it's relatively close to my friends and family, I could top-off my Spanish all while jumping into economic work, but a myriad of other posts appeal to me also: Tel-Aviv, Israel; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia are just a few.
I'm wary of becoming a boring old bureaucrat. Playing soccer, volunteering on the ambulance, and going out all help, but I feel like I need to develop more fun skills. But really I just want to be as cool as Sherif and have a cool band, but the sad truth is I have very little music talent.
It's a little weird seeing many people I used to know relatively well in really serious relationships, living together, engaged, married, or (gulp) parents. I surprised myself when I told Lacey how alien all of those ideas seem to me right now. While most other people are beginning to settle down, I'm just getting ready to explore. I'm anxious to get on with it already, but I know it will mean I will become remain rootless for quite some time and despite all of the fun that I know will be at my fingertips, it's a little unsettling to think my decision will necessarily weaken my relationships with those I care about.