Good Day!
JA came back to the office so I can go back to learning at a more comfortable pace. The past two weeks I have been frantically working in an attempt to keep up with everything. I failed in my attempt to be JA, but I learned a lot along the way and had many notable successes. I think I have a slight man-crush on him. and BS, but only because he shares my love of all things imperial and the absurd. Overall it was a positive experience. I can now begin to dig out my e-mail inbox.
My mentors responded to my requests to meet up to help me review my bid list! I'm quite excited that they're taking such a keen interest in my professional development. I was surprised to learn that my informal Spanish assessment counted (I got a 2/5; 3 is passing) so this means that I will have fewer Spanish-speaking options in summer and fall 2011, but that opens up other opportunities in the spring. For example, the con-econ job in Bogota will be harder to get, but I will have a better chance of getting Havana. My chances for Nairobi and Djibouti are unaffected.
I received lots of mail today. Granted, one letter was pretty depressing and the other was oblivious, but good intentions were behind them both and ultimately, that's what I like about letters: they demonstrate effort. I even appreciated the one from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Honestly, the only bad part about today (thus far at least), was that I had to see my friend and the girl he dates who I still swoon over. I think he knows, but as long as I don't do anything it doesn't seem to bother him. Somewhat surprisingly, it's not awkward at all. But this made me think about all the girls I've dated and I could not help but feel a little sad that I let so much slip through my fingers in my dogged pursuit of the Foreign Service. Fortunately I've been quite lucky with the women I've dated/been involved with and even the girls who were a little crazy always genuinely meant well.
A good day indeed.
My mentors responded to my requests to meet up to help me review my bid list! I'm quite excited that they're taking such a keen interest in my professional development. I was surprised to learn that my informal Spanish assessment counted (I got a 2/5; 3 is passing) so this means that I will have fewer Spanish-speaking options in summer and fall 2011, but that opens up other opportunities in the spring. For example, the con-econ job in Bogota will be harder to get, but I will have a better chance of getting Havana. My chances for Nairobi and Djibouti are unaffected.
I received lots of mail today. Granted, one letter was pretty depressing and the other was oblivious, but good intentions were behind them both and ultimately, that's what I like about letters: they demonstrate effort. I even appreciated the one from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Honestly, the only bad part about today (thus far at least), was that I had to see my friend and the girl he dates who I still swoon over. I think he knows, but as long as I don't do anything it doesn't seem to bother him. Somewhat surprisingly, it's not awkward at all. But this made me think about all the girls I've dated and I could not help but feel a little sad that I let so much slip through my fingers in my dogged pursuit of the Foreign Service. Fortunately I've been quite lucky with the women I've dated/been involved with and even the girls who were a little crazy always genuinely meant well.
A good day indeed.