The DipNotes » PCS http://thedipnotes.com A career abroad serving America in the U.S. Foreign Service Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:27:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Baghdad bound http://thedipnotes.com/2010/06/12/baghdad-bound/ http://thedipnotes.com/2010/06/12/baghdad-bound/#comments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:50:30 +0000 Peter Kennett http://thedipnotes.com/2010/06/12/baghdad-bound/ After much discussion, Megan and I decided it would be a good idea to take an assignment to the sand box together. The chances of being assigned there as a tandem are really high, the extra R&R breaks and extra pay will be fun, and hazardous posts usually help our career progression.

Baghdad assignment opportunities came out this week, and I found two I really like – one in the INL (Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement) and IM (computer systems). I sent off my resume to both, and INL has shown a lot of interest. They’ve called and emailed my colleagues and told one that so far I am high up on their list. The POL/MIL (Political/Military) office in Baghdad also saw my resume and emailed that they are very interested as well. No word from the IM folks.

It appears in all likelihood I’ll get one of these jobs, so now I need to make sure Megan gets a job too. That will be the deal-breaker. It’s pretty cool to have the cards in my hands for a change!

]]> http://thedipnotes.com/2010/06/12/baghdad-bound/feed/ 2 Leaving Pakistan – rest stop in London http://thedipnotes.com/2009/09/10/rest-stop-london/ http://thedipnotes.com/2009/09/10/rest-stop-london/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:59:33 +0000 Peter Kennett http://thedipnotes.com/?p=352 I just departed Pakistan and landed in one of my all-time favorite cities, London, and boy do love this city!    I’m taking an authorized “rest-stop” which is a free night in a hotel we are authorized to receive to break up long trips over 13 hours.  Since the flight from Islamabad to Washington DC fits that rule, I opted for a rest-stop in London.  Many Foreign Service members do not use this benefit, as you have to grab all your luggage, and haul it to a hotel, and then go through the check-in procedure again the next day.  But I always take it, which I admit is not as difficult than if I had pets or children to care for.  I also asked that my flight to Washington continue an extra day later, giving me an additional night in London (at my own expense of course, however I do receive the first night’s lodging and transportation to/from the airport, plus one day’s meals paid by the State Department).

Paddington Bear
Paddington Underground (subway)By the way – as I headed into the city, I realized that it’s impossible to think of “Paddington Station” without thinking of a bear in a large hat.  It just can’t be done.

Anyway, I took the train from Heathrow airport to my hotel, showered, and went to the West End where there are a lot of street artists and great food.   The city is filled with so much to see and do!   Later I walked down this one street that was lined on both sides by French sidewalk cafes and restaurants. I sat down and ordered a nice baked halibut on top of seasonal ratatouille. Man was that good!   The weather here is fantastic.

Later in the evening I saw the play “Oliver Twist”, which was surprising quite good.

The next day I spent several hours at Westminster Abbey to pay my respects to the tombs of Henry V, Elizabeth I, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, and many others in the most incredible building in England, which is impossible to describe. To call Westminster Abbey a “beautiful church” is like calling the Grand Canyon a nice valley. No words do it justice. It must be seen to be appreciated.  later I headed over to the Imperial British War Museum, which was a lot of fun for an old WWII buff like me.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

]]> http://thedipnotes.com/2009/09/10/rest-stop-london/feed/ 0