My Reputation Precedes Me

You know what makes me feel amazing? Being recruited for something because someone has heard that I'm good.

I know I'm betraying my inner feminist by saying and feeling this way, but I much prefer playing sports on mostly or all male teams. In my experience, the level of competition is much higher, and the thrill that much bigger, when you perform well against people who are automatically assumed to be better than you because of gender. I have played ice hockey on all-male teams since I was 8. I now play floorball. If we can get past the gender divisions in IFF's rules, I will be playing for the Austin men's team for the national championship in California in 6 weeks. And now, I'm going to be playing for the local A-level men's roller hockey league because the owner of the sports arena heard I was a good ice hockey goalie.

My dad used to tell me, "If you're really that good, other people will do your bragging for you." There's no bigger compliment or self-esteem booster than when that sentiment rings true.

2011 Will Be My Year

So, it seems that I will not be getting an offer for any of the 2010 A-100 classes. How do I know? Well, because I was placed on the register at 53, and am languishing still, after two offers, at somewhere in the high-40s. It is highly unlikely that I will be extended an offer in one of the two remaining classes with so many people coming off the DNC list, and so many more passing their OA and jumping onto the register with scores higher than mine.

Le sigh.

The Foreign Service life is nothing if not waiting, so I suppose this is to be expected. Since I have been "afforded" this extra time, I am going to commit myself to trying to change a few things in my life before I get the call, and not just mope around and sulk about how this process is taking just short of FOREVER (for those who are counting, I took my FSOT on February 12, 2009).

Some things I'd like to accomplish while I'm in Austin:

- Get out and really see the city. Make this place my true home so I always have people to come back to, and so I don't end up feeling baseless overseas.

- Make real friends, not just acquaintances. Those of you who know me know that I am a bit of an introvert when it comes to getting to know people. I tend to keep it superficial with most, though I am very attached and loyal to my small inner circle. Because I will be interacting with new people every day, and because my close friends will often be moved around every couple of years, this is a crucial skill to develop.

- Try my best to get fit. I'm a pretty big girl, and, unfortunately, built like my dad. I know that I was never meant to be skinny. That being said, I also don't want to live my life being overweight. I will always be representing America when I'm abroad, and the last thing I want to do is feed into that stereotype. Also, getting in shape is for practicality purposes; what happens if I get assigned to a post in Asia ? I was head and shoulders, literally, above most other people (men included) in India. It's already going to be difficult finding clothing there that fits a 5'10" woman. Why make things more difficult by trying to find clothes to fit one who is plus-size? And, of course, I love sports. I would like to join the Hashers when I get overseas, so being physically fit would be a great start.

- Try to learn a language. I want to get serious about this. My goal? Become at least marginally conversational in Russian, even I get called before I can score bonus points. The former Soviet bloc is of great interest to me, and I hope to specialize in that area in the future. It certainly can't hurt to learn a little something now.

I think it's good to have goals. While I may not achieve everything on this list to the extent I am imagining in my head, I still want to try. If I don't, who knows what kinds of opportunities I may be squandering. I love this city; I won't be here forever; I might as well try my best to enjoy the months I have left, right?

Was your knowledge tested?

Did you know the answers to the questions in the last post? Take a look and find out how you scored!


1. The most-populated capital city in the world is Tokyo, Japan.

2. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, is considered the coldest capital city in the world; the average high temperature in January is a frosty 2 degrees Fahrenheit!

3. At 13,488 feet, La Paz, Bolivia, the highest capital city in the world.

4. The United States of America ranks in the top 5 countries in the world in terms of population, but it is the only one that does not have an official language.

5. Antananarivo is the capital of this 10-letter country. M-A-D-A-G-A-S-C-A-R

6. There are 10 landlocked countries that have navies. Can you name them? (Hint: 2 in South America; 3 in Africa; 4 in Asia; 1 in Europe) Bolivia, Paraguay, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Uganda, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Turkmenistan, and Serbia.

7. South Africa has three capital cities -- one judicial, one executive, one legislative -- none of which is its most populous city.

8. There are 13 sheep for every one person in New Zealand.

9. This tiny country in the Pacific has a population of only 48 people, mostly descendants of the Bounty, no natural harbors, no airport, and communicates with the outside world through satellite phones and internet service. Name it. Pitcairn Islands

10. The number of states/countries which the United States recognizes as independent is 194.

Book Learnin' is Overrated

I love to learn, but I really do not enjoy college. I am currently taking a class on corporate finance. Major yawn. I much prefer organic learning, or learning due to interest or accident. Being forced to learn something causes me to go into extreme procrastination mode--as if I really needed help there.

So, here are some things I've learned about cities and countries around the world that make me only want to know more. How many of the following questions can you answer without the help of Google? Post your answers in the comments!


1. The most-populated capital city in the world is ____________.

2. __________ is considered the coldest capital city in the world; the average high temperature in January is a frosty 2 degrees Fahrenheit!

3. At 13,488 feet, ___________ is the highest capital city in the world.

4. __________ ranks in the top 5 countries in the world in terms of population, but it is the only one that does not have an official language.

5. Antananarivo is the capital of this 10-letter country.

6. There are 10 landlocked countries that have navies. Can you name them? (Hint: 2 in South America; 3 in Africa; 4 in Asia; 1 in Europe)

7. __________ has three capital cities -- one judicial, one executive, one legislative -- none of which is its most populous city.

8. There are 13 sheep for every one person in __________.

9. This tiny country in the Pacific has a population of only 48 people, mostly descendants of the Bounty, no natural harbors, no airport, and communicates with the outside world through satellite phones and internet service. Name it.

10. The number of states/countries which the United States recognizes as independent is __________.

You Should Live Here: Austin, TX

I've had the luck of getting to meet a few future colleagues in both Boston, MA, and Austin, TX. Not that I don't have love for you Massholes--I spent 24 years of my life growing up there--but there is something about Austinites that just makes me smile. I think a large part of it has to do with the fact that most of the people here are transplants. When you're new to a place, you try your best to meet new people and make friends. That attitude just sticks. Things are also really laid back here, and Austin isn't exactly what you would picture when you think of Texas. P (a future diplomat) said it best yesterday: "Austin is big-city convenience with a small-town feel." He's dead-on. Austin proper has a population of about 750k, while the Austin Metro area has a population of about 1.7m. That's a lot of people! Still, it's a haven for home-grown businesses and a laid-back lifestyle. Picture Burlington, VT only bigger and much, much hotter. I love it here!

My new-found friends and I watched the US not lose to England (poor Rob Green, though, did you see him getting beat up mercilessly by the British press? He will NEVER live that goal down) at an incredibly busy Cuatros, and then we went for some tasty Mexican at Wahoo's Fish Taco. And to top it off? Jenga, Skee-ball, tabletop shuffleboard, and king-size checkers over drinks at Kung Fu Saloon. Is there really a more fun afternoon? If I have to be poor and struggling in some city in America, I'd prefer it to be here. Would you like to live in a one-bedroom apartment in a nice, gated community with a pool-side cabana area with two gas grills and outdoor refrigerators, on-site dog park, free Wii and XBox rentals, which is pet friendly for less than $600/month? In the words of the great philosopher, Sarah Palin, You Betcha.

So tonight it's off to floorball where we will have our work cut out for us (no subs tonight, and then a fill-in game for one of the absent goalies), but it's all in the name of fun. I will do my best to forget I have to wake up at 5:30 for my awful job, and at this rate, I don't think that will be too hard.

So, in summary, this is Austin. You should live here.

Soldiering Through (a.k.a. Today Made Me Cry and I'm Going to Complain about it Here)

I know that, somehow or other, things sort of just work out in my favor. I often go through a lot of stress and aggravation in either finding or waiting for a solution, but things always work out in my favor.

However, there are days like today when I just get overwhelmed and end up in tears. Nothing that happened today was particularly awful on its own, but it's more along the lines of having a pebble in your shoe all day, and then another, and another, until finally you just need to call it quits and stop walking.

I'm way overtired, mostly because I have been working 7:00 - 6:00 for the last two weeks straight trying to get enough money together to pay my bills, and I have an hour and a half commute every day. I'm out of the house for about 12.5 hours minimum per day. I have only 2 or so hours to be at home with my dogs and relax before I go to sleep and get up to start it all over again. It's tough on them and me. As I cleaned up after one of my dogs this morning on our walk, I noticed something that was less-than-great--a worm. This is bad because once one dog gets them, it's almost impossible for the other to not get them. I think I caught it pretty early, as there was only one that I could see, but the medicine won't get to me until early next week. Not only was it money I didn't really have to spend (and this is even after getting a very discounted medicine online), but my poor pup has to live with those disgusting parasites until Tuesday because I'm so broke.

I'm also getting sick. My glands are swollen and I've had a headache all day, so I know this is the beginning stage of whatever I've contracted. I thought my day was already pretty lousy, but 5 minutes before I had to leave work some jerkoff called and was a complete and utter shithead to me. This is how the conversation went (and I am not exaggerating):

ME: "Hello, thank you for calling [my work], how may I help you?"
SHITHEAD: "Yeah, I got a order number for you."
ME: "Unfortunately, our system went down about 15 minutes ago, so I can't pull up your order, but if you tell me what's going on I might be able to troubleshoot it blind."
SHITHEAD: "I SAID I GOT A ORDER NUMBER FOR YOU!"
ME: "Sir, I apologize, but our systems are down. I cannot look up anything regarding your order or your account, but I might be able to help you if you can tell me what is going on with your order."
SHITHEAD: "Okay, so, um, I got this product that y'all sent to me, and I returned it, and y'all were supposed to, like, set up an exchange for me, but I ain't got nothin' now."
ME: "Ah, okay. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to see if they've set up the new order for you, or if they've processed the return. If you call us back first thing in the morning when we reopen, we can certainly help you then."
SHITHEAD, Belligerently: "NAH, NAH, NAH! See, you said TWICE that you could help me if I told you what was going on, and I have my order number, but you ain't done nothin' for me! THIS IS BULLSHIT!"
ME: "Sir, I told you I MIGHT be able to help you. Like I said, our system went down 15 minutes ago, and I cannot see anything at all regarding your return, or a replacement order."
SHITHEAD: "NAH, THAT'S BULLSHIT! YOU SAID YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME, AND NOW YOU'RE NOT DOING SHIT!"
ME, getting angry now, but remaining calm: "Sir, I did not guarantee that I'd be able to help you. I said MIGHT. MIGHT means that it's possible I can, and it's possible I can't. Unfortunately, I cannot help you. You will have to call back tomorrow."
SHITHEAD: "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT 'MIGHT' MEANS! IT MEANS YOU A DUMBASS BITCH!"

At that point I terminated the call and reported his number to my managers (neither of whom work late, so that's accountability for you). It's not even like I took his remarks personally, I'm just angry at people like him for being such terrible examples of human beings. Where is the civility? I don't have to have been born 50 years ago to tell you that manners, by and large, are non-existent in today's causal society. And the way people treat those in service positions is just atrocious. I'd had enough, and it was time for me to leave work, so I packed up and left.

Only I had more than an hour to drive home because there was an accident. I was just ready for the day to be over. So I got home, sat down on my couch, and I just started crying. Sometimes I get so beat down by the day-to-day that it's hard to remain positive.

On the bright side, tomorrow is Friday. Also, I'm hosting a potluck barbecue this weekend for some local FSO wannabes, so I do have something to look forward to, if I can just get past today.