5 Months Vegan – 10 Observations
I just passed my 5-month mark as a vegan. To be honest, I haven’t been totally vegan the whole time, but maybe 95% of the time. And it...
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May 21, 2018
How I ran my first marathon
On 18 May 2014 I officially became a marathon runner. I finished without any injuries, pains or even soreness (apart from my toes) and I...
May 21, 2018
My running history
HOW I GOT STARTED I started running when I met my husband. It turns out that dating an American turned me from someone who looked down on...
May 21, 2018
Q&A: Curb my enthusiasm?
Hi there. As a diplomat, I expected to move mountains. Even though I work for only limited time in each country (typically 2 or 3 years),...
May 21, 2018
Q&A: Local holidays party-pooper
Hi Christel, do you think I should I (pretend to) enjoy the celebration of local holidays? It seems to me that local celebrations are...
May 21, 2018
Q&A: What (not) to wear to work
Hi Christel, I often wonder what to wear at work in the embassy. I’m an American Foreign Service Officer, so do you think it’s better to...
May 13, 2018
Exploring Armenia (with kids) – Part 1
Armenia is a fantastic country to live in because the people are nice and hospitable, but it also really helps that there’s culture, art,...
May 9, 2018
Hosting a Proper Party: Diplo-Style
It’s that time of the year again – spring! In my house it means that both my husband and I have birthdays to celebrate. Typically, we...
Apr 26, 2018
Why I applied for the Foreign Service (late)
I took the Foreign Service written exam – the first in a series of entry exams – in October 2016. Technically, I could have taken the...
Apr 17, 2018
10 Years of being an EFM
If you have read anything else on my blog so far, you probably know that I’m aspiring to become a diplomat, or Foreign Service Officer...
Apr 15, 2018
5 PROS & CONS of Living in Montevideo (Uruguay)
Uruguayans like to tell a certain joke about their country: they say that if the world would end today, people would still be able to...
Apr 13, 2018
Dilemma: To buy, or not to buy a house
An embassy colleague just bought a house in Washington the other day. "Why?” I asked her immediately. She answered that she is going to...
Apr 13, 2018
Dilemma: How to stay in touch with family & friends
When you live abroad, staying in regular touch with family and friends is not always easy. My parents are divorced and I have a lot of...
Apr 12, 2018
My FSOA Experience: Long Version
If you apply to be a diplomat – a Generalist in the US Foreign Service – you have no choice but to submit yourself to something called...
Apr 10, 2018
Q&A: How to "hit the ground running"?
Hi Christel, I’m about to start a new job at a US embassy. This will be the fourth embassy I will work at but I’m still nervous. They...
Apr 10, 2018
Dilemma: How to name the baby
When you live all over the world, you want to make sure people understand your child’s name. It’s hard for most foreigners to pronounce...
Apr 10, 2018
Q&A: Questionable language skills
Hi Christel, I work as a diplomat in a country where the main language is not English. Before I started this job, I studied the local...
Apr 10, 2018
Foreign Service hiring freeze lifted!
Is the State Department even hiring anymore? If you’re considering taking the Foreign Service exam, or you’re waiting to get hired like...
Apr 9, 2018
DIPLOMACY 101: Public Affairs
Diplomats in the US Foreign Service work in one of five career tracks. Even though they are called "generalists", which means they can...
Apr 2, 2018
“Going local”: risk or benefit?
I don’t know if you’ve heard of the concept of “going local”. It’s like, when a diplomat (or other expat) decides to quit the job and...
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