Three months

I am still here, I promise. I've been composing post after post in my head, but every night, I get the kids in bed and 9pm rolls around and I have to turn in. It takes longer to post now that I am a diplomat. And I have learned that sleep is a consular officer's best friend. Being tired on a busy visa line is miserable. So I am trying to get more sleep.

I've been thinking a lot about the fact that we have been here for three months. Here are some observations:

- on stuff: there are still piles and boxes everywhere. I haven't had my artwork/photos hung although I did submit a work request this week (yes! Someone will hang our stuff for us!). Even though I now have a ten minute commute, I am still exhausted at night. So I can't blame the state of my house on my commute anymore. Maybe if I stopped going to the beach or something, I'd have time. But I don't think that's a good idea.

- on work: on my first day, I thought I'd never feel at home in the consulate or know what I'm doing. But now people are actually coming to me for advice (on the most basic things, I assure you). By the time I really become an expert, I'll have to move over to immigrant visas. Still, I'm amazed at how far I've come in just 3 mos.

Also, I'm amazed at how emotionally and physically draining consular work is. And we are relatively well staffed, though we often down a person or two due to TDYs (temporary duty assignments- we regularly send staff to Brazil, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands to help out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a chance to go to Havana). Every day, there are a few cases that stick in my mind or heart, both for incredulous reasons (I can't believe he thought I would fall for that!) or for heartbreaking reasons (there are so many sad stories, and many of them do not lead to a visa).

It's also very hard on your body to sit in the same position for hours and do all that clicking with the mouse. I'm working on learning keyboard commands so I can use the mouse less. Bottom line is: by Friday I'm like a wet noodle.

But the great part is that I am loving it. I barely miss my old work, and I definitely don't regret our choice. So that's awesome.

- on driving: I'm still afraid. D does 99% of the driving, but I try to practice on the weekends. You have to be extremely vigilant- people just pull out in front of you or create a lane where there isn't one. But I don't think it's safe for me not to be able to drive, so I'm keeping at it, and I'm improving.

- on illness: we think my husband had a mild form of dengue fever a few weeks ago. Though he was feverish, fatigued, and itchy, I thank our lucky stars that he was never in serious danger. He may or may not let me live down that I dragged him to the Marine Ball in spite of it (in my defense, he was on the mend and we left after dinner...).

- on the kids' adjustment: they are still adjusting. Potty accidents, crying, very fussy eating. They often refer to FSI daycare (L calls it her 'regular school' as opposed to her 'Spanish school') and it feels sad for all of us to know that that time in our lives is over. We are all missing our New Rochelle home a bit too (especially the backyard). But overall I think they are doing fine. They are bonding with teachers and classmates and have lots of American community friends (no Dominican playdates yet, but hopefully soon).

- on household help: it's been both wonderful and a struggle. Having someone to make dinner every night and keep the house clean is a true joy and I am extremely grateful we can employ her. However, our nanny has had a series of family emergencies and has probably a 70% attendance rate at this point. We were very compassionate at first and gave her paid time off...but then started to feel taken advantage of (though we trust her and don't believe she was lying to us). We recently came to an agreement that she could take occasional unpaid days off; since D is not working, it's not critical that someone is here every day.

Since then, though, things have taken a turn for the worse. Her 11yo daughter has sickle cell anemia and it seems as though her organs are failing. I've been trying to learn about the disease and it seems incredibly complicated. I don't know whether she is getting the care she should be getting or not here in the DR. Y told us Thurs. that the doctors don't think her daughter is going to make it. It's just heartbreaking. 

I really can't write anymore about me after that. That's all for tonight.