Congrats, 160th!

Yesterday was Flag Day for the 160th, and it was as fun as ever. Most people looked really delighted with their assignments. I love to watch the families and see their reactions- shrieking, fist pumping, tears of relief, silent prayers, mad texting after the announcement, it's all there (if there were tears of sadness, I didn't see them!). I felt a bit like a proud parent since this was the class we sponsored. Good luck and congratulations, 160th! May your FS careers be long, happy, and successful!

As much as I would love to serve in many of the countries on their list, there was only one country I was really envious about: Brazil. Ever since I visited Brazil in 1998 with some Peace Corps friends, I have longed to live there and learn Portuguese. The good news is that there are tons of positions and it's one of the big four in Consular work (Mexico, India, China, Brazil). However, I do hear it's hard to get training in a world language after you receive tenure, especially if you already speak one, so there is a part of me that is nervous we will never be assigned there. I will just have to wait; there is nothing to do about it now, but I think about it often.

Last night we had a little happy hour with some DR-bound friends. Only 3 others came, but we had a good time. We have been receiving more information from post and I'm getting excited. I am so grateful that we received such a wonderful first assignment. 

Sales everywhere

I just need to report that Macy's is having a massive sale through Monday and luggage is like 50% off, plus 25% off, plus perhaps 10% if you use your Macy's card or jump up and down and blog about Macy's while standing on your head...you get the picture.

What I'm trying to say is: the B household is getting new luggage! Whohoo! I love luggage. We only have like 3 large bags which means we need like 5 more!! I think we'll buy 2 lightweight suitcases and 2 duffles (yes, I know this does not add up to 5 but I don't think I can convince the B husband to go for 5 in one fell swoop) but I haven't decided quite yet.

I also want to say that I may be getting a little too excited about the prospect of needing hot weather clothes for 2 whole years. I love summer clothes. Thinking about buying lots of them is so much fun. Of course, I tried on like 50 pretty spring color tops today and only bought 3, 2 of which were black. So I have some work to do. Do you think I need a summer cocktail dress? Never needed one before, but hey, this is a whole new life....

I always seem to end up shopping on my Administrative days...

el tiempo pasa volando

Last night I looked at the calendar and got totally weirded out that it's practically May already. April seems to have FLOWN by. All day, I kept thinking about how quickly time is passing now. A few of my close A-100 friends and neighbors here at FC have passed their Spanish exams and moved on to ConGen. They will be leaving in June and I'm already feeling sad about it. I have a date for my Spanish exam: June 15. And we have a departure date: Aug. 9!

I think the weather is contributing to this feeling, too. It's been 82 and sunny for 2 days in a row and makes me think summer is here. Of course, it'll go back to 50 and rainy soon enough, but since we leave in the dead of summer, it makes me feel like it's almost time to go.

I have started purging again- clothes and toys are first to go. Luckily Goodwill is right next to FSI- did they do that on purpose? Very smart.

It's also time to buy things! Luggage, car, bedding for the kids, spring clothes. I'd better watch myself as it's only April. :)

We have 2-3 Admin days per month, when we finish class at 10am and are allowed to leave around 1pm to complete necessary tasks. So far, I've been using them for shopping, party prep, cleaning up the house, etc, but I need to start using them to complete tasks like my Shutterfly baby books (which I want to get done before leaving for post) or scanning and organizing paperwork. I like the former task but the latter really bites.

Anyway, that's what's on my mind. That and the fact that my baby girl is now sleeping in a big girl bed. I can't believe how time flies.

My girl turned three..

Last weekend was so crazy that I've only just recovered. My mother in law came to visit for L's third birthday. It was wonderful to have her here, but the time passed too fast with too much happening. In addition to the birthday, it was my 20 year high school reunion and my grandfather's year anniversary with his new wife. We also had old friends in town for a visit. I needed a weekend to rest after my weekend!

In FS news, there was some brief drama when the Spanish section sent an email to my CDO (career development officer) saying that I was on track to meet my Spanish goal of a 3 in speaking/3 in reading before my scheduled test date of mid-June. In fact, they think I've already met my reading goal (I had an evaluation a few weeks ago to assess my progress) and wanted to know whether they should change my test date to May. For the record, no one ran this by me before sending the email. I was briefly worried but emailed my CDO to request that I stay in Spanish until June, and he agreed. So, as of now, I'm still on track to test in mid-June and start ConGen right after. Of course, things could always change. I'd rather not go to post early, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. D is taking the kids to OR at the end of July, so if I get sent early, I might have to go alone.

We still have the same Venezuelan teacher, and I continue to love him and his energy, but I wouldn't mind a bit of a shake up. I know people who have had multiple teachers in just a few months, so mostly I'm grateful we've been stable with a good teacher.

I took the security overseas course this week (well, one day..had to stay home with my sick daughter the other). It was a bit sobering but good to know.

Here are a few pictures of little L's birthday. She was completely adorable. We invited her daycare friends to a party at the Playseum in Bethesda, where they played, listened to a story, and decorated cupcakes. Later that night, some friends in our building helped us celebrate again with pizza and cake. I had promised L a kitty cat cake, and after not finding any at the grocery stores, I was obligated to make my own. Luckily, she wasn't too discriminating.

Here she is all dressed for the party

I was really nostalgic all weekend and wanted to be close to my little girl. I can't believe she's three already. Just a minute ago she looked like this.

I'm back!

I used to be so disappointed and frustrated when bloggers I followed intently stopped posting once they started A-100. But here I am, becoming one of those people...I really don't want to do that. It's just that I have no time during the day to blog (and don't want to do it from FSI) and at night, once the kids are in bed and the dishes are done, I have approximately one hour to do everything I need to do on the computer. AND, my husband and I are usually competing for the computer. There is also the fact that it takes longer to compose a post, as I have to be more careful. 

I also really miss following blogs! I try to visit my favorites every now and then, but it's not as often as I'd like. Sigh. The sad thing is that this is probably as tranquil as my life is going to get in the next few years. My hours and commute are a dream, and life really isn't too demanding. So I'm resolved to keep trying!

Wanted to share the obligatory Cherry blossom pictures! We visited two weeks in a row. After seeing so many pics of the gorgeous trees on FS blogs last year, I was determined to go, and I'm so happy that we did. Some A-100 friends joined us both times, and we had picnics on the mall. 

Spanish is still going great. 2 months to go. Even though I love my current teacher, after 6 weeks with him, I'm beginning to see the wisdom of changing teachers and classes around regularly. I think we're all a bit bored, so we'll see what happens next. A few of our classmates are taking their exam this week for June departures- good luck, guys!