ConGen

This will have to be quick. I should be doing something more productive, but once the kids go to bed, I am worn out!

I must say that my basic Consular course (ConGen) is awesome. I love it. I'm totally overwhelmed, but it's fabulous. It appeals to my detailed and organized nature- I am really looking forward to actually doing my job! I wish I could say more about it, but I'm not allowed. This blog will have to focus on my life outside work.

I really wish I had pushed myself to accomplish more over the last month, because I am now quite busy. All that "white space" during ConGen? Um, yea. There's a reason. During that time, I'm supposed to be reading the instructional guides or working on Case Studies. I'm also taking the Spanish for Consular tradecraft course, which requires 1-2 hours of computer work plus an hour of conversation practice every week.

So now I'm stressed. Because I have to not only excel at this course, but also get us ready to leave for post. Ack. Somehow, it'll get done.

I hope.

To-do list

Well, first of all, Happy Father's day to my husband, our dads (we have quite a few...), and all those fathers out there who read my blog!!

Before I jump into ConGen tomorrow, I thought I'd take a moment to discuss what we need to do this week. I always loved reading these posts when I was waiting, so maybe there is another nutcase out there like me. :)

It's starting to feel like we are very close to leaving. I have been ignoring the to-do list for the past 2 weeks, concentrating on Spanish, but now it's time to get focused. Here are a few things on my mind:
- buy a car and get it shipped in the next month
- book our airline tix and hotel in San Juan (yes, we travel to Puerto Rico for 2 days for consultations with the Dept of Homeland Security. We are pretty excited! Most of my friends travel to Houston or San Francisco, also nice cities, but I think I win.)
- start vaccinations (I only need two. The kids need their rabies series - 3 shots within 28 days, I think. That'll be fun. Otherwise they are pretty well covered with standard childhood vax. Daddy, on the other hand, is going to get pricked...)
- find adult & ped dentists that are covered by BCBS. I know, it is like having no coverage at all. Does anyone have a rec?
- buy a scanner and get started on my paperwork purge. I'm sure this Round-up on paperwork  will help! I can do this. I just have to dedicate the time.

Yes, there are tons more things on the list. But I think this is a good start. 

Spanish

3+/3+ (speaking/reading)

This is a good score. I'm pleased. I only needed a 3/3 for my job, so I'm humbled that I exceeded the necessary score. I'm grateful for my 4 mos of training and my excellent teachers.

But on the other hand, I'm disappointed in myself. I made some really dumb errors. Things that I knew. Or things that I should have known. I'm pretty sure I've never said the word "contracted" before, as in "contracted a disease," but I said it like 5 times today, all wrong. In case you're wondering, the past tense of contraer is contrajo (just like traer = trajo). Not contrato (can't figure out how to add an accent on the 2nd o). Ugh.

And there's that "I work for" error that I've been making for 20 years, and I thought I had finally fixed after 4 mos. You say "trabajo PARA" not "trabajo POR". But I said the wrong one today. So frustrating.

I know I'm not the first person to pick apart her test, kicking herself for each error. But here I am. Frankly, I'm pretty psyched about the 3+ in reading. When I first started Spanish class, I would have cried if I had gotten the reading I got today. But I muddled through and apparently did decently.

I'm really glad it's over. And I'm happy with my score. Mostly.

It feels like a big milestone. On to ConGen on Monday. In the meantime, meetings with my Desk officer, vaccinations, MD appointments for the kids, etc.

Time to move on...

Well, here it is- my last week of Spanish (hopefully!). Last week my two classmates (and another friend who started out with us) passed their Spanish tests with flying colors (yea!!) and moved on from the halls of the Spanish section. It felt strange and a bit sad to be left behind, but I'm a big girl and I'll be ok. I've had class with another woman who joined our class a few weeks ago, but she tested on Friday and so I had 4 hours of solo conversation with my Cuban teacher on Friday. That was pretty cool. Not sure what's going to happen tomorrow or Tues, but on Wed I will test and *hopefully* move on to the next frontier: ConGen!

ConGen is short for Consular General, which is the class that will teach me how to actually do my job. I'm looking forward to it, as everyone says it's a great course.

Last week two of our best friends left. Buen viaje, amigos! Espero que nos veamos pronto.

I should probably go do some review or something!

whew!

What a week! Our social calendar is wearing me out. We started the week with a birthday party for M at Burke Lake Park  (pictures to come), and then we had something going on every night. Two of my closest friends/neighbors from A-100 are leaving in the next week and so we're trying to see them as much as possible until they leave. And one of my oldest FS friends (she's been in 10 years, I think!) is also leaving soon. So many goodbyes in this new job. I know my friends are excited to head to post but it is sad to see them go...they are one of the reasons we've loved living here so much. It's been so fun to have friends right in the building who just stop by for a visit. And who knows when we'll see each other again? On the other hand, who's to say we won't be posted in the same country next time? This life is full of surprises.

Yesterday was my little guy's fifth birthday! I can't believe I have a 5 year old! Stay tuned for a birthday post.

And in the midst of it all, we received our DR housing!! We had heard that all families are assigned houses, so we were surprised to receive an apartment. But it is beautiful and close to work, so I think it will work out fine. My husband loves to walk around a city so I'm hopeful it will really be good for him.

Now that it's June, it's all getting very real. I test in 1.5 weeks. We leave in two months!!