A-100: Week 5 + 2.2

Yes, A-100 is only 5 weeks long and it’s 2.2 weeks since we graduated.  Life always gets busy.  Rather than lots of boring details, let me give you the broad overview of the past couple weeks.

First, the briefing pace never let up.  Some were excellent, others were not.  We learned about Afghanistan policy, USAID, diplomatic history, cable writing, how to hand questions from challenging audiences, to reclaiming the torch of knowledge from the titans.  OK, maybe we were not all prometheans, but we did participate in an off-site leadership exercise.  The off-site was quite a bit of fun and provided tons of opportunities to bond.

Second, I signed on with Trident MMA down in Dale City.  I only get to go twice a week, but I love the Filipino Martial Arts and Thai Boxing that I get to do down there.  I highly recommend the place if anyone is on the market.

Third, I’ve been eating food.  Enough said.  I finally ate at a place called Ravi Kabab on Glebe Rd.  Amazing Pakistani food.  I’ve had both the lamb and chicken kebab lunch and both are delicious. I highly recommend the place to anyone in the area.

Fourth.  In case you missed the headline on the front page, Marjie and I are being posted to Hanoi, Vietnam.  We ship out some time in the Spring of next year.  I’m going to be a consular officer.  Yeeha!

Finally, that’s it for this update. Not too much else to report.  I’ll start Vietnamese language class in September.  Aside from the basic consular course in July, life is pretty relaxed and focused on how to be useful when I get overseas.