And So It Begins. . .

After more than a year of jumping through hoops, then waiting, then more hoops, then more waiting, it has finally arrived in my mailbox. . .the letter proclaiming the following:

"On behalf of the Board of Examiners for theForeign Service, I am pleased to inform you that your name has been added to the register of those awaiting appointment to the Foreign Service as an Entry Level Officer in the Public Diplomacy career track."

I have wanted to join the foreign service for at least seven years, but wasn't quite at the point in my present career where I was ready to move on until about a year ago. The U.S. State Department uses a complex hiring process, and over the last fourteen months I have made it through the written exam, the three part oral exam, the medical clearance, the security clearance, and the final suitability panel. I am now on the list of folks waiting to be hired. I am beyond thrilled. There is so much to do to prepare now--seven plus years of accumulated stuff to weed through in the basement and garage and closets, in preparation for our big move to DC and beyond. It is both exciting and terrifying!