I can finally write about where I'm headed after I leave Muscat, Oman. I haven't been able to post it here because I hadn't told my 96 year old father. How to tell him where I was headed was something I thought long and hard about. I've known for over a month I was going to Lahore, Pakistan but wasn't sure how to tell him. Many of my friends here said just tell him some you're going to some other country and he won't worry about you. But lying to my Dad just was not the route I wanted to go. So I sent an email and was honest about it and so...now he knows and he supports me!
Of all places in Pakistan, Lahore is the safest. The timing is perfect as I race toward my June 30, 2014 retirement date, and the current OMS there said she likes it so much she is extending for another year. That spoke volumes to me and helped me make the decision to pursue the position there, which is, once again, in security.
I am now in the process of completing the mountain of paperwork, making decisions about everything and trying to figure out just what I will take with me. I won't take anything with me that I wouldn't be OK with walking away from should there be an ordered departure (evacuation). Just what will I miss the most? Probably all the GORGEOUS silk carpets I've bought here in Oman! Oh well...2 years flies by so quickly, I'll be reunited with them before I know it.
Life is, indeed, an adventure. Mine continues and hopefully, I will have some very interesting stories to tell about my time in Pakistan. The tour is for 1 year but I intend to request it to be 2 years. That way I don't have to worry about finding a 1 year assignment in June 2013. I have had such a wonderful time in Oman, it will be hard to leave. This is a gorgeous country and the people are wonderful. Right now, it's winter and the temperature is in the 70s, cooling off to the 60s at night.
Tonight I fly off to enjoy a week in Paris, France! I invited my daughter to meet me there but unfortunately, she can't. So me and my camera will just have to have fun by ourselves! I've been watching the weather reports and it's cold and there's a chance of snow tomorrow! It's been over 4 years since I experienced any cold weather, so I had to go find some cold weather shoes. I am now set! I can't wait...Christmas in the City of Lights!
Of all places in Pakistan, Lahore is the safest. The timing is perfect as I race toward my June 30, 2014 retirement date, and the current OMS there said she likes it so much she is extending for another year. That spoke volumes to me and helped me make the decision to pursue the position there, which is, once again, in security.
I am now in the process of completing the mountain of paperwork, making decisions about everything and trying to figure out just what I will take with me. I won't take anything with me that I wouldn't be OK with walking away from should there be an ordered departure (evacuation). Just what will I miss the most? Probably all the GORGEOUS silk carpets I've bought here in Oman! Oh well...2 years flies by so quickly, I'll be reunited with them before I know it.
Life is, indeed, an adventure. Mine continues and hopefully, I will have some very interesting stories to tell about my time in Pakistan. The tour is for 1 year but I intend to request it to be 2 years. That way I don't have to worry about finding a 1 year assignment in June 2013. I have had such a wonderful time in Oman, it will be hard to leave. This is a gorgeous country and the people are wonderful. Right now, it's winter and the temperature is in the 70s, cooling off to the 60s at night.
Tonight I fly off to enjoy a week in Paris, France! I invited my daughter to meet me there but unfortunately, she can't. So me and my camera will just have to have fun by ourselves! I've been watching the weather reports and it's cold and there's a chance of snow tomorrow! It's been over 4 years since I experienced any cold weather, so I had to go find some cold weather shoes. I am now set! I can't wait...Christmas in the City of Lights!
2 comments:
congratulations on your assignment. That does speak volumes that the current OMS is extending. And have a wonderful holiday in Paris!
Bfiles, as each day passes, I get more excited about the final installment of my Foreign Service career. One more assignment of 1 year with the hopes of a 1 year extension and I'll be out in the street! I will be exploring other possible jobs in the government that don't have mandatory retirement at age 65. Wish me luck!
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