My Final Christmas Abroad

Christmas is a time that is best spent with family and friends.  Serving in the Foreign Service, most of the time those friends are new friends, made at your current assignment.  This is good, but, as Dorothy once said, there's no place like home.

I don't know how people managed to do this work prior to the great internet.  I mean...they had to write a letter, put a stamp on it and then hope that there was some kind of postal service where they were serving. Then it probably took a month or more to get to the intended recipient.  Then another month or 2 to get a response.  And forget about calling on the phone!  Talk about making a sacrifice!

I've been fortunate to really enjoy the people I've worked with.  I mean, I have to admit that there were times when I had to really work to keep my mouth shut and just nod my head, but for the most part, I've loved my job for the past 6 years.  I don't know that I would change anything or anyone about it.  I've learned lots about security and more importantly, about myself in the process.  When you're in the comfort of your hometown of Anywhere, U.S.A., the thought of chucking it all and living in who knows where might intimidate most people.  I decided to do just that in 2007 and applied to the Department of State.  Best thing I ever did for myself.

About learning about myself...The people I've met, places I've seen and things I've experienced would have never ever happened if I had not taken this job. I've knocked so many things off my Bucket List!  I've discovered the adventurous side of myself and I'm going to have to work at not letting it fade once I retire in June.  I have a few things in mind to keep me busy when I'm no longer gainfully employed.

In the meantime, I look forward to more time with three angels...my grandsons.  That will mean seeing them more than just once a year on Home Leave.  Somewhere in my budgeting, I'll have to find room for a couple of trips to Hawaii a year to see them.

Next Christmas instead of saying Merry Christmas to my son, his wife and my grandsons on Facebook, I hope to be there Christmas morning watching them open the presents from Santa and me, Yaya. That thought will carry me for the next year as I sit here and celebrate my final Christmas overseas...and in of all places...Karachi.

Merry Christmas to you all!

   

Surprise!!

Here in Karachi (or anywhere overseas for that matter), it's always a treat to get mail.  Even junk mail. Some days I'd even settle for my monthly edition of AARP, that I get about once every 3 months.  They just can't find me. The guy in the mail room sends out an email that announces "You Have Mail!"  It always puts a smile on our faces when we leave the mail room with a box.  

Today was special.  Today I received a Care Package with some wonderful yummy things! 

Lynne, you made my day!  What a treat to get some goodies from back home!  One act of kindness deserves another...watch your mailbox for a little something from me...my way of saying thanks! 

Plenty Good!

Suggestions...

Wow...so many have asked me just what they can send me in a care package.  I have come up with some suggestions, light weight, inexpensive and readily available.  But first, let me take this opportunity to say that so many are serving overseas and would love this kind of gift.  I remember once reading an Ann Landers column that gave an address for Care Packages for those serving overseas.  With the holidays coming, it would be wonderful for them to receive a small care package also. Perhaps the Red Cross knows of an organization who can get a box of goodies to others serving at hardship posts around the world.  I don't know if it's possible but it certainly would be nice.

OK, here are a few things that would put a smile on my face....and  again...thank you so much!

I have no Christmas decorations.  :(

 

Any scents are great! Now that it has cooled off, they might arrive in the same shape they leave!

Chocolate...need I say more?

 We have mosquitoes here and Dengue fever is common. 

Red and black "Red Vines" licorice and jujubes...naturally!! (Target has both the licorice and jujubes.) :) 

For some reason, Italian seasoning is just not something sold in Pakistan!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming...love this for stuffing!

Great snack!

A mainstay for me...makes great chicken fajitas!

I threw away my last old wooden spoon...and who can't function without a wooden spoon?

Update on Care Package Address

Jeez, as soon as I posted my address, I received my new one for Karachi.  It's almost the same...Unit 6150 Box 142, DPO AE 09814.  Anything sent to the other address, which was in Islamabad, will be forwarded to me.

To those who asked for my address, a heartfelt thanks to you!  :o)

Care Packages??

I've been asked about an address to send a 'care package' for me.  What a  nice thing to do!  My address is Debi Demetrion, Unit 6160 Box 3057, DPO AE 09812.

Thanks in advance!!

Update 2...About to be Unstuck in Islamabad

Things are about to change.

There are several of us here in Islamabad, having been evacuated from Lahore back in early August.  Everyone is waiting on a memo from Washington DC, among other things, guaranteeing credit for a full term served here as well as the onward assignment that many were able to get by volunteering for service in Pakistan.  So far, no news.

My situation is a bit different from everyone else's.  I retire in June and the probability of me finding another job in the State Department (hopefully overseas) was slim.  I had just about resigned myself to winding up my career in DC, stuck in some mundane job, just waiting for June.

If you happen to be an employee of the government, you know that things never happen quickly.  Never. Proposals are submitted, sit in someone's inbox, reviewed, thought about, passed on to the next person for review/approval/rejection...and on and on.  We seem to wait forever for something and then once it is either approved or denied, we have to remember just what we requested in the first place.  It's just the way things are.

Two weeks ago, I was told about a position in Karachi that fit my needs perfectly.  The incumbent was leaving very soon and her replacement wasn't arriving until June.  And it was in the Regional Security Office, which is the section I've worked in all 3 tours.  Perfect!  We started the ball rolling and thanks to everyone here in Islamabad who didn't let an email sit in their inbox for more than a few minutes, I will probably be leaving for Karachi sometime next week.  The really good news is my house in Lahore will be packed out and I will be reunited with all my worldly possessions!  I can finally get rid of the 6 outfits I've been wearing since August 9th.

The best part of all this is that I finally know where I'll be for the next 7 months.  That's been the hardest part of this evacuation...not knowing.

In the meantime, I'm organizing my 6 outfits and the things I've accumulated during the time I've been in Islamabad and getting ready to move to Karachi.  I wonder if I'll need a fire permit to burn those outfits...

Update...Still Stuck in Islamabad

It is Day 36 of my Ordered Departure from Lahore.  Islamabad is definitely not Lahore!  I miss the people I work with, the culture, the massive traffic jams of tuk-tuks, cyclists, cars, buses, men on bicycles, animal drawn carts...yes, I miss it all.  And I miss my own bed.

I need to add another item to my previous post on what to grab if you're ever told to pack up to leave.  Just assume you might, just might not return.  Take important documents, expensive jewelry, the bulky laptop in addition to the iPad.  It's looking more and more like we might never return and my household could be packed up by strangers.  I left documents in my house that I would need immediately upon arrival back home in Texas.  If they were all packed up with everything else, I might not see them for months (the Pakistan government is holding our shipments for at least 90 days and then it's another 6 weeks on a ship).  So, either scan everything on to a thumb drive, updating it as often as necessary or keep all documents in one place, like a binder with sheet protectors.  Make sure it's easy to grab and go .Depending on where you are assigned, you might be instructed to always have a "go bag."  Heed those instructions.  In fact, no matter where you are, you should have a go bag.  Even if you're living back in the States.  It's just good common sense to have important things in one place in case of a fire, earthquake or some other disaster.  Fortunately for me, I got a call last weekend from one of my co-workers (Pakistani) who was going to make the trip up here.  He asked me if there was anything I wanted.  I said yes!  The next morning, he called me from inside my house and I walked him through my entire house, collecting important things.  He kept asking me if I wanted more clothes.  I said no, Macy's has already taken care of that!  That night, the driver delivered 2 suitcases, fully packed with 'stuff.'  Hopefully, this will all blow over but if it doesn't, at least I'm sleeping easier knowing I have the things from my house.

On a brighter note, in 2 weeks, I'm off to my 3rd R&R and will visit good friends in Madrid, Spain.  Getting away from the threats of terrorists will be a good thing for my mental attitude.  And speaking of that, my attitude throughout this has been good.  Sure, I worry about my things, my time left in Pakistan (I am counting on the $$ I make serving here to buy a house) and my safety.  It can't go on past June.  Others had barely arrived in Lahore when we were off to Islamabad.  They have 1 or even 2 years left on their tour. 

Anyway, back to Madrid.  I have missed photography since I've been here.  I can't wait to get pictures of the sights of Spain.  The only photographs I've take here in Islamabad have been with my iPhone of (I am bad...) carpet #19, #20 and #21.  I have a good excuse...there isn't much to do besides shop here!  And these really weren't expensive!  I will definitely have the most beautiful floor coverings in Fort Worth!  I'll be going back in April to buy a house and you can be sure I'll be looking for one with hardwood floors. No carpet for me...I have gorgeous carpets!  I wonder if they sell carpets in Madrid.  Let's hope not.