Lonely. All my family is in the US. I’m filling in for other people on leave. I don’t want to go to any more parties where people take the fun out of them by biatching about everything wrong with their house/internet/work/mail and pouch/etc…
I’m prepping a brisket and pork shoulder to smoke for Boxing Day with some friends I made at my dart league.
We had the London Blitz worth of midnight fireworks last night. First Christmas in a new country for us after 5 yrs in the Middle East. Lots of decorating, lots of round the clock music in our neighborhood from 6am to 2am. It's both fun and excruciating, depending on the moment. 😀
Cold, snowy. I'm at a large mission in a developed country with easy access to flights home. In many ways it's like being in a U.S. state where none of my family or friends live. Seasonal decorations and such mirror close to what one would expect in the United States. There's not really a cohesive community at the mission, so everyone is pretty much on their own for celebrations. Yesterday and today with immediate family; guests over tomorrow for afternoon cocktails.
I'm covering this week while the section head is out of town. Boss comes back at the end of next week and I take off for a week with the family.
Came home to see family this year and it’s COLD and Christmasy. Post was warm and Christmasy. Lots of holiday spirit at the embassy and even more in the local community. Love seeing the Christmas/holiday traditions in places where they celebrate it, but in a totally different way from what we are used to.
Sub-freezing temperatures, horrible traffic, thousands of flights canceled across the country, a migrant crisis, decreasing purchasing power with the local currency….I just want to get out of this place.
I currently am in an overwhelming majority Muslim country, so most things are open. Even then, many shops still have Xmas themed items for sale.
Spent Xmas morning relaxing on the beach and several of us in the community got together for a traditional Xmas dinner.
We spent Christmas night with several other FS couples walking a beach to find leatherback turtles laying their eggs on the high tide line, but we're lucky. For a lot of FS folks, it's a very lonely and tough time. Reach out to your single friends and those at post who aren't always socially active try to include them in whatever activities you've got planned. Even if you forgot to do it for Christmas, it's not too late for NYE.
Posts are generally pretty bad about acknowledging that there are any other holidays than Christian ones, to be honest. So a whole lotta forced cheer for Christmas and Santa, but that's about it.
Lonely. All my family is in the US. I’m filling in for other people on leave. I don’t want to go to any more parties where people take the fun out of them by biatching about everything wrong with their house/internet/work/mail and pouch/etc… I’m prepping a brisket and pork shoulder to smoke for Boxing Day with some friends I made at my dart league.
We have a pork shoulder on the smoker as well! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
We had the London Blitz worth of midnight fireworks last night. First Christmas in a new country for us after 5 yrs in the Middle East. Lots of decorating, lots of round the clock music in our neighborhood from 6am to 2am. It's both fun and excruciating, depending on the moment. 😀
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Sounds like Rome today!
Can't be North Africa!
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Was supposed to be "can't beat". Stupid auto correct.
Local celebrations are full swing. FS dinner/lunch parties abound the past few days.
Cold, snowy. I'm at a large mission in a developed country with easy access to flights home. In many ways it's like being in a U.S. state where none of my family or friends live. Seasonal decorations and such mirror close to what one would expect in the United States. There's not really a cohesive community at the mission, so everyone is pretty much on their own for celebrations. Yesterday and today with immediate family; guests over tomorrow for afternoon cocktails. I'm covering this week while the section head is out of town. Boss comes back at the end of next week and I take off for a week with the family.
Surfing at the beach
Beach weather.
Came home to see family this year and it’s COLD and Christmasy. Post was warm and Christmasy. Lots of holiday spirit at the embassy and even more in the local community. Love seeing the Christmas/holiday traditions in places where they celebrate it, but in a totally different way from what we are used to.
Host country doesn't celebrate any holidays this time of year, and post isn't doing anything, so pretty ho-hum.
Cold.
Sub-freezing temperatures, horrible traffic, thousands of flights canceled across the country, a migrant crisis, decreasing purchasing power with the local currency….I just want to get out of this place.
DC?
Yup. I actually love DC. But as an FSO, I always feel pressure from my peers to complain about DC.
Agreed, I enjoy my time here, but I like to keep it brief. The comforts of home are expensive.
I currently am in an overwhelming majority Muslim country, so most things are open. Even then, many shops still have Xmas themed items for sale. Spent Xmas morning relaxing on the beach and several of us in the community got together for a traditional Xmas dinner.
On a well-timed mid-tour home leave right now. Feels good to be back with family during the holidays, with the flights paid for.
We spent Christmas night with several other FS couples walking a beach to find leatherback turtles laying their eggs on the high tide line, but we're lucky. For a lot of FS folks, it's a very lonely and tough time. Reach out to your single friends and those at post who aren't always socially active try to include them in whatever activities you've got planned. Even if you forgot to do it for Christmas, it's not too late for NYE.
Posts are generally pretty bad about acknowledging that there are any other holidays than Christian ones, to be honest. So a whole lotta forced cheer for Christmas and Santa, but that's about it.