Housing-mostly sucks (if you get SandyLane you have died and gone to modern housing heaven).  Office staff - Amazing quick and efficient!!

Oh lawd be careful what you wish for. When I say my brain has used every last brain cell I own in these last 3 weeks. Yes 3 weeks, I made it to Orientation and there is 1 day left.
Recap:
Shut down showdown happened. State Dept said "nah bruh" we are going to work and pay our folks for 2 weeks. In the same 2 weeks the government decided "you know what state you right lets open back up" after 35 days. {face palm}
So we started Orientation during the shut down and we are ending orientation during the 3 weeks the government decided to turn the lights back on but may turn them back off next week. Either way, I had flag day and I am about to swear-in tomorrow. They can do whatever the hell they want next week. I'M OFFICIALLY IN!!!! 

SO WHERE AM I GOING:
Yep, I joined the foreign service to travel the world and they are sending me right back to China. I am happy either way. I enjoyed it my first time and I will enjoy it this next go round. When am I going you ask..... ok so this is the government and they will decide when they are good and ready to decide. :-) Ok, sometime between now and later. :-)

Shutdown sh***t-show showdown continues..... 
oh but I still have to report to DC for "training"... let the games begin! 

So... where we last left off I made the list.... the coveted "IT LIST" (REGISTER). It was so anti-climactic since I knew I made it but I needed someone to say it and then confirm it via email and they just refused to comply with my wishes. Don't they know I know they need me. LOL.  

Long story short.. and trust me its a long long story between making the register 11/29/18 and finally receiving an invite on 12/17/18. I will spare you the gory details. You may be wondering why I don't sound excited. Like all the other foreign service blogs that recount the anticipation of finally feeling honored to receive the coveted invite....

Well the way my life is set up......nothing is ever that simple and my journey is never a straight line.... so after the invite came...... (queue cliff hanger music)........dun dun dun................................

You guested it ... "THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN"... right smack dab in the middle of my pack-out, salary determination and travel orders.... As of today we are officially on day 13 of the shut down... 

The silver lining... I didn't quit my current job and I have a home so I'm not  homeless... which is always a plus since I have become accustomed to living in doors.

Stay tuned for the the next episode of .... MY OMS JOURNEY!

Still waiting....... oh lawwwwd  ..give me strength to be patient... dammit. 

Applied - March 2017
Invited to OA - October 2017
Passed OA - January 2018
Medical Clearance granted - April 13, 2018
Security Clearance (began) - April 2018 
Security Clearance granted - June 13, 2018
Suitability review -  Patiently waiting......
Suitability denial - June 23, 2018
Suitability denial overturned- October 11, 2018
Register - Up next??.. Finally after multiple calls, emails, walking on water and jumping through fire.. added on November 29, 2018
Specialist Orientation Invite - December 17, 2018
MADE TENURE(My first time up to bat)...JUNE 17, 2021....I remember what I was thinking that day..... I was ready to quit.. I guess I will give this "relationship" another chance.

What's next you may be wondering... well, my thoughts exactly.

Either my next post will be written with joyous anticipation for the future........(queue the music that plays at the end of every cliff hanger)...... or I will shut this entire blog down as if it never existed.  LOL.. ok I'm being dramatic.. but I will delete this post and banish it from my memory bank.  :-) 

hOctober 11, 2018
Well, look at that.. it seems the "you not our type of person" has since been rescinded and after further review they decided I am exactly who they want. (Translation: Appeal successful).  Sooooo.... I thought the next steps would happen in warp speed... Who knew????? This process would still move at a snails pace. 

November 11, 2018
One whole month later and I am still not even sure if I have been added to the register. 

LET ME IN!!!!!!!

​The universe has chosen to provide me with yet another life lesson in PATIENCE...

​Count down to the next specialist class in full effect. 

November 29, 2018
You ever just had enough of the BS and you decided today is the day someone will do their dam job.... well lookie here... I made a call.. someone answered.. I stated my case in the most "diplomatic" on the verge of being annoyed mixed with a dab of desperation and low and behold at 1:50 pm the coveted  "you're finally on our secret list" email arrived.  Thank you big guy on high (if you're not sure who I'm referring to you better ask somebody).  

Note to self: don't be like them.. earn your paycheck... do your job.