My African Adventure is Off

The 01/28 specialists class invites have started going out.

Of course, those of us who are on the register have gone completely crazy....again!

I emailed  my contact asking her where I was on the register. I haven't received a reply probably because she's busy crunching whatever she needs to crunch in order to offer accurate salary packages to the new invitees.  Word on the street is that the # of OMS in each specialist class averages around 20.   The last I heard there were 24 people on the register but that also includes people on the do not call list. 

In light of all of this, J and I have decided that we're going to cancel the trip.  It's heart breaking! I was watching 60 Minutes on Sunday and they profiled a couple who have been documenting lions for 30 years, and I cried.  No, I didn't cry. I sobbed...hysterically!  I digress.  I just didn't want to take the chance that I would get an invite and 3 days before I was to leave for London, I get the email.  I would rather cancel now and lose $ rather than canceling later and losing $$$$$$. 

It's really sad and we are so disappointed but the consolation is that I'm going to be living my dream! Not many people can say that. We will get to Africa eventually.

So here I sit obsessively refreshing my email to hoping to get the January call.   I feel like I felt when I was waiting to hear if I passed QEP.  I did the same thing then.  This time it's more excitement than fear. 

I still can't believe it.

The Register

Dear Ms. Webster:

On behalf of the Board of Examiners for the Foreign 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 Office Management Specialist........


*insert a lot of OH MY GOD, screaming, and crying here*  


After 3 years of trying, I can't believe I actually made it! I actually made it!  My life is getting ready to drastically change and I'm going to be a member of the diplomatic corps.  How freaking awesome is that?  There are no words to describe the moment.  All of the stress, anxiety,  and fear pales in comparison  to getting proof that the powers that be actually do like you and want you to be a part of the team! 

I. AM. ON. THE. REGISTER! 

Bloody hell!

I'm not complaining, but

Dear Investigators at Diplomatic Security,


HURRY THE HELL UP!!!! 


Love, Me

___________________________

Okay, seriously, I'm really not complaining because this time last year I was thinking about how many more months it would be until the new vacancy opened again. In light, I am so grateful that I made it even this far.  I also understand what a long process this is and the fact that the investigation can take months and months. I am also only about 5 weeks in but this waiting...

and waiting.....


and waiting some more is making me nuts!

___________________________
Dear Diplomatic Security people,

I am not a prostitute (thanks Secret Service for being male whores in South America), a compulsive gambler ( I went to MD Live and lost $20 in 20 minutes. I was done), nor an alcoholic. My address is what is says it is, yes, I do have my MBA, I'm a trustworthy person, and I would try my best not to embarrass the United States Government in or outside of its borders.   Anything else you need to know? 

Love, me



That is all.

Ummm......

Standing in front of the fax machine with a co-worker..... 

Her:  You're going to Africa soon, right?
Me:  Yes. I leave Jan 18th.
Her:  You must be so excited!
Me:   I am! I've been looking forward to this trip for 2 1/2 years now, and I haven't taken any
        time off work since I came back from Thailand. I'm so ready.
Her:   Where are you going again?
Me:    South Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and London then I'll be in London for 3 1/2 weeks.
Her:   That's so awesome. You know I've always wanted to go to Africa to see tigers.
Me:   *Crickets*
Her:   *a very wide grin with a far away look*
Me:    Tigers?  Africa is the wrong continent for tigers
Her:   *confusion* Really? Are you sure?
Me:   *looks at her like she's a complete idiot*  I'm pretty sure
Her:   Huh. I always thought that tigers were the female version of a lion.
Me:   *Crickets*  Are you serious right now?
Her:   So you're saying tigers are not the female version of lions?
Me:    I can't talk to you anymore.   *walks away*

I really couldn't make this stuff up if I tried....


In other news, I emailed the security clearance people about my case. They told me to check back around mid-October.  The person who responded wasn't very nice about; very curt in fact.  I definitely like the nurses in medical better. 

There really isn't a big rush for me to get clearance at this point. Word on the street is that there will be a January class. I'm not too keen on that because my trip is already paid for. I would rather have a March class but what I want and what DOS wants for me are two totally different things. Besides, my score was so low I may not even get called for January.  I guess I'll just cross that bridge when/if I get to it.

Medical Clearnence Done!

Woot! Woot!

I got the email yesterday that I cleared medical last Friday.  I'm so close!!!! 


I have been running around since August 21, 2012 trying to get all of this medical stuff in.  I had this crazy plan that I would just get it all done within a week and everything would be fine.  WRONG!  What I failed to realize is that life isn't just about me and I can't just ring up my doctors and say "hey, I need a doctor's appt so I can get this form filled out. Oh by the way, I need it by the 09/20. Chop! Chop!" 

Umm, no!

My doctor looks at me like I'm smoking crack when I tell her what it's form and she further gives me dirty looks when she sees the medical form.  Hey, it's not my fault that they want all of this blood work done.  One good thing, I found out what my blood type is; A+. Go me!  On the bright side, my super awesome government insurance paid for everything!  I saw the bill and I nearly had a fit with the cost of how much bloodwork costs.  Really? 

My doctors are amazing! I <3 them! 

Now, I'm just waiting for security to come through, and then the final step is FRP.

Holy Batman! I'm so close!

Drumroll, please.....

Him:   Okay that concludes our talk. I'm going to ask that you sit out in the waiting room and we're going to have a little discussion.
Me:    Sounds good, thank you

Time Lapse: 30 Minutes

Him: Ms. Webster, will you follow me.
Me:  Okay.  *I close my eyes and take a deep breath*
Him: I don't want you to sit.
Me:  Okay  * take another deep breath*
Him: I don't want you to sit yet because I want to offer my congratulations!

I passed the OA!

I still cannot believe it!  I was a crazy morning. I live in Baltimore so I thought that if I left by 7 I would get there by 9 without any problems.  Well, no one told me that DC traffic sucks!!!  I ended up getting lost with my GPS and found myself headed to Falls Church.  Then, I had to find parking and I said a quick prayer to Jesus that my car wouldn't get towed. To top it all off, I got a blowout specifically for the OA and by the time I walked into the OA, it was a sad sad situation. 

It was during the 1st part of the OA where I realized that I was 5ft in front of my dream.

*Holy #@!^balls!*

I passed! The assessor played a dirty trick. He was horrible but I guess he had to get his jollies out of it as well.   There were 2 other candidates from other specialties. We bonded! I was grateful they were there. With just a look, they understood what I was going through. I hope they passed. 

I've gone through a lot of panel interviews, but, I have to say, that was the worst thing I've ever experienced in my life. The waiting in between each section was killer.  I'm convinced they space it out like that on purpose. I think they're interested to see how well we handle the pressure. It's extremely intense! 

Now it's onto the clearances and I pray for a speedy investigation. I can't help but think that this time next year Secretary Clinton will be my boss, I'll get to experience the elusive Flag Day,  and my new address will be somewhere in this great big world.  My future is truly unknown and I'm so incredibly excited about the possibilities!  I. CANNOT. WAIT!!!

I PASSED! SOMEONE PINCH ME!!

I am a horrible person.....

And I'm so sorry!! I really am! Would it help if I say I'll make it up to you? 

It just dawned on me that I haven't blogged in months! Months, I say! Did you miss me?

I have been neglecting my blogging duties, because, of course, you all are so interested in the happs of my life (eye roll).   So I'm going to give you a brief roundup of it over the last couple of months.....

1. I got an invite! Yes! Yes, I did!  Woot! Woot! My friend, T, and I got our emails within seconds of each other. I opened her email saying she got it. My response "Got, what?"  Then, I had a light bulb moment. "Oh shit! She got her invite!" Then I looked for mine and it was there! KaPOW!  My OA is on Monday and I am beginning to crap my pants.  I'm trying desperately not to freak out but the anticipation is building and building.  Oh yeah and the little e-QIP....haven't started yet.   I need to get on it otherwise I'm going to be screwed come Monday.  We'll see. Hopefully, I'll pass.

2. In my quest of applying to all jobs in the federal government, I got a response from the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst. "Go take this test," they said.  Okay, I did. It was crazy hard. Like the SAT, LSAT, MCAT, and accountant's exam all at once.  I had a few "oh shit!" and "WTF is this?" and "Who the hell knows that answers to these questions" moments then, too.  To top of that crazy cake, it was all timed. Hello Pressure, nice to meet you.   After all of that, I passed. Yay to me!  Now I'm at the stage where my scores and my resume are with the managers and if they like me, they'll call me for an interview. They have until September first to decide if I'm worthy. Otherwise, I have to reapply all over again.  That's fine. My scores are good for life so I don't have a test again.

3. Did I mention I got an invite to the OA? Yep, I did!

4. Work sucks!

5. I discovered 50 Shades of Gray and OMG! I never knew! However, grammar almost ruined it.

6. I love the phrase "I googled it, Sir." - See #5.

7. My 5 week holiday with J to various countries in Africa is 6 short months away.  I'm so excited! My mom sent me this HIGH-larious voicemail one Saturday during tax season about how she doesn't think I'm going to get married but she wants grandchild so it's okay with her I get pregnant while in Africa with J.  In fact, she wants me to go see a medicine man who will sprinkle some "hooba dust" on me.  Umm yeah, my mom is nuts so special!

8. Went to the Gay Pride Festival in here Baltimore for the first time and I had the time of my life!

9. I still love Zumba!

10. I still really want to be part of the FS world. Please hire me!

Roundup over. Nothing really monumental to report.  Check back in on Monday.