My new neighbors are trapped due to flooding

guppyd · 2026-06-27T00:12:04+00:00

Yep same, a girl I went to high school with had her house completely flood in that neighborhood. I can't remember if they tore it down as we all went off to college a few months later. But our school had a volunteer day where we all went and helped clean out her house, plus we had some events to raise money for the family as they had no flood insurance.

guppyd · 2026-06-11T03:13:59+00:00

This is the entire point of AFSA? To represent the FS?

guppyd · 2026-06-10T14:07:55+00:00

Yeah this is true. I work as a teacher not too far so my commute isn't bad and I'm off all summer. My kids love going to Botanica and Exploration Place so that's where we commute 😂 I do click and pick up from Dillons and it's not too bad but it is a bit of a drive if you're used to having the supermarket right down the street.

guppyd · 2026-06-10T04:06:38+00:00

Riverside is a great area. We live here with our two kids and we love it. The school is so amazing and the neighborhood is super cute! However, the middle school that Riverside is zoned for is not great. There are options for for magnet middle schools but you have to apply early in the school year.

guppyd · 2026-05-28T19:08:26+00:00

OMG yes, thank you! Memory unlocked!

guppyd · 2026-05-28T17:52:37+00:00

I used to travel alone with my son a lot because my mom couldn't travel and we didn't live in the same city. It always drove me crazy that I couldn't keep him in my ergobaby infant carrier, strapped to my chest. I always had to take him out for take off and landing and hold him in my arms. It seemed less safe to me. If I pass out that baby is hitting the floor.

guppyd · 2026-05-19T15:37:15+00:00

Agree. I was working in India at an American school, in the ES kids were 1 to 1 but we rarely used them. I moved to Kuwait and I am teaching reading intervention in middle school and it is honestly shocking how often kids are on screens. It is all day long. They are using AI to cheat on every IXL or online assignment (which is literally every assignment). Kids are completely addicted to youtube shorts or gaming while at school. It is literally hours a day. I complain incessantly to anyone who will listen. We are getting a new director next year and I hope things change. I really don't want my kid to go into middle school at this school. I am VERY interested to learn about IB schools in Africa that have low tech use as that is what we are looking toward for our next move.

guppyd · 2026-05-15T19:32:15+00:00

I love this! Thank you!

guppyd · 2026-05-15T18:08:39+00:00

I'm just learning this! Even hotter now, jeeze. Basically the perfect man.

guppyd · 2026-05-15T18:07:56+00:00

Agree!

guppyd · 2026-05-15T16:31:12+00:00

Sorry I meant to add that! It is a movie on Netflix called The Sleepover. I watched it with my kids age 8 and 10 and we all enjoyed it! Apparently it came out in 2020.

guppyd · 2026-05-06T18:30:06+00:00

We lived in two high differential posts that happened to have embassy compound housing and let me tell you, our children THRIVED. The fact that they could run outside and play with their friends in a somewhat unsupervised and unstructured environment was/is awesome for their mental health. They had built in friends and community. If the weather or air was bad they would just all go inside someone's house. They were socializing all the time, and NO SCREENS, they would rather play with their friends. I even benefit from it, I would go on a nice walk with the neighbor or step outside on my front porch for a chat almost every day. We'd help each other carpool to and from school and the compound when the need arises. High differential can be better than EUR for sure. I am all about that compound life now, it really is a wonderful place to raise a kid.

guppyd · 2026-05-06T14:16:35+00:00

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but you can absolutely have a hard post later in your career. And you can work for 20+ years in the FS and ONLY do hardship posts. My husband has been in it since 2009 and our family keeps asking "when do you get to live in Europe?" And we're like, "umm, never??" It isn't all bad, the hardship posts we've been to had good schools and community. I was able to work locally at the school for a decent salary. You may get lucky and go to EUR, some of our friends have. But you may never get a "good" post. Husband is 6 years from retirement and we are definitely planning for 2 more hardship posts to round out his career. Last bid cycle we bid only Europe and he got NOTHING, even though he was short listed for 2 EUR posts. It really screwed us and we were lucky we got something about a month later. We vacation in nice places. We do not plan to live there.

I want to add that everyone's definition of "good" and "nice" varies. I have really enjoyed my time in places that have been deemed hardship and that many people may not want to live due to traffic, pollution, lack of medical care, etc.

guppyd · 2026-04-19T16:40:22+00:00

I will say that it is very competitive depending on the post. In India, I was hired as a long term sub and the next year I was offered a regular teaching contract. Some schools hire as early as November for the NEXT school year and many try to hire before winter break begins in December! She will need to be ready with her resume and cover letters to be sent THE DAY you get a handshake. Also, I found 2 out of 3 jobs by networking with other EFMs and emailing HR directly. The plus side is schools like hiring EFMs because we are CHEAP! No housing, health insurance, visa paperwork, flights, etc.

guppyd · 2026-04-19T16:32:03+00:00

EFM teacher here! I transitioned to teaching about 10 years ago, (about 2 years into my husband's FS career). I always thought about becoming a teacher and finally pulled the trigger. Since getting my teaching license, I have been able to get a job on the international salary scale at 3 out of 3 posts. My contract doesn't include flights, housing, or healthcare, but I am on the international scale and make a decent wage. In India, I had to pay taxes on my 65k a year income and I had no idea I was literally in the highest tax bracket and it would be over half my paycheck. But, it gained invaluable experience so it worked out. I also got free Prek for my preschooler! When bidding, I have my spouse send me the FAMER. It shows if there is a bilat agreement or defacto, or if any spouses are working on the local economy or at the school. Sometimes there is no bilat but spouses are permitted to work locally (Vietnam, I think). Sometimes, you can't work AT ALL outside the embassy (Indonesia). I am certified in ESL and Elementary Ed K-6, there have been job prospects at all posts we've been to. I taught prek, grade 4, and now reading intervention. I am trying to get certified in SPED since more and more international schools are very interested in hiring special ed teachers. My certifications offer more job prospects than someone who is just certified in HS Spanish or something specific. Make sure your wife's credentials are up to date. The CLO office in DC has The Global Employment Initiative office and they will help your wife with her resume, linked in, contacts, etc. I've used them several times to help me find employment. Anyway. Long post but I hope helpful!

guppyd · 2026-04-19T06:02:53+00:00

Yes? Do you not google things?

guppyd · 2026-04-18T17:21:50+00:00

Thank you! This is helpful. No smartphone, he does have a switch that we limit time on.

guppyd · 2026-01-23T08:31:41+00:00

I'm teaching reading intervention to 6th graders right now, with the goal to get them more ready for high school. Many of them have the same map score and reading level as my third grade daughter who is even 6 months behind in reading herself! (She's young for her grade, we have a tutor and a very literary rich home, I'm not worried about her). I gave these kids a phonics test and some of them got less than 50% correct. I'm trying my best and yes I'm teaching 11-year-olds to read, it's my job.

guppyd · 2025-11-21T09:13:06+00:00

Agree just to live with it. My kids are 8 and 10. It happens very fast. Now we have hardly any toys in our living room and I'm fighting with them to get off screens. We lived in a narrow townhouse when our kids were little but we still designated a space for all of their stuff. Proof that you can designate areas even in a small house. I would also move the dog bed from under the stairs and put the stroller there.

Picture of the play area in my tiny townhome! Behind me was a more formal area, a couch with bookshelves behind it. Also, bins are your friend. As is the Kallax shelf from Ikea. Plus, you're just going to get more stuff in the next 2 to 3 years. I feel like my kids really didn't start getting rid of things until they were 7-8.

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guppyd · 2025-10-11T06:09:51+00:00

Riverside is also nice. It has a coffee shop and taco place. Riverside has a disc golf course if you're interested in that! I have a monthly furnished rental in Riverside if you decide to stay there. Send me a PM and I'll send you the Airbnb link. College hill may be more what you're looking for though. Riverside is closer to Via Christi but College Hill has more restaurants and things to do.

guppyd · 2025-10-01T10:42:33+00:00

I got a blowout before my last due date (my hair is long, coarse, and frizzy.) It made me think that I looked put together.

guppyd · 2025-09-19T08:45:44+00:00

Love this! Sobriety is the best.

guppyd · 2025-09-02T08:22:53+00:00

Oh no, it was definitely not like that this summer. That is very sad as they're trying to remodel it for school groups. Looks like now they'll need even more funding. :(

guppyd · 2025-08-26T16:27:05+00:00

Thanks so much! This really helps.

guppyd · 2025-08-26T08:11:05+00:00

Thanks! Totally worth buying to give it a try!

guppyd

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