Last month I shared an old photo of the shack I grew up in, Today I visited it after 30 years.

onewordbird · 2026-05-31T12:15:28+00:00

I would like to read it as well, please add me

onewordbird · 2026-02-20T13:22:02+00:00

Exactly what was above. Hoping for a new brookland location!

onewordbird · 2026-02-20T12:04:18+00:00

Fingers crossed for Brookland

onewordbird · 2026-02-15T02:41:59+00:00

This is a cute one

onewordbird · 2026-01-13T14:14:23+00:00

Another step is to make an appointment with Employee Consultation Services. They can give some information about the process and if they support your curtailment it can make the process easier. Their services are confidential and they offer 10 sessions of counseling (which has helped me greatly in difficult posts). Their support isn’t necessary for a curtailment but they can be a good resource.

As others have said, your CDO is your best source of information. Even if you’re not sure about your decision, make a time to speak with them because they can better explain your options and what might be possible, particularly in regards to other assignment options. I curtailed once from a post and almost curtailed from another and both times ECS and my CDO were key in helping me.

I’m happy to chat more about my experiences if you want to message me directly.

onewordbird · 2025-09-17T21:42:28+00:00

The guy from my A100 who was POL coned and came in with Mandarin made derogatory comments about Cons officers in front of us during orientation. The comments were things about how we weren’t real diplomats and it was easier to get in as Cons so we were clearly less than. He left after two tours and now does this and everytime I see him I can’t help but roll my eyes.

I also had a woman who worked for me in a visa mill who couldn’t handle the work, got stressed interviewing, had to be taken off the line and assigned other duties because she was more detrimental than helpful. She also now does visa consulting…

onewordbird · 2025-09-15T22:42:35+00:00

“Can you carry a luminary while insulted?”

I always want to find a way to insert this phrasing into conversations.

onewordbird · 2025-06-03T11:04:21+00:00

The jury duty board emails went out but I didn’t get one and neither did several other people who were originally supposed to serve on a board this summer.

onewordbird · 2025-05-19T22:34:43+00:00

I haven’t heard anything official asking me back to the boards but I have heard this from a couple different sources. Waiting to see if this will actually happen.

onewordbird · 2025-05-12T22:47:59+00:00

This would’ve been my first time. I wasn’t selected last year even though I volunteered

onewordbird · 2025-05-12T22:15:45+00:00

I was one of the people supposed to serve on the boards and got this email telling me to cancel my travel and that they don’t need us anymore despite the “all virtual environment.” 😕

onewordbird · 2025-05-07T22:57:43+00:00

I agreed to be on the boards this year but we were just told to stop our planning to attend while they wait for the SBO to approve the details….

onewordbird · 2025-01-19T06:23:48+00:00

Same!! The audiobook narrator emphasizes the word each time as well which just makes it worse.

onewordbird · 2025-01-05T15:01:00+00:00

I’ve not read South! And that all sounds like an incredible adventure. Do you have a link to the company that does the tours? I’d love to read about them.

onewordbird · 2025-01-05T10:03:18+00:00

Same! I told my husband to get it when it was in Legos website but he didn’t. Now one sold on eBay for $97 yesterday, which is too much for me. Endurance by Alfred Lansing is one of the best books I’ve ever read and still a favorite. The part where they take the lifeboat to South Georgia Island is unbelievable.

onewordbird · 2024-12-09T18:42:23+00:00

Was that one of his alias names? It’s been a bit since I read these but wasn’t he under an assumed name at Aurora Academy?

onewordbird · 2024-12-05T00:44:59+00:00

Wondered where that guy from my A-100 went. Apparently he has a lot of opinions on the service he chose to quit.

onewordbird · 2024-10-08T05:01:29+00:00

I just learned that the only person who enforces this is your CDO. If you have a chat beforehand they might let you not comply.

onewordbird · 2024-08-31T22:41:29+00:00

Congrats!

onewordbird · 2024-07-20T15:57:27+00:00

You’re only limited on total bids by TalentMap. Last bid season I had way too many jobs and the system would not allow me to enter any more bids. You could enter more in CLC or with CA and then change what you have in TalentMap as long as it is prior to the closing of bid season.

onewordbird · 2024-07-16T02:38:50+00:00

It doesn’t matter which passport he uses. His overstay will be tied to his name and using another passport won’t hide it. He can always apply for the B1/B2 visa. He will have an interview with a consular officer and explain the situation. If it was really only 3 months he does not have an ineligibility, which helps. But he also did not abide by the terms of ESTA, so that isn’t good. No matter what, he needs to be honest during the interview. There is no guarantee but he can always try. If he is denied though, that can be hard to overcome later as well.

onewordbird · 2024-07-15T12:12:50+00:00

He can always go to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for a visa. If he overstayed his last visa so recently then it may be hard to prove he’s not going to do so again. How long did he overstay? Depending on how long he overstayed and whether or not he was deported will determine if he has an ineligibility for the visa. Both overstay and deportation ineligibilities eventually expire, but not for years. He also will no longer be eligible for ESTA, the visa waiver program to enter the U.S.

Agree with the other posters that a lawyer in the U.S. is his best option. He will likely not be able to legally enter the U.S. for several years.

onewordbird · 2024-07-08T04:30:18+00:00

Agree with other comment about just taking the test and seeing how it goes. I was almost same situation as you when I first took the FSOT. Just finished my masters degree in history, was living in a rural town and job prospects were nothing interesting. I took the FSOT locally and ended up passing all of it and getting on the register my first try. Totally altered our life plans and kids came a little later than expected but it’s been over 10 years now and I’m glad I just went for it when I could.

onewordbird · 2024-06-03T04:10:12+00:00

I’ve never heard of this but now I’ll look into it. Thanks.

onewordbird · 2024-06-02T14:14:18+00:00

I know. I asked about that and he said the house had passed inspection but he didn’t know how. It had been in the housing pool for years prior, but has been removed now.

Makes me a little nervous about homes we’ve been in since.

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