More On The Foreign Service

Two more articles on foreign service life that might give others a bit more as to what diplomats go through:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/09/13/americas_other_army?page=0,1

and

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/opinion/in-libya-and-elsewhere-our-diplomats-deserve-better.html?_r=1

These articles don't go into daily life - the small things like getting (or not getting) packages from home, the way the milk tastes different, and how you can't get certain things common in the US.  We do, as a whole, have it a lot easier than earlier generations: the internet means we can watch US sports and listen to US music and stay in contact with family and friends much more easily than even ten years ago.

It's still hard to go to a foreign country not knowing the language and be expected to walk into a grocery store and buy supplies within a few hours of getting off the plane - especially in a country where you stick out like a sore thumb or have to follow local dress that you're unfamiliar with.  Unlike the military, we're expected to live off the economy and in a house in town in most places.  It's got its benefits and its drawbacks, but I wouldn't change my lifestyle for anything.