Lacing It Up

Working on the lace below the ribbons now.  Making slower progress than I would like, but it is what it is.

We Like Greek

Three of us at Mykonos in the mall.  We love us some tzatziki.  I think that's the only reason I go to Greek restaurants....

Slowly Going Green

A couple of leaves peeking through here.  Things are getting done slowly, but getting done.  That is the story of my stitching life.

Back To Some Craziness

I picked this back up when I went to Odessa at the end of August.  I was just tired of what I was working on and wanted a break.  Got quite a bit done, too!

Thank You Lucy!

Lucy, a foreign service friend who lives in Europe too, sent me these cute little Christmas ornaments to make.  It took them quite a while to get here, but they made it!  Thank you very much, Lucy!  I think I will try to make the pin very soon.  It's beginning to get chilly here in the evening, so winter can't be very far away.

Going Greek Again

 We went back to El Greco and had a great lunch again.  I truly like their zeama more than others because they use chicken breast and don't leave in the bones!

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.