While most people in the Foreign Service have some time to move, sometimes you don’t know when you’re moving. I knew I may be called to join the foreign service but when I got the email in September, earlier than I expected, especially with the recent hiring freezes, I was shocked. BUT this was three years in the making, a large reason why Randy was in Pakistan and something we have been working towards. So after much discussion, we decided it was best for the family for me to join. This meant that I would be moving to Washington DC, three weeks after our already planned trip to Oman, without Randy…..
What does one do you ask to prepare for an international move in three weeks after being in the same country for six years….
Figure out which toys should come with you to DC for a year
And which won’t,,,
Go to the mind museum with BFFs for the 25th and last time
Eat at all our favorite restaurants one last time
Complete alot of legos and then decide to bring them all to DC
Wear our summer shirts a few last times
Soak up the last rays we’ll see for a while in the hot tub
See all our friends one last time
Say goodbye to our beloved nanny and the best cook Shieril
Go to all our favorite spots one last time
Get hearing tests for school in a tester booth from 1970
Wear our sundresses one last time
Buy some new blazers for A100s where you have to wear a blazer every.single.day
Quit an awesome job I’ve had for the past five years
Go to an awesome goodbye party
Have your couch for the play room recovered last minute
Get that mole tested (negative!)
Frame everything you can
Sundresses, sundresses, sundresses
Get those cavities filled
Have an awesome laser goodbye party with mohawks
Go to the markets one last time
Get awesome cards and gifts from sweet friends
More cavities
More sundresses
Pack
Play with boxes
Get awesome things like this from friends
Goodbye parties at school
One last playdate with a sleepover thrown in (Adam’s first!)
One last cuddle on the green embassy couch (what was under that white cover all this time)
One last beautiful Manila sunset from our window
More packing
More boxes
More cavities….
Signs at Adam’s school that made me cry
Goodbye cookies at school
The sweetest goodbye card
Back to the hearing test from 1970
One last playdate, for real this time
Goodbye hugs to our amazing driver Paolo
Night before flight hug from Lynne
Ready for flight….except we ended up with 11 pieces of luggage at the airport….luckily we were able to squeeze into 10.
Off we go!
A short 24 hours later we were back in the good old US of A to live for the first time in almost six years! Our time in the Philippines was amazing, we left with a one year old and arrived not knowing anyone. We are left with a 6, 4 and 1 year old and so many amazing friends and experience. It was an amazing 6 years and a wonderful first tour. I am going to miss so many things about the Philippines but we were pretty lucky to have six years there. That is longer than most Foreign Service officers get, so on to the next adventure!
bosas-from-us.com 