It’s hard to believe, but the day has finally come when we’re holding our bid list in our hands. Â For those of you that are unfamiliar, it’s a listing of all the open posts around the world that are available for us to bid on this cycle. Â There are hundreds of posts on this list – and each one has to be analyzed to determine if it is a good fit for us. Â This includes taking into consideration the job, location, medical care and language requirements. Â In our case, Nick is required to get a language before the next tour, so any English-speaking posts are immediately off the table.
This bidding cycle is definitely different than our first time, as we get to give more directed input (although we still don’t make the FINAL decision). Â Perhaps not surprisingly, it still brought up that same mix of fear and exhilaration that occurred last round. Â At one moment I’ll be jumping up and down screaming “the world is my oyster” and the next thing you know I’m sobbing to Nick about how we’re never going to find a place we like as much as Manila. Â Yet while I may want to get off the emotional roller coaster at times, Â at the end of the day I am immensely grateful for the opportunities that this lifestyle affords. Â Who ever thought that I’d be considering places to live that I didn’t even know how to pronounce? Â ‘Tis an exciting time, for sure!!
Stay tuned….we hand in our ranked list in mid-September and will know by early October where we’re going. Â Don’t worry – you’ll be the first to know (after our families)!
So exciting! I can’t wait to hear about your considerations as you work toward the final list in the next few weeks. What were some of your initial favorites or ones you were excited to see on the list? Where are you certain you don’t want to go? And why does Nick have a language requirement? Does he just have to have so many specific types of posts to climb the embassadorial ladder?
We’re really concentrating on Europe, South America and Southeast Asia now. The posts change almost weekly as things get added and taken. As for language requirements, Nick is required to get a passing score in a language by the end of his second tour in order to become tenured. He did not get a full language course for Tagalog because so much English is spoken here, so we’re required to get a language for our next tour. There are different types of experiences required to move up the ladder. For example, you must serve in two 20+ hardship posts. You must also serve an unaccompanied tour in a war zone to move up to the highest level positions. He’s in the consular cone though, so the majority of posts he’ll do will be in consular.
Fingers crossed that you’ll get one of the top choices on your list – and even if you don’t, remember my mantra – they are all good in some way and you’ll always learn something from even the worst places!
I appreciate the reminder Chris!
Delhi is a 20+ hardship post, right? (wink)
Looking forward to hearing where you’ll be going next!