First things first: as many people who care about us have asked, we were evacuated from Dubai last month and made it safely back to the United States. (Yes, we were on the New England Patriots charter plane you may have seen on the news or social media.) Our hearts break for those suffering under violence and conflict - seeing how just one week hearing missiles and drones and fighter jets and interceptions affected us, I can't imagine what it's like for families living under the real and constant threat of war. It was not the end to our tour that we wanted or expected, but it was the one we got. There are so many people we care about in the UAE with whom we didn't get to share a proper goodbye, so my hope is that we will be back someday to see them again.
Besides that important update, I've been pondering a version of this post for a very long time. When I originally started this blog, I wanted it to do two things. First, I wanted it to be a resource for earlier-career diplomats and people interested in the Foreign Service, the way many others' Foreign Service blogs had been for me when I was applying. I wanted to pay that forward and have been so touched by the messages I've received over the years of people who did find the blog that way. I've been especially moved by those who have since joined the Foreign Service and continued to use the blog as (hopefully one of many) data points to help them navigate this career and lifestyle. Second, I wanted the blog to be a way for folks back home to still see what we're up to and feel connected. The hardest thing about living so far from home is being apart from so many of the people we love, and I did love the connection the blog brought us. However, I'm more confident than ever that the blog isn't the only way to keep that connection up. I'm hoping to do far more direct emails, calls, and video chats with people than before, and I look forward to having more two-way conversations than the blog allowed.
Over time, the blog also became a travel resource for friends and family. I love sharing posts on our trips to Oman or favorite hidden gems in South Korea with people when they ask for recommendations. But the reality is that my time has vastly shrunk since advancing in my career and becoming a mother who strives to be present for the limited family time we have. When we go on family vacations, I now spend way less time taking photos of food and sunsets and more time living in the moment, as young children do so well and naturally. This has been great for me personally but means I have less content for the blog and social media - a tradeoff that is completely worth it but is still a tradeoff.
Another reason I am winding down my writing for the blog is because I'm investing more time in my speculative fiction writing. I am currently in the grueling process of revising the second novel manuscript I've ever written, and I'm still writing short stories when I can (with a microfiction recently accepted for publication). If you're interested in continuing to receive periodic updates on my personal thoughts including on shows like Madam Secretary and The Diplomat, big life news, and information about my fiction writing and publishing elsewhere, then please subscribe to my email newsletter: Fics & Dip. My posts there will be relatively short and (hopefully) still as enjoyable as whatever you read on the blog, though the content will be different. All new Fics & Dip subscribers will get my first-ever professionally published science fiction flash fiction from years ago in their inbox.
So I've decided to leave all the N&M blog posts up, but I'll no longer be adding new posts. While I encourage new diplomats to seek out the most current resources for advice whenever possible, some things (like what corridor reputation is) never seem to change. (Plus, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) keeps a great list of Foreign Service blogs if you're still looking for some.)
I have spent this weekend celebrating Easter and General Conference with dear friends and family, a reminder of the things I want to prioritize in this season of life. That being said, it has been such a privilege to share these pieces of my life and work with you, blog readers. I appreciate the precious time you spent reading, commenting, and letting me know what you think about my posts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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