Off to the Embassy

In a few hours I’ll be heading off to Astana. Tomorrow I plan to visit the U.S. Embassy to learn about what materials may be available through the Embassy for the English language resource center we’re trying to open at my site. I’ll also try to learn about the different programs they have for study in America. Some of these may be beneficial for my students, some for teachers I know. Then on Saturday morning I’ll head back to the Embassy. This time to take a test.

Once again I’ve decided to try my luck at the Foreign Service Exam, though now it’s called the Foreign Service Officer Test. About five years ago I took the test, but I didn’t make a high enough percentile to go to the next stage. Hopefully, this time I’ll do better. I’ve been much more serious about it this time around, so I hope the results will reflect that.

Why the Foreign Service? Well first I think it’s worth noting that I applied for the management track. Although all my education and work experience seems to qualify me more for the public diplomacy track, I feel more compelled to pursue the management track. In fact, one of the online interest surveys the State Department provides to help in making the decision indicated that management was my highest area of interest. That being said, I’m drawn to the Foreign Service (and the management component contained therein) for the same broad stroke reason I was drawn to the Peace Corps – it’s a tremendous opportunity to make a difference.

With the Foreign Service management track I would have an opportunity to streamline and make Embassy operations more efficient. I could do work that would make it easier for U.S. Diplomats to do the job of conducting diplomatic relations with other nations. This in turn would make it easier for these other nations to see what America is all about, both in the philosophical sense and the literal sense, and hopefully create a better understanding between all parties. There are so many great things about America, our way of life and our system of government that I want to share with other people. Maybe it doesn’t work within the context of their culture, but it’s important for them to at least see what it’s all about and what it could mean for them.

Do I think the entire world should be composed of Democratic Republics? No. It’s just not a style that works for every place and every culture. I do believe there are numerous positive aspects from our culture and our government that could be integrated into other societies and cultures. And if nothing else I think that by increasing the understanding between different cultures we can help to reduce the number of conflicts in the world.

So yeah, I guess this weekend I’ll see if I can take a step toward being a part of the team that helps extend the olive branch for America. Seems like a pretty good team to be a part of, at least in my opinion.