The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2020

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020 9 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR How They See US BY SHAWN DORMAN T he start of a new year is a time for reflection and renewal. In that spirit, our focus in this double issue is on how foreign diplomats view the United States—or, HowThey See US. Through their varied lenses, we can gain valuable insights into our own diplomatic practices and the evolution of our role within the world community. FSO and FSJ Editorial Board Chair Alexis Ludwig sets the scene in “Out- side Observers See the United States in Ways We Ourselves Cannot.” Perspectiv e is critical, he reminds us, noting that our own self-assessments tend to the extreme. Either we are a “City upon a Hill” to the world, or a society headed for inexorable decline. Senior British diplomat Patrick Davies, currently on a career break to write a book on the United States, shares the workings of the “special relationship,” describes the unique qualities of Ameri- can diplomats, and urges us to double down on maintaining close bilateral ties. Next is a candid view from one of Panama’s former ambassadors to Wa sh- ington, Jaime Alemán. Despite the strong links between the two nations, there are real concerns within the relation- ship, which must be addressed openly and respectfully. In a similar vein, Bolivian diplomat Jaime Aparicio Otero, Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal. a former ambassador to the United States and vice minister of foreign affairs, describes the ups and downs of working with the United States. He looks forward to a renewed U.S. commitment to a “part- nership of substance” with the democra- cies of the Americas. This month’s cover story, “Teaching Diplomacy Today,” provides guidance for those considering a post–Foreign Service career in academia. FSO (ret.) Jillian Burns and FSOMark Storella share their experiences with university-level teaching and offer practical advice for others on how to find positions and what to consider along the way. A decade after the devastating January 2010 Haiti earthquake, we present per- spectives from two of the FSOs who expe- rienced that tragedy in Port-au-Prince. David Lindwall, who was deputy chief of mission at the time, takes us through the first long hours in “A Night to Remember. ” And in “Tremblement! ” then–USAIDMis- sion Director Carleene Dei shares her les- sons learned from being both a recovery worker and a survivor. We always strive to supply you with “news you can use,” and that certainly applies to AFSA’s annual Tax Guide, which you’ll find in AFSA News. Retired FSO Larry Mandel pays tribute to music diplomacy in Reflections, and we get a glimpse of winter dawn on the Yamuna River in New Delhi in Local Lens. Please don’t forget we’re alway s looking for your best recent photo for the back page of the Journal . Send your submissions to locallens@afsa.org. This month, we are pleased to intro- duce a new occasional feature—Off- Road with the Foreign Service. We in vite members of the FS community to share a favorite recent overseas adventure, including illustrative photos. We start with photographer Peter Kennett’s close encounter with a hippo in Uganda. It’s easy to get consumed by Washing- ton news, by the impeachment proceed- ings and concerns about big issues facing the Foreign Service and our country. We hope the Off-Road feature will be a reminder of the fun parts of FS life, the exciting and unexpected moments that come along when we are immersed in life and work in another country, landscape and culture. Please send your recent adventure to journal@afsa.org , including a narrative up to 700 words and up to five high- resolution photos. As President Eric Rubin discusses in his column, 2019 was full of challenges and opportunities. So we asked FSJ Editorial Board member Harry Kopp, our unofficial historian, to look back at other times when the Foreign Service has faced existential threats. The resulting Speaking Out column, “Truth and Honor, ” is not to be missed. Happy New Year to the Foreign Service community. Thank you for your continued service around the world. Here’s hoping 2020 brings renewed sup- port for U.S. diplomacy, as a watchful world looks on. n