The Foreign Service Journal, January 2006

ry and secondary contacts in the office that match assign- ments with retirees is important. Getting an ID for access to buildings and having a digital passport photo- graph ready to e-mail has been handy. The security habits for office work were not automatic, as before, and required attention initially. Working a few months each year overseas provides a diversion with minimal burden. The Retirement Seminar was superb. The classes provided a framework for liberation. The fear of “losing my way” diminished as I thought about how I wanted to fill my time. A couple of months after arrival, when the last few boxes were unpacked, I was ready to pursue the activities mentioned above. Clarification of personnel matters has become easier with RNet; though there are still wrinkles. The assistance provided via the toll-free numbers is helpful. It may require several transfers to get an answer, but my queries have been resolved within a day if not in the first call. Jeffrey Dektor Asheville, N.C. utu WAE-ting for an Assignment I was an office management specialist in the Environment, Science & Technology Section (ES&T) in Beijing from 1999 to 2001 and in the Economic Section in Tegucigalpa from 2001 to 2005. I’m one of those who came into the Foreign Service as a second career after retiring (early) from a management posi- tion in private industry. I was 59 when I entered the Foreign Service, and thus only had the opportunity for two tours (extending for six months in Tegucigalpa to work until mandatory retirement, at age 65). I retired in April 2005, began the process to become a WAE before I left post, continued pursuing my interest with Washington and finally, after six months, am on WAE status. I am anxious to go out in the field again, and I am waiting for an assignment. I did not realize it was going to be so difficult and take so long. I have kept in con- F O C U S J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 59