The Foreign Service Journal, February 2010

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 55 my fluency was a definite plus. FEMA hires people with other specialties, too; and it’s a great way to get to know our own country. If you like to work full-time occa- sionally, this option may suit you. However, you need to be prepared to take off at a moment’s notice to work away from home on assignments lasting from a few weeks to sev- eral months. In addition, the pay is generally at the GS- 9 to GS-11 level, substantially below what most WAEs earn. Direct contract. I served on the Foreign Service Grievance Board of Appeals for four years, learning a lot about how legal cases are developed and adjudicated and having the satisfaction of seeing justice and fairness win out on a number of occasions. My colleagues were a wonderful group of very capable people in a field quite new to me. Contractor. When a former FS colleague recom- mended me for a job, my back- ground in public diplomacy and disaster management represented a combination particularly suitable for developing and managing a se- ries of projects in international public health. It has been reward- ing to see media training, documentaries, speaker pro- grams and other projects contribute to better public awareness and knowledge of infectious diseases. I’ve also had the satisfaction of working with talented colleagues from across the U.S. government, as well as from other countries, international organizations and NGOs. Now I’m about to enter what is likely my “final” re- tirement. (Of course, I thought I was “truly” retiring be- fore!) It’s scary to take up something entirely creative after a fairly structured work life, but like other varied careers, it is certainly worth a try! Caroline V. Meirs Alexandria, Va. ■ F O C U S Be willing to take on something you never thought of.