The Foreign Service Journal, May 2011

M A Y 2 0 1 1 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 17 Our next two articles — “Forever Tandem” by Teresa Chin Jones (p. 37) and “Trailing Tandem” by Clayton Bond (p. 41) — represent the perspectives of FS tandem cou- ples, a relatively small but growing contingent. At first glance, the two accounts might seem to contrast more than they compare; after all, the authors are from different gen- erations, and one couple is same-sex while the other is more traditional (mother, father, children). But I think you’ll find real similarities between the two, particularly in regard to the age-old question of what to do when one spouse or part- ner’s career requires sacrifices on the other’s part. Problem-Solving, FS Style The surge in the number of unaccompanied posts since 9/11 will not come as a surprise to any readers of this pub- lication. But the impact of such long-term separation on employees and families still does not receive the attention it deserves, alas. When it comes to overcoming the countless obstacles unaccompanied tours pose for family relationships, Jen Di- noia exemplifies the “can do” spirit of Foreign Service spouses and partners. But as she cautions in “Navigating Unexpected Realities” (p. 44), no matter how well you pre- pare or how hard you work at keeping ties strong, you can never anticipate all contingencies. All you can do is make the best of changing circumstances. Keith Mines makes a similar point in “Staying Con- nected While Deployed” (p. 47). There is a natural ten- dency to trust that the Internet, Skype, videocams and other technological advances can somehow span the bounds of time and space, bringing Foreign Service fami- lies together over multiple time zones and thousands of miles. Yet as he explains in a droll account of his own ex- perience, the challenges are great. Victoria Hirschland, who is divorced from a Foreign Service officer, describes another type of separation that can be every bit as painful as an unaccompanied tour in “Sharing Custody, Diplomatically” (p. 50). As she notes, however, the good news is that always putting their chil- dren first, whatever that takes, has enabled each spouse to maintain strong ties with them. Next, Elizabeth Power tackles a subject that some readers may find a bit delicate in “Work-Milk Balance: The State of Pumping” (p. 53). She urges State and other government agencies to adopt policies that empower breastfeeding mothers, and explains how to do so with positive results for “productivity.” Our focus section concludes with two articles that offer concrete suggestions for striking a balance between work and life in the Foreign Service. USAID FSO Taly Lind poses the question, “Can Technology Save the For- eign Service Family?” (p. 56) and draws on her own ex- perience to answer it affirmatively. And Margot Carrington, the recipient of a 2010-2011 Una Chapman Cox Sabbatical Leave Fellowship to research innovative work-life policies, shares her findings in “Workplace Flex- ibility: What’s In It for State?” (p. 60). The issue’s last word on the subject goes to 10-year- old Yasmin Ranz-Lind, whose father is currently finishing a yearlong unaccompanied assignment. She takes us through the pros and cons of such situations in her Re- flections column, “A Dad in Iraq” (p. 84). With all due respect to cartoonist Scott Adams, AFSA still sees “work-life balance” as a better goal for Foreign Service members than “work-life integration.” We hope these testimonials from FS employees and family mem- bers will help all of you achieve better equilibrium be- tween career and personal life. F O C U S DILBERT: © Scott Adams / Dist. by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.