The Foreign Service Journal, June 2007

M y life changed dramatically a little over a year ago. I quit my job, found a new home for our dog and put the house up for rent — all to follow my husband, Dale, a contracting officer with USAID, around the world. Even after intense discussion, the move hardly seemed possible when we received our post assignment, with lan- guage classes beginning that spring. Suddenly, we were looking for tenants, securing passports, making wills and finding a home for our 13-year-old dog, who simply couldn’t make the trip. I had a meltdown, even saw a coun- selor, thinking I had Attention Deficit Disorder. But really, I was just freaking out. Finally, my mother came. I got it together, we said our goodbyes, and I woke up onemorning in Indonesia. Just like that. Well, not quite that easily. The plane ride was grueling: 32 hours. Our sponsor met us at the gate, introducing herself as the Acting XO. What could that mean? The masses of people, heat, noise and chaos of Jakarta were shocking. Dale and I spent that first day together, at the pool, visiting grocery stores, exchanging currency and check- ing contact numbers. The next day, he went to work, and I looked out the win- dow at the intimidating expanse of Jakarta. Then, a few days later, I woke dur- ing the night, thinking about masked men busting into our apartment. What would I do? I’d be like Kung FuWom- an, and just start kicking butt. I would jump out the second-story window and sprint across the lawn. But to where? I never could have imagined this, safe in my D.C. row house just one week before. Even more than my physical safety, my career was at stake here too. I had walked away from my dream job at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Surely in Indo- nesia, land of disaster, I could find a job with a bit of research. What was most frustrating was the amount of time it took to get anything accomplished — from getting around town in the traffic to simply getting on the Internet. Finding a job moved lower and lower on my totem pole of priorities. What I really needed was a cell phone: for security, to have a call-back number, and to send those nifty text messages it seemed just about every- one sent. But where to get one, and just what was a SIM card? On my calendar already, within days of our arrival, was some stupid coffee morning and dinner with Dale’s boss. Oh, and I was told I needed to join the Indonesia Heritage Society. (Luckily, the American Women’s Association proved to be too far away.) Surprise, surprise! It was actually at the coffee morning where I learned all about cell phones. My fear it was going to be a sorority type of thing proved correct, but in a good, inclusive way. I met the DCM’s wife, who took extra time to speak with me and ensure I had resources. “If you want to go home and visit your family, do it!” she told me. “If your husband scoffs, tell him, ‘Please, I am only going to be gone for two weeks, and when I come back I will be refreshed and happy.’ Go often if you need to.” As it turned out, I didn’t go home for 16 months. Within two months at post, I got a job as the mission’s com- munication officer. But before starting work it was nice to have time to learn about my immediate environment and do some fun cultural activities — with the sorority, you know. Now I have a baby, and have taken on the new position of “Mom.” Once again, I am in a whole new environ- ment, but learning to swim. As we continue down this path in the Foreign Service, I proceed more confidently, realizing that my family is here, wherever we are; the sorority is all part of that; and we have to stick together. n 108 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U N E 2 0 0 7 R EFLECTIONS One Year and Counting … B Y C AROLINE G REDLER Caroline Gredler is posted in Jakarta with her family. Formerly a public ser- vant, she is now a mother and active member of the Foreign Service commu- nity. Our sponsor met us at the gate, introducing herself as the Acting XO. What could that mean?