The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2023

Please submit your favorite, recent photograph to be considered for Local Lens. Images must be high reso- lution (at least 300 dpi at 8” x 10”, or 1MB or larger) andmust not be in print elsewhere. Include a short description of the scene/event, as well as your name, brief biodata, and the type of camera used. Send to locallens@afsa.org . LOCAL LENS BY LARRY MANDEL n PETRA, JORDAN S ettled by the Nabataeans, an ancient Arab tribe, around 300 B.C., Petra is a World Heritage site known for its amazing carved sandstone caves and structures (and was featured in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”). Jordan, with the Dead Sea, the desert of Wadi Rum (where “Star Wars,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” and many other movies were filmed), and the ancient Roman city of Jerash, is a mecca for photogra- phers and casual tourists alike. n Larry Mandel retired from State in 2016 after more than 32 years and went on to serve on the Foreign Service Grievance Board for five more years. His overseas postings included the then Soviet Union, the U.K., Japan, Hungary, Israel, Indonesia, Jordan, and Turkey (now Türkiye). In November 2022, he was elected to local office in Rhode Island where he and his wife, Judy (pictured here, in the Royal Tombs), reside. This photo was taken in early 2023 with an iPhone SE. 106 JULY-AUGUST 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL