The Foreign Service Journal, September 2008

resources to assist families left behind, but they are limited by their budget as to what they can provide. By contrast, when my sister-in-law is overseas, her family back at home has access to 24-hour-a-day child care, housing maintenance and car repair services. Located on base are schools, after-school activities and medical care, not to mention a supportive community of teachers and neighbors who are all in the same situation. In many ways, the Foreign Service unac- companied experience mirrors that of the military reserves, who also lack these on-base services. This is not to say that the depart- ment needs to match the benefits pro- vided by the military, which, after all, gives its members far fewer choices for deployments than FSOs and whose members don’t have the option of quitting. But State should recog- nize some of the logistical challenges its separated families face. Concerning the Separate Mainten- ance Allowance, tandem couples are not eligible unless one takes leave without pay. Ostensibly this is be- cause both spouses could be assign- ed to the same unaccompanied post, but that requirement ignores the real- ity of families with children. This is another inequity that the department needs to look at fixing. Lisa K. Heller FSO Washington, D.C. N’Djamena Evacuation During my regional travel days I spent some time in N’Djamena and remember the embassy as being on the main street where the media reported the rebels and Chadian army forces fought earlier this year. Assuming the embassy has not been moved, I am very surprised that any- one remained in there after Jan. 31, as Rajiv Malik recounts (“Three Days in N’Djamena,” May FSJ ). With the French military base available, I am further shocked that the essential personnel were not moved there on Saturday morning, Feb. 2, after the dependents were evacuated to Yaounde. Sounds like the Emergency Action Committee needs some remedial training. Paul Good FSO, retired Herndon, Va. Use Real Arabic The superheroes cover on the June issue neatly symbolizes the outstand- ing abilities of the FSOs to be brought in via the new examination system. However, it fails to reflect the lan- guage knowledge of the Foreign Service. The book, held aloft by the central figure on the cover, bears a title which is in Arabic letters. However, it is not real Arabic because the words are written left to right, like English, whereas Arabic is written right to left, and because the letters are in the freestanding form (roughly equivalent to capital letters), which is not how words are written that way in Arabic. Of course, contract artists can’t be expected to have foreign language knowledge — their field is art. So it might be good for the FSJ to get an advance copy and show any inscrip- tion to one of the many FSOs who know the language. When translated into English, the book title means “KOOB SNOIS- SERPXE CIBARA.” (Try reading this right-to-left.) Pierce Bullen FSO, retired Washington, D.C. n 8 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8 L E T T E R S u A time of service…a time of need Help for Seniors May Be Just a Phone Call Away— Home Health Care Adult Day Care & Respite Care Prescription Drug Copayments Transportation to Medical Appointments Durable Medical Equipment For more information, please contact the SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE 1716 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-2902 Phone: (202) 887-8170 Fax: (202) 872-9320 E-Mail: info@SLFoundation.org Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org The Senior Living Foundation may be able to help you or someone you know. Some examples of assistance are: SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION