The Foreign Service Journal, November 2009

Trailing Spouses Here one finds the other side of the FS experience, as those who have been repeatedly relocated around the globe share their stories and their struggles. The blogs, predominantly maintained by FS wives (although some husbands chime in, as well), ad- dress issues of family life, displace- ment and employment with a light, sometimes intimate tone. The Perlman Update (www.theperl manupdate.blogspot.com) – Updated frequently and written with an almost brutal honesty — “follow the chaos as we tell our tales of life abroad” — this blog directly addresses some of the hardest issues relating to Foreign Serv- ice family life. But the author never displays undue angst and tempers her views with a healthy dose of hope and a fondness for the mundane. Her ability to inject sass and emotion into a family letter is incredibly endearing. Diplomatic Baggage (www.diplo wife.wordpress.com) – This blog, sub- titled “Misadventures of a Diplomat’s Young Wife,” concentrates on the challenges of FS family life at the be- ginning of an assignment. Inter- spersed with ethnographic notes, it has all the trappings of a rollicking tale of endurance and adjustment, filled with natural drama. Irreverence Abroad (www.cbenjam inhaag.wordpress.com) – One of the rare blogs by a trailing husband who is now in Madrid, Irreverence Abroad does not differ greatly in style or basic content from any of the other trailing spouse blogs. Though the last posting was in March, this blog remains useful as a unique male perspective on the similarities and differences between trailing husbands and wives, and how they approach the challenges they en- counter. The Both-Spouses Approach Essentially a hybrid of the journal and the trailing spouse formats, these blogs create a dialogue between the family diplomat and his or her signifi- cant other. They represent the best of both worlds, covering cultural insight and familial commentary alike, for the most complete picture of a Foreign Service life. The Mas Alla (www.themasalla.wo rdpress.com) – If you ever wondered what additional challenges to expect when raising a child in Caracas, look no further. Both parents offer up their perspectives on their recurring diffi- culties with parenting and managing an FS relationship. Masha and JeremyWent to Afghani- stan (www.mashaandjeremy.blogspot. com) –Masha and Jeremy’s story comes as close to an epic as most blogs ever can. Their tales cover being abroad to- gether, being separated by international borders, entering the Foreign Service, preparing for a first assignment and moving. The dynamism of their rela- tionship is captivating and inspiring. E-mail from the Embassy (www. emailfromtheembassy.blogspot.com/) – This blog features the touching sto- ries of a Foreign Service couple expe- riencing exasperation and worry in Beijing. The authors give excellent ex- amples of, and subtle advice on, deal- ing with displacement and relocation. How-To Guides These are among the most re- source-rich sites known to the Foreign Service, rivaling or even surpassing any materials provided by the Associates of the American Foreign Service World- wide, AFSA or even State. Trailing Spouses (www.trailing- spouses.blogspot.com ) – This blog is an essential source of information on “coaching, teletrainings, e-learning & e-publishing for expatriate executives, diplomats, accompanying spouses, and international or mobile entrepreneurs/ solopreneurs/infopreneurs.” FS Tips and Tricks (www.sixpica. com/blog) – The savants at this site sug- gest useful tactics for dealing with is- sues ranging from taxes to entertain- ment to technology. Almost anything to make a Foreign Service career easier or more enjoyable can be found here. The Ausmerican (www.ausmerica. com/blog) – Despite being somewhat less navigable than other how-to guides, The Ausmerican remains a useful tool for its efforts to aggregate sites of interest to expatriates and trail- ing spouses. Run by an Australian- born husband now living in Welling- ton, the site brims with ideas for mak- ing the most of a life abroad. Thoughtful Musings These typically address a recent diplomatic event, statement from State or world issue, raising provocative questions through sharp commentary and then waiting for the FS fish to start biting. They offer the best chance for the development of innovative ideas and the raising of serious concerns. Calling a Spade a Spade (www.xcall ing-a-spade-a-spadex.blogspot.com) – As the author proudly declares, this blog is a collection of “rants of a For- eign Service officer on the things that matter to you— and matter to you not at all.” Ever passionate and typically poignant, skeptical yet hopeful, he speaks with the authority of an edu- cated, insider bleeding heart. The Hegemonist (www.thehegemon ist.com) – This blog covers interna- tional diplomatic issues, often not very diplomatically. When the anonymous blogger addresses a topic directly re- lated to the Foreign Service, though, his coverage becomes detailed and nu- N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 47 Despite its global reach, the FS blogosphere is a rather insular community.