The Foreign Service Journal, December 2012

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2012 5 December 2012 Volume 89, No. 12 FOREIGN SERVICE FOCUS EMBASSY SECURITY Beyond the Fortress Embassy / 20 State’s new “Design Excellence” initiative is intended to improve America’s presence abroad by embracing all elements of embassy construction. BY JANE C . LOE F F L ER Building the Bonds of Trust / 29 Now it is more important than ever to maintain our tradition of open diplomacy. BY JOSHUA W. POLACHECK FEATURES Backflip to Freedom / 32 Between 1968 and 1975, 33 U.S. government officials abroad were targeted for kidnapping. Here is one of those stories. BY ANN B . S I DES Nitun Kundu: A Success Story / 34 Those of us who were touched by this great Bangladeshi artist’s personal warmth will always remember his many achievements. BY M I CHAE L KR I STULA The Impact of Transitions on Foreign Service Families / 37 Those who work overseas, particularly Foreign Service members, experience frequent transitions. Here are some tips on coping them. BY T. DHYAN SUMMERS EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT No, Really, the World Is My Classroom! — Homeschooling in the Foreign Service / 63 Homeschooling is a growing trend within the Foreign Service, as it is in the general U.S. population. BY E L I ZABETH POWER Education Charts / 75 Moving Forward When Bouncing Back / 81 Returning “home” can be the toughest assignment of all. BY L EAH WAL LACE AFSA NEWS Call for Nominations: 2013-2015 AFSA Governing Board / 49 State VP Voice: AFSA Has Your Back / 50 FCS VP Voice: Loose Change / 51 Dissent Makes a Difference / 51 AFSA Membership Dues Adjustment / 52 Be a Part of AFSA / 52 Call for Nominations: The 2013 AFSA Exemplary Performance Awards / 53 AFSA Celebrates the New Foreign Service Journal Design / 54 Secretary of State Clinton Salutes the FSJ / 55 AFSA’s High School Essay Contest Enters Fifteenth Year / 56 USAID Requests Input on Experiences with Atrocity Response / 59 Life in the Foreign Service / 61 COLUMNS President’s Views / 7 Building a Truly Diverse, Professional Foreign Service BY SUSAN R . JOHNSON Speaking Out / 17 Reasons for Hope in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict BY KR I ST I N K . LOKEN Reflections / 101 Finding Home BY AMANDA GARDNER DEPARTMENTS Letters / 10 Talking Points / 14 Books / 41 In Memory / 43 Local Lens / 102 MARKETPLACE Classifieds / 95 Real Estate / 98 Index to Advertisers / 99 On the Cover: Rendering of the competition-winning design for the new Embassy London by KieranTimberlake. Planned for a four-acre site in a redevelopment zone within the city, the embassy will set new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. And instead of being walled off from the surrounding neighborhood, it will feature an open landscape, by OLIN, adjusted to provide needed defenses—much as the Washington Monument has been secured without the use of high walls or fences. Photo courtesy KieranTimberlake.