Blog
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Bidding for my Second Tour
The bidding process for the second tour was a bit arduous, at least relative to the first time I had to bid. As it turns out, there are a lot of moving parts in State Dept.: when I have to depart my current assignment, when the other Embassy wants me to arrive, what training do…
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A weekend in Luang Prabang
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, Luang Prabang is one of Laos top tourist attractions. It’s surrounded by the Mekong and Khan Rivers.
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Vientiane’s Wonders
Vientiane is home to some notable monuments, such as Patuxay and Pha That Luang. Patuxay Monument (ປະຕູໄຊ) translates to “Victory Gate.” Pha That Luang (ທາດຫຼວງ) translates to “Great Stupa.”
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My First Month in Vientiane
I want to share with all of you a little snapshot of Vientiane, the capital and largest city of Laos. During the past couple of weeks, I’ve tried to absorb everything, explore new places, try new foods, and practice my Lao language skills.
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My First Diplomatic Trip
If I told you that my very first diplomatic trip: from the United States to Laos that is, would be a smooth transition, I would be lying. In theory, you would think diplomats would embark on any journey without any major obstacles –I was wrong. In fact, I can say unequivocally that this was the…
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Learning my first hard language: Lao
The State Department organizes languages in four categories: category I (romance), II, III (hard), and IV (super hard). I am required to learn a hard language for my first diplomatic assignment overseas. Typically, for a hard language like Lao, State Department requires diplomats to spend 44 weeks in language training. Yet, since I am an…
A Latina Diplomat's Journey 