the past two mornings npr has had a couple of interesting pieces on life in the foreign service. having heard stories growing up from my grandparents and mother (my grandfather was a career foreign service officer and ambassador, from tunisia to saudi arabia to colombia to kuwait), and being friends with KG, i know the work of a foreign service officer is not always as romantic as it may seem to outsiders. and it can be particularly hard on children and spouses. anyway, i recommend listening.