Back in December, I wrote about my candidacy to the US Foreign Service. My reasoning behind moving forward with my application even though I knew we might be moving was to keep our options open.
Well, after much thought and many unforeseen circumstances, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy.
While I was mulling over what to do, I realized that a lot of the other candidates were a lot older than me. I may be speculating as to the reason they waited to pursue this career, but one of the main reasons I felt it wasn’t the time is because of the kids. I couldn’t imagine making them move every two to three years. I know that there are kids who do this and end up successful; however, I don’t think my kids (or their parents) are cut out for that lifestyle.
Oddly enough, this wasn’t a difficult choice to make and it’s one of those times that I feel like it’s the right thing to do. I enjoyed the experience of applying for the position (I chose the Management Cone) and I feel much better prepared should I choose to try again in the future. As I described before, the process if quite long and in a way it gives you a chance to really think about the life you are choosing.
So, the plan for the next five to seven years is that there will only be one diplomat in the family 
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe to Balanced Melting Pot by Email
Balanced Melting Pot on Facebook
I’ve noticed that a lot of people have been finding this blog after searching for US Foreign Service terms. I assume that the majority of you are landing on this post, which briefly describes my experience when I applied. I remember how crazy I went trying to find any bit of information during the process, so if you have any specific questions about anything leading up the oral exam, feel free to send them to me at deborah[at]balancedmeltingpot.com.
