I’ve received a few messages asking for some advice on the PNQs from those who passed the Foreign Service Officer Test (written exam). Here is the advice that I shared:

For the PNQs, what they’re actually looking for:

http://www.careers.state.gov/index/download-center4/3.0.0_fso_13_dimensions.pdf

Anyone can write a short essay but the key is to incorporate a few of the 13 dimensions into each response. Also, feel free to use the below format:

Situation – Briefly recount the situation you faced
Action – Say exactly what action you took
Results – Briefly describe the results of YOUR action in as much detail as possible
Interesting Features - Say something special or memorable about the vignette or relate the story back to the 13D’s.

Give them what they want and nothing more. Also, don’t worry about whether or not you are experienced enough. All they’re looking for is if you possess these traits and they can easily be evidenced in any situation.

In one month, I will be up in the air and saying goodbye to DC and getting reacquainted with the Middle East. Is anything going on over there right now that I should know about?

Tomorrow, I will be back in training after spending several weeks on a bridge assignment.  A bridge assignment is a temporary assignment, usually at Main State, that is offered when you have at least one week of nothing scheduled even though you’re technically in training.

Some people say that bridge assignments only exist when mistakes in training schedules occur but either way, they’re a tremendous experience. Being in a classroom all the time brings back too many memories of some stuffy old professor attempting (and failing) to get me to focus on the number of bushels of apples or whatever that Chile exports.

Well, guess what stuffy old college professor?

What’s the point of being a diplomat if you can’t have diplomatic license plates?

For many of us going in the foreign service, having a vehicle at post is an incredible convenience. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to ship a vehicle overseas. Here is what I learned:

If you don’t currently own a vehicle:

• About 6 weeks before you’re scheduled to arrive at post, talk to the GSO and inquire about the types of cars they recommend at post, and also if there are any import restrictions (age of car, color of car, etc.)

• Join USAA and browse through their vehicles online. They have pre-negotiated rates with dealers that are often below MSRP.

• Open up a checking account & credit card with USAA to be eligible for their financing. It’s nearly impossible to finance with the dealership because banks frown up financing those who are overseas. USAA is your best bet.

• About 4 weeks before arriving at post, call Transportation at State to go over your plans. They may offer you some information that you might have overlooked.

• Since you do not plan on driving the car stateside, you can avoid paying registration and all those other fees (sometimes even sales tax) by using a Certificate of Origin ( JF-49) instead of a title (applies only to NEW vehicles).

• Confirm that your host country accepts imported vehicles that do not have your name on the title.

• Because the USG’s name is on the Certificate of Origin, contracted movers can go to the dealership lot, pick up the car, and ship it directly to you at post.

Click here to view the State Dept’s official guide on shipping a vehicle.

Click here to view the JF-49.

I apologize for my absence but no worries, I’M BACK!

As the title mentions, I am no longer going here but I will now be going here.

I absolutely look forward to my new assignment and to help the mission in anyway that I can. This post is just a quick update. I’ve been lucky to learn an incredible amount of information in the last few months on how to navigate the foreseeable and the unforeseeable and I’ll do my best to share what I have learned.

Until then, enjoy this flag.