Realities of Foreign Service Life

By: Linderman, Patricia

Book Overview

Mention a diplomatic career and most people imagine high-level meetings, formal dress and cocktail parties. Few stop to think that behind the occasional glitter of official functions are thousands of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595250777
• ISBN13: 9780595250776
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Good product, great seller... make sure you know what you're looking for

Great product, quick service. Unfortunately, I thought this book would talk more about what it was like for a foreign service OFFICER, but really it's more about foreign service SPOUSES. Helpful, but I was looking for something a little different.

enjoyable, quick read

I've bought several books for my study of the Foreign Service and the vast majority are hard to slog through. This one was engaging, written by numerous personalities about their experiences from different relationships with a Foreign Service Officer. I was able to finish it in one evening.

Must read for those interested in the Foreign Service

This book is simply key in helping you understand what a life in the Foreign Service is like. Several essays provide different insights into the ups and downs of living overseas and the unique challenges of the Foreign Service. You simply must read this before considering that career, and more importantly your spouse must read it also. Arguably, the spouse gives up more to join the Foreign Service. Until I read this book I was on the fence but not too far into the text I decided this wasn't for me or my family, which is really a great thing. If I relied on the State Department view I would have exerted significant time and effort only to find out later or too late. Some critics complain the book is too whiny, and it does come across like that at times. But look at it this way: if you read all the negatives and are still motivated, then the Foreign Service would be incredibly dense to NOT take you. One of the interesting takeaways for me was that your will likely be evacuated sometime in your career. If you or your spouse can't deal with the thought of flying the wife and kids out of a dangerous country, sitting on C-130 troop seats while the other stays in a dangerous situation, the Foreign Service isn't for you. If you don't mind living like a king overseas and living like a pauper in Washington, the Foreign Service may be for you. If you have to have fast access to pop-tarts you may think twice. If the thought of you or your kids contracting dysentery or other crazy diseases with less than great medical care bothers you, think again. If your spouse has career aspirations you need to seriously consider this option. Before you order that subscription to The Economist, get this book first.

One of the best books out there on this subject

I have been collecting books on the Foreign Service ever since I became interested in joining. This was the first one I read and remains one of my favorites. It gives a brief glimpse into actually working for an embassy (it has a pro/con list of being a FSO at the beginning, which is both funny and useful), but concentrates mainly on personal life outside the embassy. While those who bought the book expecting a detailed assessment on the actual job of an FSO will be disappointed, it is clear even from the book jacket that actual FSO work is not the topic of the book. The short essays in the book cover everything from traveling with pets (I didn't even know you could have pets when you travel as a FSO) to dealing with crisis. It definitely is a reality check, because it is very easy to become caught up in the process of becoming a FSO and deciding which career track you would like to pursue, while forgetting about the lifestyle you will lead outside of work. I would recommend this book to anyone, of any age, who is considering the FSO as a career, or to anyone who will be living and traveling with a FSO relative.

Reality Check

If you're looking for a book that deals with the non-embassy life of Foreign Service personnel and their families, this is an excellent book for you. The book is more a series of "behind the scenes" stories submitted by different people who have connections with the FS. Some are actual FS employees. Others are spouses. One of the great things about this book is how varied the stories are. One details the experiences of shopping in different markets all over the world. Another is a Q & A session where they discuss everything from the best way to pack your belongings to how to prepare your children for a new location. One man describes the joys and difficulties of being a bachelor in the FS. Yet another explains how best to bring your pets with you when you move. And another descibes the trials of trying to find American food in different countries. And these are just a handful of some great and honest essays!I originally bought this book thinking it would help me prepare for the Oral Exam. I thought it might deal with the innerworkings of an embassy and what the varied embassy personnel do on a daily basis. For example, how an Administrative Officer finds housing for people. If that's what you're looking for, this book is not for you. The book rarely touches on any of those topics. Instead it deals more with the personal issues.However, I still think the book should be read by anyone and everyone who's considering a career in the FS. In the first chapter, the authors state the purpose of the book: they want everyone to know what the FS is like. If this encourages people to join them, then great. If it causes people to rethink this career and even chose something else, all the better. It's better to not work for the FS than to join it and you and your family be miserable So, before you get too far into the process, I'd encourage this book as a "reality check". I think it would be great not only for those considering a life in the Foreign Service but also for family members and friends who want to know what their loved ones are doing or will be doing.