Why not learn Russian? (почему бы не изучать русский язык?)

It's been over two years since I handed in my thesis for what is distressingly called a "terminal degree." A Masters in Public Administration (MPA) is the end of the line...that is unless you want a Ph.D in Public Policy (the major differences, I know not). So for 24+ months I have joyfully enjoyed the lack of any formal education, instead immersing myself in learning the ins and outs of becoming a good a bureaucrat. Things like:

• Who to CC on an email and when. 
• Who not to CC on an email and when. 
• The risks and lack of respect when using BCC on an email.
• And the politically advantageous uses for email forwarding. 

Now that I've mastered the art of strategic email communication (and if you don't believe that this is an art, there are plenty of political email flubs available on the internet for your amusement), I thought I should move on to something a little more challenging. So I racked my brain for the most challenging thing I could possible think of, and I came up with, of course, learning Russian! Because why not add another half-baked set of language skills to my repertoire. 

(Left & Above: the Moscow Subway, a work of art) 



Currently my ability to communicate in anything other than English involves: 1) high-school Spanish that gets me pretty far when in Spain or Costa Rica after 3+ glasses of tempranillo (un mas vino tinto por favor!); 2) a college minor in Norwegian that at one point allowed me to read Harry Potter and converse about UN conventions and immigration policy in norsk, but now is at about the same level as my Spanish (det er mange finne gutter her og jeg vil ha mer øl!); and 3) a Belizean mix of kriol and two different mayan languages, which depending on the context would allow me to curse out someone on the bus who just grabbed me inappropriately (madda ras bwoi!) or ask for more tortillas (mane se wa?). I also know how say the equivalent of "cheers" in almost any place that I've traveled or had exposure to (skål, prost, chin chin, salud, sante, egészségedre). As a maybe wanna be diplomat, I've found that the word or phrase that you say while clinking glasses is often the most useful. 

But with Russian, I'm hoping to move beyond the level of novelty and actually communicate, which at some point in my life would require being in Russia for a period of time. And after spending a week there last fall, that would pose absolutely no problem with me. There were so many surprising, wonderful, and strange things in Moscow and I have been fascinated by the country ever since (hence my choice of banner for this blog). Getting back there may be a ways down the road, so for now I'm loading up on Pimsleur podcasts and have enrolled in a weekly class beginning in September. Should be an interesting adventure! до свидания!

(Below Left: The Russian White House (Parliament) and St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square)

speed networking

The view from my pedestal

You know you've turned a corner in your life when all of a sudden you are the one that is handing out your business card, not in search of a job, but as the one who may be able to help others with their quest for employment. Now let's be clear, I do not have any power at all to hire others. I am still the lowest on the totem pole in my office, even after 2+ years at my desk. I barely get to tell interns what to do. But every so often I'm called upon by various affinity groups to serve as an "expert" or "mentor." It sometimes feels odd, to be that almighty advice giver, but I always enjoy the experience. I definitely learned a lot from others in my own job search as I went from one psuedo-paid volunteer experience to another, so giving as good as I got is only fair.

Tonight, at one of these events, I was humbled by the many, many post-graduate school, internationally experienced, multi-lingual idealists who were looking for any clue as to how to land a job, any job, in this shining white marble city. I wish I had better news, that it was a just a matter of knowing the right person and being in the right place at the right time, but even that fail safe route to your dream job seems way too optimistic. Times are tough and way too many overeducated, hard working young people are slinging lattes or whiskey shots, just waiting for their shot to become an under appreciated Federal bureaucrat. Usually I come out of these events bolstered by the energy of those still looking for their dream job, but today I feel hopeless. The stock market didn't help this dark mood, confirming that there was really no point of putting on a happy face and telling others, most of them my age, that there they had a chance. That instead of mustering up some creative job searching ideas I should have told them to go back to whatever country they just finished up Peace Corps service in and take up a life as an expat, because this country is clearly telling all of us that hope is in short supply, and finding a job...well, forget about it.

Being an adult

In about two months I will be 30 - a big step towards feeling like an actual adult. That's right, a step towards. I feel like I've come a long way since the rickety house that me and my closest Norwegian loving friends first moved into nine years ago (wow - typing that made me feel old) and I'm actually totally fine with turning 30. My 20s are and continue to be absolutely fabulous, and fully expect my 30s to be even better.  However, I got a lot of help along the road to adulthood, and when I came across this list on Apartment Therapy (a highly addictive design, decorating, random stuff blog), I just had to share:

30 things to know about adulthood: 

1. Read the instructions.
2. Youtube has videos for things you need to know.
3. Make sure everything has its place.
4. Keep your car clean.
5. Keep the instructions.

6. Keep good records and a filing system.
7. Clean your house before you go on vacation.
8. If you live alone your trash will smell. Use smaller cans/bags.
9. Deep clean your refrigerator at least every 3 months.
10. Look at your house as if you were a visitor.

11. Use company as motivation to clean.
12. You don't need that many kitchen gadgets.
13. The less you have the less you have to put away.
14. Don't spend more than you make.
15. Learn to repair things yourself.

16. Don't be afraid to call a professional.
17. Your credit is forever. Don't screw it up.
18. Stick to basic cleaning supplies.
19. Document any serial number on items you'd want back if stolen.
20. Take care of your stuff and it will last.

21. Save money every month, even if it's just $5.
22. Don't start activity B until you've cleaned up after A.
23. Entertain often and find great friends.
24. Nothing improves in storage.
25. True friends don't care if your house is messy. Invite them anyway.

26. Invest in a decent shredder.
27. Keep stuff off the floor.
28. Once in a lifetime deals usually aren't.
29. Keep track of your immunization records.
30. Stuff will always work out. Don't stress.

I definitely have to agree with numbers 2, 7, 23, and 30. For example, from youtube I learned how to polish the antique brass mortar and pistal that came over from India. And having traveled my fair share these past years, I can attest to returning to a clean apartment (the suitcase full of dirty laundry is usually enough). As for entertaining, I really can't imagine what I would do without my close friends, who are always willing to try some new recipe that I've been wanting to try.  And finally, the last one is often repeated to me (and by me to myself). Things will absolutely work out, even if I don't know what that will look like in the end. 

http://servicecentered.blogspot.com/

International public service?

It's not that I don't enjoy my current city and job (it case you couldn't tell, I really do), but I'm always thinking about my next steps in work and life - I just can't help but be excited for that next turn of the road. And while I certainly enjoy, and have made a habit of, serving the U.S. government in one way or another, one thing that pops into my head occasionally as a potential dream career stop is the United Nations. The UN is a massive, sprawling, unwieldy organization and I've interacted with it's various branches enough to know there would be ups and downs as a UN employee. But none of that stops me from imagining what it feel like to work for an organization that is beyond the whims of any one government. But is the UN a form of public service?

I have to believe yes. What got me into this whole public service kick was a desire to have a career that created something that was not centered on making a profit or seeking fame. In economic terms, we call these intangibles public goods. Clean air, open spaces, safe drinking water, and humanitarian assistance when a hurricane strikes. These things are not meant to be profitable and should never be. And I am so very very fortunate to have found a career path that on a good day fulfills this desire. But what about those public goods that stretch beyond borders? When I was working at State Department, I got to do a lot of work on the treaty that addressed the hole in the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol. This treaty performed a function that was beyond any one country, and now all the citizens of the world benefit from it. The UN Environment Program provided the venue and the support for establishing the treaty and for making sure that countries continue to keep it relevant, even as the treaty now turns towards taking on climate change. Being a part of that as a career could be very interesting.

The view of U.N. meeting from the "U" section

I don't think I will actively pursue being an international Diplomat quite yet, we'll see how the whole foreign service thing goes first, but it's always fun imagining what might happen down the road.

http://servicecentered.blogspot.com/