Thursday, August 18, 2011
El Salvador!
Last night I arrived in San Salvador, El Salvador from NYC. I had a great time in New York and now I'm ready to explore Central America. I got a chance to walk around the city today and it's beautiful. It's warm and tropical with beautiful tropical trees and flowers. Pupusas abound and they are so delicious! The people seem friendly, although the fact that every security guard has an M16 over their shoulder is a bit off-putting. I'll post more info and pics soon.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
FSWE Results!
Today I got the results of the Foreign Service Written Exam that I took on June 11th and I passed!!
As predicted, I did not do so well on the Job Knowledge but everything else was pretty good!
My score breakdown:
Job Knowledge: 44.35 (yikes!!!)
Bio: 73.46
English: 55.93
Multiple Choice total: 173.74
Now time to start writing PNQs!
As predicted, I did not do so well on the Job Knowledge but everything else was pretty good!
My score breakdown:
Job Knowledge: 44.35 (yikes!!!)
Bio: 73.46
English: 55.93
Multiple Choice total: 173.74
Now time to start writing PNQs!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
FSWE
I took the Foreign Service Written Exam today in Phnom Penh. First and foremost- I'm dying to know how much the Embassy spends on electricity as the Air Conditioning was on so high I was shaking and had purple fingers when I left. First time I've ever been cold in Cambodia! :)
Otherwise, I felt things went smoothly. Everyone at the embassy was nice and helpful, and I enjoyed speaking with one of our proctors after the test about how she had gotten into the Foreign Service and how she'd ended up in Phnom Penh. She said she had signed up to take the FS exam years earlier but never went and ended up avoiding the process by joining as a security specialist later. Very interesting! Now I'm wondering what I could "specialize" in as a means to an end.
Our two proctors had not taken the test themselves and were slightly unsure about the timing of things and whether or not we could take breaks. It was a little unsettling to be told something contrary to what I'd been led to believe by the registration information. They said that we had three hours exactlty to complete the entire test and were to keep time for individual sections ourselves (which was not true). Each section has it's own time limit.
In addition to myself, four other people were taking the test that day at that location. I enjoyed chatting with people in the same boat as myself (excited and nervous!).
Otherwise, I felt things went smoothly. Everyone at the embassy was nice and helpful, and I enjoyed speaking with one of our proctors after the test about how she had gotten into the Foreign Service and how she'd ended up in Phnom Penh. She said she had signed up to take the FS exam years earlier but never went and ended up avoiding the process by joining as a security specialist later. Very interesting! Now I'm wondering what I could "specialize" in as a means to an end.
Our two proctors had not taken the test themselves and were slightly unsure about the timing of things and whether or not we could take breaks. It was a little unsettling to be told something contrary to what I'd been led to believe by the registration information. They said that we had three hours exactlty to complete the entire test and were to keep time for individual sections ourselves (which was not true). Each section has it's own time limit.
In addition to myself, four other people were taking the test that day at that location. I enjoyed chatting with people in the same boat as myself (excited and nervous!).
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Studying for the Foreign Service Written Exam
After registering for the Foreign Service Written Exam, I have been researching study methods online obsessively. I've purchased the practice test offered by the FS. For me personally, I think the Job Knowledge section of the test will be the most trying as it's so difficult to study for and hard to know specifically what it contatins. I'm hoping my English skills will help me pass. The mystery that is the biographic section is pretty much up in the air, as far as I'm concerned.
I'll be brushing up on my constitution knowledge, going over landmark Supreme Court Cases, and studying an AP US History book I found that seems pretty good.
I'll be brushing up on my constitution knowledge, going over landmark Supreme Court Cases, and studying an AP US History book I found that seems pretty good.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Rabbit Island, Cambodia
I went to Rabbit Island for the long weekend. It's an extremely popular destination with both Khmer and expats. It's (I believe) the closest island off the shore from Kep, about 30 mins by ferry. Upon arrival you see small huts lining the beach, all of which are basically the same (very rustic with electricity only from 6-10pm).
It's very relaxing with beatiful beaches and lots of restaurants on the water, unlike Bamboo island which has only two very (very!) basic restaurants. It's definitely reassuring to know that in case of an emergency, it wouldn't take too long to get back to the mainland.
The morning after arriving, I met a dog on the beach who (I swear!) barked at me like Lassie and then would run away and wait for me to follow him. So, of course I did. I followed him to a neighboring beach and he just kept going until I literally followed him for several hours around the entire island. It was beautiful. I was a bit scared when things were getting desolate but there were always a couple huts in the distance and fishermen nearby.
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It's very relaxing with beatiful beaches and lots of restaurants on the water, unlike Bamboo island which has only two very (very!) basic restaurants. It's definitely reassuring to know that in case of an emergency, it wouldn't take too long to get back to the mainland.
The morning after arriving, I met a dog on the beach who (I swear!) barked at me like Lassie and then would run away and wait for me to follow him. So, of course I did. I followed him to a neighboring beach and he just kept going until I literally followed him for several hours around the entire island. It was beautiful. I was a bit scared when things were getting desolate but there were always a couple huts in the distance and fishermen nearby.
The dog I followed around the whole island.
Kep in the background.
Look carefully! A man is climbing up the tree to get coconuts. :)
Local fisherman
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Eating tarantulas in Skun, Cambodia
While driving back from Rattanakiri, Stung Treng and Kratie, Cambodia, we stopped in the sleepy town of Skun. Skun is known for only one thing: tarantulas! Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods went to Skun for his show to try the tarantulas and show how they are hunted and prepared in Khmer cuisine.
Naturally, I had to try one! I also got the chance to hold a live tarantula and was laughed at by all the tiny Khmer women for wanting a photo of it.
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Naturally, I had to try one! I also got the chance to hold a live tarantula and was laughed at by all the tiny Khmer women for wanting a photo of it.
Seeing irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie, Biking on Koh Trong
On the way back from Rattanakiri we stopped in Kratie for a bit and found it to be so charming and cute. A very typical Cambodian town with a beautiful waterfront, great restaurants, and a short ferry ride to Koh Trong!
We first took the ferry to Koh Trong (which takes about five minutes). We walked up the sand and were able to rent bikes there for $1 US for the whole day! We were told there was a basic loop around the island and set off. It was idyllic and sleepy and quaint and totally Khmer- many kids, cows, chickens, older people hanging out. Though Khmer children get very excited to see foreigners in any town, these ones were particularly amazed by seeing barang on their tiny island! We stopped at a cute new guesthouse to buy a bottle of water and wished we had known it was there so we could stay there. A sign pointed us to a local wat and we were led inside by a group of monks who seemed honored to share it with us and encouraged us to take many pictures.
The very last part of the bike loop was through various rice paddies and with the sun shining and the sky so quintessentially blue, I felt like I was in a Khmer music video! ;)
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After biking all afternoon, we took the ferry back to Kratie and hopped on a tuk-tuk to go upstream to where the Irrawaddy dophins are in the river. We got on a small boat and went out into the water and immediately saw quite a few dolphins popping their heads out of the water. My pictures all all very unimpressive as the dolphins look like dots in the river but it was beautiful to see in person. The sunset was also beautiful on the mekong! After awhile of that we floated up to the "rapids"... not quite what I would call rapids, but nonetheless, you can stand in a sandbar in the middle of the mekong to watch the sunset. Can't beat that!
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We first took the ferry to Koh Trong (which takes about five minutes). We walked up the sand and were able to rent bikes there for $1 US for the whole day! We were told there was a basic loop around the island and set off. It was idyllic and sleepy and quaint and totally Khmer- many kids, cows, chickens, older people hanging out. Though Khmer children get very excited to see foreigners in any town, these ones were particularly amazed by seeing barang on their tiny island! We stopped at a cute new guesthouse to buy a bottle of water and wished we had known it was there so we could stay there. A sign pointed us to a local wat and we were led inside by a group of monks who seemed honored to share it with us and encouraged us to take many pictures.
The very last part of the bike loop was through various rice paddies and with the sun shining and the sky so quintessentially blue, I felt like I was in a Khmer music video! ;)
Boat on Koh Trong
Sand up to Koh Trong. Motos use this bamboo walk-way to make deliveries.
Cute and curious kids on Koh Trong!
Beautiful wat on Koh Trong
Bike path through the trees
After biking all afternoon, we took the ferry back to Kratie and hopped on a tuk-tuk to go upstream to where the Irrawaddy dophins are in the river. We got on a small boat and went out into the water and immediately saw quite a few dolphins popping their heads out of the water. My pictures all all very unimpressive as the dolphins look like dots in the river but it was beautiful to see in person. The sunset was also beautiful on the mekong! After awhile of that we floated up to the "rapids"... not quite what I would call rapids, but nonetheless, you can stand in a sandbar in the middle of the mekong to watch the sunset. Can't beat that!
The "rapids"
Friday, February 4, 2011
Rattanakiri, Cambodia
For the five-day Cambodian holiday, we decided to make the trek to Rattanakiri, Cambodia. We hopped on an early bus and made it all the way to Stung Treng in one day. Exhausted, we spent the night there after walking around town a bit and checking out the local celebrations (Khmer New Year!) and markets and buying some fruit. The next morning we took a mini-bus for a few hours to Rattanakiri. The roads were hardly paved and were extremely bumpy and dirty (as in, tons of red dirt on everything). It was beautiful! It was extremely remote and the red dirt reminded me of the first time we went to Siem Reap and the roads were not yet paved.
In Rattanakiri we went swimming in the beautiful crater lake and checked out some of the waterfalls. We bought a giant jug/vase of whiskey, as is customary in these parts, for the celebration... though I dont think we ended up drinking much of it.
We attempted to walk back to our guesthouse from the crater lake and were stopped by a local Khmer man who insisted on driving us for free. He was so friendly and generous. I think he found it funny to drive two soaking-wet (having come straight out of the lake) barang (which literally means French person, but is used in reference to any foreigner) back to their guesthouses. Love the Khmer people- they are so awesome!
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In Rattanakiri we went swimming in the beautiful crater lake and checked out some of the waterfalls. We bought a giant jug/vase of whiskey, as is customary in these parts, for the celebration... though I dont think we ended up drinking much of it.
We attempted to walk back to our guesthouse from the crater lake and were stopped by a local Khmer man who insisted on driving us for free. He was so friendly and generous. I think he found it funny to drive two soaking-wet (having come straight out of the lake) barang (which literally means French person, but is used in reference to any foreigner) back to their guesthouses. Love the Khmer people- they are so awesome!
We took an elephant trek, which didnt amount to much. Upon reaching the elephant, I saw someone I recognized! One of my students was there with her family for vacation. She was as shocked to see me as I was to see her. What a fun surprise! Overall found Rattanakiri to be very quiet and relaxing, beautiful, slightly cooler at night, and the locals were amazing hosts/hostesses. I very much hope to go back soon.
Love the red dirt!!!
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