Realities of Foreign Service Life [Paperback]

Patricia Linderman (Editor), Melissa Brayer-Hess (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2002

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 families facing all the routines and crises of life-births, deaths, childrearing, divorce-far from home, relatives, and friends, in an unfamiliar and sometimes unfriendly country and culture. This book provides reflections and perspectives on the realities of Foreign Service life as experienced by members of the Foreign Service community around the world. The writers share their unvarnished views on a wide variety of topics they care about: maintaining long-distance relationships, raising teens abroad, dealing with depression, coping with evacuations, readjusting to life in the United States, and many others. These are stories from the diplomatic trenches-true experiences from those who have lived the lifestyle and want to share their hard-learned lessons with others.?If you are new to the Foreign Service, this book will offer insights and practical information useful in your overseas tours and when you return home. Even if you are a seasoned veteran of the Foreign Service, the reports and reflections of others may encourage you to compare and evaluate your own experiences.?If you (or your partner) are contemplating joining the Foreign Service, this book can serve as a reality check, giving you honest, personal perspectives on both the positive and negative aspects of Foreign Service life.?If you are a student wondering what the Foreign Service is all about, this book will broaden your knowledge and provide you with an insider's view not found in any textbook.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patricia Linderman is a writer, translator and Associate Editor of Tales from a Small Planet, www.talesmag.com. She has lived as a Foreign Service family member in Trinidad, Chile, Cuba and Germany. Melissa Brayer-Hess is a writer, teacher and Managing Editor of Foreign Service Lifelines, www.aafsw.org. She has lived in France, Nigeria, Russia, Algeria, Egypt, and Ukraine. Melissa and Patricia have also co-authored the guidebook The Expert Expatriate: Your Guide to Successful Relocation Abroad (2002, Nicholas Brealey / Intercultural Press).

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (October 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595250777
• ISBN-13: 978-0595250776
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reality Check, March 7, 2003

By 

S. Kolb (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Realities of Foreign Service Life (Paperback)

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.

82 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Really Disappointing, December 22, 2003

By 

Erik (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Realities of Foreign Service Life (Paperback)

If you're a female spouse of a foreign service officer, have never traveled abroad, let alone to somewhere with anything less than first world ammenities, and are used to being surrounded at all times by friends and family, then THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU! Of the more than 35 anectodes of foreign service life, only perhaps five were written by men. I tired of the endless complaints of insects, heat, cold, limited work opportunities for spouses, broken house items, crazy driving, corrupt infrastructure,broken infrastructure, etc., etc., etc. Having lived, travelled, and owned property abroad, most of which in the Third World, I was really hoping to see some the of the brighter sides of this adventure. Where were the great relationships with locals and their families, the adventurous forays into the bush to see local flora and fauna, the interesting challenges of learning a new culture and language, the unique perspective that one gives to one's child by growing up in a foreign land, the fun, adventure, and excitement of...Going local? While some of the stories are insightful and somewhat telling, I found it somewhat misleading. I really expected that the authors would spend more time sharing the unique perspective of foreign service life as well as the common inconveniences that we often face right her in the USA. Is the common FSO family really this petty, displaced, and inexperienced? I'd hate to think that these are truly the "Realities of Foreign Service Life."

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books out there on this subject, January 13, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Realities of Foreign Service Life (Paperback)

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.