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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Great News Today: Medical Clearance Granted

The headline says it all. I checked my emails late today and found the great news. And do I feel relieved? Oh, boy, you betcha!

For some folks, getting medical clearance is as easy as falling off a log. For me, well ... it meant a lot of repeat visits to doctors, extra tests -- and an extra form. Plus, there were my kids to get taken care of. So, when I got that email, I sighed a very deep sigh of relief and sent up an extra special prayer of gratitude.

One more step -- one major step -- nearer to becoming an FSO. I am so happy. What a relief!

Now, for the security clearance. My target date is January 4, 2011. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what that stands for. Is it the date by which all information-gathering must be done and my file submitted or is it the date by which a final decision is made? I have a feeling it's the first. Which means more wait time after the "target date." Sigh.

I would love to start the New Year with a security clearance. Wouldn't that be grand?

I must admit that I've been down a bit lately. I stopped reading the FSO blogs, which I'd come to love, and I've stayed away from the A-100 forum. Especially, the later. Why? Because "listening" to people worry about when they'll get an invitation to the next A-100 classes depresses me. I envy them. I'm not proud of it, but it's true. I wish I was at the point where my main worry was about getting an invitation. It would mean that I had my clearance and was on the Register.

I will be soooo grateful when that day comes!

In the meantime, I've scheduled my language test for mid-January. I don't plan to really "study, just to refresh my skills. Toward that end, I plan to start reading in German (books and online newspapers); I'll also resume listening to Deutsche Welle on iTunes, as well as talk to my son in German. (He speaks it fluently.) I don't want to make a big to-do out of this. I'll only end up making myself nervous.

For now though, I have a novel to finish and a contest to judge and literally fifty+plus novels to read within the next four weeks. I'll plow my way through that and keep praying that my security clearance goes through smoothly.
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About the Author

I'm a novelist and former news writer. I'm also single mom with one child at home and one in college. I spent 15 years overseas, returned to the States several years ago. I've always wanted to join the Foreign Service -- (Doesn't that sound trite?) -- and now think it would be a wonderful time to do so.

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this blog represent those of the author, and not of the United States Government or any of its agencies or officials therein. All information disclosed in this blog is non-sensitive and readily available in the public domain.

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