Flag Day

So - we had our Flag Day.

That whole week we were all pretty antsy.  It's hard to stay focused when you're just a few short days from finding out where you'll be spending the following years; how long you'll be in training; what language you might be learning; how your family will feel; whether you'll be in a warm place or a cold place; mountains or beaches or desert or jungle; whether you'll need to order a year's supply of olive oil / toilet paper / cheerios; what you'll actually be doing for your job - the list goes on.

Many of us got up early that morning to watch the Royal Wedding.  Many others couldn't sleep and thus ended up watching the Royal Wedding for a distraction (me).  Finally it was time to go to FSI.

The A-100 coordinators had done a great job of planning the schedule.  They knew that on this day - Flag Day - our attention spans would be very short.  They had planned an offsite that took our minds off the end of the day and was quite fascinating.  We all had a great time.

Finally it was time.  I collected my family at the Visitor's Center and proceeded to the auditorium where we'd find out.  I got them settled in the front row of the guest section.  The kids had brought things to do.  I gave them their special coloring book that the Overseas Briefing Center prepares for kids.  They also got the same bingo sheet that we all got.  Country bingo is a traditional Flag Day activity.  Various countries are listed on the bingo card and you mark them off as they're called.

I found my moral support buddies and we got good seats in the rear so we could watch everyone.  I made sure my phone had reception so that I could text my family the results when the time came.

There was a slight (felt like a long time) delay while we waited for our last VIP to arrive.  Then, the CDO's entered bearing the three special holders with all the flags for our countries.

First, the country's flag appears on the screen and we all try to guess which country it is.  A fabulous classmate had made us a cheat sheet with all the countries and their flags listed.  Then the post and position are announced and then the FSO's name.  There's lots of cheering each time.

It was all very overwhelming.  I tried to keep up with my bingo sheet and to mark which posts my colleagues where getting, but I found myself not being able to pay attention and be in the zen of the moment.  So I just let it all go and enjoyed the experience.  Colleague after colleague got called and went up to get their flags.  It all felt unreal.  I thought I'd get to see all my new friends get their posts and that I'd just sit and watch and then go home with no post.

Finally, one of my top posts got called and I heard my name.  Everyone knew it was super high on my list and they all cheered.  I went up and got my flag and got my picture taken with the Ambassador.  Then I collected my orders and looked for my family as I went to sit down.  They were very happy with our new post - Recife, Brazil!

I didn't hear the next few posts as I was still reeling from the experience.  Eventually I surfaced and got to cheer on the rest of my colleagues as they got their posts.  At one point, I heard K. call out Bingo!  I knew it was at O.'s direction.

Afterwards we all went to a nearby restaurant where we celebrated and congratulated each other.  The CDO's had done a great job - most of us had ended up in places we were happy with or that we understood why we were there.

All in all a good day.