The author seems to have a penchant for taking the most dangerous assignments.
I'm a "diplomat brat" and most diplomatic careers are much more boring and pedestrian. I (US citizen) grew up in Japan, Venezuela, and Costa Rica.
I echo the other current top level commenter's sentiment that diplomacy should not be a family business. I recognize many of the advantages I have in terms of having a broad worldview and understanding, as well as language skills. However I would trade it all to grow up in a stable suburb and graduate from high school with a few handfuls of folks I'd been to primary school with.
Being uprooted every few years has led to an inability to form long-term relationships. I was essentially trained to have a timer on my friendships: approximately 3-5 years. In my time we didn't have the internet so once I moved it was over.
Not a fun time. I do not recall my childhood very fondly. In my case it was especially hard because I'm an only child. I often wondered, as a child, why it was so hard for me but not my peers. When I was in high school I realized that all of the "better adjusted" kids I was comparing myself to had siblings similar in age.
To those of you thinking of a diplomatic career: don't try to raise a family and be a diplomat. Just don't. It's not worth it. Do it while you're single for as long as you can, but the term "settle down" exists for a reason.
I'm a "diplomat brat" and most diplomatic careers are much more boring and pedestrian. I (US citizen) grew up in Japan, Venezuela, and Costa Rica.
I echo the other current top level commenter's sentiment that diplomacy should not be a family business. I recognize many of the advantages I have in terms of having a broad worldview and understanding, as well as language skills. However I would trade it all to grow up in a stable suburb and graduate from high school with a few handfuls of folks I'd been to primary school with.
Being uprooted every few years has led to an inability to form long-term relationships. I was essentially trained to have a timer on my friendships: approximately 3-5 years. In my time we didn't have the internet so once I moved it was over.
Not a fun time. I do not recall my childhood very fondly. In my case it was especially hard because I'm an only child. I often wondered, as a child, why it was so hard for me but not my peers. When I was in high school I realized that all of the "better adjusted" kids I was comparing myself to had siblings similar in age.
To those of you thinking of a diplomatic career: don't try to raise a family and be a diplomat. Just don't. It's not worth it. Do it while you're single for as long as you can, but the term "settle down" exists for a reason.