On Quitting My Job

Someone recently gave me something that read: "Do one thing every day that scares you." Well, I did something scary last week. I quit my job. And no, I don't have another one yet. However, I have set some wheels in motion and am confident something will pop up sometime soon. I've been talking to and applying to American law firms, Thai law firms, the embassy, NGOs, non-profits, and the UN to name a few. I have some meetings set up in Bangkok and am getting excited for a change in pace. Here, I have to pause to thank my father-in-law and Aunt Ily for their help in getting in touch with contacts, words of encouragement, and support.

Now, I would like to say a few words about quitting my job at the DVA. It was a bittersweet moment. I genuinely enjoyed my job and the people I worked with. I made some good friends, I learned a lot, and I feel like I was really making a difference in Veterans' lives. Management supported me, and I appreciate all they did. When I told my bosses and Judge that I was moving to Bangkok, there was that momentary "Bangkok? As in Thailand?" reaction that I usually get. They all seemed to think it would be a great experience and said they were sad to see me go. When our adventures end, I really would like to return to this job. Much can happen in the next few years, but I think the door will remain open. If any of my colleagues are reading this, you're all invited to come visit us in Thailand. We'll have plenty of room and a friendly face is always welcome.

This could be a separate post, but I'm already writing so I'm going to briefly talk about the security briefings we attended these last two days. Moms and grandmothers, this might be a good time to skip to the end and write something nice in the comments. The basic point of these briefings was that, as US diplomats we could be targets. There are bad guys all over the world (including in the US). They taught us to be smart to reduce the chance of becoming involved in an international incident and gave us tips to stay safe. Thailand is no Pakistan and is generally safe, but our status as diplomats could always increase our risk.

We're ready to go (3 more weeks until we leave!). We know how to stay safe, and many Asian adventures await us. We'll miss everyone back in the states, but we'll be back. And seriously, come visit us!