Oral Assessment prep session

I'm here in Chicago, happy to watch the cold snowy weather from inside my warm hotel room. On Wednesday I arrived in Chicago and went straight to my Oral Assessment prep session. I'm really glad I went. It was great meeting others who are preparing and I really enjoyed meeting the Ambassador in residence. I do have to say, I feel both better informed and more intimidated. I feel confident I now know what I need to do to prepare effectively, which is a good thing too because my assessment is less than 3 weeks away! But at the same time, I feel a little intimidated. The Foreign Service has high standards, rightly so, and that means some additional pressure to do my best. Additionally, I think it's really hitting me that I might get in. And that thought is both exciting and scary. So needless to say, I have a lot on my mind. But at times like this, the best thing to do is to focus on what I need to do and on doing my best. See you next in DC!

Chicago

In a little less than two months I will be winging my way to Washington DC for the Oral Assessment. But before that, I will be road tripping it to Chicago for a prep session at the University of Illinois - Chicago. Ironically, I probably wouldn't have signed up for the prep session, despite how useful I think it will be, if I wasn't already planning a trip to Chicago in January. After all, I will spend more than 12 hours total in the car for 3 hours in a prep session. But hey, two birds, one stone. I'm super excited. I get to visit Chicago, do the tourist thing, and hang out with friends. Plus, I get to meet other Foreign Service hopefuls, be better prepared for the Oral Assessment, and learn from someone in the Foreign Service. I can't wait.