technical difficulties

I'm having some technical difficulties...which I guess is to be expected as I fall into the luddite category of computer users. Unfortunately these problems relate to me being unaware how to get my blog to come up in a google search...which clearly makes the whole idea of writing on the internet kind of useless. I guess Ill have to bug one of my friends who has a bit more common sense.

Anyways, thought I'd update progress on the FSO journey so far. It seems like this process takes forever! I applied almost a year ago and took the tests just before Christmas. Early in the New Year I relocated to the UK...sort of a spur of the moment, get me out of here impulse that led me to settle in beautiful Edinburgh. I was called into the High Commission in London in March for an interview...the strangest interview I've ever taken part of and one I completed on 2 hours sleep and a litre of coke. I was absolutely certain I'd rubbished it.

I returned to my exciting (read: receptionist in a methadone clinic) life in Edinburgh with any thoughts of becoming an FSO out of mind. Colour me surprised when I got an e-mail in July congratulating me on passing my interview. I guess it's slow going...

So then it was on to the pain in the arse of security clearances and of course second language assessment. I just recently did the French testing in London and was quite impressed to have gotten C-C-B after 8 years sans francais. However, still need to bump that last B to a C and apparently my security clearance is slow going soooo....I get to do a month of French training starting in November. Woot! (not)

the skinny

First off, formal introductions are in order. I'm Jen: half Canadian, half Brit; ex-dancer, recent Master of International Politics. Oh and I have a fondness for cats.

I've always wanted a blog (don't ask why) but never had anything to say. Well nothing that I deemed new or interesting or readworthy anyways. Until I found out that I had passed my FSO interview. I 'll be honest, I have some serious reservations about joining the Foreign Services...but it is a grand opportunity in a line of work I'm all about pursuing. So I started poking around the internet for some insider views, but I've pretty much hit a brick wall that led me to conclude that either Canadian FSOs don't blog, or aren't allowed.

So I figure until I get told I'm not allowed, might as well. So here's my blog dedicated to the trials and tribulations of becoming a Canadian FSO.