T minus 9 hours

T'was the night before...kickoff, and everyone's waiting through the pregame ceremonies and ads.  We've picked a strange way to spend a two week vacation, but we have several major tasks behind us so it's easier to focus on the path ahead.  Our Colorado house closing is continuing on schedule, which is great.  My wife is set up to start working remotely tomorrow from our temporary housing, so that's good.  Our dogs seem to be adjusting fine.  All systems nominal.

We've been looking at housing to purchase and to rent, however we haven't committed on either front yet as we just aren't sure yet about the first post.  Based on almost everything we've seen it should be DC, but obviously we don't know.  We might have to make a decision soon one way or another, we'll see. 

We've also been following up on a variety of logistical issues: registering our vehicles in Falls Church, licensing our dogs in Falls Church, buying and registering SmarTrip cards for the metro, and other odds and ends.  Nothing major but it all adds up timewise.

I met a couple fellow construction engineers for dinner last night, and met several other specialists in our class at a happy hour event this afternoon - it was great to meet a few people before my first first day of school in a long time.  It's been fascinating to meet people entering the foreign service from a variety of paths: some from private companies like me and some from public service positions, but also some military backgrounds as well as several spouses of current foreign service employees at foreign posts; the spouses have flown in from all over (including New Delhi, Lima, and Nairobi) to attend the orientation.  Very cool. 

Based on the latest collective thinking, I'm expecting the three weeks of orientation to be as follows: Day 1 at Main State (introductions, badges, much walking around, probably kissing a few babies for tourist photo ops) and the rest at the Foreign Service Institute (a campus atmosphere for training, although probably without pickup ultimate games).  I'm no longer expecting to get my bid list in the first week because it would just be a dead giveaway if it listed DC as my only option, and what kind of fun would that be?  It'd be like using an invisible box for presents.  (Note to self: submit invisible box patent.)  My post should be formally announced on orientation's "Flag Day", September 25th.

Exciting times! I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I'd better try to get some sleep...

(This post written while listening to Nick Drake Time Has Told Me.)