Promoted!

Jemelyn, Dara (the deputy director that had faith enough in me to get me this job) me and her friend, Beth outside of the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, DC this Spring.

As of today, September 3rd, 2007, I am now the Training Specialist of the Public Diplomacy Training Division at the State Department's Foreign Service Institute (a mouthful, right?).

What's changed? Before that, I was the program assistant supporting the Public Affairs Officer and Information Officer courses. Now, as the Training Specialist, I'll be developing workshops on the use of Public Diplomacy and technology, coordinating regional media training overseas, coordinating the migration of all online writing courses and continuing to work on the division newsletter. I'm really excited about it because I get to work on a variety of projects and pace myself on getting the job done. I'll keep you updated on how I'm doing.

Dara, the deputy director, was really sweet and gave me a bouquet of flowers to celebrate my promotion. She has really been mentoring me over the last year and I truly appreciate her believing in my potential within the Department.

Bianca Sukiyama in Color

What do you think? Cover art for The Adventures of Bianca Sukiyama by the Amazing Amanda Gomes. My partner in crime. Please pray that we'll get picked up by a comic book publisher after I publish my own book!

Life Happens

Angelina Jolie is doing what I hope to do one day: Save the World! Photo Courtesy of http://www.tattoo-house.ru/

Now that I'm 27, I have a whole new set of things to worry about. It's still, "What college am I going to?" I am finding that not only am I concerned about what college I will go to for grad school, but I am worrying about what career path I'll take.

I've often described myself as a jack of all trades, but the ace of none. In the past, this has allowed me to do anything, but now I find that it simply makes it harder for me to choose my future career and life path. I still love all things international, but I'm finding that I have a talent for communications such as newsletters, writing web content and other PR related things. Then there's my favorite genre of writing: fiction.

I won't know where I'll end up until the end of next year. I guess I'm just going to put things out there like grad apps and take adult ed classes and whatever comes back, I'll pick up and go in that direction. Life happens. Long gone are the days when I control my own destiny, now I am waiting for life to happen to me. It's much easier to "flow like water" as my friend, Carlos, would say. That way I won't get in my own way and I can adapt in whatever environment I end up in....

I have spent most of my summer contemplating my next move in life. Some of the things I'm planning for 2008 are:

- to enter grad school and get my master's in Communications, International Development or Creative Writing.

- start my REAL career

- get my personal life in order

- Help save the world!

... by voting for Obama!

- Release my book, "The Adventures of Bianca Sukiyama"


Lately, I've been asked where I want to be in a few years. I've been encouraged to join the Foreign Service (I plan to take the test in December). I can think of a few people who are doing the things that I would hope to be my legacy. Here's a few people that are doing exactly what I'd like to do:

- Angelina Jolie (see photo above) - Ok, so Angelina didn't exactly start her career as a very responsible person, but I am amazed at how passionate she is about everything she does. That's something to be admired. She works with the UN. She adopts children. She has an idea about how SHE might be able to change the world and she's doing it. Who cares about her personal life! This woman is doing things that only she can do with her celebrity. I respect that.

- Oprah Winfrey - Oprah for President is all I have to say. I can't think of anyone that is more positive than Oprah. I can't even imagine America or the world without benefiting from Oprah in some way, shape or form. I just can't say anymore except go to www.oprah.com .

- Mothers Like My Mom - Of course, I aspire to be a mother one day and all I can think of is my mother and how balanced of a mother she's been. I love my dad too and without him, I wouldn't have that balance. But when I have my first child, I want my mother to be there every step of the way. She's an amazing woman and it's no wonder my friends all love her and respect her. I want to be a mother just like her. Classy, classy woman!