Let the Countdown Begin

This final year in Beijing is going to be a tough one.

I’m not sure of the exact ratio, but the number of people you know at a post is inversely proportional to the amount of time you’ve spent there. Everyone you meet during your first month or so either got there the same time as you, or have already been at post for up to 2+ years. With the standard foreign service assignment being 3 years (2 years for untenured officers), each year at post increases the odds that those people will be leaving. By the time you reach your third year, you approach a 100% departure rate (see chart). Of the dozen or so people I considered “friends” here, only one couple remains – and they’re leaving this fall.

I’m also starting to feel old. I suppose it’s mostly due to feeling a little “trapped” by the boys – meaning D-What and I can’t just go out and do something on a moment’s notice. I miss that freedom. That, and I haven’t played a board game or role-playing game for months.

Anyway, now that we’ve pretty much established a routine with the boys, I’m going to try to get back on here more often. I see that my last post was way back in May! Also, when we leave Beijing this blog is going to re-open to the public – and I’m going to post the real story of what went down here. But you’ll have to wait.