Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Our First Steps


Pancho:

It’s really really really true!!!  My wife finally received an offer to become a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State after a little over a year on the register.  Travelling the world has been a dream of both of ours for as long as we can remember.  We’re leaving behind the dreary Seattle February weather to drive nearly 3,000 miles across the country with our 5 year old Italian Greyhound Bambi, our 7 month old son Thumper, my wife Legs, and myself Pancho (In case you’re wondering those are all fake names J) where Legs will start her basic Foreign Service Officer training in March 2012.

We have no idea where we may end up, and frankly we don’t really care.  Legs didn’t pursue the Foreign Service so we could lounge by a pool in some resort or dance on a table at Senor Frogs.  We’re looking for culture.  We’re looking for real people.  Whether those people are in an African desert or a Central American rain forest we want to live with them.  We want to walk a mile or two in their shoes, or sandals, or…bare feet.  I’m not sure how that works, but you get the idea.

Conveniently enough, my passion for renewable energy will likely help me find work, or “projects” wherever we go.  I currently work for a company which creates computer simulations to model electrical systems.  Since all of this work is done online, as long as we have electricity and internet, I’ll be able to continue to work anywhere in the world.  I also volunteer with a nonprofit organization called Community Solutions Initiative, where we develop low-cost and renewable electricity generating devices and components for use in developing countries.  Perhaps I’ll get to be the feet on the ground in CSI’s next big project!

We couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.  It’s difficult to leave all of our family and friends behind in the States, but the fact is, we’re travelers.  We always have been, and we always will be.  Like Thumper’s socks say, “These feet are made for walkin’.”  Come March, we’re walking.

7 comments:

  1. Congrats Poncho, Legs and Thumper...See you on the trail! Love, mom

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy trails then happy flight to first assignment then happy adventures. Wish I was 20 ish and doing the same. Look forward to visiting, hey maybe I will join you for a few months. Look forward to travels with Pancho Legs and Thumper, esp. Skypes with Thumper.
    Hardie

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a great idea!! Thanks and I too will look forward to your adventures. Blanche and Jeanne are also looking forward to skypes with all of you!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am already jealous of the passport stamps Thumper will have before he even becomes a 'tween'.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What fun! We look forward to your posts and glimpses of your International Adventures. Have fun and post often.
    Love to all,
    Uncle Boris & Aunt Natasha

    ReplyDelete
  6. Between Skype and this I can keep closer tabs on you than ever before ! Your heads must be spinning with all the exciting things coming up, starting with your 3,000 mile drive in the middle of winter.Already have my scrapbook to put all your adventures in. Computers are great but when you're old, sitting in front of the fireplace you'll enjoy thumbing through the pages of a good old scrapbook. So, let your dreams begin !!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks everyone! We're going to have to keep all of your code names straight :-)

    ReplyDelete