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TCD posted:Lots of families enjoy Falls Church. Are the other 2 properties appropriate for families? Also, if you're willing to share, what was it about Falls Church that you disliked?
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Apr 9, 2013 01:23
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d1rtbag posted:I've always read that Falls Church is the Oakwood property to pick if you have small children. Is this not the case? That was our understanding too. We have kids and are going to arrive just a day or two before class starts.
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Apr 9, 2013 02:09
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d1rtbag posted:Are the other 2 properties appropriate for families? Also, if you're willing to share, what was it about Falls Church that you disliked? Falls Church is just a really quiet, boring, safe, car-centric (don't let the two metro stops deceive you), family-oriented suburb with not much going on. Some people like that, but I couldn't imagine moving out there without a family.
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Apr 9, 2013 02:29
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All of my coworkers that are married and have kids live in Falls Church. Imagine Reston, but more expensive because you're inside the beltway. That's Falls Church.
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Apr 9, 2013 02:44
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Also, the Oakwood there is right next door to the DC area "Little Vietnam," so keep that in mind if you end up in Vietnamese training. Or want to get your pho fix. I recommend the properties in Rosslyn if you're single (I've stayed in both). The apartments are big enough, you're walking distance to the metro and Georgetown circulator, and the shuttle picks up right outside. Plus there's two zipcars if you're on the program (they give a discount to State).
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Apr 9, 2013 11:46
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Zoots posted:Also, the Oakwood there is right next door to the DC area "Little Vietnam," so keep that in mind if you end up in Vietnamese training. Or want to get your pho fix. I've stayed in Rosslyn and Falls Church. Rosslyn is much better if you're single or a couple sans kids. I'm looking at one of the extended stays in the Rosslyn area - assuming I see a TM4 anytime soon.
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Apr 9, 2013 15:02
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People bitch about how quiet Rosslyn gets after the workday, but I actually like it.
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Apr 9, 2013 15:19
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psydude posted:People bitch about how quiet Rosslyn gets after the workday, but I actually like it. It's nice that it's quiet, yet you have the bus and metro to go to places where stuff is happening. Edit: and you can still walk (1 mile or less) to fun places too. TCD fucked around with this message at 16:45 on Apr 9, 2013 |
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Apr 9, 2013 16:39
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TCD posted:It's nice that it's quiet, yet you have the bus and metro to go to places where stuff is happening. Edit: and you can still walk (1 mile or less) to fun places too. Also Continental has a Saturday and Sunday happy hour.
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Apr 9, 2013 17:08
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129th specialist class flag day today. I'm heading to Khartoum! It was actually my first choice.
Miscreant Fromage fucked around with this message at 01:32 on Apr 10, 2013 |
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Apr 10, 2013 01:30
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Miscreant Fromage posted:129th specialist class flag day today. I'm heading to Khartoum! It was actually my first choice. Congrats!
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Apr 10, 2013 03:10
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joe123456 posted:Thanks for the reply. I have an extra vehicle, so I was looking to ship as early as possible. That way I wouldn't be inconvenienced by not having a vehicle at my new location. Do you have options on choosing a shipping port? Houston? No choice. They will pack it all out for you at your house (in my case, I left for post before they could ship my car, so I left it with friends, and it was packed out and shipped from their house, they didn't have to do anything). psydude posted:Don't A100 people all stay at Oakwood? Or am I just stereotyping here based upon the fact that everyone stays at Oakwood. Nope. I stayed in Alexandria (Carlyle neighborhood, next to the USPTO, and 1.5 blocks from metro). Oakwood is good for a very specific set of circumstances, which apply to many FSOs. For everyone else, it's probably better to find a place on your own and get per diem. problematique posted:I'm local. Is there a reason I should stay at Oakwood besides the fact that everyone else seems to stay there? Oakwood is a lot more expensive than other properties not far from FSI; doesn't seem to make sense without the per diem. If you're local there is zero, even negative reason, for you to stay at Oakwood. No, don't even let this thought into your head for a minute. TCD posted:Some countries will only let you ship one vehicle... and only once you're in country. The car cannot arrive in country before you are fully accredited in the host country, so expect it to take 2-5 months. AF issues. My car took 9 months to get here. We finally concluded based on the damage, the random arabic tapes in the tape deck (I didn't even know I HAD a tape deck, it is hidden), the sand, and the inexplicable delay lead us to believe that it was stolen in Djibouti and taken on a joyride before being returned. problematique posted:I've seen somewhere that it's possible to add a paragraph in a lease that let's you cut a lease on orders, similar to military. I need to look into that. Diplomatic clause. Go to the AFSA website and they have a sample paragraph you can drop into your lease. Most apartment complexes operated by a real management company (in the DC area this is a Westgate, Bozzuto, Forest City, etc.) will already have one on hand and if you tell them you're in the Foreign Service and need a diplomatic clause, they'll put it in. They may want a copy of your paperwork confirming you're in the FS. d1rtbag posted:I've always read that Falls Church is the Oakwood property to pick if you have small children. Is this not the case? Yes. The whole complex is a big semi-circle around a central rec area that contains playground stuff, basketball and tennis, etc. It's a good community for kids, they'll have tons of people to play with. Likewise, that is a turn-off for some people. However, there is a lot of camaraderie from the Oakwood Falls Church people because of that centralized "playplace" and family events. The other Oakwoods are located in places that actually have amenities nearby, unlike Falls Church, which is terrible. They are also nicer and quieter, but you'll lack the ease of access of being able to hang out with a significant portion of your classmates. Estimate probably at least 1/3 of your A-100 will be at Oakwood FC. There's definitely something to be said for being able to hang out and spend time with people just by opening your door. On the other hand, if you are a go-getter and are very social, you can do all of that AND not live in Falls Church with a bit of effort. We loved our community in Alexandria but in retrospect I am not as close with my A-100 classmates that lived in Oakwood FC.
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Apr 10, 2013 11:26
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Miscreant Fromage posted:129th specialist class flag day today. I'm heading to Khartoum! It was actually my first choice. YESSSSS more fresh blood for the AF slaughterhouse. Where are you going to be working? I know a few people in Khartoum that can show you around the mission.
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Apr 10, 2013 11:27
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Diplomaticus posted:YESSSSS more fresh blood for the AF slaughterhouse. That would be great, i will PM my email to you if you want to pass it on. Pol as OMS. There's an IMS from the 128th heading there that I met already but she arrives after I do.
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Apr 10, 2013 12:32
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Miscreant Fromage posted:129th specialist class flag day today. I'm heading to Khartoum! It was actually my first choice. Congrats, that is awesome!
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Apr 10, 2013 12:33
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Diplomaticus posted:Helpful stuff Going to miss you dude. Also, sucks about the car. Our GSO had his car take ~7 months to go from Maputo to Kigali. He could have driven it quicker. Although, some of those roads were through so-so territory at the time.
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Apr 10, 2013 12:35
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Diplomaticus posted:AF issues. My car took 9 months to get here. We finally concluded based on the damage, the random arabic tapes in the tape deck (I didn't even know I HAD a tape deck, it is hidden), the sand, and the inexplicable delay lead us to believe that it was stolen in Djibouti and taken on a joyride before being returned. Just reading that I had flashbacks to "Ferris Buellers Day Off" and/or "National Lampoons Vacation". We've got two Prius'. We plan to sell one once we get to DC and then once we find out where we will go more than likely we will sell the second one (unless for some reason we luck out and get assigned someplace where I'd actually feel comfortable shipping it and maintenance could be done on it). SCRwM fucked around with this message at 13:24 on Apr 10, 2013 |
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Apr 10, 2013 13:13
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Miscreant Fromage posted:129th specialist class flag day today. I'm heading to Khartoum! It was actually my first choice. Congrats!
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Apr 10, 2013 13:14
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I have the best car issues. Nobody can tell me where my car is, and DC doesn't have any paperwork of it being shipped. I asked them, multiple times, to provide me a copy of the manifest or receipt. The GSO concurs they don't even know when my car is arriving but will let me know, cause they said it was shipped in Jan, but nope, turns out it wasn't shipped until Feb 7th - wait, 22nd -- no wait, it's actually shipped in MARCH, and will arrive on March 15th!! no wait, it's April 20th. as of this morning, it's April 24th.  The Ambassador keeps asking me when my car is coming in, cause he wants to see it before he leaves.  6 months in the Pacific and counting.
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Apr 10, 2013 15:24
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Skandiaavity posted:I have the best car issues. The Ambassador should ask GSO where you car is, maybe you'd get some better answers. = ]
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Apr 10, 2013 16:32
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TCD posted:Going to miss you dude. Someone here at post literally had their car explode in shipment. Another's wasn't tied down properly, and bounced around so much the whole container fell overboard in a storm. SCRwM posted:Just reading that I had flashbacks to "Ferris Buellers Day Off" and/or "National Lampoons Vacation". We've got two Prius'. We plan to sell one once we get to DC and then once we find out where we will go more than likely we will sell the second one (unless for some reason we luck out and get assigned someplace where I'd actually feel comfortable shipping it and maintenance could be done on it). -e- in preparation of the inevitable question, get your POV insured in transit, most people use Clements. I didn't for some godforsaken reason, thankfully the damage was relatively minor and didn't cost me anything to fix (though the transmission only going in reverse threw us for a bit), but that was a bad decision. Get transit insurance. Leif. fucked around with this message at 17:17 on Apr 10, 2013 |
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Apr 10, 2013 17:14
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Diplomaticus posted:Someone here at post literally had their car explode in shipment. Another's wasn't tied down properly, and bounced around so much the whole container fell overboard in a storm. Diplomaticus posted:Get transit insurance. I've heard of people having their HHE get hijacked on the way to the house. We've all heard of container accidents. Also, a lot of HHE and POVs travel on boats around Africa. Also, Get transit insurance.
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Apr 10, 2013 17:46
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Skandiaavity posted:I have the best car issues. Turkish customs mis-entered my VIN in their customs system and it showed up as a mid-1980s Toyota sedan that was stolen in Diyarbakir (rear end-opposite end of Turkey from Istanbul) five years ago. My car was a 2002 Honda CRV that I had bought in the US. Better yet, the customs system doesn't have any way to search by any data field except VIN, so since they had no idea what VIN was entered for my car, it took four months for our GSO section to convince the government to release my car from impound. I still send candy to the customs/shipping department in Istanbul as a thank you for the miracles they worked on my car + other issues. As for transit insurance - GET IT. GET IT. DO NOT QUESTION ITS NEED. A friend's HHE was on a ship that got hijacked off Somalia. Try explaining that to your normal insurance company.
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Apr 10, 2013 17:56
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Skandiaavity posted:I have the best car issues. In all honesty, that's actually not uncommon.  TCD posted:Our GSO had his car take ~7 months to go from Maputo to Kigali. He could have driven it quicker. Although, some of those roads were through so-so territory at the time. That's right the S/GSO from one post going to another post in the same bureau as the S/GSO and his car got lost. "It's on a boat to India" "It's coming back to Dar" "It's, uh, back on a boat to Maputo!" "It's back on a boat to India" 
TCD fucked around with this message at 18:08 on Apr 10, 2013 |
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Apr 10, 2013 18:03
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Diplomaticus posted:
A boat with a cloaking device. Awesome!
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Apr 10, 2013 18:11
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SCRwM posted:A boat with a cloaking device. Awesome! Or offloading something that they shouldn't have had. 
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Apr 10, 2013 18:17
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TCD posted:Or offloading something that they shouldn't have had. "Whose car is this? Anyone know? gently caress it, let's toss it out in Algiers."
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Apr 10, 2013 18:27
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the_chavi posted:"Whose car is this? Anyone know? gently caress it, let's toss it out in Algiers." "No ticket!" (random thought from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade")
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Apr 10, 2013 18:30
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Seems like it would save everyone money and headache if post had an option to join in a pool of maintained personal cars you could "lease" at a discount. I can only imagine how much it costs to ship all these vehicles, and by the time you get the car it's damaged and your leaving in 12 months. Or maybe just do this for AF.
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Apr 10, 2013 22:09
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When my dad was in the Air Force, we just bought used cars in Portugal. Dad had an awesomely ugly Opel, and Mom had an old VW Rabbit. When it was time to leave, they just sold them to other military.
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Apr 11, 2013 00:03
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Saho posted:The Ambassador should ask GSO where you car is, maybe you'd get some better answers. = ] He did inquire. In person. GSO doesn't like me much, I gather. They're polite and I'm polite about it, so.. I guess it evens out. (brb seeing if i can get transit insurance)
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Apr 11, 2013 01:55
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So what do you do for transportation when you are at your new post without a car for 6-9 months? Are you authorized to use the embassy motor pool drivers?
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Apr 11, 2013 05:56
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Post gives you 4 times (max of 3 hours per time).. ... otherwise, you taxi or bum rides.
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Apr 11, 2013 06:28
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joe123456 posted:So what do you do for transportation when you are at your new post without a car for 6-9 months? Are you authorized to use the embassy motor pool drivers? You take the shuttle to and from your residence--embassy, if you're in AF and there's not any safe public transport with amenities like seatbelts and tires with air in them. For everything else (going out to meetings, etc.) we'd use motorpool. In the non-developing countries, you probably can take public transportation, since you won't have nearly the same motorpool assets you will in AF. It continously blows my mind that the average degree level for our motor pool drivers is a masters or higher.
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Apr 11, 2013 07:07
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Skandiaavity posted:Post gives you 4 times (max of 3 hours per time).. Last post in AF, we could do self drive motorpool vehicles after hours and pay for mileage used. Keep in mind, any damage caused (even if you're not at fault, is your cost). Potentially, this could be a very costly accident. This post, there are Embassy shuttles & taxis.
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Apr 11, 2013 12:26
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TCD posted:This is post specific. And in comparison, self-drive of motorpool vehicles is not allowed for us at my post in the same region, due to a much higher traffic fatality rate (one of the top 5 in the world). However we have such a big motorpool (it is combined USAID and State motorpool) that you can call for a motorpool driver to take you for personal transportation and usually they'll be happy to oblige (the fee is minimal).
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Apr 11, 2013 13:41
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Diplomaticus posted:And in comparison, self-drive of motorpool vehicles is not allowed for us at my post in the same region, due to a much higher traffic fatality rate (one of the top 5 in the world). However we have such a big motorpool (it is combined USAID and State motorpool) that you can call for a motorpool driver to take you for personal transportation and usually they'll be happy to oblige (the fee is minimal). Right. Transport is always post specific.
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Apr 11, 2013 14:30
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Advice for anyone going through the Medical clearance process. If at all possible, I highly suggest having DoS Medical do your "fit for duty" exam. Even though they say they will, getting reimbursed for going to your doctor is a nightmare (along with getting someone to call you back, reply to your emails, etc.).
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Apr 11, 2013 16:06
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SCRwM posted:Advice for anyone going through the Medical clearance process. If at all possible, I highly suggest having DoS Medical do your "fit for duty" exam. Even though they say they will, getting reimbursed for going to your doctor is a nightmare (along with getting someone to call you back, reply to your emails, etc.). Our biggest problem has been convincing the doctors that they have to do everything State asks for - I give mine, my wife's and my son's all an 'F' for failing to follow simple instructions. Just because they think something "isn't important" doesn't mean they should do whatever they want. I suspect that it is primarily about : 1) Ego; and 2) What they think insurance will pay for. Just do the tests on the piece of paper, fill it out, and give me the labs! /rant
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Apr 11, 2013 18:28
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TCD posted:Right. Transport is always post specific. Exactly. In Istanbul we carpooled or took public transportation to get to work before cars arrived (and even usually after cars arrived, because holy God traffic is horrific). Shuttles turned out to be uneconomical from most housing compounds there, so it was strictly figure it out yourself. My other two posts have been motorpool only, though I understand men are allowed to drive POVs in certain areas of Riyadh now...
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Apr 11, 2013 18:28
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