worldwide flexibility

My last week at MED was predominantly attending classes at FSI. Our biggest concern was trying to get the loan check from the Credit Unon (their hours coincided with my classes.). I had a sense of finality with orientation being done, although I still had 4 days of errands.

Dina beautifully highlighted our weekend on the Deleware coast. The only other thing I might add is that the afternoon spent at “Great Falls Park” in Virginia was most memorable. A beautiful panoramic view of the falls and the gorge with a well groomed trail along the ridge top. Stefan really enjoyed jumping off rocks and small boulders plus socializing with neighboring picnicers and kicking a soccer ball. He’s quite the talker.

These past 4 days were also busy. We got our diplomatic passports and visas, notorized our documents, and prepared to send some things through the mail pouch. Carmax (where we bought our car) insisted on doing some body work and picked up our vehicle but of course it took longer to fix than they thought and I had to go pick it up in Rockvillle, Maryland. And I am proud of Dina for doing so well on her french tests at FSI.

Wednesday evening we got dressed up and decided to go out and have our last dinner at a nice restaurant in DC. There is a place in Georgetown that we have walked by numerous times which advertizes a fresh lobster dinner. Dina and I shared a nice bottle of Cote de Rhone with that. Stefan had fries and Camille had a clam chowder she liked. They both dipped marccino cherries in their drinks. It was a relaxing time.

We woke up yesterday to the news that a terrorist plot was thwarted in London (sincere thanks to Amy!) It became clear early on that it made no sense to go to London. MED has temporarily closed down operations there and the Heathrowe airport will be a nightmare for the next few weeks. I was instsructed to schedule another flight directly to Niamey. So we get to stay here in DC for a few extra days — how bad is that? We fly out on Monday evening to Niamey via Paris.

It’s a little dissapointing to not go to London. We were looking forwrd to it. But it’s a good thing that we weren’t caught there right as this whole thing was mushrooming. We’ll have other opportunities to go to London. The good news is that now, becasue our travel time exceeds 14 hours, we get to fly business class on Air France. Our time here in DC has been great. It now seems like an extended vacation.