MinnesotaMel

Departing for Kathmandu!

The time has almost come for my departure to Kathmandu, Nepal. I leave the morning of December 1 and arrive in Kathmandu midday on December 3. I am very excited to be off on this new adventure, but really hope that we can continue to be in contact.

Personal mail address:
6190 Kathmandu Place, Dulles VA 20189-6190

It will generally take about 2 weeks to get to Kathmandu, but at busy times (Christmas) it may take up to 1 month for mail to get through to me. This is the address for the diplomatic pouch. All of the mail is gathered at Dulles and sent in one pouch through to the embassy in Kathmandu. Generally, anything that CANNOT be sent by US mail CANNOT be sent by pouch. See the Content Restrictions section at the end of this e-mail for additional information. There is a size restriction on packages sent through the pouch. The sum of all of the measurements (length, width, height) can't be more than 60inches. Please contact me before sending anything larger than a large shoe box lest it get bounced back to you.

I have recently been experimenting with Internet Telephone calling. If you are interested in chatting via the internet, please sign on to Skype.
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Call me at my skype username: melindapavek

Time difference: Kathmandu is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of DC/NJ and 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of Minnesota.

In response to my last note, I received many wonderful questions, but was not a great respondent. Thus the following Frequently Asked Questions with answers follow:

FAQs:
1. What will you be doing in Nepal as an "Assistant General Services Officer" aka A/GSO? What will your duties be?
Generally, the GSO office provides all of the business/support functions of the embassy so that the rest of the staff can be effective in furthering the foreign policy goals of the US. The office manages and operates all of the embassy facilities, all owned/leased government housing, all real property (including vehicles, furniture, office equipment, etc), the embassy warehouse, customs clearance for official embassy shipments and the pouch mail, purchasing and contracting for embassy requirements, transportation/motorpool functions and VIP visit efforts.

Kathmandu has a few other "special" points to its GSO operations. We are the only US embassy that manages an on-site morgue. We are responsible for power generation for embassy facilities. The US is also beginning the process of building a new embassy compound in Kathmandu. I will probably have a lot of involvement in that effort, though at this point I am still a bit in the dark about my actual portfolio of responsibilities.

2. Are you stationed at the U.S. Embassy there?
I will work for the U.S. Embassy in Nepal. However, my office is housed in a compound in a separate section of town. It sounds like a great place. In addition to the GSO offices and warehouse, we share the compound with the Recreation Center. A lot of work and a lot of play prevents me from getting dull.

3. December in Nepal sounds cold though! How low does the temperature get at that altitude?
The temps in Kathmandu are not as cold as one might imagine. Kathmandu is at about 4500 feet, in a fertile flat valley. I am told the temperature does not get below 32 degrees very often. I have been warned, however, to bring my flannel sheets and warm jammies because 32 degrees feels cold when there is no central heating to take the chill off. It reminds me of the days when the water froze in the toilet bowl during my days in northern Japan.

4. Are any of the other 91 people in your orientation class going to be posted there as well?
I am the first of my class to depart for Kathmandu. However, two members of a previous orientation class, Jamie and Natasha, left about two weeks ago. Rodney, from my class, joins us in May 2005. Alys, from the most recent class and also a Minnesotan, joins us in August 2005.

5. What is the set up out there in terms of security etc?
There are two main security concerns in Kathmandu. The first is the Maoist guerrillas that have been plaguing the nation since the mid-90s. The security situation in Nepal has deteriorated since June of this year because of increased Maoist activity. All Peace Corps volunteers were removed from Nepal because of threats against their safety. The Kathmandu valley has not had as many Maoists incidents as the countryside. The embassy provides 24 hour guards at the homes of embassy personnel in order to ensure our safety.

The second concern is natural- a large earthquake is predicted to strike the Kathmandu region sometime in this decade. Most houses and buildings in Nepal are NOT earthquake resistant. The new embassy compound will be earthquake resistant, which is one reason we are interested in upgrading our facilities.

6. What are the special things that you need to do to prepare for the particular location?
First, I have survived and thrived during 12 weeks of GSO training and other courses in Security, Diversity, Consular Affairs, etc. Next, I feel a bit like a human pin cushion because of all of the injections I had to get at the medical unit. I have had to do a lot of shopping to prepare. Nepal is a consumables post, which means that embassy staff can bring up to 2500 of food and consumable products because there are many things that cannot be found in the local economy. I packed out last week and now all of my stuff is on its way to its new home. I studied about 15 hours of Nepali, which allows me to make VERY basic conversation and gives me a basis for learning on the ground on my arrival. I have heard that most of my direct staff speaks English well.

7. How long will your posting be? Where will you be living?
My first two postings will be two years each. After the first two, the posts range from 1 to 4 years depending on the job and location. Three years is most common. I will be living in a house that is leased by the embassy. I have seen pictures and it looks great. In order to rent a house in Kathmandu that has indoor plumbing, a safe electrical system and is earthquake resistant, the embassy has to rent houses that are quite large. I am going to be living in a 3-story, 4-bedroom house. The extra rooms may be used for other embassy staff members that come to Kathmandu on temporary duty assignments. They are also open for ANY GUESTS that want to visit me. If you are planning a visit let me know when you are planning to arrive so that I can "book" a room for you.

8. What is the relationship between an MBA and this assignment?
This is the business side of implementing our foreign policy. Everything that a multi-national business needs to think about also has to be considered by the State Department as they manage the more than 260 embassies, consulates and other facilities around the world. What is the best supply chain to get goods and services around the world? How do all of these locations stay in constant, secure communication with DC? How do the staff members move effectively every 2-3 years? How does a human resources system that relies on Foreign Service, Civil Service and Locally Engaged Staff work effectively together even though all of the groups have different labor laws, terms of employment and promotion systems? Those topics and more are tied into this career. AND I get to see the world at the same time.

9. How has your training been going in Washington?
Training has had its highs and lows. I have enjoyed getting to know the specifics of government processes, but reading the Foreign Affairs Manual and DOSAR is sleep-inducing. Quite frequently, despite the reams of regulation, the answer to questions is "It depends." It so often comes down to doing what is right, having and using common sense and focusing of giving the taxpayers the best service we can in spite of the weird laws that end up on the books.

10. What are you thinking girl? Tell me, where are you gonna get a Cosmopolitan?!
Did I mention the consumables allowance? But really, access to a Cosmo is probably the least of my worries. Politicians and diplomats seem to have no problem procuring suitable alcohol. Besides, I have many friends who want to visit and I can charge them Cosmo quality booze for nights in my abode.

Happy Thanksgiving!

posted by MinnesotaMel @ 1:28 AM 0 comments