Blagoevski-Trazoff Family

Joy… pure joy…

After two years of being a stay-at-home dad and doing various project related to our family (construction, moving, kids, new schools for kids, vaccinations, moving again, etc.), I am finally gainfully employed. Big kudos go to the Department, the Embassy, AAFSW, EPAP, and my immediate/extended family for a variety of reasons. (OK, I did have a 7 week full-time stint as a Macedonian Language Instructor at FSI, I know…).

At any rate, I am loving the first few weeks. I’m learning a lot, each and every day. And I am finally starting to contribute, at least a little bit. An equally important thing – I am starting to get my life back into balance (I am basing this on the fact I played tennis twice last weekend, and I managed to go to the CLO luncheon, sufficient early signs in my book…).

Again, I would recommend the EPAP program to EFMs looking for a professional challenge (well worth the trouble and wait)…

(I really like it when people write cool stuff in parenthesis, it makes the reading much more interesting, no?)

The wait is over…

Yes – after almost exactly 11 months, I was finally notified I am able to start my new job under the Expanded Professional Associates Program (EPAP). Let me just summarize the stages I went through to get there (and how long it took):

1. EPAP call announced – early Jan 2011
2. Pre-application writing test – Jan 2011
3. Application – late Jan 2011
4. Multi-layered review process (QEP et al.) – all the way into May 2011
5. Job interview with several folks on the phone, including my new boss, coworkers and others – May 2011
6. Got an offer in writing and accepted it – May 2011
7. Started the security clearance process – June 2011
8. (started wondering if I am going to get the job in the end – mid Sep 2011)
9. Notified by HR that I can start – late December 2011
10. Start working – TDB, really a minor detail at this point

I am very, very happy that this process is over. A huge amount of people helped in the process (will not mention them here, but will thank them personally when I get the chance!)

Conclusion:

Hear ye, EFMs – definitely go after EPAP jobs, they are worth it (I am fairly certain my will be). Be ready for the long haul and the many steps it takes, though…

The second one was even nicer – the group was smaller, some new people came, and we made a game plan for the coming weeks/months. Such a great group of people and unique experiences…

It was a bit odd to be the only man in the room (unlike last time). It reminded me of college a bit…

Yesterday was a very nice day – a foreign service spouse organized a nice get-together for the spouses here in Addis. The CLO was involved as well, and we got to meet her. These things are always so good, and I appreciate them immensely as a newly inducted EFM…

An interesting development – there was just one other guy there, which I didn’t get to speak to during the event. However, just as we were leaving, we got to chat a bit. The most surprising thing – he was a candidate for my job! Meeting an “adversary” was a first for me. A bit awkward, I must admit, but ultimately more interesting than not. Ohh, so many firsts in one day.

OK, back to hunting for appropriate shoe shelves and hopefully (finally) some tennis, it’s been a week almost since the last time I played (damn PE classes at ICS Addis…).

Well, it’s been a while since I posted anything. After packing out everything and leaving the States, the kids and I went for a few weeks back to good ole’ MKD for a few weeks vacation. The kids had a blast. Me, not so much, as I had to deal with a big admin backlog. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed all the BBQ, rakiya, friends and relatives… It was very good for everyone to re-connect with folks they knew.

In early August we all landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We landed in temporary digs for a few days, and then we got our own place.

I’ve gotta say, the city was a bit intimidating at first. Perhaps it was the location of our temporary house (nothing to walk to) and the lack of transportation. Or perhaps the mud during the rainy season… Or perhaps the piles of garbage in the street… Or the thick, black smoke coming out of 80% of the cars/trucks/vans/buses… Oh, well, doesen’t it sound fun?

After a very short while though, the kids went to school which was great. We LOVE ICS Addis Ababa!

I started with some light tennis in the past few weeks, waiting to start my new job (DS, please let me see the light!). And one of the people we hired is a fantastic, fantastic cook! Even the kids branched out and started to eat most of what she makes. At this point, with all our stuff here (including our car), with a very nice network of new friends (including a American/Macedonian couple)and the rainy season over – it’s a really nice and fun place to be! I need to figure out the tambourine situation, though…

Last weekend was fairly social as well – had visitors from the 154th in town (congrats on the engagement again, R&C!), a hike up Entoto Mountain to see the hyena den, dinner at Yod Abyssinia, day trip to the Portugese Bridge at Debre Libanos, and dinner with friends at home (farewell and smooth sailing, H!). A few pics below…

Oh, did I mention I got a working (and paying) gig next week? More soon…

So, I’m going in for a meeting with the ENTIRE FLO team to discuss their and AAFSW initiatives and determine the level of synergy we could have between them.

Will let you know how it goes…