I am a diplomat, although the proper term is (Generalist) Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. 

 

This blog is all about my journey to become a diplomat and about what happens after. I have a lot to say on the subject, because I've worked in different embassies and foreign countries for almost 17 years!

 

My current posting is Banjul, which is in The Gambia and popularly known as "the smiling coast of Africa." It's beachy, has a tropical climate, and feels relatively small.

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Before that, I lived in Abuja, Nigeria; Montevideo, Uruguay; Islamabad, Pakistan; The Hague, The Netherlands; Yerevan, Armenia; Berlin, Germany; and Mumbai, India.

 

Before I became a diplomat, I worked in several embassies in a variety of positions--from political reporting officer to HR assistant. When I wasn't working in embassies, I was basically an international development researcher and consultant, mostly focusing on international migration.

 

My life didn't always point in the direction of international relations though. As a teenager, I acted in movies and TV shows (in the Netherlands, I'm a dual citizen). Yet I always dreamt of living all over the world. I moved to Nigeria for an internship with the United Nations and complete my Master's degree in international relations.

 

Diplomacy always fascinated me and the more I learned about it, the more I wanted a diplomatic career.

 

Once I started working in embassies, I noticed that few people understand what international diplomacy really is and what diplomats actually do. To be honest, I barely knew it myself before I started the job.

 

Now I'm driven to share my stories and information about diplomacy so that more people (including my own family and friends) understand what diplomats do – both personally and professionally.

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Everything on this blog is my very own, personal opinion.