Just in case you can't read the fine print on the flag.....

I'm headed to Nicaragua!!!!!!  WOOHOOO!!!  I was totally surprised--I had actually expressed a strong preference for a Mexican border post and thought I stood a pretty good chance (but not a guarantee) of getting it.  I mean, who the heck WANTS to go to Nogales?  But, once the shock wore off, I realized that I was still lucky enough to get one of my high bids, in one of the safest countries in Central America, where I'll get to work in my cone and get my language requirement out of the way.  Plus, the school there for the Mini-Menace is fantastic!  Oh, and the coffee??  SO EXCITED! I'll be leaving a little earlier than I had hoped (late October), but honestly, I really have nothing to complain about.  The more I think about it, the more excited I get.  Plus, I'm a lot more likely to get visitors in Managua than anywhere on the Mexican border...

The Mini-Menace, who had specifically requested Tijuana (proximity to LegoLand), took the news quite well.  I think the promise of surfing lessons might have had something to do with it.  Look, bribery is a perfectly acceptable parenting technique, right?

Diplochick, I'm still coming to see you in Chennai.  Count on it!!

My parents came to town for Flag Day and were really fascinated by the whole experience.  It's a total blur to me right now, but all in all, I am very happy with my assignment and am so happy for all my classmates.  Way to go, 160th!!!!

OMG, what have I done????

Bid list submitted a few minutes ago.  Let the freak-out commence!!!  What, you thought I knew what I was doing??  Top factors were working in my cone, getting off language probation, and (hopefully) security & quality of the Mini-Menace's education.  I think I had a pretty decent mix of highs, mediums, and lows, so I'm hopeful that I'll be assigned a high or medium-rated post.  My absolute top choice isn't, I think, a terribly desirable post, so I'd like to think I stand a pretty decent chance of getting it; but I could be completely wrong.  Sadly for the Mini-Menace, the Bahamas were (was?  singular or plural?  My brain is fried!) not on the list, so he started lobbying for Tijuana.  Why?  Proximity to Legoland.  I wish my decisions were that easy.

Also from this weekend, another entry in the annals of Red Menace High Quality Parenting: letting my son listen to Cee-Lo Green.  Think that's balanced out by watching The Bad News Bears?  You might think so, except for having to explain that Walter Matthau was a drunk and that "Blow it out your bunghole!" should not be repeated at school.

Peaches vs. Coconuts

After a three-hour session on cross-cultural communication, I've learned that some people / cultures are like peaches, others are like coconuts.

In other news, the Mini Menace is a finalist in a poetry recitation contest at school.  Naturally, the poem he picked is about farting.

It's a glorious life I lead, I tell you.  Glorious!!