An Ode to my Co-Workers or Things Happen for a Reason

For all the frustrations inherent with working in a warzone bureaucracy, there are some bright spots in my work life. Most specifically, ten bright spots - my co-workers. I must be the luckiest girl in the world because I've consistently had wonderful co-workers and (mostly) great bosses. And when I say great, I truly mean it.

In Kabul, we spend a lot of time at work and my section has frequently been told that we are the 'funnest' in the Embassy. I think that's because we genuinely enjoy each other and our work. My co-workers are starting to PCS and I'll be joining them in about a month. While some of us are already planning our USA reunions (see, we really love each other) it also means that I'll likely never work with these guys again. See, we all work in the same field and most Embassies (even the really big ones) wouldn't have a section like ours so this is a rare opportunity.

I work with quite a few bakers and we're all lucky enough to have kitchens so we are pretty regularly bringing in treats (men and women!) for both each other and all the random officers who frequent our section. We even had a banana bread bake-off a few months ago! I didn't enter but should have. I can rival the best. We also tell a lot of jokes and keep one another laughing. I think you have to if you want to stay sane spending so many hours together and in the office. They're not always the most appropriate jokes but since we all "get" each other pretty well, it works. Our Afghan colleagues are definitely not left out in this and frequently join the pranking whenever somebody goes out of town. If you leave your computer unlocked, God help you...you don't want to know what background image your desktop will be set to.

Beyond just the fun, this is the most trust-worthy group of people I've worked with. If I drop a ball, I can count on somebody not just to pick it up but also to cover for me and I'd do the same for any of them. I think that's rare in the Foreign Service (at least when you're talking about a large section). Everyone does their job and does it WELL so if you're covering for someone, it's for a really good reason. People are creative and while we're bound to SO FREAKING MANY rules (many ridiculous), we use our "interpretive skills" to stay between the lines but be as helpful as humanly possible.

This wasn't my first choice job - there was another position I wanted in Kabul and two others in Baghdad I was considering. Kabul gave me the offer first and while I was disappointed not to get my first choice, I can't imagine not being here - with these people - now. Lagos wasn't my first choice either (Kinshasa was, WTF was I thinking?) but, hey, I met my husband and great friends. Whatever comes next in the Foreign Service, I'll have to keep in mind that everything that's happened that hasn't gone according to plan have led to the most amazing experiences. When I don't get a job/post I want and am moping around, I'll have to re-read this. Chin up, future self. Everything happens for a reason.