Ask me about doing IT work overseas for the US Embassy

zff4 · 07-22-2008, 01:49 PM

Ages ago the Zone helped me out with an obscure question. It's been awhile since I've been active but I'm back for awhile.

I've worked in US Embassies in Syria, Nepal, India, Israel and Saudi Arabia. I suppose IT work is IT work, but working overseas for the State Department at an Embassy gives it an interesting twist. I'm not sure where they'll send me next, but I'm here in the States now for awhile.

Rather than write a preface about the experience, why don't you just ask me some questions? I'll try to answer them. Fire away!

rjs735 · 07-22-2008, 02:01 PM

I bet mail order or internet order is the order of the day or do you get embassy courier pouch availability.

What about RMA repair services Nepal must be interesting. The rest probably as far as the largest city and or some european centers.

zff4 · 07-22-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjs735

I bet mail order or internet order is the order of the day or do you get embassy courier pouch availability.

What about RMA repair services Nepal must be interesting. The rest probably as far as the largest city and or some european centers.

Many embassies have an APO box which provides a US address, and you can use US postage, but it gets delivered overseas by the military system. If you have APO you can get regular sized packages. If you don't have APO, you might be stuck with only letter mail so it can vary.

Nepal felt pretty far away when I was there. It's an interesting feeling and it gives you a curious perspective as a US citizen, and mostly a thankful one.

*polonyc2* · 07-22-2008, 02:27 PM

sounds like a very interesting job...traveling around the world...very James Bond-ish

zff4 · 07-22-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polonyc2

sounds like a very interesting job...traveling around the world...very James Bond-ish

I admit that you feel kinda special when you have a Diplomatic Passport. Not many people are willing to live and work anywhere in the world. And that's the kicker. By law, we are not able to spend longer than 5 consecutive years in the US. Even for network administrators, our mandate is to support diplomacy at our missions overseas.

On the other hand, you never get sick - diplomatic immunity!

rjs735 · 07-23-2008, 11:34 AM

I assume you are single. It would be next to impossible if you were married.

I can tell you that as long as it's exciting to you that's fine but there will come a day when you get tired of all the traveling.

I traveled almost every year for up to 10 weeks after 30 years of it I got tired of traveling.

zff4 · 07-23-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjs735

I assume you are single. It would be next to impossible if you were married.

I can tell you that as long as it's exciting to you that's fine but there will come a day when you get tired of all the traveling.

I traveled almost every year for up to 10 weeks after 30 years of it I got tired of traveling.

Naw, Uncle Sam treats us pretty well, pays to send the kids to the best school in the city (usually an international school where all the diplomats send their kids) and the free housing is usually much nicer than we could afford in the US. The Embassy tries to employ the spouse. You don't get so tired of travelling but you get tired of packing everything up every 3 years or so. But it's nice to come back to the States and eat lettuce you don't have to douse in clorox.

zsaz1029 · 07-23-2008, 08:19 PM

But watch out for the tomatoes, cilantro and jalapenos.

07-22-2008, 01:49 PM	#1
zff4 Unregistered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downtown Baltimore Posts: 499	Ask me about doing IT work overseas for the US Embassy Ages ago the Zone helped me out with an obscure question. It's been awhile since I've been active but I'm back for awhile. I've worked in US Embassies in Syria, Nepal, India, Israel and Saudi Arabia. I suppose IT work is IT work, but working overseas for the State Department at an Embassy gives it an interesting twist. I'm not sure where they'll send me next, but I'm here in the States now for awhile. Rather than write a preface about the experience, why don't you just ask me some questions? I'll try to answer them. Fire away!
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07-22-2008, 02:01 PM	#2
rjs735 Virus? What I am not sick Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,822	Re: Ask me about doing IT work overseas for the US Embassy I bet mail order or internet order is the order of the day or do you get embassy courier pouch availability. What about RMA repair services Nepal must be interesting. The rest probably as far as the largest city and or some european centers. __________________ Asus P4S8x 2.0 Ghz Celeron Ram 512MB WDC 80GB HD SATA WDC 80GB SATA Memorex DUAL DVD/RW Win98SE/XP pro Asus P2b-F Cel 450 Ram 256MB W98 SE Optorite CDRW WD 40GB Asrock P4combo P4 346 Xp Pro Sp 3 SATA HD SATA DVD/RW Foxconn 925EX 550 XP Media SP2 Sata HD Sata DVD/RW Foxconn 925EX 550 Xp SP2 Asrock 775Dual 550 Xp pro SP2 IBM T23 1.3hz RAM 512MB XP pro SP2 All systems are networked Konica Minolta Color Laser Samsung clp-315 Color laser Dlink 655 Dlink G650 Wireless
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07-22-2008, 02:27 PM	#4
polonyc2 Helter Skelter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 7,444	sounds like a very interesting job...traveling around the world...very James Bond-ish __________________ ASUS Maximus Formula (X38) *** EVGA 8800GT Superclocked 512MB Intel E8400 * Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro G.Skill 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 * Western Digital RE2 500 GB WD5001ABYS Lian Li PC-A70B (black) * Corsair HX620 AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 * Creative Inspire P5800 5.1 speakers Lite-On DVD-RW w/LightScribe LH-20A1L-06 * Sony GDM-F520 21' CRT monitor (19.8' viewable) Vista Business 64-bit w/SP1 * standard 3.5" floppy drive Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 *** Microsoft Wired Keyboard 500 (Black)
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07-23-2008, 11:34 AM	#6
rjs735 Virus? What I am not sick Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,822	Re: Ask me about doing IT work overseas for the US Embassy I assume you are single. It would be next to impossible if you were married. I can tell you that as long as it's exciting to you that's fine but there will come a day when you get tired of all the traveling. I traveled almost every year for up to 10 weeks after 30 years of it I got tired of traveling. __________________ Asus P4S8x 2.0 Ghz Celeron Ram 512MB WDC 80GB HD SATA WDC 80GB SATA Memorex DUAL DVD/RW Win98SE/XP pro Asus P2b-F Cel 450 Ram 256MB W98 SE Optorite CDRW WD 40GB Asrock P4combo P4 346 Xp Pro Sp 3 SATA HD SATA DVD/RW Foxconn 925EX 550 XP Media SP2 Sata HD Sata DVD/RW Foxconn 925EX 550 Xp SP2 Asrock 775Dual 550 Xp pro SP2 IBM T23 1.3hz RAM 512MB XP pro SP2 All systems are networked Konica Minolta Color Laser Samsung clp-315 Color laser Dlink 655 Dlink G650 Wireless
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07-23-2008, 08:19 PM	#8
zsaz1029 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,013	Re: Ask me about doing IT work overseas for the US Embassy But watch out for the tomatoes, cilantro and jalapenos. __________________ Spaz ----- "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither." -- paraphrased from Benjamin Franklin. ----- Move into my city! Spaztowne Improve my city's streets! Click here! Open a factory in my city! Click here!
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