I first found out that I would be a U.S. diplomat in December 2021. I remember the moment vividly. My husband Rehan and I were apartment-hunting and we had just finished touring a lackluster 1-bedroom in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, D.C. I checked my email on my phone for the 10th time that day and saw a new email from the Rangel Program. My mind went blank as I glanced at the first word: “Congratulations!” I turned to Rehan with a dazed smile on my face and said, “Beeb. I’m going to be a diplomat.” He stood shocked for a second and then a huge, giddy grin spread across his face. “Are you serious?? That’s amazing!!” He pulled me into a great bear hug as my obsessive brain began formulating my plan for the next 7 years.
Two minutes beforehand, I had no clue what I would be doing in two years. I didn’t know if I would be living in the U.S. or overseas. I didn’t know if I would finally quench the aching desire in my heart to move abroad again. Now, I didn’t just know what I would be doing in 2 years. I knew what I would be doing in 7. Winning one of the diplomatic fellowships is like that-it takes away the crippling uncertainty of the traditional process of the U.S. Foreign Service and replaces it with immediate, rigid structure. For many, this is a shocking transition. For me, it was a gratifying and welcome change. Returning to the U.S. from Gambia had been jarring enough. Living in Florida with my in-laws had been wonderful but transient. I yearned for a future with plans and structure but also travel and adventure. What was the best way to combine structure with travel? The Foreign Service.
Now, I have a dinky app on my phone that gives me an actual countdown till the day I begin A-100. I will join the July 2024 A-100, the cohort that marks 100 years of the Foreign Service. As of today, it is officially 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, and 11 hours until I join A-100. And another few weeks after that until I officially swear in as a U.S. diplomat. How does it feel? It simultaneously feels like I’ve been waiting forever and like I’ve just begun. The brilliant moment when I checked my email that wintry morning-that feels like a lifetime ago and feels like yesterday. Time leading up to A-100 has been highly peculiar. I’ve been hoping the days fly by quickly but when they do, I am shocked that there are only 6 months… 5 months… 4 months?? Until I begin my training.
In these moments, I try my best to “live in the moment” and cherish each day until I find out my assignment. The countdown app continues to live on my phone but it is only opened once every few days. For now, I will continue to relish the days until I begin one of the greatest adventures of my life: the Foreign Service.
rehmatravels.com 