So if my mishmash of tags haven't given you enough forewarning, this post is about training at FSI, namely two weeks of intense area studies for most of us. That's right, after six weeks of warm, hot tub level intimacy and happy hour yelling, we have been ripped apart from the name tag wearing structured comfort food of A100 orientation and dumped into classrooms with the rest of the USG world. Ew.
(Just kidding. Except you, you're a bit ew. You know who you are.)
Since area studies think of the world in tightly formed blocks of colorful landmasses, those being sent off to the same region
study in class together and listen to 8 hours of visiting professor lectures,
watch documentaries, meet other country's diplomats, and even some NGO, think tank, and outside organizational representatives. It is a lot of information and you are encouraged to ask questions, which is a great way to show just how
little of your BBC, WSJ, NYT, etc that you're keeping up with...
or not. Did you know the chili peppers in
Korean cooking were introduced by the Japanese, who got it from Portuguese missionaries?
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| Korea had no...chilis? |
This blog is not for the discussion of policy (nor should it be taken as an official view, as my
disclaimer states) and I won't cover the specifics of anything we cover. However, I do appreciate the effort made to include a variety of views even as they build up a foundation of history and culture as well as policy in both macro and micro forms. Interconnectedness and multilateralism is a big focus, I'm sure with not just my class but all area studies spanning from EUR to SCE. As one official from a let's say, well-surrounded country told us, 'We don't pick our neighbors. We can't move, but we have to survive.' I will comment that I think the smaller players in the international basketball game of policy and politics deserve a lot more recognition for their ability to balance national interests as well as the realization that their (
insert-self identified- lack-of-power-or-resource-here) put them at a disadvantage to others that may surround them. Or as a different diplomat wryly put it, 'our big neighbor'... 'our rogue nieghbor'...'it's complicated.'
(My personal method for absorbing all the information is to get on the computer and put in a good six hours of Civilization V:Asia Expansion Pack.)
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| Guys...why can't we all get along? |
Lately, the weather in DC has been warming up. There was a great period of nice, moderately cool and overcast days last week and then BAM- humidity slaps you in the face like warm, damp towel. The classrooms at FSI are kept at meat locker temperatures, which helps but I still like to whine about it every now and then in hopes someone will buy me some cheese and a personal
AC jacket. Even the dog has decided she is so over it and spends her evenings sprawled on the coolest spot on the couch.
Me? I'm way smarter than that.
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