What's it like to raise a family and have to move to a new country every few years? A mother of four who has resided on nearly every continent shares the highs and lows of a unique life abroad.
Editor's Note — Loren Braunohler joined the US Foreign Service as a diplomat and has served in Mozambique, Venezuela, Sudan, Washington, D.C. and Thailand. After a decade in the US State Department, she resigned in 2011 to become a stay-at-home mom and travel writer. The opinions expressed here are her own.I should know. I was one, and I'm married to one. We move our children, pets and belongings to far flung places across the world every few years.
We meet Darfur rebels in the desert to discuss peace negotiations with the Sudanese government. We help broker peace deals, connect US companies with overseas buyers and help Americans overseas in need. It's like looking at the departures board at JFK -- so many countries, loads of history, fascinating cultures and journeys into the unknown -- all at your fingertips. A real life"Choose Your Own Adventure".An FSO has to be"worldwide available," meaning, we must be willing to go anywhere the US has an embassy or a consulate.
Usually there is an infant being worn in a baby carrier. And a 90-pound dog being pushed alongside in a massive crate. And luggage regularly falling off of carts. To say that we are good entertainment value at airports around the world would be an understatement. Delicious pad Thai turns to borscht. Swimming pools turn into sledding hills. Jungles into thousand-year old castles. Ever tried to set up a lemonade stand overseas? Good luck with that. Learn. Deal. Adapt. Repeat.5 fishermen, a diplomat and 2 hens: Over 60 years ago, they crossed the Pacific in a Chinese junk boat
We miss the ease of doing things in our native language. We miss the familiarity of what's normal and expected. We miss knowing that when we go into a bathroom, we don't have to pay for the privilege to use it, or that it's not a hole in the ground.So how do we get the kids on board with this state of constant transition?
We were largely unable to explore, meet new people, use public transportation, experience museums or restaurants, or simply see the inside of our children's new school.Pre-Covid, our initial intent when moving to Kiev was to jet off to Italy, Spain and other nearby destinations on long weekends. Instead, we explored frozen quarries and forests outside of Kiev during a long Ukrainian winter.
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