Mexico.
Flag Day is one of the more cherished traditions within the State Department. At the end (or rather, near the end) of every A-100 class, there's a ruthlessly efficient way for handing out assignments and avoiding nasty confrontations from dissatisfied FSOs at the same time.
The ceremony is fairly simple and rarely takes more than half an hour. The newly-minted FSOs and their assorted family and friends gather in an auditorium. A table laden with flags is brought out and the new officers are called up one by one to receive their assignment and a small flag.
One after the other, my classmates heard their names and strode up to learn where they'd be spending the next two years. Some were thrilled. Most were contented. A few seemed surprised but gamely plowed through.
The A-100 coordinators played a little trick on me - I had listed one of the Mexico spots as my #1 choice. Alas, another person got it first. I was the absolute last person to be called (just like kickball) and there was only one flag, Mexico, left on the table. And to my surprise...it was that very post I had wanted! They'd added another slot without telling us.
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