Goodbye, DF

 Ah, el Distrito Federal! Capital city of Mexico, pulsing heart of the nation, by some standards the largest city in the world....is no more!

You see, Mexico's Congress has just voted to bring the city where roughly 1/6 of the population lives out of political limbo and make it a full-fledged part of the country.

Now the old DF will become officially known as 'Mexico City' and Mexico's 32nd state. The reform was largely pushed by the left-wing PRD party, which controls the city government. The measure was approved by 23 states.

Now, what about Washington DC?

Viajes Mexicanos: Guachimontones

Sure, we've all seen pyramids. But have you ever seen CIRCULAR PYRAMIDS?:

Who built them, and why? Nobody seems to know for sure. They are not burial chambers - there's nothing inside. The surrounding areas have rectangular 'courts' for playing of a lacrosse-like game which acted as their court system (the loser was not favored by the gods, and so lost the trial).

The mysteries of Mexico continue....

Why Join the Foreign Service? Part III

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.”

- Bill Bryson

Viajes Mexicanos: San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is a picturesque little town in the mountains of Guanajuato:

 The winding, cobblestone streets can take some getting used to, and the altitude can be a challenge for those of delicate constitution.

 Still, SMdA is undeniably charming and full of character, will a village-like air. Like many Mexican cities, it is based around a central square dominated by a large cathedral:

 Over the years, the town has become home to large numbers of artists (particularly painters) and American expats. This has led to a profusion of high-end restaurants, silly-expensive real estate, souvenir shops, and art galleries:

 As a tourist site, I highly recommend it for the shopping alone. It is one of those places with few specific destinations or sights/ Simply amble through the town and enjoy it.

The Foreign Service on Stage: Madama Butterfly

In Puccini's masterpiece Madama Butterfly an innocent young Japanese girl is seduced (well, bought) by a caddish American naval officer who quickly abandons here. While she waits patiently for his return, her one line of communication is the American Consul, Sharpless.

Poor Sharpless has a pretty thankless role, both in the drama and in the opera. He must be the perpetual bearer of bad news and has no arias and very little memorable music (except the 'Letter Duet' with Cio-Cio San). He is usually depicted as a good-hearted but feckless bureaucrat, overdress and out of shape.

So it seems that art often imitates life...

A Few More Words

214(b): Intending Immigrant, AKA the Consular Officer's best friend. Allows officers to reject non-immigrant visa applications because they believe the person will not return to their home country in a timely manner.  The majority of NIV refusals are 214(b).

Amcit: American Citizen.

ACS: American Citizen Services. The section of Consular Affairs that deals with American citizens abroad. Birth certificates, lost passports, prison visits etc.

CLO: Community Liaison Officer. In charge of social planning and wellness activities for the mission community.

EER: Employee Evaluation Report. The annual review all FSOs must go through.

EFM: Eligible Family Member. Refers to dependents of FSOs who can share their housing, transport, and receive priority for certain in-mission jobs.

FLO: Family Liaison Office. Usually an EFM, in charge of community activities and services for families with children.

 IV/NIV: Immigrant/Non-Immigrant Visas.

IWP: Interview Waiver Program, by which someone who has a valid US visa can renew it without going through the interview process.

LES: Locally employed staff. Refers to the non-US workers who make up the majority of the workforce in most foreign missions. Also known as FSNs (Foreign Service Nationals).

TDY:  Temporary duty. Describes when an FS professional is sent to another mission on a short-term basis.

VLA: Visa Lookout and Accountability. A program to review visa issuances to ensure that consular officers are not issuing visas to people with prior ineligibilities.

Lake Chapala at Sunset