International/Expat Blogs to Check out

We have added some international and expat blogs! (you can find them on the right column of our blog)

They aren't all done by military families but they all have an international focus--many of them are family blogs about living overseas.

If you know of any that we are missing, comment here with the URL and we will add it.  

NOTE:  Listing of blog on this site does not imply endorsement by FAOAM, DOD, or US Navy.

OPPORTUNITY: FAO/RAS/PAS CAP Program--Sponsor International Students

FAO/RAS/PAS CAP Program--Sponsor International Students 

Share American hospitality, improve your language and culture skills, and establish relationships for the future!  For more information, contact LCDR Jay Furman jhfurman@nps.edu or Ms. Charlie Orsburn clorsbur@nps.edu 

All volunteers will need to attend an introductory meeting on 27 SEP, 1200 hrs, Glasgow Hall 102 (NPS campus).  

NOTE: conflicts will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis--don't let a schedule conflict for this meeting prevent you from volunteering!

What is the FAO-CAP?

The Foreign Area Officer-Cultural Ambassadors Program (FAO-CAP) matches members of the FAO Association of Monterey with international students attending the Defense Resource Management Institute (DRMI) International Defense Management Course (IDMC). The are several excellent opportunities for hosting foreign officers coming this fall.  The IDMC's are generally three months in length.  They are excellent opportunities to meet many different officers from your area and

beyond, forming lasting professional and personal relationships.  These types of long-term friendships are essential to a FAO's career.

LINKS:

http://www.nps.edu/Academics/Centers/DRMI/

http://www.nps.edu/Academics/Schools/SIGS/News/DRMI_Williams.html

http://faculty.nps.edu/dl/DRMI/photoAlbum_2012_july/index.html

NEW FAO/RAS/PAS moving to Monterey for NPS or DLI???

NEW FAO/RAS/PAS moving to Monterey?

The FAO Association of Monterey is happy to help you out with any questions you might have about the move out here, class registration, books etc.

Most people end up buying books online but you can also check out CALLDIBS.  It's a free app on ITUNES--basically a CraigsList for people associated with the military.  Anyway, people are also starting to post their books there.  You can usually get away with not having any books the first week of class.

You can comment here with questions, or email me at FAOAMWebmaster@gmail.com.  I will probably be slow in responding till after Friday since that is when my finals are done.  

Nadia Hijab Talk on the Arab Uprising 2 OCT 2012- Great event for Africa and Middle East FAO/RAS/PAS

Nadia Hijab Talk on the Arab Uprising 2 OCT 2012- Great event for Africa and Middle East FAO/RAS/PAS

From the UN Association, Monterey Bay Chapter-- a great event and opportunity for all FAO/RAS/PAS interested.

The Arab Uprising:  Implications for US Policy and the Role of the UN

Who: Ms. Nadia Hijab, Palestinian/Syrian author, journalist and development specialist.  Co-founder, Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Policy Network

When: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 Time: 7:00 PM

Where:  Irvine Auditorium of the Monterey Institute of International Studies (499 Pierce at Jefferson in Monterey)

Other:  Free admission, an informal meet-the-speaker reception will follow the program

LINKS:

http://www.unamontereybay.org/UNA_Monterey_Bay/Future_Events.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nadia-hijab/

Biography

Europe and Eurasia FAO/RAS/PAS Reception this Monday 10 SEP 2012

Europe and Eurasia FAO/RAS/PAS Reception this Monday 10 SEP 2012

Europe and Eurasia FAOs/RAS/PAS:

You are invited to a free reception to be held as part of the Joint FAO Program Eurasia Course.  

Details:  

Time:  Monday, 10 SEP 12, 1700-1830, 

Location:  Quarterdeck, Herrmann Hall, Naval Postgraduate School.  

Other:  Free food; cash bar.  No RSVP required.

Bring your spouse and take advantage of this opportunity to meet senior FAOs working in the region.

FAO Type events summary for the next two months

Below is a summary of upcoming events for FAO/RAS/PAS in the local area:

14 September, 1730-UTC, Conversations in Carmel.[1]  “Fariba Nawa (http://www.faribanawa.com/about/) will speak about her book, Opium Nation:Child Brides, Drug Lords, and One Woman's Journey through Afghanistan. The book was nominated this year for the Pen Center award for research nonfiction.  Ms. Nawa, who was born in Afghanistan and came to the US as a child with her family, will also tell us stories from her experience traveling this country talking about her book this past year. Ms Nawa's book is available at Amazon for those who would like to read ahead. 

NPS STUDENTS AND FACULTY, PLEASE COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT.

17 September, 1200-1400 – “U.S. Policy Toward Syria: Moving Past Assad.”  Ambassador Fred Hof, World Affairs Council Luncheon.  Location:  Rancho Canada Golf Club, Carmel Valley Road.  If you plan on attending, submit your completed reservation form and payment using:  http://www.wacmb.org/WACMB/Upcoming-WACMB-Programs_files/Reservation%20Form.pdf

18 September, 1600-1730 – Syria Situation.  Ambassador Fred Hof, State Department's Senior Coordinator for Regional Affairs and Senior Advisor for Syria, provides an update on the current situation in Syria.  Location:  Gold Room, Weckerling Center.  Mandatory for all 48Gs and 48Cs (Turkey).

27 September, 1600-1700 – “Dress for Success.” 

Men's Warehouse will give a presentation on how to dress for business, social, and casual functions.  

Location:  Gold Room, Weckerling Center.  

Strongly recommended for any male FAO or spouse who has not previously attended this event. 

11 October, 1730-UTC, Conversations in Carmel.  “Fusun, Akarsa, PhD, head of the Science Education Department at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, is doing research on the cultural interface between Eastern and Western business people.  She has some fascinating and sometimes amusing stories to tell about ways we misinterpret one another's social cues which affects the success of our interactions.  She will also share with us her personal thoughts on the current geopolitical trends in Turkey.  Professor Akarsa is a visiting professor at MIIS this year.” 

NPS STUDENTS AND FACULTY, PLEASE COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT.

9 November, 1730-UTC, Conversations in Carmel.  “Norman Naimark, the Robert and Florence McDonnel Professor of Eastern European Studies at Stanford University and author of several important books on the Balkans, will help us sort through the current state of affairs in that part of Europe.  What is still in store for Serbia and Kosovo at this time? How have these countries recovered, or not?  What is important for us to understand about the effect of the Balkan situation currently on the EU and the world? ”

NPS STUDENTS AND FACULTY, PLEASE COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT.

Have lunch 17 Sept with Ambassador Fred Hof and learn about Syria

Have lunch with Ambassador Fred Hof

Passing on information below about an event from the World Affairs Council.  He will be speaking the following day at DLI--more information available on that event here.

On Monday, September 17, Ambassador Fred Hof will be the guest speaker at the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay monthly luncheon, on the topic of: 

“U.S. Policy Toward Syria: Moving Past Assad” 

Fred Hof is the State Department’s Special Advisor on Transition in Syria, and holds the rank of Ambassador.  A former U.S. Army officer and Foreign Area Officer, Hof is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School.  His professional life has focused largely on the Middle East, and he has held senior positions in both the State Department and Defense Department.  In his talk, he will discuss U.S. policy toward Syria, engagement with the Syrian opposition, and efforts to reintegrate Syria into the international community. 

The lunch will begin at noon at the Rancho Canada Golf Club on Carmel Valley Road in Carmel.  There is no charge and no reservations are required if you want to only listen to the lecture, which will start at about 12:45; auditors will be seated at 12:40.  If you would also like to have lunch, the cost is $25 per person for World Affairs Council members and NPS students (a special rate for students!), and $35 for others.  For lunch reservations, please fill out the attached reservation form and send it in by the deadline of next Thursday, September 13.  

If you have questions, need directions, or would like more information, please see the World Affairs Council website: http://www.wacmb.org/WACMB/Upcoming-WACMB-Programs.html.