Below is a list of Foreign Service blogs as of May 2011 (note that list was updated in January 2012 to remove blogs that were no longer active; if you think yours was removed in error please e-mail commintern@afsa.org). The guide is intended for current and retired Foreign Service employees, FS applicants, students, and anyone who wishes to know more about life in the U.S. Foreign Service. If you know of a blog that is not on this list or would like your blog removed, please email fsjedit@afsa.org. This list was compiled by Danielle Derbes for the June 2011 Foreign Service Journal. You may also want to check out Matt Keene's "Speaking Out" column from the December 2011 issue - "FS Blogging: An Opportunity, Not a Threat."
Official Blogs and Resources
1. Dipnote http://blogs.state.gov/
2. Foggy Bottom Rambles http://foggybottomrambles.blogspot.com/ (Family Liaison Office resource for unaccompanied tours)
State Department Foreign Service Officers
These are the personal journal blogs of Foreign Service Officers with the Department of State. They cover all FS generalist career tracks – political, public affairs, economic, consular and management, and include everyone from new A-100 students to ambassadors.
1. Ambassador’s Blog http://ambassadorblogiceland.blogspot.com/
2. Ambassador Michael C. Polt http://ambassadorpolt.wordpress.com/
3. Life After Jerusalem http://www.lifeafterjerusalem.blogspot.com
4. Just another Foreign Service Officer’s Blog http://ryanmckean.wordpress.com/
5. A Broad Abroad http://clorvis.wordpress.com/
6. The Afghan Plan http://4brianhall.blogspot.com/
7. DiploGeek http://diplogeek.com/
8. Facts are Strictly Optional http://factsoptional.blogspot.com/
9. Kersamänia http://kersamania.wordpress.com/
10. Ren’s Microdiplomacy http://rensmicrodiplomacy.wordpress.com/
11. Rock Star in Dhaka http://dhakastar.blogspot.com/
12. Adventures Around the World http://heathersworldadventures.blogspot.com/
13. Adventures in Good Countries http://kakiser.blogspot.com/
14. Consul-at-Arms II http://consul-at-arms2.blogspot.com/
15. The Consuls’ Files http://theconsulsfiles.blogspot.com/
16. Peripatetic http://peripatetic-wigwam.blogspot.com/
17. Diplomat in Waiting http://diplomatinwaiting.blogspot.com/
18. Mabsuta Bideshi – Happy Foreigner? http://mabsutabideshi.blogspot.com/
19. You Can Call Me Al http://alcaniglia.blogspot.com/
20. The B Files http://thebfilesblog.blogspot.com/
21. Worldwide Availability http://worldwideavailability.wordpress.com/
22. World Wide Matel http://johnsonmatel.com/blog1/
23. A World Not Our Own: A Public Diplomacy Blog http://aworldnotourown.blogspot.com/
24. Where in the World am I? http://whereintheworld-stephanie.blogspot.com/
25. Wanderings of a Cheerful Stoic http://www.cheerfulstoic.com/
26. Switzerland http://tcfisher.blogspot.com/
27. Striped Pants and Cowboy Boots http://travelingtexan.wordpress.com/
28. The Slow Move East http://hannahdraper.blogspot.com/
29. Ted Cross Blog http://tedacross.blogspot.com/
30. Shenyanigans http://shenyanigans.blogspot.com/
31. Scrivners http://scrivners.blogspot.com/
32. Sadie Abroad http://sadieabroad.blogspot.com/
33. Red Licorice and Jujubes http://atexgal.blogspot.com/
34. PsyDip: Where Psychology and Diplomacy Meet http://psydip.blogspot.com/
35. A Postcard From…http://apostcardfrom.blogspot.com/
36. Neither Here Nor There http://damandac.wordpress.com/
37. Midlife Diplomatic Crisis http://hogline.wordpress.com/
38. Meandering Memos http://meanderingmemos.wordpress.com/
39. Lime of Sight http://limeofsight.blogspot.com/
40. Life in the Land of the Long White Cloud http://kiwiscots.blogspot.com/
41. The Life Diplomatic http://www.thelifediplomatic.com/
42. Knocking About http://www.knockingabout.com/
43. Kitty Non Grata http://mlab555.wordpress.com/
44. The Kathmandu Diaries http://worldchump.blogspot.com/
45. Jacksonian Realist http://jackreal.blogspot.com/
46. Hick/Hitchhiker/…Diplomat (!? ) http://4brianhall.blogspot.com/
47. The Guatemala Holla http://guatemalaholla.blogspot.com/
48. Freedom for Diplomacy http://rayecheal.blogspot.com/
49. Four Globetrotters http://fourglobetrotters.blogspot.com/
50. Erica Green http://ericajgreen.wordpress.com/
51. DiploTraveler http://diplotraveler.blogspot.com/
52. Deeblog http://deeblog.squarespace.com/
53. Dear Diary: Travels in the Foreign Service http://deardiarytravelsintheforeignservice.blogspot.com/
54. Blah Blah Blawg http://blahblahblawg.wordpress.com/
55. Beau Geste, Mon Ami http://beaugestemonami.blogspot.com/
56. Days and Nights in Kathmandu http://christopherinkathmandu.blogspot.com/
USAID Foreign Service Officers
These are the personal journal blogs of Foreign Service officers with the U.S. Agency for International Development.
1. In Pursuit of Life http://pursuitoflifeblog.blogspot.com/
2. Amy Gottleib Photography and Blog http://amygottlieb.net/
3. Worldwide Available http://worldwideavailable.posterous.com/
4. Nick and Liz Go Global http://nickandlizgoglobal.blogspot.com/
5. Woodland Travels http://woodlandtravels.blogspot.com/
State Department Foreign Service Specialists
These are the personal journal blogs of Foreign Service Specialists.
1. 110 to 220 http://www.110to220.com/
2. Foreign Service Specialist http://foreignservicespecialist.blogspot.com/
3. Foreign Service Specialist: My OMS Journey http://omsjourney.blogspot.com/
4. NP Worldview http://npworldview.blogspot.com/
5. Half-breed Outlaw http://halfbreedoutlaw.blogspot.com/
6. Gwen’s Adventures in the Foreign Service http://gwensadventuresintheforeignservice.wordpress.com
7. The OpSec Blog http://opsecblog.wordpress.com/
8. The Accidental Diplomat http://accidentaldiplomat.wordpress.com
Foreign Service Spouses and Partners
The spouses and partners of the Foreign Service make terrific bloggers! Their posts contain interesting stories and observations from their everyday lives that demonstrate how cultural differences affect the FS family while abroad. For those applicants considering what impact FS life would have upon their spouse or partner, these blogs will provide a wealth of insight on managing careers, raising children abroad, handling moves and dealing with the other challenges of FS life. They will also provide candid, first-hand accounts of the opportunities that FS life has opened up for the bloggers.
1. Place2place http://place2place.blogs.com/
2. The Perlman Update http://theperlmanupdate.blogspot.com/
3. The Embassy Wife http://kellyarmstrong.pnn.com/8583-home-sweet-home
4. My Life Journey as an FSO’s Wife and Mom http://diplomaticmom.blogspot.com/
5. 100 Weeks in Brazil http://100wksbrasilia.blogspot.com/
6. E-mail From the Embassy http://emailfromtheembassy.blogspot.com/
7. A Daring Adventure http://adaringadventure.typepad.com/
8. A Diplomat’s Wife http://adiplomatswife.wordpress.com/
9. Diplomatic Baggage http://diplowife.wordpress.com/
10. Small Bits http://smallbitsfs.blogspot.com/
11. Trailing Husband http://trailing-husband.blogspot.com/
12. Spectrummy Mummy http://spectrummymummy.wordpress.com/
13. Wife Mommy Woman: In that Order http://wifemommywoman.blogspot.com/
14. Adventures by Aaron http://adventuresbyaaron.blogspot.com/
15. Changes and Colours http://www.changesandcolours.blogspot.com/
16. The World That We Live In http://www.theworldthatwelivein.com/
17. Wallingford Worldwide http://wallingfordworldwide.blogspot.com/
18. Something Edited This Way Comes http://somethingedited.blogspot.com/
19. Tuk & Tam http://tukytam.blogspot.com/
20. Sewing in No Man’s Land http://sewingin-nomansland.blogspot.com/
21. SchutzHappens http://schutzhappens.blogspot.com/
22. Paul Benjamin http://www.thepaulbenjamin.com/apps/blog/
23. Patchwork Planet http://greatdiversions.com/patchworkplanet/
24. Overseas Insights http://overseasinsights.blogspot.com/
25. Ogles and Observations http://oglesandobservations.wordpress.com/
26. Novakistan http://www.novakistan.com/
27. My Last Name is Not Cordaro http://missisoda.blogspot.com/
28. Moppyseed Puffin http://www.moppyseedpuffin.blogspot.com/
29. McLErvin' Around the World http://mclervinaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/
30. Lindsey Mae’s Blog http://lindseymaesmith.blogspot.com/
31. Learning to Walk in Stilletos http://ltwis.wordpress.com/
32. Knettles Travels http://knettlestravels.blogspot.com/
33. Just US http://csamto.blogspot.com/
34. Inner Beauty http://looksattheheart.blogspot.com/
35. Hot Pot http://hotpotdc.wordpress.com/
36. From the Back of Beyond http://fromthebackofbeyond.wordpress.com/
37. Fergusons on the Loose http://ourforeignservicelife.blogspot.com/
38. En Route to Nowhere http://mashawna.blogspot.com/
39. DP’s Blog http://davepernal.com/
40. Crafty Foreign Service http://thecraftyforeignservice.blogspot.com/
41. The Bryant Blogger http://thebryantblogger.blogspot.com/
42. Beyond Kimchee http://beyondkimchee.blogspot.com/
43. Beyond the Cornfields http://beyondthecornfields.blogspot.com/
44. Well, That Was Different http://wellthatwasdifferent.wordpress.com/
45. La Vie Overseas http://lavieoverseas.com/
Both Spouses
The both-spouses approach is a popular way for FS couples to communicate their shared experiences. Some of these bloggers are ‘tandem couples,’ meaning that both the husband and the wife are Foreign Service employees. Their blogs provide two different perspectives on life at their post, as well as insight on the challenges and opportunities that the FS has presented in their relationships.
1. The Dubinsky’s Travels http://thedubinskystravels.blogspot.com/
2. Two Crabs http://twocrabs.blogs.com/
3. The Taylors’ Travels http://www.mattanddenise.com/
4. Steve and Lisa http://hitherandyon.wordpress.com/
5. Andersons in Benin http://andersonsinbenin.blogspot.com/
6. Matt and Emily in Budapest http://www.emilyandmatt.info/
7. Nick and Liz Go Global http://nickandlizgoglobal.blogspot.com/
8. Where to Next? http://mashaandjeremy.blogspot.com/
9. What Were We Thinking? http://polillo-family.blogspot.com/
10. V is for VonHinken http://www.vonhinken.com/
11. Travel Orders http://www.travelorders.com/
12. Short Term Memory http://stmemory.wordpress.com/
13. Masha and Jeremy went to Afghanistan http://mashaandjeremy.blogspot.com/
14. The Más Allá http://themasalla.wordpress.com/
15. Grawburg 2009 http://grawburg2009.blogspot.com/
16. Cyberbones http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/
17. Criplomats http://www.criplomats.com/ (tandem)
18. Towels Packed, Will Travel http://www.towelspacked.wordpress.com
Foreign Service Kids
The children of Foreign Service employees have a rich variety of experiences to share online. However, they are less likely to identify their blog with being in the Foreign Service. Instead, most focus on the same interests as their peers – fashion, sports, writing, photography, ect. Nonetheless, there are a few blogs run by FS kids that provide insight into their life in the Foreign Service.
1. Foreign Service Kid http://foreignservicekid.wordpress.com/
Foreign Service Families
The family newsletter is a popular form of blogging for FS employees and family members. The family sets up a collective blog to provide an account of their lives for friends and family back home. The FS employee and spouse are usually the main bloggers, with FS kids writing the occasional post. These blogs provide first-hand accounts of family life abroad and raising children in the FS.
1. Zvirzdins at Large http://zvirzdin.blogspot.com/
2. Monestel Family Odyssey http://monestelfamily.blogspot.com/
3. The McGee Family http://mcgeefamilyblog.blogspot.com/
4. Lees on the Go http://www.leesonthego.blogspot.com/
5. The Davis Family Adventures http://growingdavisfamilyadventures.blogspot.com/
6. The McNabb Clan http://themcnabbclan.blogspot.com/
7. Noble Glomads: Life of an FSO Family http://nickandlizgoglobal.blogspot.com/
8. The Briden Bunch http://thebridenbunch.blogspot.com/
9. The Dinoia Family http://dinoiafamily.typepad.com/
10. Elise and Paul +2 http://eliseandpaul.blogspot.com/
11. Luffmans http://www.luffmans.com/index.php
12. The Rhodes Family http://rhodesfamilyupdate.blogspot.com/
13. Sherwood Family Nonsense http://sherwoodfamilynonsense.blogspot.com/
14. Yo Ali http://yoali.blogspot.com/
15. Woodland Travels http://woodlandtravels.blogspot.com/
16. Where in the World are Luca & Juliana? http://whereintheworldislucagaleno.blogspot.com/
17. Whale Ears and Other Wonderings http://whaleears.blogspot.com/
18. The Wandering Drays http://thewanderingdrays.blogspot.com/
19. The Traveling Rubeshes http://blog.rubesh.info/
20. Ten and Soprano http://www.tenandsoprano.com/
21. Rambles and Ruminations http://ramblesandruminations.blogspot.com/
22. Pulling Stakes http://pullingstakes.blogspot.com/
23. Our Yuppie Life http://ouryuppielife.blogspot.com/
24. Our Life: From My Point of View http://benily.blogspot.com/
25. Our “Orient Express” http://loveslaughsandlavender.blogspot.com/
26. New Beginnings and New Adventures http://andrewandsamanthagrillos.blogspot.com/
27. The Maguire Wire http://travelingmaguires.blogspot.com/
28. Looking for Geckos http://www.lookingforgeckos.blogspot.com/
29. Globehoppers http://globehoppers.us/
30. Global Geraghtys http://globalgeraghtys.blogspot.com/
31. A Fisher Out of Water http://chickenflag.blogspot.com/
32. Fabling http://fabling.blogspot.com/
33. By the Where? http://www.bythewhere.com/
34. Third Culture Children http://3rdculturechildren.wordpress.com/
News and Opinion with a Foreign Service Bent
These bloggers synthesize and analyze all the news pertaining to Foreign Service life and U.S. foreign policy. They carefully search through news Web sites, press releases and other Foreign Service blogs to find relevant stories.
1. WhirledView http://whirledview.typepad.com/
2. DiploPundit http://diplopundit.blogspot.com/
3. The Skeptical Bureaucrat http://skepticalbureaucrat.blogspot.com/
4. The World According to Bill Fisher http://www.billfisher.blogspot.com/
5. John Brown's Public Diplomacy Press and Blog Review, Version 2.0 http://publicdiplomacypressandblogreview.blogspot.com/
Resources for Unaccompanied Tours
What exactly will it be like when you arrive in Kabul? What challenges will you face in Baghdad? What will all this mean for your family back home? These blogs are accounts of unaccompanied tours from the FS employees who have ‘been there, done that.’ They offer candid insights and helpful advice on living and working in challenging conditions.
1. Weebles Kabul but They Don’t Fall Down http://weebleskabulbuttheydontfalldown.blogspot.com/
2. The Afghan Plan http://4brianhall.blogspot.com/
3. The Perlman Update http://theperlmanupdate.blogspot.com/ (Jill is currently living in California while her husband is on a one-year tour in Iraq)
4. Foggy Bottom Rambles http://foggybottomrambles.blogspot.com/ (Family Liaison Office blog for unaccompanied tours)
Retiree Blogs
Former members of the Foreign Service have an entire career’s worth of insights on U.S. foreign policy and the internal politics of the countries in which they served. Many of them write high-quality, well-researched posts that provide commentary on current world events. Others reflect upon their experiences as U.S. diplomats.
1. WhirledView http://whirledview.typepad.com/
2. Avuncular American http://avuncularamerican.typepad.com/blog/
3. The World According to Bill Fisher http://www.billfisher.blogspot.com/
4. John Brown's Public Diplomacy Press and Blog Review, Version 2.0 http://publicdiplomacypressandblogreview.blogspot.com/
5. Globetrotting with Uncle Sam http://globetrottingwithunclesam.blogspot.com/
6. A Traveler in the Foreign Service http://www.gadling.com/tag/atravelerintheforeignservice
Critical Blogs
These are blogs that discuss topics related to the Foreign Service from a more critical perspective.
1. Dead Men Working http://deadmenworking.blogspot.com/ (deals with security clearance issues)
2. Muttering Behind the Hardline http://www.mutteringbehindthehardline.com/ (deals with U.S. foreign policy)
3. We Meant Well http://www.wemeantwell.com (deals with a variety of foreign policy issues)
Misc Blogs
1. Foreign Service Tails http://fstails.blogspot.com/ - Blog on FS Pets
2. Join the Foreign Service http://jointheforeignservice.wordpress.com/ (an argument for why to join the Foreign Service)
3. The Ausmerican http://www.ausmerica.com/blog/