The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2016

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2016 53 When I reported to the school, the receptionist handedme a book used to prepare students for the interna- tional Test of English as a Foreign Language. I hadn’t even heard of TOEFL or that publication, but she said, “You'll be in Room 4. Your students are waiting for you.” My Foreign Service experi- ence, which included instances of successfully facing situations far more alarming than this, gave me confidence for my debut. I was pleased to be named the branch’s senior instructor soon after that, and spent a total of 16 satisfying years in that line of work. As my wife’s Parkinson’s disease worsened, I took a volunteer appointment to the ESL department of a public high school in the District of Colombia so I could spendmore time with her and her nurses. My twice-weekly series of one-on-one sessions, again exclusively with foreign students, began as a continuation of my TOEFL program at the private schools. However, the main thrust of my high school sessions evolved intomentoring students who were underperforming for various reasons. Retiring Overseas BY SUE H . PATTERSON T here is life, adventure and deep satisfaction in retirement. Making one’s own life does require a steady income, initia- tive and the willingness to take a few risks, along with knowing yourself and what brings you satisfaction. I chose to retire from the Foreign Service 19 years ago, after my final assignment as consul general in Florence. When I decided to make my home in Guatemala, where I had previously served as consul general for four years, my friends in Tuscany (and other places) thought I was in need of psychiatric treat- ment. Some days I think they were right, but on the whole it was a good choice for me. Antigua—the colonial United Nations Educa- tional, Scientific and Cultural Organization site where I live—offers a fabulous climate, a lower cost of living thanmost places in the United States and plenty of stimulation. And it’s surrounded by beauty in both the landscape and the Mayan culture. It also has a COURTESYOFJAMESWACHOB With the full support of the ESL department, I was successful in encouraging many students to alter the negative behavior that had led to their being referred for mentoring. After seeing substantial improvement in those students, some depart- ment teachers began sending me students “whomonly Mr. Wachob can handle.” After 10 years at the high school, I decided to end my volun- teering on my 87th birthday. I looked forward to seeing some of my former students again, either here or in their home countries. Now widowed, I find those reunions an immensely rewarding part of my life after the Foreign Service. James Wachob entered the Foreign Service in 1951 and retired in 1988 with the rank of Minister Counselor. He served in West Germany, Swaziland, the Central African Republic, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Libya and Washington, D.C. Sue Patterson (second from right) interacts with WINGS youth peer educators two years into their activities. COURTESYOFSUEPATTERSON James Wachob was featured in the Wilson High School newspaper in Washington, D.C., during his 2004-2014 tutoring stint.