Our next diplomatic posting
Commissary orders, visiting Italy's Cinque Terre + Florence, planning for 2026
Life Lately
Earlier this month we finally received our big commissary order! Once or twice a year, the embassy lets you place a special food order from a base in Germany. What’s unique about this order is that it includes frozen items from America that you’d never be able to get otherwise. The only problem is that the minimum order quantities were quite large. Knowing this, we had to be very careful with what we chose!
We ended up settling on some American-style nitrate-free bacon (which is impossible to find here), maple breakfast sausage links and some Sister Schubert’s dinner rolls. It was a challenge to make it all fit in our tiny European freezer, but somehow, we made it work.
It’s been great to have a familiar taste of home here in Romania.
We recently joined the gym at our apartment complex. The facilities are incredible. They have an indoor and outdoor pool, full modern gym and plenty of workout classes I still need to try.
When I was sitting in the sauna the other day, a Romanian woman struck up a conversation with me. After speaking for a few minutes, she told me I don’t sound American, but rather British. She said I’m missing a certain kind of “harshness” American accents so often have to her ear.
I’ve wondered this myself a few times—if living in London for almost 3 years softened my accent. Maybe it did.
Andrew and I both had birthdays this month, so we decided to go to Cinque Terre and Florence to celebrate. The weather wasn’t quite as warm as we’d hoped, but we still managed to get some swimming in (albeit with an insulating wetsuit top). Cinque Terre was crowded as usual, but tourists were scarce out in the water.
Florence was amazing, as always. This trip was particularly special because it coincided with my friend Andrea’s visit to Florence. Andrea and I studied abroad there together in university, so it was incredible to be back walking the same streets 15 years later.
In other news, Andrew and I received the bid list for our next Foreign Service posting. This list has over 200 countries and cities with available embassy positions where we could serve our next tour beginning in October 2026.
The catch is, of these options, only a small number align with the end of our current tour in Bucharest.
We’ve been researching the different locations that do match up and ranking them into a top 20 list. Soon, we’ll submit this list to the State Department, who will then assign us a location based on their needs.
We should find out our next assignment in late June. Will keep you updated!
New on the Blog
I recently published a roundup of the best areas to stay in Bucharest.
In short, I recommend finding a hotel anywhere in Old Town or north of Sector 3 that’s walkable to Calea Victoriei (the main shopping avenue here).
That’s all for now! Keeping it short and sweet this time. Feel free to comment on anything I mentioned or whatever has been on your mind.
Cheers,
Michelle
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Destination Guides
Hungary | Italy | Romania | United Kingdom | United States
"Embracing diversity is one adventure after another, opening new paths of discovery that connect an understanding to caring, listening, and sharing with others who are different than ourselves." - April Holland