There is an intersection about 3 blocks from our house that we drive by every day where there are several military guards standing around with guns.  It took us several months to figure out why there were always at that intersection, 24/7.  We eventually figured out that the Defense Minister lives there.  And you can imagine that in a country that is aggresively trying to eradicate the FARC, the defense minister might be a high value target.

Last night I was checking CNN and saw this story.  It was scary because he lives so close to us.  And also his family’s finca is in the same area where we go for our weekend trips (which is also where the picture at the top of our blog was taken).

It’s yet another reminder that as much as the security situation has improved here, we live in a very dangerous country.

On a different note, it was great to get back to the States.  It was suprising how much I had missed the familiarity of the US.  And it was especially nice to not have to speak in a different language (although for the first day, I wanted to address most people in Spanish).  The trip was short, but fun.  I got to meet some new people in the Foreign Service, got to eat some great food, and got to hang out with Seckingers.  Unfortunately Kristen and Jackson didn’t come because of the cost and the timing.  But the good part is we’ll be back in Texas (as Kristen mentioned) in less than a week.  We’ll be flying into DFW, going directly to The Farm for a few days (we can’t wait to see his reaction to the farm animals and to getting to run free through the pasture), then back to DFW, then down to Houston.  All over a 9-day period.

I also had the chance to check out a house we’ll likely be renting during our 8 months in DC.  The nice part is the house is about 5 minutes from my training site and about a half block from a great park.  Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll know for sure where we’ll be living.

All in all, it was a good trip, but I’m glad to be back with my family.  When I got home last night, Jackson was already asleep but I was able to peek in on him in his crib.  And it was great to see my beautiful wife.  Skype just isn’t the same as sitting next to your wife on the couch and talking.