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Questions to Ask Before You Go to a Hardship Post
By Melissa Hess, Managing Editor, Foreign Service Lifelines
You can research a new post to get essential information, however, there is no substitute for talking with someone who already lives there. When a well-meaning sponsor asks, "What do you want to know about this place?", how can you respond? Instead of sharing what the sponsor has already learned, this approach unintentionally puts the burden on you to come up with questions about a place you have never experienced. At any post, there are circumstances you cannot anticipate and won't know to ask about ahead of time.
Your best response is to ask questions that allow you to benefit from what your sponsor has already learned. The idea is to get as much information as possible to help you plan ahead and get through the initial arrival and waiting time for air freight. The following questions are examples that can be used as a starting point and may be tailored to meet your individual situation and post. Note: Questions are written from the point of view of spouses seeking information on day-to-day living at a hardship post.
1. What makes this place a hardship post?
2. What's the most difficult thing about living here?
3. What are some positive features about this place?
4. What is the average waiting time to receive air freight?
5. What is the condition of welcome kits?
6. What kinds of items can I bring with me to make my first weeks at post easier?
7. What kinds of food items are available locally?
8. What types of foods or supplies are hard to find locally?
9. Can any American food products be purchased locally?
10. Are there any options available to purchase American products, such as a commissary, Peter Justensen, or other?
11. Do you have any suggestions or advice on writing a consumables order? Are there any items you wish you had ordered/or ordered in larger quantities?
12. When you were a new arrival at post, what items did you wish you had the first week?
13. Is there anything specific (about anything) you wish you knew before you got to post?
14. How are people assigned housing?
15. Is it common for people to live in temporary apartments before moving to permanent quarters?
16. Are people generally satisfied with the housing situation?
17. What schooling options are available at post?
18. Where do most embassy children go to school?
19. How many students are enrolled there and what is the student-teacher ratio?
20. Should I bring any school supplies for my children?
21. As far as you know, are parents generally satisfied with the quality of education available?
22. What kinds of cars do people bring to post?
23. What is the driving/traffic situation in general?
24. Is it necessary to bring a steering wheel lock, such as "The Club?"
25. What do people at post like to do for fun and recreation?
26. What are some of the favorite travel destinations from post?
27. What shots/documentation are required to bring a
pet into the country?
28. Is veterinary care available?
29. How well-trained are local vets?
30. Are veterinary medicines available? Should I
bring my own?
These questions can get you started. If you have any additional questions we can add, please send them to our Managing Editor at webmaster@aafsw.org. We would like to provide readers with as much information as possible to help them prepare and lessen the stress of a move to a hardship post--Ed.