Preparation for Spouse Interviewees

ADST’s interview process is designed to help you recount your experience as the spouse (or long time partner) of an officer in the U.S. government’s foreign affairs community. Your interview will cover three broad categories:

• Personal background about you – your childhood, family, education, and work history;
• Your experience as a spouse at foreign posts; and
• Your experience as a spouse in Washington, DC posts.

How did you adapt to and integrate your family into your new surroundings; e.g:

• Childcare and education;
• The extent to which you could become involved in host country culture;e.g. Did you receive language training? Was it sufficient? 

• Could you use your own skills and talents working outside the home, either in the local economy or in the embassy? 

Were you present in locations where unique events took place:

• Hosting VIPs from the U.S.;
• Responding to natural disasters or political upheaval; and
• Temporary or permanent evacuation,

Finally, many people outside the U.S. foreign affairs community do not have an understanding of the stresses and rewards of this kind of public service.  We encourage you to recount recollections of how you overcame unforeseen challenges or made significant contributions to your community. Did you receive awards or special recognition? Let us know what it meant to you. We welcome you to recount it including with pictures and other memorabilia that might accompany written or spoken narratives. 

Our goal is to highlight the important role spouses play in the work of U.S. foreign affairs. A typical interview session lasts 60 minutes. Several sessions are typical. Your time commitment may be less, or more. 

Interviewee Registration

Registration for this project is closed at this time. Thank you for your interest. Watch our website for the release of the interview transcripts and via the “Partners in Diplomacy” podcast.