Florida

The US Foreign Service: Representing America Abroad

Program No. 8164RJ
Get to know America’s first line of defense as you speak with Foreign Service Officers, learning about foreign policy, international intrigue and fascinating stories of life abroad.

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At a Glance

How is the United States represented abroad by its diplomats? Find out from the diplomats themselves! Accept this rare invitation to go behind doors that are usually closed to the public as you meet retired Foreign Service Officers and discuss the intriguing challenges they faced in pursuing American foreign policy objectives. Learn how our diplomats cooperate with the military in the international arena and communicate with citizens in other countries through “public diplomacy.”
Activity Level
Easy Going
Minimal walking and standing.

What You'll Learn

  • Learn how The Foreign Service works -- from recruiting new officers to placements overseas.
  • Examine a wide variety of issues involving America’s friends and adversaries around the world, both past and present, and get a behind-the-scenes understanding of diplomacy.
  • Enjoy some fascinating "Tales of the Foreign Service" from a career diplomat with lots to share.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5 B 3 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
St. Petersburg, FL
D
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing an up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances / conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the hotel meeting room, we’ll have a buffet welcome dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Introduction to US State Department and Foreign Service
St. Petersburg, FL
B,L,D
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde

Activity note: Classroom, extended periods sitting.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet with items such as eggs (boiled or scrambled) and meat (bacon or sausage), as well as cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast bread or pastry milk, juice, coffee, tea, water, at your leisure.

Morning: We will begin the program with a general introduction to and overview of the United States Foreign Service, our diplomatic corps that operates out of the State Department. While America has had envoys working on our behalf since before the Revolutionary War, the foreign service was reorganized by the Foreign Service Act of 1924 that merged the diplomatic and consular personnel and functions. We’ll learn about the history and structure, understand the differences between embassies and missions, ask and answer questions. After a short refreshment break, we will hear stories from a former Deputy Assistant Secretary.We will be joined by one of our most experienced former Foreign Affairs officers who will discuss important aspects of working at a duty station.

Lunch: In the hotel.

Afternoon: Our introduction to the AFS continues when we view a National Geographic documentary — “Ambassador: Inside the Embassy” — that explores the world of diplomatic relations focusing on the experience of ambassadors in Japan, Pakistan, and Guatemala. The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to go behind the scenes in these remarkably different countries and present an insider’s view of what it takes to practice the arts of diplomacy, sometimes in crisis situations, to promote peace and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad. Following the film there will be a discussion with a retired foreign service member.

Dinner: We will meet in the hotel lobby and walk over to a fun island restaurant for dinner.

DAY
3
Exploring historic aspects of diplomacy
St. Petersburg, FL
B,L,D
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde

Activity note: We'll ride a bus to an historic fort. Climbing stairs and walking on uneven terrain, a boardwalk, up to a mile. Also classroom and extended periods of sitting.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet with items such as eggs (boiled or scrambled) and meat (bacon or sausage), as well as cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast bread or pastry milk, juice, coffee, tea, water, at your leisure.

Morning: The morning will begin with a field trip to Fort Desoto, a military establishment designed to protect Tampa Bay, a few miles from the hotel in a beautiful beachfront park. We will hear from Park Rangers who will explain the importance of the Fort that has never seen military battle, and tour a small museum.

Lunch: We will stop in at Billy's Stone Crab, a local waterfront favorite since 1972.

Afternoon: We will return to the hotel and hear from the former Deputy assigned to U.S. Central Command at MacDill Airforce Base, and understand the role of the military in US foreign diplomacy.

Dinner: We'll meet in the lobby and walk to dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: Enjoy an evening at leisure.

DAY
4
Learning more about foreign diplomacy
St. Petersburg, FL
B
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde

Activity note: Classroom day, extended periods of sitting.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet with items such as eggs (boiled or scrambled) and meat (bacon or sausage), as well as cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast bread or pastry milk, juice, coffee, tea, water, at your leisure.

Morning: What does foreign service mean in specific parts of the world? Hear from diplomats about assignments and how world activities impact duty.

Lunch: This meal is on your own to enjoy as you wish.

Afternoon: The afternoon is free to enjoy on your own. Your Group Leader has suggestions for spending time in downtown St. Petersburg, the Arts District, or the Beach, all easily (and affordably) accessible by Uber or Lyft.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Diversity, Human Rights, Families Overseas
St. Petersburg, FL
B,L,D
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde

Activity note: Classroom, sitting. Bus for dinner, optional walk downtown.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet with items such as eggs (boiled or scrambled) and meat (bacon or sausage), as well as cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast bread or pastry milk, juice, coffee, tea, water, at your leisure.

Morning: We will be joined by another retired Senior Foreign Service Officer who helped create a recruiting program for the AFS to diversify the corps so it looks more like America. We'll also hear from a spouse who traveled with her husband from post-to-post and learn what it is like to be the trailing spouse and the changes in the AFS to help combat high divorce rates.

Lunch: Lunch in the hotel, on the beautiful rooftop!

Afternoon: Our final lectures of the week will touch on specific assignments and lessons learned by these amazing men and women who helped shape diplomacy around the world.

Dinner: We will re-group in the hotel lobby and take our bus to a local restaurant for a wonderful meal at a local's favorite in downtown St. Pete. After dinner there will be time to explore a bit for those who wish to walk the Pier or Beach Dr. We will share our favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
St. Petersburg, FL
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet with items such as eggs (boiled or scrambled) and meat (bacon or sausage), as well as cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast bread or pastry milk, juice, coffee, tea, water, at your leisure.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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