Bid list for our second post!

It is already time for us to think about our next tour! How crazy! Since it will be Adam's second post, it is still "directed," meaning that Adam and his training mates will be assigned from a list of specific posts by their Career Development Officer (CDO). There are a few additional people who have been added onto this process from other training groups, so the list is a little longer than last time.

Last month we received a list of 17 posts (and one more got added last week), so we have been spending time thinking about what would be best for Adam professionally and for us as a family. Today he submitted his preferences, ranking all 18 high, medium, or low.

This time, the things that have been important for us as we explore each post are 1) health issues and access to medical facilities, 2) safety/security, and 3) limited language barriers. Of course, there are a few other things that we would love to have in our next post. These "wish list" items include 1) short commute for Adam because he doesn't tolerate traffic well, 2) sunshine...that's what made Boulder more acceptable to Adam than Ann Arbor!, 3) parks/playgrounds for me to take Olivia to since I'll probably be at home with her still, and 4) cost of living.

We realize that our next post will likely not meet all of our wish list items, so we are prepared to go to any of the places that are in our highs and mediums (we are really, really hoping we don't get placed in any of our "lows" but as they say, we have to have worldwide availability).

I don't know if I can share our full list, but I'll share a few of our choices. We currently have 6 posts ranked high, 6 posts ranked medium, and 6 posts ranked low. Again, it is possible that we can end up in any of the 18 posts. We should find out sometime in the next few weeks where we have been placed!

The posts that made the top three are:

1. Wellington, New Zealand
2. Sofia, Bulgaria
3. Valleta, Malta

And I'll repeat what I said the last time- Ultimately, wherever we end up is where we are supposed to be, so we don't have any set expectations and I think we will be happy and excited for wherever our second post will be (well....I know of at least 2 posts that would not make Adam happy or excited, but I'm really hoping we wouldn't see either of those!).