Back in Abu Dhabi

I got back to Abu Dhabi this past Monday morning from a 10 day visit of Cuyapo, Philippines.  As always, visiting the Philippines was a nice break.  It is always nice to see family, relatives, and friends.  My back was giving me fits -- there were some days that I did not feel well because of this.  Relief for the back pain was always on the ready.  My sister has a maid that provided much needed back massages during my stay in the Philippines.

Just to test the waters, I had put in for a position with the Corps of Engineers' Seattle District.  I had just updated my resume.  I saw the Seattle position advertised and decided to gauge my marketability.  I was interviewed a few days prior to my departure for the visit to the Philippines.  The interview was via my cell phone.  I did not think the interview went well.  When I returned to work on Tuesday, I had an e-mail from the Seattle District office that they wanted to talk to me concerning the position.  I called them later that evening (morning time Seattle), and they were giving me a tentative offer for a job in Seattle.  The HR rep who had my file was not yet in the office.  She will call me back for further details.

What's next?  I will probably spend the next 2 weeks in Abu Dhabi.  Then proceed to Germany for more R&R for about a week before I go back to the US to have my back looked at.  My supervisor had already approved medical leave for me. I will need to return to Abu Dhabi by the beginning of the new year. 

I will have to think hard about what I really want to do next.  It will be six years this coming February that I have been away from Seattle.  I should not pass up this great opportunity, especially returning to Seattle.  I do not have return rights to a position back in the States.  But as a current employee with the US Army Corps of Engineers, I should be able to apply competitively for engineering and PM positions at the many offices of the Corps throughout the US.  I should be able to find a position back in the States easily, but not necessarily in Seattle.

I have been in Abu Dhabi for eight months.  I really haven't had too many complaints about my job here.  The benefits are excellent.  Like I said before, I was not really looking into leaving Abu Dhabi yet.  It will be a tough decision, but I have a few months to mull it over.