the "calm" before the storm

  As I've mentioned before, a few weeks ago the Ensigns and I began planning the orientation for the international students which will begin on Monday and last nearly 12 days until the following Thursday which is Induction Day to Plebe Summer.  We found out today that the Peruvians did not complete all their paperwork so they will not arrive until sometime next week.  The first midshipman arrives from Bangladesh around dinner time Sunday and the next from the Republic of Korea at 12:30AM.  The rest all arrive between Dulles and BWI throughout the day Monday.  My role will be to (wo)man the fort back at the IPO office when the Ensigns drop them off in groups.  I'll assist them in calling/emailing/skyping home to let their families know they've arrived safely, and get them checked into Bancroft Hall.
  Concurrently with this huge event, I am also helping my mentor with SF182's.  These are the financial forms for the (American) midshipmen from the academy we have studying abroad this fall.  These forms are super important as it is ultimately how they will receive their pay while abroad, and especially their advance before they leave.
   And on top of it all- my director asked if I could "help out" with a project on Tuesday.  This project is the complete and total development of the orientation for the semester exchange midshipmen.  Interestingly, the USNA grants 4-year degrees to students from countries where we are attempting to foster better relations, but only allows students from nations where we have excellent relations come for a semester (each year Russia goes back and forth between this category.  They were scheduled to send 2 mids for a semester exchange but then canceled at the last minute after long conversations with my director).  This orientation is a mess.  I've mentioned before that my director is not well liked, and is a micromanager.  In a nutshell, he took this responsibility from one of my co-workers, made it more chaotic by involving a 3rd party (i.e. me) and then tossed it at me to sort out.  Thankfully my mentor and the person originally supposed to plan it have been my saviors.  It has been a great experience building this from the ground up- but with 2 huge responsibilities already going on, it has been more than stressful.
   Of course in the midst of everything, Derek & I had to venture BACK to D.C. to fetch the holy Chinese visa for my boss.  After sitting in rush hour traffic my mentor called and asked if I could hold the passport for the weekend and bring it Monday because she was locking up.  HOLD MY DIRECTOR'S PASSPORT ALL WEEKEND???  Thankfully, a few minutes later the Colonel called on his way home and stated, "Meet me at Gordon Biersch, I need an alcoholic beverage," and we were able to pass the passport off to him.
   My days are getting more insane, and the nonexistent pay makes me think I am crazy.  But I should say- even when I am up to my eyeballs in Naval lingo, foreign bullshit, fine details, and pink post-its on every surface of my desk, I love every second of working in an international programs office.