“Wow, is this normal?” I asked Tefare as we drove past another security checkpoint in our attempt to get into the U.S. Embassy, where I’d be working. It wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary to go through heavy security when visiting U.S. embassies around the world, but it was not easy to get used to either. This place was like a hybrid between a fortress and a very fancy suburb. The grounds were enormous. I was a little blown away as we drove through a small street lined with tall eucalyptus trees.

“This may be one of the biggest embassies I’ve been in,” I said to Tefare as I swiveled my head, taking in all the houses and buildings.

“Yes, this is one of the oldest embassies in Addis, from the time of King Menelik, more than a hundred years old.”

I nodded as he turned onto a smaller road. “I think I knew that,” I mused, remembering my dad’s stories about an Ethiopian monarch granting old allies like the U.S. and Britain acres of land for their embassies.

A while later we drove up to a set of buildings enclosed by rows of eucalyptus trees. “This is it, Desta.” Tefare pointed.

After saying a quick goodbye, I exited the taxi and made my way toward the taller building with the sign that read Aid USA, hoping it was where I needed to go. As soon as I walked into the lobby, a lovely woman with an impressive mass of honey-colored curls and the most amazing cheekbones I’d ever seen showed me to my new boss’s office.

From the moment I met her, I knew Bonnie Watts and I were going to hit it off. She was tall—a bit taller than me—with very curly white hair, which she kept on a messy bun on top of her head. Bonnie was wearing a flowy tunic over loose jeans and had gold Birkenstocks on her feet. The patented expat look, but she wore it well. She also had deep laugh lines and the most mischievous blue eyes.

“You must be Desta,” she said as she stepped around her desk, her hand extended. “I’ll be the person you complain to for the next eight weeks.”

I laughed while shaking her hand, a weird flutter in my stomach. Anticipation, I supposed. All of this felt big.

Bonnie kept chatting around the friendly smile on her lips while I turned my head, taking the place in. “I can’t guarantee anything you’re supposed to accomplish here will actually get done, but I promise to take you out for beers when the shit hits the fan.”

I laughed at that. “The most important part is covered then.”

Her smile lifted into a full grin. “You got it. And seriously, thank you again for being willing to come on such a short notice. I know it was a big ask.”