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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Itinerary
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.
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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.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
12 meals (
5B, 3L, 4D
)
13 expert-led lectures
1 expert-led field trip
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
St. Petersburg, FL
Meals:
D
Stay:
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Check in with the Group Leader in the meeting room in the afternoon and get your welcome packet containing an up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes or other important information. This is also where Orientation will take place at 5:00pm when 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:
Weather-permitting, we will have dinner up on the rooftop overlooking the water. Our welcome dinner is a buffet 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
Location:
St. Petersburg, FL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
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 break, we will hear from a 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 with a talk or a film screening of 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 to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
Day
3
Exploring historic aspects of diplomacy
Location:
St. Petersburg, FL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde
Activity Note
Classroom and extended periods of sitting, also some walking in downtown St. Petersburg, getting on and off a trolley or bus.
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 features a continuation of lectures by retired Foreign Service officers/ambassadors, and others involved with policy or US foreign policy experts.
Lunch:
Lunch at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, we will continue with our studies and hear from additional experts.
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
Location:
St. Petersburg, FL
Meals:
B
Stay:
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde
Activity Note
Classroom and extended periods of sitting, also some walking in downtown St. Petersburg, getting on and off a trolley or bus.
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:
Today, we'll start the day with a lecture and follow up with a guided tour of downtown St. Petersburg. You'll get out of the classroom and get a taste of our beautiful, vibrant downtown. You may elect to stay downtown and return to the hotel on your own (via Uber or taxi) or return with the shuttle.
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
Location:
St. Petersburg, FL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Residence Inn St. Petersburg Tierra Verde
Activity Note
Classroom, sitting. Bus for dinner 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. 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
Location:
St. Petersburg, FL
Meals:
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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