Stress
See the section on danger, where we briefly discuss Benghazi in 2012 and Tehran in 1979. Besides the danger aspect, the administration you work for can be a never-ending source of stress. Recent American foreign policy has been a little, shall we say, schizophrenic. Our diplomats never quite know what policy they are going to be expected to defend and advance. In addition to your normal workload, you may be asked to coordinate the visit of a Congressman or Senator who has some VERY particular requests. We once read the account of an FSO in Ukraine who had to scour the markets of Kiev trying to find a caffeine-free Diet Pepsi for the Secretary of State who was in the country and apparently just had to have that very drink. Yikes.
