Now this is kind of cool

For the last few weeks, all of my classmates have been getting their diplomatic passports.  It has gotten to the point where everyone I see on a daily basis has a black passport.  In fact, so many people have these things that it felt anti-climatic when I got my passport today.

But, then I realized how rare these things actually are.  There are only about 8,000 Foreign Service Officers in the State Department.  Throw in the specialists, all of the other agencies that have Foreign Service Officers, and dependents and the number is still probably under 100,000 diplo passports in circulation.

Put it this way.  A year ago today, I didn't know anyone who had one of these.  Now, I have one.  Back in the 18th Century, John Adams was sent to London as the US Ambassador.  He carried with him a letter which said he was on "a diplomatic assignment for the United States of America."  Today, I have a passport with the endorsement, "The bearer is abroad on a diplomatic assignment for the United States government."

That is freaking awesome.