Rian Harris

An Interview With...

Rian Harris

U.S. Diplomat
U.S. Embassy, Guatemala

What is your job title and what do you do? What is the correct way to address you, if someone is writing you a letter or meeting you on the job?

My name is Rian Harris. I am a Foreign Service Officer and assigned as a United States Diplomat with the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Within the Embassy, I work in the Political Section, as the Human Rights Officer. In a nutshell, I monitor human rights issues in Guatemala for the U.S. government.

Among colleagues at work, I am just 'Rian'. Formally, I am Ms. Harris. Here in Guatemala, I am referred to by the locals as the 'Honorable Mrs. Harris'. 'Honorable' is a title given to diplomats abroad.

What is a typical day like for you? How many hours do you work per day (or per week)? Does your job require you to attend functions or events outside of normal working hours?

My typical day begins when I arrive at the Embassy at 7:30 AM. I check my email, read classified cables (which are information telegrams from Washington and embassies around the world) and read all five Guatemalan newspapers. If there is something new in the newspapers that I want to know more about, I call my 'contacts' and ask them their opinion or find out if they have any more information that wasn't in the newspaper. My 'contacts' are people that work in human rights issues. They may be members of non-profit organizations, people who work in development, congressmen or women, cabinet members in the government, etc. I talk to student leaders, leaders of indigenous groups, human rights activists and sometimes even the President of Guatemala. I may go to their office, or I may invite them out to breakfast, lunch, or coffee. I spend a lot of time outside the Embassy going to meetings and eating with people. When I come back to my office, I may write a cable to Washington telling them what I found out. In the Political Section, where I work, we have many meetings to discuss current issues. We advise the Ambassador as to how we should respond to those issues. As a representative of the U.S. in Guatemala, I receive many invitations to receptions, conferences, and political events. I get to travel throughout the country to find out how people think and feel about different topics. Usually I leave the Embassy by 6 PM, but sometimes I stay much later or attend an event until 9 in the evening.

What was it like growing up in a small town? Do you visit your home town very much? Did you travel as a child?

Growing up in a small town was wonderful. Lovingston, Virginia is at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is in a very beautiful area. Even though I complained a lot that there was not much to do, it was very safe, and I grew up with the same group of friends all the way from pre-school to high school. Nowadays I do not get to go home very often; perhaps twice a year. However, I still keep in touch with a few of my friends from childhood, and I talk or email with my family every week.

My family did not travel very often outside of the U.S. when I was a child, and I think that is why I really enjoy traveling now. My family also appreciates the fact that I live abroad because they can come and visit!

What languages do you speak and where did you learn them?

I speak Russian and Spanish. I learned to speak Russian while I was in College, after I decided to major in Russian Studies. I learned to speak Spanish after I was assigned to the Embassy in Guatemala. I went to the Foreign Service Institute, the school for diplomats outside of Washington, D.C. to study Spanish.

Do you like to travel and live in different countries? What made you want to take a job that would mean living in other countries?

I very much love to travel and live abroad. My husband and I have incredible adventures almost every single day. We get to experience different cultures, study new languages and learn about the millions and millions of people who make up the rest of the world. I wanted to take a job that would allow me to travel so that I could experience these things!

What do you enjoy most about your nomadic life? Where is "home" for you?

My home is the tiny town where I grew up, Lovingston, Virginia, and where all my family still lives. Lovingston will always be home for me. It is definitely hard to be so far away from your family and friends. There are lots of little things that I miss out on by living in another country, like my baby niece's first steps, or my nephew's fourth birthday party. However, for right now I am very happy with the nomad life. There are so many places to explore in the world, and being able to do so easily is the best part of living abroad. If I want to, I can hop in the car and drive to an ancient Mayan temple in Guatemala, a tropical rainforest in Honduras, or a beautiful beach in El Salvador, just in one weekend!

Do you think it would have been difficult for you to adjust if it was your husband's job that sent you from one place to another?

I think if our situation were reversed it would be much harder. I am a very career oriented person, and it is difficult to plan out a career if you are moving every three years. However, family should always come first in one's life, so we would have made it work.

Do you have children? How would your career be different if you had children? What are the pros and cons of a diplomatic career on children?

My husband and I do not have children yet. If we did, we would choose our assignments differently because we would have to think more about the availability of good health care and safety issues in the different countries where jobs were available. We would also need to find out if there was a good school. For example, when we went to Vladivostok, Russia to work this summer for four months, we discovered that since there was no health care equal to what we have in the U.S., we would have to fly to Korea even to get our teeth cleaned!

The cons for kids growing up in diplomat families are that lasting friendships are harder to maintain, transitions can be very difficult, and grandma and grandpa are farther away. The pros are that children learn to be more flexible, get a wonderful education in private overseas schools, learn to speak dozens of languages and have many, many adventures before they grow up.

Do you have pets?

Chris and I have a pet dog named Coney. She is a Guatemalan street mutt. We adopted her from a shelter after we moved here. Sadly, in Guatemala there are lots of dogs without homes. People do not take care of their animals like they do in the U.S. So, Chris and I volunteer at an animal shelter in Guatemala City where they not only take care of dogs without homes, but also raccoons, monkeys and parrots who have been found. We will definitely take Coney with us when we leave Guatemala.

How many different countries have you lived in or visited? Where is your next assignment going to take you?

Chris and I have visited Canada, Spain, France, England, Korea, China, Honduras, Belize and El Salvador. Guatemala is our first work assignment, but over the summer we went to Russia to work for several months. After leaving here, we will be going to Armenia, and we will get to travel to Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan frequently.

What were some of your favorite places?

My favorite place in Guatemala is a place called Lake Atitlan. It is my favorite because it is breathtakingly beautiful. It was made when a volcano exploded and sunk into itself, forming a deep, deep crater. Other volcanoes then rose up around it, so it is surrounded by a ring of fiery mountains.

The lake is very deep. It has a subterraneous river running underneath it as well. There are prehistoric species of fish living in the lake, and there are also ruins of Mayan temples that were covered up when the volcano erupted. Lake Atitlan is a wonderful place to swim, fish and just relax.

What advice do you have for children who have to move to another country because of their mother's or father's job?

My advice to any kid who has to move around is to learn to be outgoing. One of the hardest things to do after you move is to make new friends. You're sad because you are leaving behind the ones you have and you can't imagine having any friends as good. This is hard, but in order to get past the sadness you have to get out there and try to make new friends. People will appreciate your efforts to get to know them, and before you know it, you will have a new set of friends. This doesn't mean you have to give up the old ones, of course, it just means that you are expanding your circle.

What advice do you have for families that might make the transition from one "home" to another easier (and their stay more enjoyable) if their jobs take them to different places?

The first thing you must do when you move into a new place is 'dive in'! I mean this to refer to every little activity. Most importantly, you must dive in to find a new house, unpack your stuff and make it your home! Having boxes sitting around while you wait to find the perfect place means that your transition will take longer. Also, you have to get out and explore your new town. The first weekend, find all the things that will help you do what you like to do. Find the swimming pool, the park, the video store, the pizza place. Get familiar with your surroundings right away and you will feel more comfortable.

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Biography | Photos

- 2 April 2002

Last Updated:
5 May 2002