Paula, her husband, Jason, and their two sons just completed an around-the-world journey, which saw them taking a year of LWOP (leave without pay) to visit 19 countries, including Paula’s home country of Colombia.
In this interview, Paula shares some of the valuable lessons they learned about communication, kindness and self-growth during their trip. She also talks about her own struggles with anxiety and depression, and the importance of seeking help and not judging others based on mental health stereotypes.
Paula discusses her previous EFM jobs and the support she received from management officers who believed in her professional potential. She encourages new EFMs to be proactive, show up, and engage with embassy staff, emphasizing the opportunities for professional development within the State Department.
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BIO
Paula Andrea Pantoja has been an EFM for 14 years. She and her family have served in Mexico, Mozambique, El Salvador, and Tajikistan, and they’re just starting their fifth tour in Tunisia.
Paula says:
“I am originally from Popayan, Colombia, and my mom tells me that I used to talk about traveling around the world from an early age. I love reading fantasy and fiction, dancing, playing soccer, doing Qigong and yoga, and trying new things that look fun.
I met my husband when we were working in a special needs summer camp in the Poconos, Pennsylvania in 2003. We’ve been together ever since and became parents of two fantastic boys, lived in five different countries, and travelled in more than 40 countries together.
I am a trained Spanish, English, and French teacher; however, since we joined the Foreign Service, I’ve been a CLO, roving secretary, and HR assistant/EPAP in our last three tours. I love working in HR because I truly believe I can make a difference in somebody’s day. I want to become an OMS once my husband retires from the Foreign Service and keep traveling.”
