Diane Harral:  

Life Hello: Well I don't know where to start. My life since high school has been my greatest learning experience. In 1979 I began working for the Provincial Government and have remained there to this day as a Tax Collection Officer. In 1994 I moved to Ottawa and now reside in the country on the outskirts of the city. I love the peace and serenity of country living. In 2001 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and am proud to say I am now 6 years cancer free. That is my greatest victory!! In 2002 I married a long tall cowboy from southwest Colorado and my life has been a whirlwind of travel and excitement ever since. He works for the United States Foreign Service and, 6 weeks after we were married, I took 3 years leave from my job and followed him to Tashkent, Uzbekistan (borders Afghanistan). I had no idea what I was in for but I was about to learn more than all my years in school could ever teach me. Eight months after arriving in Tashkent I began working at the US Embassy as a secretary in the Executive Office. Although life in Uzbekistan required an enormous cultural change I loved every minute of it. Well, almost every minute. The people were wonderful, the history astounding and the culture fascinating. The war in Iraq had just started and anti Americanism was beginning to really flourish. As westerners our own safety and security were our number one concern. It wasn't long before we were all made brutally aware of just how dangerous life in Uzbekistan had become. On July 31, 2004 a suicide bomber made our Embassy the latest victim in a series of attacks against Americans. It was a horrifying reminder of the dangers surroundig us. I have always been a strong advocate of living life to the fullest and seizing oppor...Expand for more