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U.S. Foreign Service Officer headed to Wuhan, China

The mission of a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad. The work that diplomats do has an impact on the world as they serve at one of any of the more than 270 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions in The Americas, Africa, Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.

The duties of a Consular Officer include to provide emergency and non-emergency services to American citizens and protect our borders through the proper adjudication of visas to foreign nationals and passports to American citizens. We adjudicate immigrant and non-immigrant visas, facilitate adoptions, help evacuate Americans, combat fraud, and fight human trafficking. Consular Officers touch people’s lives in important ways, often reassuring families in crisis. They face many situations which require quick thinking under stress and develop and use a wide range of skills, from managing resources and conducting public outreach to assisting Americans in distress.

Koh Phi Phi


Everyone kept saying that we had to see Phi Phi (pronounced pee-pee) island before we continued north so we booked a day tour since staying overnight there is known to be quite expensive. Although it was damaged by the tsunami in2004, this is what my guidebook has to saw about this place: "If there was to be a contest for one of the planet's most jaw-dropping beauties, Ko Phi Phi would be a frontrunner. Stunning limestone cliffs, translucent water, fine white arcs of sand - Koh Phi Phi is so beautiful it will evoke tears. Shed a few more when you realize that you have to share it with every Speedo on the planet." The island was also made famous because it was used in the filming of the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio.


We took a big ferry from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi and then went in small, longtail boats to tour around the island. I was immediatliey impressed. The scenery was awesome with walls of rock that rose straight up from the pristine ocean and everywhere there were little coves, private beaches and caves. We visited some small coves for swimming and snorkeling and then stopped for lunch on the famous beach of the movie. It was easy to understand why there were people everywhere as the surroundings brought to life the term paradise.


After lunch we snorkeled some more and stopped at another remote island that was inhabitied entirely by friendly and mischevious monkeys who would steal anything they could get their hands on, especially food or fresh water.



Then we had time on our own to explore the main island. Sean and I hiked up to the viewpoint and were rewarded with an incredible panorama of islands, cliffs and beaches. After hiking back down we tried some pineapple and coconut smoothies and napped on the ferry back to Koh Lanta. Exploring islands is an exhausting business.

Read More 3 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson edit post

3 comments

  1. Kate on February 18, 2010 at 1:17 PM

    That is beautiful. I remember watching that movie and wondering where it was filmed.

     
  2. victorian inn bed and breakfast on February 19, 2010 at 7:49 AM

    All are very beautiful beaches and ultimate gorgeous destinations for all the wander lust and pleasure seek travel freaks for sure.

     
  3. victorian inn bed and breakfast on April 28, 2010 at 9:28 AM

    All the places are attractive, graceful, astonishing and enticing and the visitor can wander and indulged in the beauty of this place for sure.

    Moreover, you must visit Virginia, The Shenandoah Valley where you must see the very marvelous destination to visit Woodruff Inns Resorts. It is the best place to spend your vacations, honey moons and special holidays.

     


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    Sarah Sanderson
    I am currently in Mandarin language training as a new diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service. Sean and I depart for Wuhan, China in November 2019 for my first tour in consular affairs.
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