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.

Gratitude

Frisbee tourney with Mount Fuji in the background

The first trimester is over and blogging has fell by the wayside as I've taken a vacation from life. On the way to Tokyo Station on Friday, I dropped off my last final paper and headed to the nearby city of Shizuoka to nerd out at a four-day language conference. Sean also left for the weekend to participate in a frisbee tournament. I'm not actually sure who had more fun.

Thanksgiving spread

This past week we've loved having some days off together and spent them preparing to host an expat Thanksgiving feast, Christmas shopping and Christmas card writing. We have one more week of vacation before classes start again for winter term next Friday.

Sushi picnic during Friday shopping

Last week was also exciting because Sean officially received his Japanese work visa. This is perfect timing because during the last two weeks Sean was spending a lot of his free time (when he wasn't playing frisbee) perfecting a mulled wine recipe. After gallons of wine, orange juice, various citrus zests, bags of cinnamon sticks and God knows what else, it's time for a certain someone to go back to work (though the hot holiday drinks were delicious). If you're looking for someone to talk to about the specific differences between Glog and mulled wine, Sean's your man.

Dressed up for a Rotary event - We go to about one a week

We've also been extremely grateful to receive some surprise care packages from friends and family from the U.S. Susie sent us a pre-packaged Thanksgiving feast, Mary and Jay sent us a box crammed with baking mixes and candy and Misha sent us an adorable mix of cards and candy put together by her second grade class.

Susie's Thanksgiving care package

Sugar!

Second grade holiday care package

This weekend we've got the mini tree up, the Christmas music blaring, weird Christmas anime paper out for wrapping and backlogs of Glog on the stove. We hope the beginning of your holiday season is just as festive. Happy December!

Thanksgiving is over - time to try all of the Christmas beers

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Wanderlust

In Mandarin: 旅遊癮 (lǚyóu yǐn)

According to my Mandarin teacher, the term 'wanderlust' can best be translated as 'a travel addiction or craving'. In the above translation, 'yǐn' has several meanings such as 'a strong impulse', 'a longing', or 'a desire'.

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

Gratitude

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Wanderlust

In Mandarin: 旅遊癮 (lǚyóu yǐn)

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