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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.

Thailand: a wrap-up (winter break)


On the morning of Saturday, February 6, we boarded a bus for what our guidebook called an "epic journey" - the trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap in Cambodia. During this all-day adventure we filled the time by reading books, listening to music and remembering our time in Thailand. Sean and I took an hour or two to jot down some thoughts and make some lists. Here's some of what we wrote down on the bus ride:

If you go to Thailand, be prepared to:
-pay in Baht
-sit in traffic in a taxi in Bangkok for a long time
-drive on the left
-take cold showers
-get asked if you want a tuk-tuk, suit or massage more times than you can remember
-get asked where you are going all the time
-sweat
-eat loads of spring rolls
-enter a 7-11
-visit temples and beaches
-ride an elephant
-have people bow or wai at you
-get scammed
-know what the king looks like (his image is everywhere)
-wonder if someone is a man or a woman
-drink out of a straw
-go through many bottles of sunscreen
-take your shoes off
-marvel at how friendly, happy and laid back the Thai people seem
-want to stay longer


Books I read or listened to:
-South: the story of Shackleton's last expedition 1914-1917
-Same Kind of Different As Me
-Watership Down
-Born to Run (this was a fantastic read even if you don't like running)
-Mennonite in a Little Black Dress (loved this book - if you are from a religiously conservative place in the midwest this is a must read)
-Emma

Things I wish I had:
-a Kindle
-a waterproof camera
-a netbook (we saw many many travelers blogging and checking emails using these mini computers instead of visiting internet cafes)

Things that I was glad I had:
-camelbak (hydration backpack for hiking)
-camera
-ipod
-chacos (these sandals have lasted me forever and are my absolute favorite)
-light weight and fast-drying clothes
-headlamp
-bug spray and sunscreen

Tips for going to Thailand:
-take overnight buses to save money
-pack light
-only take taxis which use a meter
-there's no reason to use a tuk-tuk unless it's just for fun
-always haggle with the first price
-bring a small day pack
-get out of the city
-bring your own bug spray and sunscreen; it's really expensive in Thailand
-consider getting your visas for Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos in Bangkok; it's quick and easy


Favorite stuff:
My favorite activity - elephant ride
Sean's favorite activity - rock climbing
My least favorite thing - getting treated like a walking ATM
Sean's least favorite thing - constantly getting scammed
My favorite food - pad Thai and glass noodles
Sean's favorite food - spicy Thai papaya salad
Our favorite hostels - Suk 11 and Sanctuary

Next time we would:
-stay in Banglampoo in Bangkok
-visit the north of Thailand
-pack less
-stay longer

It was a great trip - I would return to Thailand in a heartbeat. Now it's on to Cambodia!
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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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