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.

The sensational Davids

I think many students on campus are convinced that if a foreigner is named David he is a shoo-in to be fantastically terrific. This is probably because their limited experience with foreigners thus far includes two charming and entertaining single Americans named David.

One David was the teacher the year before I arrived; he taught the same group of students as freshmen that I taught as sophomores last year. During that year (and even now) I had students constantly ask me why I wasn't more like David, why I didn't do things more like David did or why I didn't learn Chinese as fast as David did. This kind of thing happened occasionally at OSU even with a huge Spanish staff but since there are only 5-6 foreign teachers here at JSTUT, the comparisons run rampant.

Although it can get a little annoying or maddening, now it's gotten to be pretty humorous and entertaining. I just got back from English Corner and the new English teachers (Ariana and David) asked me who this 'David' guy is they keep hearing about. I told them just to be patient and they would soon hear all about him =). What's funny is that although I don't personally know this mythical David, I practically feel like I do from all the stories I have heard about him from former students and Ken. We actually chat online from time to time and currently he is serving in the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan (Ken is serving in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica).

The new David is creating quite a sensation as well. He's tall, thin, very fair-skinned, speaks some Chinese, funny, goofy and kind . . . a recipe for god-like status in China as a foreign guy. The students are fascinated by him and can't stop talking about him. He is not shy and definitely knows how to be entertaining and work the crowd. For example, during the first English Corner he brought music and speakers and promptly started up a dance party when things got slow. He's also a badminton fanatic and is always looking for playing partners which works well since badminton is a favorite activity on campus for Chinese students.

The 'Davids' of JSTUT have definitely caused a stir and created a lot of memories for the students here. It's really interesting and funny to see what they remember or to hear what they thought was so outrageous about former or current teachers. Regardless, if there is a baby boom of little "Da wei"s from JSTUT graduates in the near future, I'll know why.

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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

The sensational Davids

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