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.

Trying some chicken feet

Qin Chen, my roommate, always brings home some interesting snacks that she is eager to share with me. Some are pretty good and others are not that appetizing.

One snack that has never really interested me is the chicken foot. Chicken feet are enormously popular here and Qin Chen munches on them all the time. I can smell it the minute she opens one because the kind that she likes to eat are spicy and have a strong vinegar smell.

The most off-putting aspect of eating a chicken foot is the fact that it looks like a chicken foot. You can even see the little nails on the claw. Qin Chen has been trying to get me to eat one for awhile now and so tonight I finally relented. It was not a good moment to try one, however, because I was already full from a tasty dinner of wonton soup.

I took a tiny bite and couldn't get past the incredibly strong and spicy taste and the rubbery texture. Sean caught my reaction on film. I am horrified that my face is able to contort like that - yikes. Anyway, there will be no more chicken feet in my future. In my defense, I tried a pig's foot last week and it was pretty good. Thanks for the effort and encouragement though, Qin Chen! I appreciate it! =)

Read More 2 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

2 comments

Kate on December 1, 2010 at 11:58 AM

Eww, GROSS! I wouldn't have even gotten to the "trying it" part. You are way more adventurous than me!!
Erica on December 2, 2010 at 12:59 AM

Thanks to you I still have that chicken foot in my cupboard. Somehow, I haven't been able to bring myself to throw it away. Perhaps this is now reason to. :)

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

Trying some chicken feet

2 comments