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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.

Surfing lesson


One of the things that I really wanted to try on this vacation was surfing and Bali was the obvious choice as there are loads of beginning surf schools there. Legian Beach was known as a good beginner beach as the waves aren't too big and the current isn't that strong.

We checked out some of the schools and it seemed like the going rate was about $45 for a half day per person which seemed like a lot. Fortunately since it was not peak season we were able to bargain the price down to $35. I hate bargaining and haggling and I'm horrible at it as it is usually very obvious when I want to do/buy something. The key to successful bargaining in SE Asia, we've learned, is casual indifference.


To start, we had to put on long-sleeved rash guard shirts and lather up on sunscreen. Then we had a thirty minute lesson on the beach which involved learning the correct form for "popping up" and then practicing it over and over again. It seemed easy on dry land. I quickly learned that it was not so easy in the water, and by not so easy I mean really, really hard. ($30 hotel, $70 surfing)

My "coach" was a ridiculously ripped native of Bali who had grown up surfing. He sported a ponytail, a perfect caramelized tan and several piercings which he pulled off nicely. Sean had his own coach but we got to learn nearby each other at least.


My coach, Ahdi, said we would start off in the 'white' waves (ie the really small breakers) and then when I progressed we could move to the 'blue' wave (the larger wave that didn't contain any white water). Surfing was difficult and exhausting. I would hop on the board and then Adhi would proceed to hold it as we crashed through breaking waves. Yeah, this was NOTHING like swimming in Lake Michigan. Though I have swam in the ocean before, this was the strongest current I have ever felt.

After Adhi decided that the perfect wave was coming, he would swing me around and then tell me when to paddle and pop up shouting "go, go, go!" at which point I would struggle to gracefully and efficiently hop up and ride the wave until the end. This only happened about a handful of times; most of the time something went wrong (mainly my form though one time my ankle string accidentally hooked Adhi around his privates causing him to yelp in pain and kick me off the board).

I can't adequately describe in words how tiring it was to constantly get on the board, try to surf, fall, swim/jog through the strong waves and current back to Adhi and then hop on the board again to repeat . . . over and over again . . . for hours. I eventually felt a little embarrassed as I flopped and heaved with effort while hanging onto the board through the huge waves as if my life depended on it. I swallowed literally a gallon of salt water. However, when I did make it up on a wave, it was exhilarating and smooth to ride it to the shallows.


Sean, naturally (and annoyingly,) was a natural and had no problem with surfing. His coach even suggested he change from our beginner foam boards to a real one the next time. I rationalize this to myself saying that he used to skateboard for years and thus has an unfair head start. Sadly, I never was able to graduate to the elusive 'blue wave' but maybe next time. ($16 lunch, $12 dinner)

As I exited the ocean I was tired but happy. My ribs were bruised, I was sunburned, my knees were bloodied from rubbing on the board and I felt like I was going to throw up from all the ocean water I drank. I guess it's tough being a surfer chick - maybe it'll be easier next time. Total for 2 people = $128

*sorry I don't have any pics - I was too busy trying to stay alive . . . really
Read More 1 Comment | Posted by Sarah Sanderson edit post

1 Comment

  1. ARSwolverine on March 20, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    So awesome Sarah! I'm jealous!

     


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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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