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.

Life Lately

These days have been going by in a blur and it seems that every space on my calendar is chock full of activities along with to-do lists a mile long. Here's some free advice: don't ever try and plan a wedding a half a world away but if you do make sure you have an amazing mom to help you. Fortunately, I do. Thanks for all of the endless help Mom! Let's be honest, I could have never done all of this without you.

Tomorrow morning, Qin Chen and I leave bright and early for the Shanghai International Ultimate Frisbee Tournament. Sean has already been there since Thursday afternoon practicing and partying with the team - all in the spirit of team bonding of course. We got our passports back in the nick of time, literally. While on his way out of the school's gate, Sean passed by our supervisor who handed him his freshly stamped right out of the police station.

Next weekend, Daniel, a good friend and former JSTU teaching colleague returns from the far West of China to join in our Chinese wedding celebration on Friday the 17th. So far there are about 36 people coming, but as you are not required to RSVP to weddings in China, who really knows for sure.

On the 18th, the day after the celebration, Sean and I fly to Kunming to travel for two weeks in Yunnan, a beautiful province in southern China. We had originally wanted to go to Hong Kong but since we couldn't with our new visa, Yunnan is a highly-recommended second choice. We are hoping to see Shang-ri-la, Tiger Leaping Gorge and lots of mountains and rice terraces. On the way back we might spend a few days in Hangzhou, a famous and historic Chinese city that we haven't made it to yet. Then on July 5 we fly back to the states!

These days on campus the students are feverishly studying for exams of all kinds. An acquaintance from my hometown is also in China and her blog is fantastic! For a great post on the Chinese college entrance exam check out this post and to read about the methods Chinese students use to dominate the American GRE test check out this post. I found her well-written commentary insightful and highly entertaining. In addition, a former JSTU English teacher turned Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan describes a really cool teaching idea to motivate students in his latest post - check it out!

Read More 3 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

3 comments

Anonymous on June 10, 2011 at 5:04 PM

May I ask who your hometown acquaintance is? d
Ken F on June 10, 2011 at 8:23 PM

Tough break on Hong Kong, but I'm envious of the Yunnan trip, I've heard nothing but great things about it. Check this vid by a dudeI knew from CIEE. http://kerrinsheldon.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/movie-sichuanese-tibetan-highway/
pro on June 13, 2011 at 5:42 AM

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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

Life Lately

3 comments