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.

Yum

One of the nicest things about coming home (besides seeing family and friends of course) is eating all the tasty food that I'd been missing for a year. Some of these foods include but are not limited to:

donuts
cottage cheese
pickles
salad
steak on the grill
hot dogs and brats
sheet cake
pie
frosted animal crackers
fruit roll-ups
cheese sticks

This morning I met a friend for donuts and coffee. Holland has a few local donut shops where the delicious rings of friend dough are made fresh every morning. If you ever visit I suggest Donutville (my personal favorite - try the glazed blueberry only made on Friday mornings) and Goodtime Donuts. If you want to try homemade apple cider donuts head to Cranes in the City right on 8th Street.

When I lived in Columbus I thought the donuts at Tim Hortons, Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme were great, don't get me wrong. But it's always special to come home and head to the local doughnut haunts of my childhood. Unfortunately, with a wedding coming up shortly here and the imminent and pressing realization that I have a certain dress to fit into, doughnut sampling is currently not recommended. Returning home salivating for American foods while attempting to maintain a certain weight is a spectacularly dangerous situation. Wish me luck and eat a doughnut for me.

Read More 3 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

3 comments

Corrie and Phil on July 14, 2011 at 9:51 PM

Oh, I miss Holland as well. SO MANY GREAT TREASURES! Welcome home. Happy wedding days ahead and enjoy your doughnuts!!!
Dan on July 15, 2011 at 12:01 PM

Tim Hortons, Dunkin and Krispy Kreme are all pale specters compared to Buckeye Donuts!!
Sarah Sanderson on July 16, 2011 at 9:23 AM

Dan - indeed. I totally forgot about Buckeye donuts!

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

Yum

3 comments