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.

Instructor Ron's notes about the course

On the public square in Jackson Hole, WY

Here's the official description of our course according to the head instructor, Ron Rash:

"Outdoor Educator Course September 2, 2011 traveled in the Southern Wind River Range of Wyoming for 23 days, four of which were at a backcountry rock camp. The expedition had eleven students and three instructors. The group had two re-rations and traveled about 65 miles. Everyone participated in two peak ascents, one of 13,192 foot Wind River Peak and the other of 12,378 foot Mount Geike. We had good fishing, with over 70 fish being caught and many eaten. During the middle of the expedition, we had a little rain and snow, nothing major. All students received a leadership progression which culminated with each student being a leader of the day on various hiking days. The last four days were at a rock climbing camp where all participants learned the fundamentals of climbing rock; belaying, knots, rappelling, natural anchor set up and risk management at a top rope climbing site. There were no evacuations or health problems of any type. All in all this was a classic NOLS Outdoor Educator Course!"

Our new ridiculously huge 6 person tent - it was like a house!

After our NOLS course, Sean and I took the scenic route home and visited many friends along the way. First we drove to Fort Collins to see my very good childhood friend Linde and her husband, Joe. We did some brewery hopping downtown which was a blast and got caught up on life. The next day we headed to Denver to check out the huge REI store and have lunch with my cousin April and her two kids. At night we hung out with some of Sean's childhood friends who also live in Denver.

Trying all the brews at Equinox Brewing Company in Fort Collins

The next day we drove back up to Wyoming and spent a day and a night in the Grand Tetons National Park and Jackson Hole. After that we spent some time in Yellowstone National Park before heading up to spend the weekend with my newly married friend, Christy, in Montana. From Montana we visited Mount Rushmore and then caught up with Ken (fellow teacher friend in China) in Iowa before he left for his Peace Corps duties in Costa Rica. Our last part of the trip was spent in Madison, Wisconsin with some buddies of Sean - I had never been to Madison before and we had a great time!

Sean and I are currently back in Holland and our blisters on our feet and callouses on our hands are rapidly disappearing as we acclimate back to city life - it's so nice to be comfortable and warm! The October weather has been unusually sunny, warm and beautiful and we have been enjoying spending time outside washing the car, picking apples and doing some bike riding. We have applied for working holiday visas to New Zealand and are just waiting for the paperwork to go through - here's hoping!

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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

Instructor Ron's notes about the course

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