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.

"Hug a Ginga Day"

Today was "Hug a Ginga Day" in New Zealand. I had never heard of this holiday before but apparently Kiwis are all about celebrating redheads. Today you are supposed to hug a red-headed person if you see them (you should ask first - there's actually a standard etiquiette to this). If you don't feel comfortable hugging them, you could do something nice like get them a coffee, do the dishes, fill the water cooler etc. Some gingers even get the day off today!

Why does New Zealand have a day set aside to embrace people with red hair? "'Hug a Ginga Day’ was created to raise awareness of Ginga bullying and to give ‘Gingas’ everywhere a day of love and celebration. It’s about showing Gingas some appreciation and making them feel proud of their flaming locks.”

Not everyone is fully supportive of 'Hug a Ginga Day' however and recently there has been suggestions to change the holiday to "Heart a Ginga Day" barbecue not everyone enjoyed being embraced by strangers. Some find the label to be "racist," "offensive" and "humiliating." Instead of hugging, the radio and news today offered the following advice: "People are being encouraged to support red-haired people on Friday by giving them a "handshake, a card, baking a cake, or buying your redhead friends a coffee or a drink at the pub". Or, at least if you decide to hug then to please "hug responsibly."

This is my red-headed flatmate, Andrew

I participated in the day's festivities by giving my flatmate, Andrew, a hug after he came home from work. Andrew is a flaming redhead and is a proud supporter of the holiday. Interestingly, Kiwis pronounce the word "ginger" as "ging-ah" (with a hard 'g' - like as in the word "gingham"). Perhaps one day this holiday will catch on in the U.S. but until then happy "Hug a Ginga Day!"

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

1 Comment

Kate on May 27, 2012 at 2:44 PM

This cracks me up. Is it only for natural Gingas, or can bottle red-heads partake?

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

"Hug a Ginga Day"

1 Comment