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.

Downhill skiing

As employees we are required to wear helmets when we are on the mountain - but I don't mind!

Since school holidays are over for Australia and New Zealand, we haven't been so busy on the slopes lately. Because of this, we get to take ride breaks at work and wait in shorter lines on the lifts. I skied almost every day this week and am kind of getting the hang of it as well as enjoying myself a lot more than I did on day one.

I am up to level 3A and have taken that lesson twice so far. Next up - lesson 3B. I have also been getting to know some of the ski instructors who are ridiculously good skiers and have educated and skied all over the world. I helped one of them order some special goggles from the shop last week and to return the favor he took me out for an hour on a free private lesson. It was a blast!

Group lesson with two Australians

Thoughts on skiing so far . . .

What I like:

The spectacular view from the top of the mountain
Being outside
Learning something new
The sound and the feeling of rhythmically swish-swishing from side to side
People-watching while riding the lifts
The fun gear to use and clothes to wear
The green runs

What I don't like:

The feeling of going too fast or of being out of control
Falling/wiping out
Having to watch out for other out of control skiers/boarders
Getting on and off the lifts
The rocks and steep cliffs
Being too cold
The long drive up/down the mountain
Anything other than the green runs . . . so far!

Sadly, rain and warmer temperatures are the current forecast and the weather has everyone on edge and anxious. Here's hoping the rain turns to snow!

Goggles are fun!

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

1 Comment

Linde on July 29, 2012 at 3:33 PM

That's the best way to learn - a little each day without a yearlong lapse in between times. Means you'll be a rock star next time you are out west. Hope you guys get some great snow!

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

Downhill skiing

1 Comment