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.

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In the afternoons I work at the retail store up on the mountain. It's just a tiny little store jam-packed with anything from super pricey gear to tacky souvenirs. I work with Lucy (the head of department) and Becky (the full-time employee). Lucy and Becky are both from England and say things like "bobble" instead of "hair tie" and have never heard of commonplace things like "potlucks."

One of the coolest things about working in retail is that we get to go to a lot of training sessions with lots of different reps from ski and snowboard companies. I've had classes on helmets, goggles, gloves, socks, beanies . . . it goes on and on. I had no idea that snowsports retail would require this much memorization and concentration. The cool thing, however, is that at each training session we always get free stuff. So far I've gotten free Electric goggles, free Bolle goggles, SmartWool socks, loads of beanies, stickers, and POW gloves. This is a nice perk as ski gear is ridiculously expensive.

Here's some of the things we sell in the store: Sunglasses, knee/wrist guards, stomp pads, hats and beanies, shirts and sweatshirts, socks, goggles, stickers, Kleenex, chapstick, neck warmers, helmets, gloves, mittens, sunscreen, long underwear, magnets, shot glasses, board bags and locks and newspapers. The Remarkables SnoShop: it's a pretty happening place.

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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

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