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.

Tim Tam Slams

We returned from the far north of New Zealand ready for civilization again and looking forward to spending time with Ken and Sarah, friends from ultimate frisbee and Hope College. Ken and Sarah have lived in Auckland for the past five years where they have worked at a church and a school. I was really interested to hear some of their experiences while living abroad in New Zealand and it was awesome to share the company and conversation with like-minded people.

We were once again spoiled by generous hosts as Sarah made an awesome lamb roast for dinner. The highlight of the meal for me, however, was trying a "Tim Tam Slam" - a Kiwi tradition that neither Sean nor I had ever participated in.

No, a Tim Tam Slam does not involve alcohol but rather something better - chocolate. Tim Tams are popular cookies in New Zealand and are a wafer-like biscuit covered in chocolate. To correctly execute a slam you need a Tim Tam and a cup of hot chocolate. As Sarah demonstrated, you bite off two corners of the cookie - they should be opposite each other on the diagonal. Then, and you have to do this fast, you dip one half of the cookie in the hot chocolate and suck up the hot chocolate through it like a straw. Finally, while everything turns into a lovely gooey chocolate mess, you slam what remains of the cookie in your mouth. It's pure bliss for the sweet tooth and I am definitely going to have to cram some Tim Tams in what little space remains in my suitcase.

As there is so much more I'd like to see and do in New Zealand I am quite envious of all of the time that Sarah and Ken have had and will continue to have in Auckland. Thanks for sharing your house and Tim Tams with us!

Read More 3 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

3 comments

The De Jager Family on November 5, 2012 at 10:18 PM

This post made me happy. Ken was a good friend in high school and college, and I'm so glad you got to see them! Fun times!
Linde on November 6, 2012 at 11:51 AM

We do Tim Tam Slams too! Everytime our plant breeder, Laura, from Australia comes to see us she always brings lots of chocolate including Tim Tams. It is always hilarious for new employees to be initiated to follow the instructions and end up a chocolatey mess in the conference room. For those who know what to expect, they have their technique down and can enjoy the chocolate bliss without the mess
:-)
Sarah Diekema on November 9, 2012 at 11:55 PM

We loved having you guys here! I'm glad you got to do the whanganui river too. Did you find the mud caves? Enjoy your last month in NZ!

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

Tim Tam Slams

3 comments