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.

Christmas

This Christmas was a happy one at the Sanderson homestead. Sean and I spent Christmas Eve with the Sandersons and enjoyed a church service at Christ Memorial followed by a nice dinner and cookies and coffee by the fire.

Christmas morning was spent with Sean's parents where we had breakfast and had fun opening a few gifts by one of the many trees set up around the house. Then we headed back to the Sandersons for stockings, a big Christmas roast and nap time. We drove to grandma's house in the evening to catch up with some of Sean's relatives as well as sample some of the coconut macaroon cupcakes and homemade caramels that Sean's aunt makes.

The next day we drove to Detroit with the Sandersons to see some of my extended family. The highlight of the day was a big chili lunch followed by a rousing game of indoor croquet that my cousin, Chris, had devised. We were only planning on staying for the day but got stuck in the big snow storm and had to spend the night. The busyness and fun of the holidays continue as we look forward to spending time with my birth family as well as Marian's (Sean's stepmom) family. Merry Christmas!

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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

Christmas

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