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.

Bondi Beach

Nice beard, Sean

While one has to take a ferry to get to Manly Beach from the CBD, Bondi Beach is just a short bus ride away. On our bus was a mixed bag of Sydneysiders. There were business men in suits reading the paper all the way to board-shorted and bikini-clad youth hugging surfboards. Since it was obvious who was heading to the water, it wasn't hard at all to tell when to hop off the bus for the best beach access.

Bondi Beach is a famous stretch of beach about 1km long - the name also refers to the suburb surrounding it. There were areas for surfing, swimming and plenty of room to sunbathe. Though the north end is safer for swimming, most tourists simply head straight from the bus stop down to the water and usually get stuck in a well-known and aptly named riptide called the "Backpackers Express".

Sean and I did not swim but instead had a picnic lunch and then headed out to the walking trails that lead from Bondi Beach to several other beaches along the way. We were told that it's common to see whales and dolphins though we didn't have any luck ourselves. Maybe next time.

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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

Bondi Beach

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