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.

Sean update

I get asked about Sean here all the time since the students and professors know that I'm married. They want to know, "Where is he?" "Why isn't he here?" "When is he coming?" "What is he doing now?" "What is he like?" "Does he want to come to Brazil?" Everyone is extremely curious so much so that on our bulletin board Sean has his own little picture and bio, which he was probably not aware of until now . . . We can't wait until you get here, Sean!

Way to order the girly drinks Brandon and Sean

Sean and I talk pretty much every day via Skype which has been really nice. He is busy and doing fine in Laramie, Wyoming and looking forward to actually starting conservation work. Right now he works as an office assistant in the morning for some extra cash and goes to conservation/leadership and Portuguese classes in the evenings. He also has two Portuguese tutors that he meets with a few times a week. He'll be starting his AmeriCorps volunteer hours at some local places this month but the real outdoor work begins in May. Many weekends he and the 11 other crew leaders have to participate in practice work camps called "mini hitches" in various places in Wyoming. During his free weekends Sean has enjoyed visiting friends in Fort Collins and Denver. From what I hear, it's been going ok with this roommates as well. They like to go to trivia night at one of the bars in town and they play a lot of Catan as it's too cold to do much else.

Biking around Ft. Collins and visiting the breweries

Though I bug him to take pictures of his current adventure in Wyoming, Sean, unfortunately, is not an eager photographer. I have to find ways to get them from his friends - thanks Brandon!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

0 comments

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

Sean update

0 comments