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.

Weekend in Eunapolis

Preparing Good Friday lunch

Fish, beans, salad and rice

On Friday morning we boarded an inter-city bus for the five hour bus ride to Eunapolis, a city south of Ilhéus. We were invited to visit the home of one of our students (Eric) and celebrate Easter with him and his family. The minute we walked into the house we were given a glass of wine and asked if we wanted to take a shower (a normal question here because of the heat). After settling in, we sat down to a traditional Good Friday meal of fish and salad.

Eric had said that his mom and grandma were a little nervous about having us visit since we were the first foreigners to be in the house and they were not sure we would be able to communicate well. As long as they spoke slowly and were patient with us we didn't have any problems. My favorite thing about the weekend was talking with Grandma. We had a lot of fun and confusion relating to each other about cultural matters. For example, she could not figure out why I couldn't speak Portuguese. As she vehemently patted my arm she said, "If you come to our country you should speak our language . . . why don't you speak Portuguese? What do you speak?" I assured her that I was indeed trying to learn the language but also that she would have to speak slowly. She also couldn't figure out how my husband would let me come to another country by myself. "That would never happen in Brazil" she informed me seriously.

Me, Grandma and Loni

Ready to head out on the town Friday night

In the evening we walked around the small town of Eunapolis and Eric pointed out some of his favorite places. Since it was a holiday weekend, we saw a lot of people hanging out with family and drinking at small snack houses and street cafes. After a few drinks and some chit chat with friends, we headed to bed early in anticipation of an early morning trip to the neighboring city and tourist mecca of Porto Seguro.

Your typical hamburgers here - they are almost always served with corn

The main church in town

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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

Weekend in Eunapolis

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