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.

Second Time Around

During our mid-year seminar in Brasilia, the Fulbright Commission told us about a new opportunity to stay in Brazil for the following year. The position would be similar to being an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) this year but would have added responsibilities working with the programs Science Without Borders and English Without Borders (Ciencias Sem Fronteiras / Ingles Sem Fronteiras).

The government of Brazil has been investing heavily in scholarship opportunities for its university students, professors and researchers to study and work abroad for one year to gain experience and knowledge which they would then bring back to Brazil. Last year, however, many scholarships went unused because the Brazilian students couldn't pass the basic English requirements and exams (TOEFL/IELTS) needed to gain entry into British, Canadian, Australian and American universities. Thus, the State Department has partnered with the Brazilian Ministry of Education to provide more English teachers through the Fulbright program to help these students pass the necessary English exams and increase their confidence in conversational English.

This is how the new opportunity came about. Fulbright offered the 30 of us the chance to reapply for 10 spots to stay on as ETA mentors for this new program. There were 17 of us that applied for the chance to stay and I was lucky enough to get one of the spots. Next year, Fulbright will be sending the normal 30 ETAs to Brazil plus an added 80 ETAs whose sole purpose is to help prospective Science Without Borders students gain enough English practice to pass the entry exams and be successful in English-speaking countries. With the 30 ETAS, the 10 of us and the 80 new program ETAs there will be 120 in all which makes for a pretty daunting challenge in terms of organization, orientation and management. The 10 of us will each be in charge of about 11 new ETAs and help them throughout the visa application process, arrival in Brazil, teaching methods and adjusting to the language and culture.

I am beyond excited to be able to participate in this opportunity as well as get to know a new place in Brazil. This week, Sean and I found out that my placement will be in the very north of the country, in the city of Belem in the state of Pará. It's going to be ridiculously hot, humid and mosquito-filled but it's right next to the Amazon and offers access to parts of the country that most tourists never even think of visiting. As a mentor, it will be part of my job to visit the placements of my 11 new ETAs and I am looking forward to the chance to visit and get to know their cities and universities as well.

Next year, Sean will be in Belem with me the majority of the time instead of only three months. We are brainstorming possible things for him to do while he is there and he is hoping to find a job other than teaching English. With the way the calendar works out next year, we are happy to be able to be in the country for both Carnival and the World Cup. We hope you come and visit!

Read More 4 comments | Posted by Sarah Sanderson

4 comments

Linde on November 3, 2013 at 5:05 PM

Wow, Sarah! Congratulations!!
Paula Rolim on November 9, 2013 at 5:07 PM

Hello Sarah!

It's awesome to be able to read your blog and know that you're coming to Belém. I am graduating from the university and am working for the English without borders at UFPA so I guess we'll be in touch often. I love my city, specially in the cultural apect, and I tell you that it's very different from the USA so be prepared for culture shock. You're in the best place to explore everything you want in the Amazon! I hope you have a safe trip to Belém and I can't wait to meet you! Love, Paula.
Anonymous on November 11, 2013 at 7:56 AM

AHH! This is awesome! Congrats guys!!
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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

Second Time Around

4 comments