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.

First Sloth Sighting

Our hiking group

One of the events that I arranged when our friend, Ken, was visiting us was a guided hike in the nearby Utinga wilderness. We spent the better part of the morning hiking around in a hot and humid jungle while listening to our guide tell stories, give survival tips and point out interesting creatures that we would never have spotted otherwise. He also knew the location of several safe swimming holes or igarapés as they are called here which allowed us some time to relax and cool off.

Sloths in the trees

The highlight of the hike for me was seeing sloths for the first time. Even though they were high up in the trees it was still really cool to see their furry shapes and very slow movements. We saw a family of five up in the trees which was very exciting. Other memorable moments were seeing toucans and a gigantic tarantula.

Meeting a recuperating owl

Interestingly, it is recommended to explore the park with a guide not because of the environment but because of other people. The protected wilderness is used as an escape route and safe haven for drug addicts, thieves and prostitutes as it is right on the edge of some of the more dangerous neighborhoods in the city. That being said, I was more than happy to be accompanied by a guide in full military gear who was definitely not messing around.

Another slot picture because they were so cool!

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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

First Sloth Sighting

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