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.

Mid-Year Seminar in São Paulo

Van Gogh

This week all of us (120 ETAs from Brazil and 30 ETAs from Argentina and Uruguay) met up in São Paulo for a week-long Mid Year Seminar. We just finished day one and it has been a lot of fun but very busy and a little bit overwhelming simply because of the number of people involved in the event. Today there were many welcome and introductory speeches followed by a group activity, lunch and then various options of city tours. I went on the museum tour and checked out São Paulo's museum of art and the Portuguese language museum.

Matisse

It has been cool to be in such a bit city such as São Paulo because of all of the variety of things to do, foods to try and places to visit. Last night I went out with a group for Thai food but this night I am staying in to try and prepare for some workshops and presentations tomorrow. In the morning I am speaking about different teaching activities and in the afternoon I am going to talk about language advising. I don't usually get too nervous when teaching English in front of Brazilians but I am pretty nervous about how things will go tomorrow. There's something about presenting in front of your peers that causes an extra layer of anxiety. Fingers crossed that all goes well tomorrow!

Picasso

Monet

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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

Mid-Year Seminar in São Paulo

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