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.

Easter weekend

I spent Easter weekend with one of my closest girl friends and Sean spent his up north on a guys' hiking trip. Every year, I meet my friend, Erica, in Ann Arbor for a night or two. Erica is from Ohio and Ann Arbor is equidistant from both of us. From the beginning we've always chosen the cheapest, skeeziest hotel and stay up late talking and catching up. The next morning we've traditionally gone to hot yoga which was particularly tough this year and I spent most of the class sitting in the back trying not to pass out and stay mentally tough instead of just walking out. It was a rough battle. Hot yoga isn't really my thing while Erica is training to be an instructor.

After sweaty hugs we said goodbye and started driving back to our respective homes. I lived with Erica while doing AmeriCorps in Philadelphia and she is still doing community development there twelve years later. When Erica is home for holidays in Ohio we always try to find a chance to meet up and as usual this year was a much-needed time to reflect and reconnect. I hope that either we can meet up next summer or she can come visit in Japan!

Sean headed up north with friends to spend the weekend hiking, hanging out and watching the Final Four games. He came back home Sunday morning and spent the rest of the day sleeping, only waking to hydrate and fuel so I can only assume that he had a good time. Happy Easter everyone!

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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

Easter weekend

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