US Ambassador to China, Admiral Preuher 

Summer plans at State, GS-5 pay!

For the non-DC insiders, State refers to the US Dept of State (DOC = commerce, the fund = IMF, the bank = world bank, etc.) Ok, I sound pompous so I'll quit it.

Anyways, 3 weeks ago I get a call from EAP (Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs) Director at State saying that I'm one out of four final candidates out of 3 dozen. Then a week later and after a few more interviews I find out that I am the one person they selected for the paid internship! Specifically, I will be at the Office Regional Security. EAP is the umbrella group for all of the Embassies/Consulates along the East Asia and Pacific, which shuffles diplomats and formulates policy. Exciting!

They say that I have a few tasks, some security related and some economic. For instance, I'm supposed to help coordinate the ASEAN conference held in Indonesia this year. ASEAN is the SE Asian counterpart to NAFTA (N. Atlantic Free Trade Agreement) and Mercosur. My friend Solomon from UCSD will be working on ASEAN from the US Embassy in Indonesia, so I'm excited that we'll be working together on this from HQ and the field.

Then, I will plan "regional dialogues" among foreign officials on the topic of nuclear proliferation, threat of war, which is the security aspect. This is interesting/exciting since my office oversees China - Taiwan concerns, N. Korea nuclear issues, etc.

Ok, this blog is far too political. But I love this stuff. It's the reason I left medicine and bio research. Ironically, I'm currently at TA for undergrad neurobiology even though I'm a Poli Sci grad student. It kinda fits, I guess...

~D.An

Going back to Cal in 3 weeks. 2/12 morning to 2/15!

Posting this for my friend Lisa at U of M who complained that my previous post was too old... and especially for my great Cal IV bros/sisters who keep in touch thru blog.

I can't wait to see my IV friends in a few weeks! Of course, much of the hanging out will be at Tina's mansion, where Liz, Lisa, and Cindy (half time) live. Brother Ryan has been nice enough to offer to pick me up... little does he know it's early Tues morning at like 9 something AM, but then there's always AirBart.

There's a really cool Asian Business Convention in SF that weekend, which I hope to attend. Recruiters from the private sector are there to look for bilingual Chinese/English candidates and I figure it's a great opportunity to network.

But, there's another really AMAZING reason I'm going up that weekend... with a one way ticket. My former roommate Greg Hulse is has just left to Beijing and he let me borrow his big Harley for 1/2 a year! I'm riding down 101 baby! I really pray that it doesn't rain, seeing as I actually don't know how to ride a motorcycle. But I figure I have a few days in the Bay to figure it out before my big trip. I'm stoked! I got a sweet helmet, padded motorcycle jacket, goggles, and CHAPS... haha :). It's gonna be great. Understandably, my mom isn't as excited about this as I am, nor are the other women in my life. But the guys all think it will be cool.

~D.An