May 2022 - Writing and Language Test Q 12-22

Foreign Service, at Homeand Abroad

To foster and maintain international relations, many countries appoint diplomats, individuals who represent and advocate for their respective countries on the world stage. One such person is Ana Escrogimi, a diplomat at the United States Department of State. 12 Escrogima took a trip overseas to France. That trip to France ignited her passion for overseas travel, which is why ever since then Escrogima has nut her interests in Arabic Language and public diplomacy to work as a Foreign Service Officer(FSO).

[1] It was after a study-abroad trip to Paris, 13 which she met people from both French-and Arabicspeaking communities, that she decided to make Arabic her fourth language. [2] With her newfound interest in Arabic language and culture, Escrogima sought out and held an internship with the US Foreign Service at the US embassy in Cairo, Egypt. [3] There, she would not only hone 14her skills when it comes to Arabic language abilities, but in addition she would also get a taste of diplomacy in action.15

In 2003»after completing her master's degree in international affairs at Columbia University, Escrogima secured a full-time position in the State Department. Officers in the US Foreign Service pursue one of five career paths: they become consular, economic, management, political, or public diplomacy officers. Escrogima chose public diplomacy, and, 16 consistent with such professions, hers required superior communication skills.

Over the next four years la 17 Escrogima would serve in Tunisia, Syria, and Iraq before spending three years at the State Department's Dubai Regional Media Hub in the United Arab Emirates- 18 In 2011, she met with the Advisory Board of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy to discuss her experience at an invitation-only leadership seminar held at Georgetown University. Her next postings took her back to the 19US; first to Washington, DC, as an advisor to Undersecretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman on issues related to Iran and the Middle East, and then home to New York, where she was appointed Diplomat in Residence at City College of New York, In the latter 20one, she worked as a Liaison to the public, teaching classes on diplomacy in the Middle East and 21 entertaining information sessions to help educate others about the broader mission of the State Department.

Soon, Escrogima would return overseas, holding senior diplomatic positions at US embassies for Algeria and then Yemen. Whether at home or abroad, though, Escrogima says she is energized by the constant adventure of working in the US Foreign Service: she has the opportunity to meet new people, learn about various cultures, and 22 assist the State Department in recruiting officers that better “reflect the broad spectrum of American society.”