Every once and a while in my capacity as a Medical Provider in the U.S. Foreign Service, I am reminded that I am actually a titled diplomat (medical attaché), and as a diplomat, I get to do fancy diplomatic things.

The reality is diplomacy is a good chunk of my job, reaching out to hospitals and specialists in country, touring their facilities, and working with them should one of our diplomatic patients need help. In Nouakchott, this is even more prevalent because much of their healthcare is behind the military apparatus, and these communications are on formal letterhead, often planning formal visits with military generals. The same goes for other embassy physicians, where we work to coordinate knowledge and resources on the economy, which in a place like Nouakchott, is vital.

As a result of making these contacts, I am sometimes invited to fancy diplomatic events, where most recently I had the honor to attend an event with the Japanese Embassy, celebrating the Emperor Naruhito’s Birthday. While normally not a huge event in Japan, this is an occasion the Japanese embassies around the world use to showcase their culture and treat it like a representational event. For the U.S., we use the marine ball and 4th of July events in a similar fashion.

Angeli and I had a lovely time, and for an event in Nouakchott, it was great to be able to try some fantastic Japanese tempura, sushi, beer, and wine. It was a great event and a fun reminder of why I joined the Foreign Service. -Nick