Lahore has turned out to be a great experience. I love working with the super smart, dedicated, and fun people who are here, and I love the consular schedule. The pace is manageable, and I enjoy interacting with the applicants and helping them with what they need.
Often, though, Americans abroad don't understand what the Embassy (or Consulate in this case) can provide. Through the years, Hollywood has portrayed an Embassy as a force that can solve all problems - if you're in trouble, just run to the Embassy and they'll take you in and protect you.
That's just not how it works.
I've received several calls from Americans over the past two weeks asking for the U.S. government to intercede on their behalf, because they've run into trouble here. Unfortunately, we just are not able to do as they ask. If a person is in a foreign country, they must abide by the laws and rules in that country, even if those laws are different than those in the U.S. If a U.S. citizen is arrested in Pakistan for breaking a Pakistani law, they must hire a lawyer and work through the situation through the Pakistani legal system. The Consulate will not file a complaint with the Pakistani government and request that the arrested party be released. It's still surprising to me how many people want us to do that - they think because they're Americans, they're bullet-proof.
All that aside, I have successfully helped those that called for assistance and have been able to give advice and offer practical solutions.
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