Meet James Farmer

Double Major (political science, international studies) and spring graduate James Farmer says his recent internship for the United States Consulate General in Barcelona, Spain, was the experience of a lifetime. He spent the last semester working in the Public Diplomacy Section of the consulate, which works with local governments, political parties, academics, media, business, foundations and non-governmental organizations to promote U.S. foreign policy and interests. Georgia Southern magazine caught up with Farmer to talk about his experience overseas.

GSM: What were your main responsibilities during your internship with the United States Consulate General in Barcelona, Spain?
Farmer: My duties included gathering press clippings, translating articles, responding to correspondence and compiling documents for publication. In addition, I attended events to take notes and photographs. Afterwards, I wrote reports describing details of the events.

GSM: What did you learn from being overseas?
Farmer: I learned a great deal about working in a professional office environment and how to make new friends when I literally knew no one in Barcelona when I started.

GSM: What has been the most challenging aspect of your internship?
Farmer: Definitely money management and the language were the toughest. The internship was unpaid, and Barcelona is located in the autonomous community of Catalonia where they speak Catalan first, which is different than Spanish.

GSM: What was your favorite thing about Barcelona?
Farmer: The diversity of the city. Not only are the people diverse, the city is right between mountains and the sea, so you get the best of both worlds.

GSM: How has Georgia Southern influenced your life?
Farmer: Tremendously! When I arrived at Georgia Southern, I did not know what I wanted to do. I was thinking about physical therapy actually. However, one of my first classes was American Government, and I just fell in love with the field of political science.

GSM: What did you miss most about Georgia Southern while in Spain?
Farmer: I definitely missed my friends, my fraternity brothers, and my sister, who is working in Statesboro now… and just being in college. I also couldn’t wait to get back to my full-sized bed and black coffee because they do espresso shots mixed with milk in Barcelona and that got a little old.

GSM: Did you have a chance to display your True Blue spirit?
Farmer: Oh yes! I wore my Georgia Southern hat and t-shirt almost everywhere.

GSM: Are there any University faculty and/or staff you’d like to thank for your experience?
Farmer: There are too many to name, but definitely Dr. Jamie Scalera, who is my thesis mentor and is just awesome. Also, Dr. Barry Balleck, who I had for several international studies courses, and Ms. Danielle Smith and Dr. Richard Pacelle, who handle the Center for International Studies and the Political Science Department internships.

GSM: Now that you’ve graduated, what’s your dream job?
Farmer: To head a branch of immigration services, become a city manager or a Foreign Service officer. However, I am open to wherever life takes me, whether it is the public or private sector.