Happy Independence Day!
Last year as an Embassy intern, I was invited to the Ambassador's Independence Day party. The party is generally regarded as a celebration of the relationship between Romania and the United States and a great opportunity to make and foster contacts with Romanian officials. Around three thousand Romanians and Embassy personnel are invited each year to mingle on the Ambassador's lawn and listen to speeches about Romanian-American friendship.
When I realized that I would be in Bucharest over the 4th of July this summer, I emailed some of my Embassy friends to ask if they could try to get me an invitation to the party this year. I thought it would be a great chance to catch up with all of my colleagues from last summer and meet the new Foreign Service Officers who have arrived since last August. Getting an invitation to the party was a bit more difficult than I expected. The Charge d'Affaires approved my invitation the morning of the party. Because I didn't have my physical invitation with me when I arrived at the ambassador's house, I had to be escorted in by my friend who works in the Regional Security Office.
Here is my elusive official invitation, which I received a few days after the party. The artwork is by a Romanian high school student who won the Embassy's contest to represent the party's theme "Let's celebrate Romanian-American friendship."
I'm really glad that I was able to go to the party. It was great to be there again and see everyone. The speeches by the Charge d'Affaires and the Romanian Prime Minister were very nice and provided an opportunity for me to practice my Romanian comprehension skills. The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Romania does not currently have an ambassador, because President Obama's nominee has not yet been approved by the Senate. In the absence of an Ambassador, the Deputy Chief of Mission becomes the Acting Ambassador or Charge d'Affaires.
The Charge d'Affaires speaking at the party
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc speaking at the party
And here's me with one of the Marine Security Guards' hats as the party was winding down.
When I realized that I would be in Bucharest over the 4th of July this summer, I emailed some of my Embassy friends to ask if they could try to get me an invitation to the party this year. I thought it would be a great chance to catch up with all of my colleagues from last summer and meet the new Foreign Service Officers who have arrived since last August. Getting an invitation to the party was a bit more difficult than I expected. The Charge d'Affaires approved my invitation the morning of the party. Because I didn't have my physical invitation with me when I arrived at the ambassador's house, I had to be escorted in by my friend who works in the Regional Security Office.
Here is my elusive official invitation, which I received a few days after the party. The artwork is by a Romanian high school student who won the Embassy's contest to represent the party's theme "Let's celebrate Romanian-American friendship."
I'm really glad that I was able to go to the party. It was great to be there again and see everyone. The speeches by the Charge d'Affaires and the Romanian Prime Minister were very nice and provided an opportunity for me to practice my Romanian comprehension skills. The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Romania does not currently have an ambassador, because President Obama's nominee has not yet been approved by the Senate. In the absence of an Ambassador, the Deputy Chief of Mission becomes the Acting Ambassador or Charge d'Affaires.
The Charge d'Affaires speaking at the party
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc speaking at the party
And here's me with one of the Marine Security Guards' hats as the party was winding down.
posted by Erin Kay at 6:11 PM
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