Meeting Ambassadors in Jeans and a Sweatshirt

When my brother first emailed me about a talk at Hiram on how to pursue a career as a state diplomat or as a foreign service officer given by Former Ambassador to Chile, Executive Assistant to Colin Powell and current Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Craig Kelly, I had no idea that it would be the most exciting day of my life as a full-fledged nerd!

Yesterday I arrived 10 mins early to an almost empty Alumni Heritage room dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt, and my green and white sneakers carrying a notepad and hopeful that I might be able to ask the speaker a question. As it turns out, I would be getting much more personal with all the Ambassadors than I had ever imagined. Since I was early, I sat next to the only other woman in the room and began chatting her up a bit. Once we swapped our stories, her professor came over who she promptly introduced me to because the professor's daughter had served in the Peace Corps. One thing leads to another and another professor is flagged down to come speak to me because she herself had served in the Peace Corps during the 90's. The next thing I know, the room is full of students and I am sitting holding all the pamphlets that they have now run out of for the actual students and being told by the professors that I should come to a panel discussion and dinner reception given later that night where more diplomats and Ambassadors would be in attendance. Although tickets were sold out, everyone was in agreement that I couldn't miss the opportunity to listen to the current Ambassador from Honduras to the USA, Ambassador Flores Bermudez. As I sat there, still reeling from the invitation and my stoke of good luck, two men dressed to the nines were ushered over to me with the statement "Oh this is the girl I was telling you about who is going to the Peace Corps." Stunned, I realized that these two men are Former Ambassador to Chile and featured speaker Craig Kelly, as well as Former Ambassador to Honduras, James Creagan. Red faced, I quickly stood to shake their hands and introduce myself. I am certain I came off as anything but eloquent as both men questioned me about my assignment and reminisced about their time spent in Central America and specifically in Honduras. Soon it was time to begin the discussion so I returned to my seat to notice more than a few curious faces who were, very rightly so, wondering who I was and why I was the only one in attendance being personally introduced to the speakers. The talk was wonderful and really got me thinking about a future in the foreign service. I even got to ask my question and continued to blush every time one of the speakers would use me as a example or reference the Peace Corps and gesture in my direction. Afterwards, both men were rushed out to prepare for their panel discussion and I realized that I would be the only student to meet them during this meeting.

For the 45 min break between the two discussions, I met up with my cousin to recount the afternoon. In no time, it was time for the panel discussion and reception. As I walked up the stairs with my cousin, she and I quickly noted that not only was everyone in attendance dressed in their Sunday best but, they were also wearing name tags. Regretting my clothing decision that morning, I decided that I could not be deterred and quickly found a seat in the third row among the nearly 100 ticket-holding attendees. As the speakers walked on stage, I was excited to discover that not only were the two Ambassadors from earlier in the afternoon going to be speaking but also Dr. Jorge Castaneda, the Foreign Minister of Mexico and a presidential candidate in 2006, as well as Ambassador Roberto Flores Bermudez, the current Ambassador of Honduras to the USA since 2006. Mouth open, as usual, and trying to take in the thrilling scene unfolding, what happens but Ambassador Craig Kelly waves to me from the stage! To me! A hundred other people who have tickets are sitting all around me, dressed considerably more appropriate than I am and he waves to me! For one of the few times in my life I actually knew he was waving to me and not someone else so, I sheepishly gave a little wave back and tried not to notice the eyes of everyone around me. For the next two hours I sat listening to each man take turns discussing the future of Latin American political integration and feeling like I should kiss my brother for setting this day into motion for me. Once the speakers had finished and after a short Q & A, everyone headed into the reception hall for wine and cheese. After finding the professors and thanking them for inviting me, I was on a mission to speak to Ambassador Flores Bermudez from Honduras. I found him standing in line for wine and speaking to another far more appropriately dressed student so I gave her an additional 10 mins out of courtesy before I side-stepped my way into their little group and introduced myself. He was excited to hear that I was moving to his country in only two weeks and since he knew very little about the Peace Corps we spent the next 20 mins talking about the Honduran business atmosphere, women in business, and poverty. He ended the conversation by telling me how warm and welcoming the Honduran people will be and how much he and they will appreciate everything I do there. "When you are homesick," he said, "just remember that Honduras is closer to D.C. than Seattle." Grinning like an idiot I thanked him and figured 20 mins was enough time to steal away from everyone with tickets and so I said goodbye and bowed out of the reception hoping my sneakers wouldn't squeak and give me away.

Today, I am just as excited as I was yesterday to have had the opportunity to meet such distinguished men and listen to them speak about important U.S. and Latin American issues. Now I am more excited than ever to embark on my newest adventure and contribute to the growing relationship between the U.S. and Central America. Hopefully if and when we meet again I won't be wearing jeans and a sweatshirt although knowing me, I probably will be!