Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Happy 242nd, America!

Happy Fourth of July! Because it's an American holiday, we at U.S. Embassies around the world generally get to enjoy a day off today. Thankfully, our big National Day celebration for key contacts in Kenya was yesterday, so we can truly relax today.

This year, I was asked to co-lead the planning effort with a colleague. The work was a relatively natural fit for a Public Diplomacy (PD) Officer like me who had at least some Embassy outreach event experience (albeit much smaller and less intense). It was fun in a lot of ways: I got to work with many people from different sections and agencies I would have otherwise never met, developed event planning skills organizing a party many times larger than my own wedding was, and enjoyed seeing the culmination of all that hard work at the final celebration.

At the same time, it was stressful and exhausting. At the end of the day, the leads are responsible for every detail, including if something goes wrong. I worked long hours leading up to the event immediately following a week of long hours supporting a 60-person U.S. delegation's visit to Kenya. I'm so relieved to catch a break!

So today, I'm trying to take it easy: I had a burger with some Embassy friends (half of which I had to yield to an attacking hawk), booked a massage at the spa, and prepared my Arabic homework for my distance language class tonight.

Happy Independence Day to all! Hope yours is as good as ours!

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