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