Today is the start of the year of the water dragon (23 January 2012 – 9 February 2013). Happy Year of the Dragon!
1 week ago
Showing posts with label Holidays and Celebrations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays and Celebrations. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2012
US Mission China: Gong He Fat Choi! Happy Year of the Dragon!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thanksgiving Day 2011: Foreign Service Roundup
US Embassy New Zealand:
2011 Downtown Community Thanksgiving Lunch| Photos from the annual American Thanksgiving Lunch held in conjunction with the Downtown Community Ministry and the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Chef's Association at the Wesley Church Hall.
US Embassy Thailand:
Thanksgiving Lunch at Ambassador Kristie Kenney's | Photos of the Thanksgiving lunch at the Ambassador's residence garnered the following comment on Facebook: "Would have been nice if the Ambassador and folks at the Embassy invited long term USA residents of Bangkok, who lost everything in the floods to dinner as well. Very crass of Excellency Kenney to celebrate with the "haves" while the "have nots" suffer. It is not going to be a very thankful holiday this year for some of us." To which Ambassador Kenney quickly responded: "No tax dollars used. This was my personal thanks to Embassy staffers for great work despite being flood victims themselves." On Thanksgiving Day, Ambassador Kenney also hosted fifty US military (army, navy, air force and marines) for dinner. They are all in Thailand to help with flood recovery efforts.
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| Photo from US Embassy Bangkok/FB |
US Embassy El Salvador
Thanksgiving Day arrived with Occupy El Salvador protesting at the U.S. Embassy San Salvador "in solidarity with the 99% Global Occupy Movement." More here.
US Embassy Belgium
Ambassador Gutman invited American sportsmen and women to his residence for a Thanksgiving do.
U.S. Embassy Malaysia
Thanksgiving lunch for more than 300 staff and family members of the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur. Turkey, pie, mashed and sweet potaties, corns and peas ... mmmmmm. Thanksgiving Day will have an extended run in Malaysia this year as the embassy will have a PUMPKIN PIE EXTRAVAGANZA open to the public next week with U.S. Embassy Officer Nelson Wu and other embassy staff!
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| Photo from US Embassy KL/FB |
The big news, of course, on Thanksgiving Scaredy was non-halal turkeys "for Americans who still value their freedoms." Below an excerpt from Crossroads Arabia (a blog by a retired FSO):
“It seems that Butterball’s best practices also permit it to produce turkeys that meet the requirements for halal food. That is, its whole turkeys are deemed permissible for Muslims to eat.
This, apparently, has caused Islamophobe Pam Gellar to go berserk. She somehow sees the fact that Butterball turkeys are halal as a stealth attempt to convert Americans to Islam. I won’t – on principle – link to Gellar’s writing, but here’s an indirect link through Outside the Beltway. Yes, she’s as nuts as that post makes her seem.
Gellar has some really strange beliefs, quite laughable ones.
She appears to believe that if one eats a halal turkey, one mysteriously becomes a Muslim. Or gets tugged toward Islam. Or something. If this is true, it creates an interesting situation…
If I were to become Muslim by eating a halal turkey, then it logically follows that I would become Jewish by eating a Kosher pickle or hotdog. What would happen if I ate both at the same meal? Would I explode? Would I suddenly become Palestine, at war with myself?”
Which led us to this most disturbing image of a suicide turkey ever. And Thanksgiving will never be the same again after this stealth infiltration.
Monday, August 8, 2011
US Mission New Zealand: Independence Day Events August 2011
U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand David Huebner threw a U.S. Independence Day celebration at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington on August 4 2011:
He also had one at ConGen Auckland on August 2, 2011:
Monday, July 11, 2011
US Consulate General Erbil Officially Opens, Embassy Baghdad Posts One Postage Sized Photo as Proof
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| US Embassy Iraq Website Photo |
On July 10, U.S. Ambassador James F. Jeffrey and Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides officially opened the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil, Iraq. In attendance at the ceremony were Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, Iraqi First Lady Hero Talabani, Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Barham Salih, Legal Director of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Arshad Tawfik and Director of Consular Affairs Ambassador Ismet Ageed, along with Ministers and Members of Parliament, civil society representatives, media, business leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The U.S. Consulate General covers the three provinces of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region; Erbil, Sulymaniyah, and Dohuk, and succeeds the U.S. Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT), which has operated in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region since 2007. Civilian U.S. agencies, working in partnership with military colleagues in the RRT, have made memorable and lasting contributions to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, including projects to provide water treatment, schools and other educational facilities, and an orphanage.
In remarks during the ceremony, Ambassador Jeffrey said “It is our fondest wish that a strong and vibrant Kurdistan Region within a democratic and federal Iraq arise from the tragic history of this region. Our goal is to build an Iraq for all its citizens... Arabs and Kurds, Sunni and Shia, Christian and Muslim, Yezidi and Shebak, one that respects all its citizens and one which is governed by the rule of law.” Ambassador Jeffrey also announced the appointment of Mr. Alexander Laskaris to the position of Consul General.
Today’s event also marked a celebration of the 235th anniversary of U.S. independence. Noting the date, Ambassador Jeffrey said “I believe there is no better place to celebrate our Independence Day than here in a partner country fighting for its democracy.”
For further information please contact Selim Ariturk, Public Affairs Officer, Consulate General Erbil (phone 0770-443-0117, email: AriturkS@state.gov.)
Active links added above. Um, would somebody please, pretty please inquire with the PAO at US Embassy Baghdad why they bother posting one postage sized photo of the event when no one can tell who's who in that snapshot? That rightmost guy in the photo above looks like Leon Panetta; sure does look like the new SecDef, doesn't he? And why post only one photo? Are they all camera-shy or something? Or are they afraid the Iraqis would stick pins at their photos?
Oops, wait, wait -- I'm told that the rightmost person in the photo is not Leon Panetta but the new Consul General of ConGen Erbil, Alexander Laskaris. See below, the same photo posted on its Facebook page:
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| Photo from US Embassy Iraq/FB |
The largest US embassy in the universe, and they don't have on-time, fresh from the oven news? And they can only share stamp-sized photographs? And the new consulates have yet to have an online presence ... minor things done badly. I feel much better thinking about the transition to a civilian-led mission already.
Friday, July 8, 2011
4th July: US Embassy Paris with Renée Fleming, US Embassy Bern with Quincy Jones and a Big Wow for Our Foreign Service Stars
On July 7, 2011, Ambassador Charles H. Rivkin and his wife Susan Tolson welcomed 3000 guests to a Fourth of July Garden Party in Paris to celebrate the 235th anniversary of American Independence. American soprano Renée Fleming with the Dipnotes Choir sang during the festivities. The embassy also had some Glee stars. More photos here. Below is the best video I could find.
At US Embassy Switzerland, Quincy Jones was the top celebrity guest of Ambassador and Mrs. Donald S. Beyer Jr. in Bern. Also in attendance, Elvis Presley and the Blues Brothers!!
At the US Consulate General in Karachi, Information Officer, Andie DeArment sings the national anthem during the 4th of July reception in Pakistan.
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| Information Officer Andie sings the American National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner." Photo from US CG Karachi/Facebook |
And at the US Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, former lawyer, opera singer and now Foreign Service Officer Levi Smylie sings the national anthem at the embassy's 4th of July event. Beautiful!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
4th of July - U.S. Embassy Celebration Round-Up (Part 2)
US Embassy Belgrade, Serbia | June 30, 2011
Ambassador Mary Warlick: "This year we celebrate a milestone, 130 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. In 1878, within days of Serbia gaining independence at the Congress of Berlin, the U.S. Ambassador to Vienna recommended to Washington that the United States establish formal relations with the Principality of Serbia. Although our economic relationship at the time was limited, the United States wanted to extend its support and official recognition to Serbia's hard earned independence. Thus, in Belgrade in October of 1881, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Finance Čedomilj Mijatović and U.S. diplomat Eugene Schuyler signed a Consular Convention and Treaty of Commerce."
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| US Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick with husband, US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick during the July 4th celebration at the US Embassy in Serbia Photo from US Embassy Serbia/Facebook |
US Embassy Nassau, Bahamas | June 30, 2011
"On Thursday, June 30 the United States Embassy observed the 235th Anniversary of Independence of the United States of America by co-hosting a grand celebration in Freeport, Grand Bahama under the theme, “Celebrating the United States’ Great Military Traditions”. The event was held in partnership with the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) aboard the U.S. Naval Ship USS VICKSBURG at the Lucayan Harbour."
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| Minister of Housing The Hon. Kenneth Russell and Mrs. Russell, Mr. Theodore Sarandos (Netflix's Chief Content Office and ambassador's spouse), U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Nicole A. Avant, USNORTHCOM Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr., and Mrs. Winnefeld participate in the official cake cutting ceremony |
235º Aniversario de la Independencia| 1 de julio, 2011 - "Esta mañana, se llevó a cabo el Izamiento de la Bandera en conmemoración del 235º aniversario de la Independencia de los Estados Unidos de América. La Embajadora, Liliana Ayalde, dio lectura al mensaje de la Secretaria de Estado, Hillary Clinton, con motivo de la Independencia de los Estados Unidos, celebrada cada 4 de julio. El solemne acto se llevó a cabo en los jardines de la Embajada."
US Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan | July 02.2011
US Embassy Ottawa, Canada | July 4, 2011
Canada - USA Ambassador's BBQ Cup held at the official residence of the U.S. ambassador, David Jacobson. Three teams from Canada against three teams from the U.S. which reportedly served 4,000 guests. Oh, yes, the Canadian team swept all three categories for chicken, ribs and pork butt! Ambassador Jacobson blogged about his bbq event with the 4,000 friends here. Photos of the yummy bbq here. Press coverage here.
Video via YouTube/Graemeken.
US Mission Pakistan: Islamabad | July 4, 2011
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| U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter, Pakistani Prime Minister Raza Gilani and wife of Ambassador Munter, Dr. Marilyn Wyatt cut the cake at Independence Day celebration in Islamabad. Also in photo is Minister of Interior Rehman Malik Photo from US Embassy Pakistan |
US Consulate General Lahore | June 30, 2011
"U.S. Consulate General Lahore celebrated 235th Independence day of the United States of America with great enthusiasm and festivities. Deputy Chief of Mission Richard E. Hoagland from Islamabad also participated in the event. [...] This year’s theme was “Washington State” since our current Consul General Carmela Conroy was born there. The party was based on a street market in Washington State called Pike Place Market. The food represented Washington State specialties like apples and onions and were named after Washington State cities, famous locations and companies. Adding to the street market scene and feel, USAID displayed and presented seven projects that are currently underway in Pakistan. "
"U.S. Consulate General Lahore celebrated 235th Independence day of the United States of America with great enthusiasm and festivities. Deputy Chief of Mission Richard E. Hoagland from Islamabad also participated in the event. [...] This year’s theme was “Washington State” since our current Consul General Carmela Conroy was born there. The party was based on a street market in Washington State called Pike Place Market. The food represented Washington State specialties like apples and onions and were named after Washington State cities, famous locations and companies. Adding to the street market scene and feel, USAID displayed and presented seven projects that are currently underway in Pakistan. "
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| Deputy Chief of Mission Richard E. Hoagland, U.S. Consul General Carmela Conroy, and chief guest Shehryar Taseer cutting the Independence Day celebration party cake Photo from US CG Lahore/Facebook |
Saturday, July 2, 2011
4th of July - U.S. Embassy Celebration Round-Up
US Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | April 11/2011
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh celebrated America’s Day of Independence last night at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador, with hundreds of Americans and Saudis attending the 4th of July event which is usually celebrated by the Embassy in Riyadh early in the Spring for weather considerations. This year marks the 235th anniversary of America’s independence in 1776. Read more here.
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| Members of the U.S. Air Forces Central's band, Wild Blue Country, stand with the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. James Smith and his wife Dr. Breslin-Smith after the National Day Celebration which hosted over 1,000 dignitaries from around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karl Bradley) |
US Embassy Nicosia, Cyprus : May 17, 2011
"U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Frank C. Urbancic hosted an Independence Day reception on the grounds of the Embassy Residence on May 17, 2011, where he welcomed over 1,000 guests from the community and other diplomatic missions. In attendance was President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and other dignitaries. As one of the largest parties on the island, the celebration is the premier representational event of the Embassy and one at which the movers and shakers on the island are able to network with American diplomats and an elite community as well. Media coverage of the event was favorable. "
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| U.S. Marines presenting the Colors to Ambassador Urbancic, with guests watching Ambassador Urbancic Hosts National Day Celebration Marking 235 Years of American Independence (May 17, 2011) Photo from US Embassy Cyprus |
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| US Embassy Cyprus posted online: "We would like to thank all the sponsors of the National Day Reception." The event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of local U.S. companies and affiliates. Corporate sponsors photo from US Embassy Cyprus |
US Embassy Helsinki, Finland | June 22, 2011
US Embassy Guatemala, Guatemala | June 29, 2011
Celebración Día de Independencia de los Estados Unidos 2011US Embassy Montevideo, Uruguay | June 30, 2011
La embajada de Estados Unidos en Uruguay realizó una recepción en la residencia oficial con motivo de celebrarse el 235 aniversario de la independencia de Estados Unidos.
US Embassy Tel Aviv, Israel | June 30, 2011
"The annual Independence Day Reception at the Residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel is our largest event of the year and we are proud to provide you with an exclusive view of all the festivities. So join us on Thursday, June 30 at 19:00 pm local, (noon EST) for a live broadcast straight from the Ambassador's Residence in Herzliyah. We'll be live on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, JUSTIN TV, and on the Embassy website. Don't miss out on the #1 event of the year." Via
US Embassy Bangkok, Thailand | July 1, 2011
"The United States Embassy in Bangkok hosts an early July 4th barbecue for staff and family. Despite the rain, we all had fun! Happy Independence Day!"
Via Ambassador Kenney's blog: "On July 4, 2011, Americans celebrate the 235th birthday of our nation. We held an Embassy contest to design a shirt for our staff picnic. One of the winners is the 8th grade daughter of an Embassy Employee. She and her family came to my office to show the winning T shirt."
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| Photo from Ambassador Kenney's Blog |
Friday, June 24, 2011
US Embassy Tel Aviv: 2011 July 4th America Challenge!
You can still watch the 235th Independence Day celebration live online on June 30, brought to you by the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and its corporate sponsors:
The embassy's most recent FB contest is called 2011 July 4th America Challenge! Participants must complete the sentence AMERICA IS .... and get a chance to win tickets to the Independence Day party at the Ambassador's Residence.
On June 22, the embassy announced in FB that it received "well over 300 creative, funny, emotional, and thoughtful entries telling us what AMERICA IS..." and is now sifting through the entries on who will get the tickets.
Monday, May 9, 2011
US Embassy Baku: Can your ambassador jump like this?
We are a sucker for uncommon photos of our public officials. The one below, a couple months late is of US Ambassador Matt Bryza during the Novruz Bayramı in Azerbaijan.
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| Ambassador Matt Bryza Photo from US Embassy Baku/FB |
The event was held at the ambassador's residence on the occasion of Nowruz holiday, a spring celebration also called Nowruz Bayramı (presumably pronounced as you would in Türkçe). The ambassador gave a speech and congratulated Azerbaijani nation on the occasion of Nowruz Holiday. The ambassador and guests then jumped over a bonfire and made their wishes.
Now, my question is -- can your ambassador jump over a bonfire like this and look like he or she is having the time of his/her life? Note to aspiring ambassadors -- there's more to being an ambassador than just jaw-jaw, okay?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
US Ambassador to Tunisia Gordon Gray corrects Gawker's piece, Gawker still calls embassy closure on US federal holiday stupid and crazy...
Actually stupid-crazy it's not.
As we have pointed out here, just because US Embassy Tunis was closed on MLK day did not mean the staff was not at work. Ambassador Gordon's letter to Gawker made clear that embassy employees were all hands on deck that holiday weekend. That's life in the crisis lane, by the way -- the emergency committee/plan gets activated, the staff works around the clock to feed the need for information in Washington, and embassy personnel reaches out to American citizens in the consular district to determine their welfare, and in case an evacuation becomes necessary.
On the holiday itself, we doubt that anyone would dispute that 
Martin Luther King day is a federal holiday or that the office was closed. All US embassies and offices around the world, even those in countries that did not have revolutions were closed that day.
We wished that auto respond email was better crafted but we really could not fault the embassy for staying closed during the holiday. In fact, we think that was actually lucky. If the office was not closed, the US Embassy in Tunis would have had people lining up outside the embassy for their visa interviews. How can we be sure of this? Well, people with visa appointments are known to show up at the embassy when it is open for routine consular services.
We know that people were killed and wounded in street riots around the city. Given the unpredictability of the mass upheaval in that country, it would have been crazy and stupid to subject embassy clients to such danger by opening for services on a day when it should have been closed.
Here is Gawker:
Over the weekend Gordon Gray, the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, must have been catching up on his reading, because he sent us an angry defense of his embassy staff's handling of the crisis.
To the Editor-in-Chief
I am dismayed that you published such a misleading and unprofessional article as the recent piece by John Cook, "U.S. Embassy Isn't Letting a Coup Get In the Way of a Vacation Day." The article implied that Consular Section staff members, and Consul Stephen Ashby in particular, were not responding to American citizen inquiries during the January 15-17 Martin Luther King Day weekend. In fact nothing could be further from the truth.
All employees at the United States Embassy in Tunis have been working hard to respond to rapidly evolving situation in Tunisia. Staff members have been working at all hours of the day and night—on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays—and from the office (including sleeping overnight, when necessary, at the Embassy), from home, and at the airport. We provided information on fast-breaking events via E-mails, phone calls, Warden Messages, the Embassy's public website, and its Facebook page. Privacy Act considerations prevent the disclosure of specific case information to the media, but I assure you that this Embassy promptly provided assistance and information to every private American who asked.
I proudly witnessed my staff absorb without complaint an increased work load and find ways to accomplish their assignments despite a government-issued curfew, severely limited movements in Tunisia, and a markedly increased level of violence, civil unrest, and disorder. They did this under the additional stress that these political developments brought to their family and home lives. Inaccurate and mean-spirited statements such as "but don't bother stopping by on Monday; they'll all probably be at barbecues or something" malign and disregard the dedication and commitment of hard working public servants serving the United States and American interests in Tunisia.
Sincerely,
Gordon Gray
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia
P.S. As the E-mail chain below clearly indicates, Mr. Ashby responded to your correspondent's non-urgent inquiry at 12:37 p.m. Tunisia time (6:37 a.m. EST) on Saturday, January 15, shortly following a long meeting Mr. Ashby, several Embassy staff, and I attended to review the safety of the American community in Tunisia.
We're sure the staff of the U.S. embassy in Tunisia worked hard during the crisis there. But that doesn't mean the embassy wasn't closed—stupidly—on Martin Luther King Day. It was. A State Department spokeswoman confirmed that to us: "The Embassy will be closed for routine services on Monday." Gray's letter doesn't dispute that. We think that's crazy!
Active links added above. Read the whole thing here. You might also want to read the comments in the original article here.
We must add --- we are pleased to see that Ambassador Gray, like any good leader, has his huge umbrella opened to keep the shit from falling on his staff.
Get some sleep folks! We hope you have other food besides MREs, it looks like this is far from over.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas Celebrations Around the Foreign Service
At US Mission Bolivia -- Santa Visits the Altiplano in Bolivia
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Slideshow from US Embassy Bolivia/Flickr
On December 22, the wife and son of the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, Liza and Carlos Creamer, visited the communities of Curahuara de Carangas, Lagunas, Rosapata, Lercos, and Sulla Uta Salla Collana to deliver hundreds of toys to the children of these communities. This delivery was coordinated by Father Gabriel Antequera, Parish Priest of Curahura de Carangas.
Carlos Creamer, dressed as Santa Claus, handed out Panetones, dolls, toy trucks, soccer and volleyballs to the children of the communities that anxiously awaited his arrival. Upon his arrival to each community, children, parents, and local authorities greeted him with "Bienvenido Papa Noel!"
At the US Embassy Montevideo, Uruguay - The Marines' Toys for Tots
Infantes de Marina entregaron juguetes navideños a niños de Ceprodih En el marco del Programa internacional Toys for Tots, Juguetes para los pequeños
At US Mission Afghanistan - the USO Tour Lands at Embassy Kabul
The U.S. Embassy hosted the USO traveling Holiday Tour. The early morning show included performances by comics Robin Williams, Kathleen Madigan and Lewis Black, and music by Kix Brooks and Bob DiPiero. Athlete Lance Armstrong started the event by expressing gratitude for the work of the soldiers and civilians working in Afghanistan and spending the holidays away from their families to ensure freedom for Americans.
At the US Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan - MasalaTV Thanksgiving Show
U.S. Consul General in Lahore, Carmela Conroy, and other U.S. diplomats are featured in a special one-hour Thanksgiving Day cooking program broadcast on Masala-TV on Saturday, December 25 at 1pm and 9pm, and on Sunday, December 26 at 10.30am. The program features host Samayra Khan and three American diplomats cooking traditional dishes served on this uniquely U.S. holiday. Here is one of them -- no other than new media phenom Tristram Perry (formerly of Jakarta and now Lahore's IO) who is making pie dough from scratch!
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| U.S. Consulate General Information Officer Tristram Perry and Sumayrah making the dough for the pecan pie crust. Photo from US ConGen Lahore/Facebook |
At US Embassy Seoul - The Ambassador's Open House
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| Photo from Ambassador Stephen's blog |
My residence is large, but cannot accommodate all our employees and families indoors at one time. So instead, on December 18 I opened the house throughout the day to our guests.
I think this “open house” tradition is more American than Korean. And I should explain that if you visit the United States and see a sign that says “open house” it means that sometime is trying to sell his house! Real estate agents schedule a date and time when they open a house for potential buyers to stop by and have a look. But I assure you we are not seeing Habib House in Seoul! Instead our “open house” is the kind we often host at holidays, but also sometimes as a house-warming, graduation, or birthday. The host invites friends, relatives and colleagues to celebrate the special occasion. Even though many people attending might already know each other, sometimes guests meet for the first time during an open house. This concept is a little different from the year end parties held in Korea, where many gatherings are held among different groups of people who already know each other through a common connection, such as high school friends, college alumni or office colleagues. Of course, at our open house, most of our employees know each other, but sometimes they are meeting their colleagues’ spouses or children for the first time. And that makes it special.
At the US Embassy in Kenya -Ambassador Ranneberger Honored by Maasai Elders
And because WikiLeaks continue to roil the politicians in Kenya, and all that some MPs wanted for Christmas was the expulsion of Ambassador Michael Ranneberger (following revelations of his "alleged" unflattering assessment of the Kenyan leadership) -- we have to include this old item from late November of the US Ambassador honored by the Maasai elders and presented with his own warrior's shield and spear. Apparently, the Maasai elders were not the only ones who keep our top representative in Kenya in favorable standing (granted this was before WL). But according to this report the latest opinion poll shows that "54 per cent of Kenyans rate US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger favourably, while 40 per cent agree with MPs the envoy has lost respect among them." Hey, when was the last time you've seen an opinion poll on an American Ambassador?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
US diplomats in Pakistan help celebrate Sindh Cultural Day
According to this, the Sindhi Topi and Ajrak Day took root when an anchor of a TV channel criticised Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari for wearing the Sindhi cap while on an official visit to Europe.Now called the Sindh Cultural day, it is is observed on December 4th, 5th, 6th by the people of Sindh province of Pakistan to express their "loyalty to the Sindhi culture and it's thousands of year old cultural symbols, the traditional Sindhi Cap and Ajrak cloth."
Sindh is located on the western corner of South Asia, bordering the Iranian plateau in the west. Geographically it is the third largest province of Pakistan. It is also in US ConGen Karachi's consular district:
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| ConGen Karachi's Information Officer Andie DeArment has a “Sindh Cultural Day” special interview on Sindh Tv News (Photo from US CG Karachi/Facebook) |
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| ConGen Karachi's CG William Martin dressed in his ajrak and topi with members of the Sindhi press (Photo from US CG Karachi/Facebook) |
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| Ghulam Nabi Marai, CEO Mehran TV presented Ajrak to Ambassador Munter at the dinner reception (Photo from CG Karachi/Facebook) |
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving Roundup: Around the Foreign Service
November 24, 2010 - Community Thanksgiving Lunch
New Zealand
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| US Ambassador David Huebner during the Thanksgiving lunch Photo from US Embassy New Zealand |
November 24, 2010 | American Road Show - Pancakes
Sweden
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| Ambassador Matthew Barzun making pancakes Photo from BlogOm Sweden |
From BlogOm: Pancakes: "The Road Show started in earnest outside the Umeå Folkets Hus early Thursday morning. We unrolled the red awning of the classic Airstream Bambi trailer that was still hooked up to our Chevy Avalanche FlexFuel pickup truck, and then set up some tables to begin the American pancake breakfast. The plan was for me to cook pancakes outside for our host committee, members of the press and the local police, for Bengt from Campia.se who lent us the Airstream (his company imports them from the U.S.), and for curious passers-by who dared to see what we were up to." Click here to read more and see the video.
November 25, 2010 | Thanksgiving: an American Eid
Lahore, Pakistan
Lahore's CG Carmela Conroy pens Thanksgiving: an American Eid for the Daily Times
"Last week, some Pakistani friends welcomed me to their homes for Eidul Azha. As someone living far away from loved ones, it was wonderful to enjoy their hospitality and witness the warmth of family and food during this special time in Pakistan. It reminded me of our American Thanksgiving holiday, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
[...]
This year, the Thanksgiving and Eid traditions of charity and sharing are more important than ever here. The severe flooding this summer was the largest natural disaster that Pakistan has ever experienced, and I am proud to say that the American people contributed over one-third of the total relief provided by the international community to help people whose livelihoods and homes had been destroyed.
[...]
Today, Thanksgiving Day, I take time to reflect on my blessings, including the warm Eid hospitality so recently offered by Pakistani friends. Inshallah, I hope that the spirit of generosity and support from our “two Eids”, both American and Pakistani, can continue through the holiday season and into coming new year.
November 25, 2010
Zabul PRT, Afghanistan
Airmen and soldiers use a single sink to wash their hands as they arrive for Thanksgiving dinner on Forward Operating Base Smart, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Nov. 25. More than 200 soldiers, airmen and civilians are stationed here.
November 21, 2010 | Thanksgiving with the Silliman Family
Ankara, Turkey
Chargé d'Affaires Doug Silliman, Catherine Silliman and their two sons opened their door to Turkish television channel “Kanal D” for a traditional American Thanksgiving, demonstrating family recipes for such American classics as peppered corn bread, Indian pudding and – of course – stuffing for the turkey. While the Silliman parents cooked, the Silliman sons played piano and romped with the family dog in an effort to show typical family pursuits on Thanksgiving. Recipes: Massachusetts Best Indian Pudding, Texas Hot Pepper Corn Bread and the Silliman Apricot and Walnut Stuffing.
To be continued ....
November 25, 2010 | Thanksgiving: an American EidLahore, Pakistan
Lahore's CG Carmela Conroy pens Thanksgiving: an American Eid for the Daily Times
"Last week, some Pakistani friends welcomed me to their homes for Eidul Azha. As someone living far away from loved ones, it was wonderful to enjoy their hospitality and witness the warmth of family and food during this special time in Pakistan. It reminded me of our American Thanksgiving holiday, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
[...]
This year, the Thanksgiving and Eid traditions of charity and sharing are more important than ever here. The severe flooding this summer was the largest natural disaster that Pakistan has ever experienced, and I am proud to say that the American people contributed over one-third of the total relief provided by the international community to help people whose livelihoods and homes had been destroyed.
[...]
Today, Thanksgiving Day, I take time to reflect on my blessings, including the warm Eid hospitality so recently offered by Pakistani friends. Inshallah, I hope that the spirit of generosity and support from our “two Eids”, both American and Pakistani, can continue through the holiday season and into coming new year.
November 25, 2010
Zabul PRT, Afghanistan
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| DOD Photo by Brian Ferguson via dvidshub.net |
November 21, 2010 | Thanksgiving with the Silliman Family
Ankara, Turkey
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| Photo from US Embassy Ankara |
Chargé d'Affaires Doug Silliman, Catherine Silliman and their two sons opened their door to Turkish television channel “Kanal D” for a traditional American Thanksgiving, demonstrating family recipes for such American classics as peppered corn bread, Indian pudding and – of course – stuffing for the turkey. While the Silliman parents cooked, the Silliman sons played piano and romped with the family dog in an effort to show typical family pursuits on Thanksgiving. Recipes: Massachusetts Best Indian Pudding, Texas Hot Pepper Corn Bread and the Silliman Apricot and Walnut Stuffing.
To be continued ....
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