Diplopundit's Best Photos - The Foreign Service in 2011

Below are some of our favorite photos of 2011, in no particular order. The photos are available through Flickr, FB, and the occasional ambo blogs. 

How high can you jump, Mr. Ambassador?

US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Matt Bryza jumping over a bonfire
during the celebration of Novruz Bayram
Photo from US Embassy Baku/Flickr

Pancake Special with Lochman Smile

U.S. Consulate General in Calgary memorialized the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
Consul General Lochman serves pancakes to first responders and CF personnel
Via US Consulate General Calgary/Flickr

A moment in time in Laos

Ambassador to Laos Karen Stewart during her visit to
Phalak, a village of mostly Hmong people who returned to Laos from Thailand
Photo from Than Thoot Karen!

Can you say run in Cambodian?

A U.S. Marine plays a game with children during a community service project at
the Help the Cambodian Children Goodwill Center.
Photo from US Embassy Cambodia/FB

It's a boat! It's a plane! It's Kristie Kenney!

U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney during
the most recent Thailand floods
Photo via US Embassy Bangkok/FB

NOTE: This photo of Ambassador Kenney as she parachutes over the central
region of Lopburi with a military instructor after jumping from a Thai military helicopter
would have been our pick except that it is an AFP photo(photo now posted by US Embassy Bangkok/FB, so we'll add it here)

Is that really what you want?

U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro and his daughter Merav on a shopping tour for the four
species and decorations for their Sukka in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv.
Photo from US Embassy Tel Aviv/Flickr

Is this man going to give me the gift or what?

Consul General (CG) Karachi Bill Martin visits flood victims at a relief camp and a goods
distribution site in the hardest-hit area of Tando Allahyar on October 26, 2011.
Photo from US ConGen Karachi/Flickr

Force of nature

Taken during the US response to the Christchurch Earthquake
Photo from US Embassy NZ/Flickr

Getting ready for the big day

Ambassador and Mrs. Mark Brzezinski just prior to his
presentation of credentials to His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf
of Sweden on November 24, 2011
Photo from US Embassy Sweden/Flickr

Four monks and the cherry trees

Four Buddhist monks, who live in North Carolina, photograph each other
among the cherry trees in Washington, D.C. The men are originally from Thailand
Photo from US Embassy Tokyo/Flickr

Do they make them that young now?

Boy in uniform during Ambassador Gene Cretz
visit to Misurata, Libya
Photo via state.gov/Flickr

Just between us, are we ever leaving Afghanistan?

Grover (Kajkoal) welcomes U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker to the French Cultural Center
for the launch event of the Baghch-e-SimSim on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Photo from US Embassy Kabul/Flickr

To Diplopundit's friends and readers, may your holidays be merry and filled with joy in the company of loved ones and good friends. Our thoughts and good wishes also go to our men and women in uniform who are still in Afghanistan, and our Foreign Service personnel in high stress/high threat/unaccompanied posts around the world.

Photo of the Day: Clowning around for cross-border theatre ties

Via US ConGen Calgary/Flickr | 20 October 2011: Clowning around to promote cross-border theatre ties:

Photo from US CG Calgary/Flickr

"Red noses were the required dress code at a welcome reception hosted by Consul General Laura Lochman for members of Aga-Boom Theatre of Physical Comedy and Circus Arts. The Las Vegas-based clown troop created by veterans of Cirque du Soleil is in Calgary for three days of performances for Y Stage at Vertigo Theatre, an arts group specializing in theatre for young audiences. Staff of the Consulate clowned around with guests from Calgary’s cultural community to highlight the collaborations and partnerships Y Stage has been forging with American artists specializing in theatre for young people. “Usually when we talk about our bilateral relationship, the conversation revolves around trade or security. We don’t often get the opportunity to highlight the many links between our two countries in the arts, but they are extensive,” Consul General Lochman told guests, adding that this kind of collaboration supports the development and well-being of young people on both sides of the border. The event also provided an opportunity to plug Las Vegas as a destination for family fun with guests donning colorful “flash” pins provided by Las Vegas Tourism. The evening ended with an impromptu musical performance by Aga Boom."

Laura Lochman arrived in Calgary June 22 to take up her post as Consul General for Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories for a three-year term. Her foreign languages include French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.  And don't mess up with her, she also holds a black belt in karate!

Related articles

• U.S. to thank Calgarians for 9/11 support a decade ago (calgaryherald.com)
• Calgarians take time to remember 9/11 (calgaryherald.com)