US Embassy Reception

This week's very cool thing was a reception for Fulbright teachers at the U.S. Embassy in London.  As the sign above indicates, security was very tight and there were no cameras allowed, so I'll have to describe it to you!  Unlike the South African embassy with a golden antelope head or the Zimbabwe embassy with statues, our embassy building is more of a utilitarian 1960's office building.  Located in Grosvenor Square, the Embassy of the US to the Court of St. James is the largest American embassy in Western Europe.

Outside of the U.S. embassy - a stock photo from the internet

We had a meeting Friday afternoon and had an opportunity to talk with UK teachers who had been in the US last year.  It was wonderful to hear their perspective on the exchange process.  Then we joined other guests for a reception.  One of my favorite guests was a woman named Joan who was introduced as the "Dean of Alumni".  Joan was a UK exchange teacher to Indiana back in the 1930's.  One of her wonderful observations, "Americans think they have the greatest country so they tell everyone.  The British think they have the greatest country and they don't bother to say anything because they assume everyone else knows it too!"

I had recently read a book by former UK ambassador Raymond Seitz (1990-1994) entitled Over Here.  It was fun to see his name on the wall of other ambassadors.

Some of the US teachers outside of the British Council office the next day.  We had a fabulous weekend together!