On Wednesday night the U.S. Embassy hosted the Denmark Fulbright students for a Thanksgiving dinner. I was hoping to have lots of pictures to post from this event but all electronics are banned in the Embassy. The U.S. Embassy is easily the ugliest building in Copenhagen (box Industrial/International style with large iron "stay-away" fence), especially compared to the other ornate embassies I've biked by (Russian, Spanish, Croatian, French). I had to pass through metal detector and by two separate armed guard stations. The place felt like a military base instead of a place for diplomacy and cultural exchange.
I met and had my picture taken (for promotional purposes) with the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark. My impression was the same you get when you meet a used car salesman. His slicked-back hair, booming North Carolina drawl, mention of his friend George, and generally slippery good-ol-boy manner, did not sit well with me. Read more about his connections with W here: (http://denmark.usembassy.gov/euroman.html) or go to the main embassy page to see him and maybe get a quote on a '95 Chrysler Le Baron.
After a glass of champagne and some mingling with Danish & US consular bigwigs, it was time for dinner at "The Diplomat's Club Restaurant". The restaurant's name is only slightly misleading, as it turned out to be the embassy's basement cafeteria complete with crowded round tables and cafeteria window (think Drexel elementary, Circle Grove, or any other grade school cafeteria). Placed at a table with two other fulbright students, a Danish professor and his wife, and a U.S. diplomat and his wife. The diplomat's wife was a friendly, outspoken talker. I did lots of listening. The dinner was a danish take on Thanksgiving. First course: fish. Main course: turkey loaf, meat loaf, potatoes, bizarre unidentified kelp/vegetable, and cranberry sauce. Dessert: chocolate muffin, mango sherbet, pink creme, toffee cheesecake.
After the dinner, I went out with some of the Fulbright students for drinks and eventually dancing, thus a fun close to an enjoyable evening (pictures eventually posted).
The next day (Thursday) was a regular work day. No big dinner, no family, no football, no lounging. The absence of these things combined with the odd dinner menu the night before have made for a very un-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving. I have had Thanksgivings away from home (a couple in AZ), but they at least somewhat resembled Thanksgiving.
But it's been cold and thus at least feels like late-fall/winter. The sun came out today for the first time in almost two weeks. To say it's been cloudy/overcast would be an understatement. The cloud cover is usually so thick/gray and uninterrupted that the light looks the same no matter where the sun might be in the sky.
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3 comments:
It really surprises me that ANYbody would actually say, "my friend George." The dude is a political leper.
Sorry to hear that the US Embassy knows how ruin Thanksgiving dinner.
What a goober. I was listening to an Eddie Vedder war protest song while reading your latest post...so very appropriate:
"George W. go find yourself another country...to be part of."
If it makes you feel any better, it was really cold and snowy here on Thanksgiving, preventing any meaningful family football games. Very disappointing.
that would be odd to be somewhere like that on Thanksgiving. Glad to see that you are finally getting some decent weather though. we kicked field goals in some cold weather on turkey day, garret destroyed jacob dad and i with a 45 yarder. It was pretty and probably could have gotten 50, but he didn't even try.
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