Yesterday, Worth and I attended our first Embassy function with a handful of our colleagues. The way to get started is to be invited by someone who is already involved in the Expat community. The tickets cost us 200 Saudi Riyals each, a little over US 50$ per person. The function was formal, so I wore my full-length ball gown and Worth who does not have a tux, wore a suit. The evening started at 6:00, with the doors opening at 5:00 and we were advised to be there for 5:30 because the lines get long due to the security checks! Unlike our compound security which is a running joke amongst residents here, the Embassy takes it beyond seriously. In fact, Worth had to go back outside and turn in his key to the rental car because it had a remote unlocking sensor.
We left the compound at 5:20, dropped to kids at two of their friends where they were spending the night and we were off. The Diplomatic Quarters are less than 10 minutes from the house. To get in there, we went through 2 check-points: imagine very curvy road blocks, where you have to basically zigzag to avoid the concrete blocks. I had to laugh at how I must have looked sitting in the car. I am wearing my black abaya over my beautiful gown, just to get into the DQ. The diplomatic complex is quite vast, organized behind barbwire fences and with two entry checkpoint and one exit only. The embassies are organized around 9 roundabouts. It’s surprisingly green and has lots of trees. The American Embassy sits towards the back of the DQ with a huge parking lot in the back where all of the guests left their car. Before entering the embassy, we went through another check point, where we were asked to leave ALL electronics…so no cameras, cellphones, NOR remote-entry keys were allowed in the embassy. Worth had to leave the keys in an envelope and was given his claim ticket. Imagine that over 500 people attended this function..that makes a whole bunch of envelopes!
After going through the X-ray machines, metal detectors and handheld detectors, we were finally inside the US embassy complex. The abaya I wear has some metallic ‘bling’ that caused the metal detector to go off and required that they search me with the hand held want. The ball was taking place inside a large courtyard and was accessible through an underground parking lot… Remember that we access this event from the back of the embassy!
The set-up was amazing! They had strung “icicles white Christmas lights” across the courtyard, and the large round tables, with 2 color contrasting tablecloths, beautiful fresh-flowers centerpieces, wine and water glasses and pressed cloth napkins. As we entered the courtyard, we were greeted and shook hands with each one of the Marines there. The last one even handed me a red rose and we both received commemorative pilsner glasses - what irony to have that in a dry country!
We found the master of ceremonies who showed us the seating chart. There were over 40 round tables each seating 10 people plus several large rectangular tables. Overall I would say about 500 people were attending. Our table was toward the back, so pretty far from where the ceremony was going to take place BUT close to the buffet lines AND the BAR!
The ceremony recognizing the Marine Corps started at 7:00 PM with a good old Christian prayer, while at exactly the same time you could hear the call for prayer. It was quite surreal to listen to the prayer and hear the call for prayer at the same time. I just loved it.
The Ambassador stood and did his speech which carried the hallmark of all good speeches….It was short. Then his wife read a letter from Secretary of state HRC.
Then it was dinner time, with buffet lines…Oh, so sweet dinner…Two pigs had been roasted and cut in pieces, with some especially crispy skin. We even found some pork ribs! Tempura shrimp and vegetables, smoked salmon, and prime rib too. All sorts of salads, vegetables and breads were available as well. Now, knowing me, I left some room for dessert…and that was a good decision: carrot cake, chocolate mousse, cheesecake, petits fours, various Arabian desserts, pecan pie, apple pie…
After dinner, the ball itself started. We had wonderful conversations with the people at our table and did a bit of drinking. I was especially fond of a juice cocktail mixture that you can buy here which tasted REALLY good with Ciroc Vodka!
We left there at 11:30, tired, a little tipsy but happy to have attended our first (of many, we hope) functions at the US Embassy in Riyadh!
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