Social Events at Embassies

Usually we hear abt such events through the grapevine since we do have friends from amongst the diplomatic community and they pass on the info to us. I am not sure if these are announced in local newspapers. Never seen any. Possibly within the diplomatic circles, newsletters, mailers etc.

grrrrrrrrrrr.. PET PEEVE of mine!

How do you get invited to the American Embassy?  Well, you find somebody who works there--maybe the janitor?--and you kiss his ass BIG TIME so that he will 'sponsor' you. 

The system here SUCKS--so NOT like what America is supposed to stand for. 

LOL - do you know any janitors we can kiss up to?

Maybe I should lok for a Janitors job at the US Embassy....
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

You can always check with the major supermarkets around the diplomatic area in Riyadh, a friend of mind gave me that info.

Hope it helps:cool:

Maybe I should lok for a Janitors job at the US Embassy....

Alliecat wrote:

Maybe I should lok for a Janitors job at the US Embassy....

you missed out the "pleasure" part within the quote, puddytat

ya, that pleasure imitation was soooooooothing!

Oh, I didn't miss it

reminds me of a "pleasure n pain" joke that used to float around town during our teens that went,

"theres no pleasure without pain said the monkey chasing a porcupine..."

Each embassy has a different system, depends on what country you are from what they run and how you source invitations.

It's a good idea to register with your countries embassy when you arrive and this a good opportunity to ask about whether they run social event and if these are open to all citizens (in which case ask to be added to the mailing list) or simply for friends of the embassy staff.

If the event was of interest - yes!

I'm an Australian and we are fortunate enough to have an embassy that runs excellent events.  So the answer for me is definitely yes.

If your an Australian make sure you register with the embassy!

That's the worst part of embassy functions, the limited number of guests you can take and figuring out how to ration out invitations across your friends.

That and once you've invited someone as a guest you need to go even if on the night you feel like death warmed up or your guest will never speak to you again. 

Invites are precious don't waste them!

Find people you like but don't know well and ask them to go with you.

Most people really appreciate getting an invite to attend an embassy function, and spending time outside of work with someone an be a good way to turn acquaintances into friends.

I wasn't fishing for an invite just encouraging you to use this as an opportunity to build friendships.

As soon as I got here, I registered with the American embassy.  I also sent them several emails inquiring about social functions and asking to be placed on a mailing list.  To date (9 months later), I haven't received so much as an acknowledgement.

I did speak to a man I was directed to at a bazaar (after I'd been here a month or two) and he stressed--several times--that he'd been here 13 years and paid his dues (meaning, he went through the whole 'find a janitor and kiss his ass' routine) and that I had to follow the system.  The man was less than helpful (or friendly).  He told me to look around and find somebody who would 'sponsor' me (he didn't offer to lol).

Ironically, a couple months ago I was at a Hash function and two younger guys were trying to put the make on a very pretty  Czech girl I'd met.  I heard the 'wingman' say to her, "This is my friend.  He works at the US Embassy and he can get you invited to parties!' 

So.  This is the system at the American embassy functions.  Interestingly enough, I know some Brits who have been to US functions and said there were very few actual American guests.  There's something seriously wrong here.

We received a late invitation to a cultural performance given by the Turkish Embassy last evening. The event was held at the King Fahd Auditorium at the western end of Ma'ather Street and we managed to rush there by 8 pm.

The performers put on some excellent traditional Turkish music and folk dances and also had a variety of Turkish handicrafts that were displayed and offered for sale, too.

A sumptious dinner, catered by Al Nafoura, was served after the program. It was a lovely evening where we met several interesting Turkish and other diplomats and academics.

Program finished around 11 pm.

Alethe wrote:

I'm an Australian and we are fortunate enough to have an embassy that runs excellent events.  So the answer for me is definitely yes.

If your an Australian make sure you register with the embassy!

Hey Alliecat forget about sucking up to your embassy's janitor..
I'll invite you to mine..but be warned.. Aussies are partial to a drink or two:P

Aussies are partial to a drink or two:P

A drink or 2?!?

An Australian friend invited me to a Christmas dinner at the Aussie embassy. It was outdoors in the Embassy court yard. 

About every half hour or so, a voice over the loud speaker warned against 'spewing' .. said if you spew, you'll have to clean it up and then will be escourted out!  Also warned against ripping the fixtures from the bathroom but that's another story, I guess lol

So I did get the impression you guys like your brewski's!! 

(BTW, count me in and I promise not to 'spew' or rip out the toliet!)

Alliecat wrote:

Aussies are partial to a drink or two:P

A drink or 2?!?

(BTW, count me in and I promise not to 'spew' or rip out the toliet!)

That's my girl!

Let me know your email address when you arrive Ioanna and I'll make sure you get any Aussie Embassy event messages (while you wait to get on official list).

Join the Southern Cross Women's Association too.  They run good combined events for Aussie & Kiwi women.

Alliecat: The guy with the microphone is called Chris and he's a sweetie.

Thanks for the tip, I just sent you a private message

The guy with the microphone is called Chris and he's a sweetie.

Is warning against spewing and tearing out bathroom fixtures a regular announcement at Aussie functions?? lol  (just curious!)

It's all part of our humour...we're larrikins at heart
(good word to look up)

Its funny, a Brit friend of mine applied for a visa to enter Australia and one of the questions on the form was, "Do you have a criminal record?". he politely asked the girl whether it was necessary to have one to be granted a visa. They refused him the visa.

He had to reapply again later on after some lobbying by people in high places to get a visa.

Somme folks cant take a joke...

musicman,

YOU'RE BACK.. and typing away so the operation was a success!!

Good to see you!

I'm glad to know the Singapore embassy isn't the only one that sucks.  I guess with a number of around 50, they don't really bother organising events. And when I do email them about whether they're holding one (e.g. Chinese New Year in Feb), they reply me a month after the date. The other day I stumbled upon another Singaporean on an expat mailing list and she told me the ambassador held an informal gathering recently, which of course I only found out about AFTER the event!

I only found out about AFTER the event!

Of course!

Most third world embassies in Riyadh do not possess the right resources, who are professionally well managed to conduct their affairs. It is very possible that the lowest quality of their foreign service workers are posted to this region.

Even some first world embassies have chosen to hire and assign tasks to absolutely incorrigible creatures.

Its only when you are confronted in dealing with them first hand that you realize how putrid they can be.

I heard from an insider that the Sg govt provides a very lean i.e. LOW budget for foregin embassies for social events, unless it's something like National Day. Oh well..

There's a bazaar thing going on at the Malaysian embassy this Thursday 7am-5pm. It's open so anyone and everyone can go.  Don't have more details other than that. Anyone interested?

Its not just the budget or what the embassy can afford. its the total lack of professionalism of the human resources who are employed within. a very sad state of affairs, indeed! applies across the board to almost all third world nations and even some first worlders, too.

Sounds like the Aussie's have more fun. Will have to befriend a few of you when I get there. See you all sooooon.

We were informed last night that the policies are going to change at the AE fairly soon.  Its suppose to go back to the 'way it was' and having a sponsor WON'T be necessary.  Just not sure what SOON means...  LOL:P

Just not sure what SOON means...  LOL:P

Bukrah, Inshallah   (I'm sure you know what THIS means lol)

The sponsor issue has been floating around a loot these days and there may be some truth to it but no one will know when until we see it happening on the ground like everything else in this little acre of earth. No doubt it will be a very welcome relief for everyone. I wish they also take away the exit/re-entry dilemma which is a terrible headache when one has to leave on an emergency in a hurry.

At the US embassy the organization that puts on social functions is USERA (US Embassy Recreation Association). There office is located on the rear side of the embassy, if you go to the front gate and ask, they will direct you there.

There are a lot of people who will tell you that you have to pay your dues, and blah blah blah...I was here about two weeks before I went to my first function at the Embassy. All I did was go to the USERA office and buy a ticket. Now, the tickets are rather expensive, especially considering what embassy you are trying to go to...but it is worth it for this reason: If you buy one expensive ticket, you get into the "network" and meet people who can invite you to the less expensive and even free functions at the Embassies.

Now, with that being said, I have heard a rumor that all of the US Embassy parties are now by invitation only, but things change frequently, so I am not sure how true that is. I was lucky enough to make friends with one of the Marines that is on the embassy detail, so he pretty much hooks me up now, so I am not sure if you can still go in and just buy the tickets like you used to be able to..

The best advice I have for people is put yourself out there, meet as many people as you can and be nice, and it is not hard to turn up SOMEONE who has a connection at an embassy. Especially for you women, getting invited to the parties is not hard at all (I swear it is like being in high school sometimes...)

So with that being said, be friendly and meet as many people as you can...don't be afraid to spend the money to buy the tickets (sometimes 500 SAR) and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting involved...It also helps if you have the right intentions...I know most people get really turned off by the whole "can you get me into the embassy, I am desperate to get drunk, eat pork, and dance with women" crowd...

Hope this helps...

TE

gr8 marketing....

@WTENGEL - thanks for all of this, I have just replied to your other post about things to do for your wife - before seeing this.  Now I feel silly teaching you to suck eggs!  Sounds to me like you already know what your wife can do in her 10 days in Riyadh, but I do hope some of what I offered will be useful.
About the Embassies, yes, I am aware of the whole thing, and we (Ian and I) are lucky as I have the British and he the South African (although I hear the British do's are a bit stiff - so maybe I am not that lucky afterall!), but at least we have two sources.  My opinion about Riyadh, Saudi and most countries of the world - it is always about who you know and not what you know - so, I believe old school rules apply whether one likes it or not! Ian informs me he already has an invite for the SA embassy party, so there were are, as you say, its easy enough if you get off your arse and do something about it.  This whole 'getting to know the who and the what' is very much like the play ground syndrome at school - that is probably the single biggest problem with it all - it was horrid at school and it remains horrid as an adult!  Still, what else can one do!  Luckily, I am not backwards in coming forwards - so I have no issue with the whole "hello - I am " thing, but I can well imagine some will really struggle with it.  One of the other things I am putting together is a "first one induction group" This is where I will have a plan of activities and a small 'buddy' scheme all for new women coming into a compound.  Doesn't matter which compound as the plan is replicable.  I hope to have it off the group very soon - I am back in July, but it will be so hot by then, I will see when the best month to launch will be, am feeling Sept would be good?  Any suggestions? Max