We proudly present our 2009-2010 Washington Life Diplomatic List. Here you will find spouses’ names, many diplomatic residences, and correct addresses for thank you notes, deans by seniority, and more photos of ambassadors than ever before during this big year of change.
Amb. Roy Ferguson and Don Ferguson (New Zealand), Amb. Michael Louis (St. Lucia), Amb. Vaino Reinhart (Estonia), Amb. Claudia Fritsche (Luxembourg), Amb. Maria de Fatima da Veiga (Cape Verde), Amb. Heng Chan Chee (Singapore), Amb. Latchezar Petkov and Doryana Petkova (Bulgaria).
Our Diplomatic Family
Contributing Editor and Diplomatic Dance columnist Gail Scott on the tightly-knit Embassy Row community.
This fall is different and we all seem more like “family.” Washington’s new political atmosphere has spread to Embassy Row: fresh, young diplomatic families bringing their high energy and hopes to their residences and chanceries, just the way the Obamas have filled the White House, the Oval Office, and the South Lawn with their new ideas and lifestyle choices. Veteran envoys of all races, religions, and cultures seem happier to be here. Never have so many non-Muslims celebrated breaking the Ramadan fast at sundown with their diplomatic Arab colleagues. British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald and Lady Sheinwald, among many other ambassadorial couples representing Muslim-minority countries, welcomed their diplomatic colleagues from Muslim-majority countries into their official homes. “This was a first for us,” said Sir Nigel. “An experiment, you might say, but we would like to continue this new tradition each year to show goodwill to our Muslim friends.”
Our new Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and her new Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall continue the very recent tradition of women at the top of our foreign ministry. Capricia, in particular, represents the increasing pride of top appointees with mixed heritage. During her festive Seventh Floor swearing in, Capricia celebrated her Croatian and Mexican heritage (38 family members were there) and her long friendship with the Clintons (Chelsea included).
Amid all this camaraderie, we face tough choices in a world that is not as safe or as carefree as it used to be. Many of our countries are struggling financially and the worldwide economic questions get priority over everything else but security. We need our diplomatic family to help us navigate these global issues and we welcome our newest diplomatic family members to Washington – still the number one diplomatic posting on the globe.
