Santa's Blue Christmas

Santa's had a tough ride, and it's time for some R&R.  After going down like 6 billion chimneys and having cookies and eggnog at most of them, he deserves a rest.  Some think he returns to the North Pole, but we know he likes to relax in Mauritius.  So do we.  We'll be poolside with the reindeer and the big guy all Christmas Day.  Hope you are keeping warm someplace special today, and that your Christmas is white . . . or blue . . . and merry . . . and bright!

Love from our house to yours,
Shelly and David

Heather & Chase: White House Christmas

East Room: Who are the women to Chase's right?
 Answer:  Heather Campbell & Abigail Adams  

Heather and her boyfriend Chase toured the White House and saw the amazing Christmas decorations a couple weeks ago.  It was a special day, and these pictures can't begin to show how lovely are the decorations!  We are proud of Chase, who serves on the White House staff in a non-decorative role.  Merry Christmas one and all!

White House gingerbread house shows the WH
vegetable garden in foreground

GW:  I cannot tell a lie.  It's not a cherry tree.

Santa Comes to the Ambassador's House!

To the delight of some and the terror of others, Santa visited the Embassy's kids at the Ambassador's home, bringing small gifts to good girls and boys. Candy canes. Cookies. Christmas carols. Santa collected wishes, then made some of his own . . . Christmas Eve carrots for the reindeer, eggnog for the driver, and can I please get out of this fleece suit and the 95 degree heat!   And another wish as he strolled out of sight . . . Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

David's New Boss

 

Obama nominates John Kerry 

as secretary of state

The Washington Post, December 21, 2012

President Obama nominated Sen. John F. Kerry on Friday to be the next secretary of state, saying that “in a sense, John’s entire life has prepared him for this role.”  Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his selection all but guarantees a swift, smooth path to confirmation. The lawmaker has been a frequent foreign policy adviser and confidant to Obama, and his five terms in Congress have gained him bipartisan advocates in the Senate.

In a brief ceremony in the White House Roosevelt Room, Obama praised Kerry, the son of a U.S. diplomat, for his military service in Vietnam and his work decades later restoring diplomatic relations with that country, and for his long service in the Senate.  “He’s played a role in nearly every major foreign policy debate in the last 30 years,” Obama said.

Kerry’s widely expected selection was announced at the White House with little fanfare. Only a small pool of reporters was allowed into the Roosevelt Room for the president’s remarks. Obama joked that they had had a lot of forced togetherness earlier this year, when Kerry played the part of fellow Massachusetts politician Mitt Romney during the president’s debate practice.
“Nothing brings two people closer than weeks of debate prep,” Obama cracked.

Obama praised Kerry’s globe-trotting work ethic and noted his long list of personal relationships with leaders around the world. “He’s not going to need a lot of on-the-job training,” Obama said.
At the State Department, the senator would succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has said she plans to leave at the close of Obama’s first term, although she has pledged to remain in place until a successor is confirmed.

Clinton had wanted to attend Friday’s announcement, Obama said. She remains at home under doctor’s orders following a fall and concussion more than a week ago. Obama said he had spoken to Clinton earlier Friday.  “She is in good spirits and could not be more excited” about Kerry’s selection, Obama said.

In a statement shortly after the announcement, Clinton called Kerry an uncommonly gifted and experienced public servant whose experiences in war and politics will serve him well.  “President Obama and I have often asked Senator Kerry to undertake delicate diplomatic missions and to deliver difficult messages,” Clinton said. “He has forged strong relationships with leaders around the world. As I have learned, being able to talk candidly as someone who has won elections and also lost them is an enormous asset when engaging with emerging or fragile democracies.”  That was a reference to her own failed contest against Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 and Kerry’s loss as the party’s nominee against incumbent George W. Bush in 2004.
Obama noted his own political career was helped by Kerry, when the Massachusetts senator gave the then-Illinois state senator the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. The speech helped launch Obama into the national arena.

If confirmed, Kerry would take over a department stretched by short budgets and rising security costs overseas, and a diplomatic corps still reeling from the killing of U.S. ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, a rising star whom Kerry knew well. But his experience in foreign policy has earned him the respect of many diplomats.  Kerry became a frequent emissary for the Obama administration overseas. He traveled to Afghanistan in 2009 and persuaded President Hamid Karzai to accept a runoff election.  The senator did similar work for the administration in Pakistan, where he helped broker the release of a CIA contractor arrested on suspicion of murder and later persuaded the Pakistanis to return parts of a U.S. stealth helicopter that crashed during the Abbottabad raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Kerry was also the first senior U.S. elected official to meet with Mohamed Morsi before and after Morsi became Egypt’s president.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Our holiday card to you, with our wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!

Empowering Young Leaders

Engaging young Mauritians

Ambassador Villarosa gives keynote
speech for youth leaders

This may be different than what you think American diplomats and their spouses do overseas.  Much of American  diplomacy in the 21st century is about empowering others to move their societies forward.  You may remember that Shelly and I worked last summer to run a training program for women candidates for political office, empowering them to get elected.  Just last week, in local government elections more than 330 women were elected to office in Mauritius.  We were glad to be part of that success.

This weekend, our Embassy organized a leadership training program at a youth camp for young people (18-28 years of age) who are already stepping forward in their respective communities to serve and lead.  The training was to provide leadership skills, engagement, and inspiration for these young Mauritians.  This kind of activity is something Shelly and I love doing, even when it means working on the weekend.  Being a part of an enthusiastic group of young people intent on improving their nation's environment, education, politics, health, and economy is invigorating and heart-warming.  And . . .  it is exactly what American diplomats and their families need to be doing overseas.

Shelly's education and training skills
are in demand overseas 

Attorney M. Gobin addresses young leaders

Working together on social problems

Young Mauritians passionate about making
their country better

Eureka!!

Lovely parlor

In the middle of Mauritius lies a national treasure, a colonial-era home restored to its earlier charm, with period furniture and furnishings.  Today, there is a nice restaurant that serves meals on the spacious veranda.  Out back is a beautiful yard and a raging river in the ravine making several dramatic waterfalls.  A great place for a picnic and some swimming under the falls!  Just off the main road in the shadow of La Pouce mountain, it is called the Eureka Estate---and it's well worth a visit!

Opposite facing love seat

Dining room and wood floor

Eureka falls in the back yard

A great picnic and swimming site

Catamaran Trip!

On the beach after the trip

We spent Saturday on a catamaran on the Indian Ocean with friends and colleagues.  Sun, snorkeling, sand, and smiles . . . lots of fun during the days leading up to the start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

It sure is NOT beginning to look like Christmas!

Happy holidays!

Catamaran with volcano background

Friends Beth and Janet Visiting from NM

Boys will be boys

Dual hull catamaran

Election Time in Mauritius

Last weekend, Mauritius held elections in the villages, and this weekend there will be elections in the 5 cities in the country.  Folks here get very excited about elections!  Lots of billboards, signs, cars decorated, sound trucks, rallies, and commotion, especially generated by the parties running candidates.  This year, a new law requires that ballots have no less than 33% women running, so there is a more gender balanced look to the candidate slates.  Our Embassy has been working to train women for political office, and Shelly and I have been invited to speak at women's political campaign training programs.  The U.S. doesn't endorse or promote any candidates or parties, but we sure want to see more women take leadership positions throughout the world.

't e

December: Excitement of the Children

The first day of December.  The first day of those candy-filled Christmas calendars . . . every day kids open a new door for a sweet treat, anticipating the big door on the 25th.  A month for children's excitement to build.  In the 21 months since we left ABQ, we've met some great kids . . . some we've been privileged to hold from the day of their birth.  It's a statement about how long we've been away that the littlest ones are walking and talking and getting ready for Santa.



Speaking of Santa, you'll never guess who got elected to be The Man at the annual Embassy Holiday Party in 3 weeks.  Practicing the ho-ho-hos!   On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen . . .  Happy December, kids of all ages!!