A party at the British Embassy -- Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth!

I don't expect that it will be more than one time in my life that I get in a taxi and say "British Embassy please".  And head off to a party to celebrate the birthday of the Queen of the United Kingdom, in Abu Dhabi.

Dear  Ms Kathryn “Kate” Mueller  (900) Celebrating The Official Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  Her Majesty’s Ambassador Dominic Jermey CVO OBE Requests the Pleasure of Your Company For a Reception at 7pm on Tuesday 23 April 2013 RSVP by 15 April Dress Code: Lounge Suit /National Dress

  

We look forward to welcoming you to the British Embassy on Tuesday 23 April 2013.

Please be aware that for security reasons bags may be subject to Embassy search procedures. Please bring photographic identification along with your invitation.  

We regret that we are unable to accommodate cars on the Embassy compound. However, there is mawaqif parking in the car park opposite the Embassy, near Sheikh Khalifa Mosque and in the Corniche car park, just before the Embassy turning.  If you do require disabled access to the Embassy, please contact us in advance.

Landmarks for drivers/taxis: The Embassy is located on Khalid Bin Walid Street, between Hamdan Street (#5), and Khalifa Street (#3) across the road from Sheikh Khalifa Mosque , Arab Bank Building and close to ADIA. The Embassy is the white compound behind the Hilton Baynounah.

Please be advised that the event is being held outdoors on the lawn and ladies may prefer to wear low heeled shoes.

I went on my own. Not necessarily comfortable to show up to a party where you know no one.  And I mean no one. But I was determined to take advantage of this unique experience and stay for awhile, and enjoy another new adventure.

I decided to take the advice on the invitation and arrive by taxi.  That was after going back and forth in my mind on what to wear to such a soiree.  (skirt, short sweater with short sleeves, and the recommended flats.)

As you walk in, the first sight are large letters (about as tall as me).  Then, there are servers handing out a berry flavored tea.  You walk in a ways. And before going into a receiving line (yup), there are other servers to take your glass of tea.  You go into the receiving line, shake hands with various Embassy folks (the ambassador was entertaining a sheikh on a patio/deck area), and are warmly welcomed.  You begin wandering around the party/reception area, which is out on a large lawn.

You can type in "British Embassy, Abu Dhabi" on Google Maps and see the complex.

More servers, this time with different sodas in glasses. (No ice.)  No one is yet eating the food at various tables, or imbibing in what the bar offers.

A staffer from the British Embassy (Hanna) kindly introduced herself, and we chatted for a few minutes. 

An official welcome, and a military band from the U.K. plays throughout the evening. Some military and national songs. Even some show tunes.  They were very good, in their crisp all white uniforms.  The drummers with their amazing precision were a delight to watch.  Apologies there wasn't better lighting (was using the camera on my phone), but this will give you an idea of them:

Here's a still photo of the band:

There were several food tables scattered about.  Bite-sizes of things like Beef Wellington, Welsh Rarebit, Yorkshire Pudding, mashed potatoes with pot roast.  Some of these bite-size were served on Japanese soups spoons, other on silver spoons with the handles back backwards in half so that the the spoon sits upright with the handle.  Fruits, sliced vegetables, cheese and crackers. And desserts.

Some of the food art was beautifully crafted.  I had not seen watermelon sculpted into a flower before:

And these sculpted fruits and vegetables were fun:

For awhile, I just enjoyed the band.  And then I wandered, snacked, people watched.  At one point I stopped at a high-top cocktail table that was only half-occupied. The people (two women and a man) standing next to it were in an animated conversation.  The man turned, introduced himself (Gordon) and invited me into the conversation. The conversation had something to do with Somalia, and for a second no one could recall the name of the capital (one of those tip-of-the-tongue moments).  Gordon introduced me to both women; one didn't linger long, but the other woman (Natalie) and I ended up talking for quite awhile. Gordon and Natalie invited me to wander around with them, and we ended up eating and talking and laughing for quite awhile. Some of the conversation was about things to do in Abu Dhabi and the surrounding area; Natalie has been here four years and Gordon two years, so they are more familiar with things to do.  We exchanged business cards and have been in touch. (Next blog ...)

I've been passive in meeting people.  If I have met them through work, or random events, or church, or through Tom and Danielle, then super.  I have not had an interest in going to hotel bars and socializing with strangers (a past time for some Expats, as bars have special offerings of activities and drink and food specials), and only recently (for whatever reason) have started looking at activities such as lectures.  I've gotten to know colleagues at work, which has been great.  Basically, like in California, once I'm home, most evenings I enjoy staying in, and work on various things (blog, NASPA, writing emails, Skyping, working out). And I have been completely okay with this choice of mine.  But it was nice to meet a couple of folks.  (I've met some a small group of lovely women via a Bible study currently, and that has been very nice as well.)

Thankfully it was a cool evening that night (that day was in the mid 80's ... and yes, that is cool here!) with a nice breeze.  Cool is relative; the two weeks prior had been in the lower 100's during the day.  Not only did it make it more comfortable for all of us outside, but allowed the ice sculpture to last longer :-)