jenepel

I just got back from the Embassy Christmas party and am feeling uncommonly cheerful.  I love my friends!  I wasn't really planning on going because no one in my office wanted to go - they are all too old or something.  Well, that's what they said when asked, which is ridiculous since it's the WHOLE EMBASSY party and people of all ages were there.  I do like my office but they aren't exactly party types.  Anyhow, so I did want to go just to check it out but wasn't going to bother on my own.  And then earlier this week someone told me we could bring guests.  Perfect.  Several of my friends have been bugging me for ages to come to the Embassy for lunch or drinks or something and I've been putting them off, telling them it wouldn't be very exciting.  So this was perfect.  They could come, not have to eat the crappy food, see the place, and something interesting (in the form of the party) would be happening.  Plus, I would get to go.

It was funny because the security took like 30 mins for them to get in, and I was all "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, maybe this is a bad idea" but they were just like "no Jenn. this is part of the experience!" which cracked me up.  So I guess it makes you feel like you're really working for it, when you have to go through what equates to airport security just to get to a Christmas party!  And I gave them a mini tour of the Embassy and my office but we didn't see much.  I guess I could have shown them more but I couldn't be bothered!  Now I kind of wish I didn't cheat them out like that but oh well.  The party itself was pretty lame, but I think it was really interesting for them to see this idea of this American party and tons of Americans in the middle of London.  The word surreal was used several times.  :)  And there were all those classic elements of an office party: drunk people, dancing people, crappy music, food running out, strobe lights (yeah strobe lights - don't ask me, the US Embassy is on crack).  Plus the added element of the few people I do know in other offices coming up and asking who my friends were.

The other weird thing is that I'm so used to London I don't even think about how Americans are sometimes also hard for Brits.  Like after we sorted out all the security stuff and were getting into the lift to go downstairs to the party, the marine guard called after us (in a heavy Southern accent) "have a lovely evening" and all four of my friends looked at me like "what?".  (3 Scots and a Russian) They had no idea what he had said.  Also, later on, the head of CI (IRS Criminal Investigations) came up to say hi.  He's a really cheerful jokey guy and he was also a bit drunk.  So he came up and introduced and chatted for a bit.  And when he left, my friend Phil (who had been pretty much silent during this exchange) said "he's the type of American I don't know how to take.  They're just joking around and I can't think of how to respond".  And this is from a guy who has a sarcastic streak a mile wide and is usually the first to crack a joke.  It's just that particular type of American (and I don't necessarily mean a loud one) with this certain type of confidence and attitude that is totally foreign to a Brit (or a Scot, in this case).  And I'm so used to tayloring myself to the nationality of whoever I'm with that I don't even notice things like that anymore.  Interesting.

This turned out to kind of be a rambling post about nationality, but what I meant to say was that I actually had a really great time at a party that I expected to just stick my head into and then leave.  And that was due to my fabulous friends.  And then we went and grabbed dinner in Chinatown.  Yum.  And then I came home (yay night buses) and called my bro, who will be here in TWO WEEKS.  Also YAY!

[Also, thanks to robyn_migratori I now have a paid account and room for lots and lots of userpics!  I can't wait to start uploading - maybe this weekend?  And there is now the possibility of voiceposts, but I'm not sure how I feel about that.  We'll see.]