The 1st, the 3rd, and the 4th of July

During my last few years of living in Washington, D.C. my girlfriends and I got together and hosted a big, family 4th of July cookout.  We had all the traditional 4th of July foods - BBQ chicken, corn, hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, soda and beer.  However, before that wonderful tradition got started, and especially before I had kids (who are the world's strongest picnic invitation magnet), there were many lean years in which I didn't know WHAT, if anything, I was going to do on the 4th of July.

Well . . . I recently learned that there's nothing like moving overseas to make people want to get together and celebrate America!

Here's what we did in Jakarta to celebrate the 

4th of July . . .  

On Sunday, July 1, we took the kids to a family 4th of July party at the American Club - a private country club (of sorts) for Americans.  There was a live band playing American tunes, good ol' fashioned American food, lots of party games, and of course a fireworks show.  Natasha went on the swings and heroically crab-walked around the playground, broken leg and all, and Logan danced, or rather "shuffled" up on stage to his favorite song, "Party Rockers."  And, of course we went to the party coordinated in the colors of our flag - red, red, white and blue??  Well, you get the idea . . . 

 

At this party Natasha, who has been GREAT at trying all kinds of new international foods,
started enjoying good ol' American BBQ chicken!  Whoda thunk it?  

Party rockers in the hoooooooooouse tonight . . . every body just have a good time . . .

 

Toward the end of an otherwise impressive fireworks display, the show stopped for no apparent reason. Soon after we learned that the President of Indonesia was attending an event near the American Club and was leaving the area, so his security detail asked that the fireworks be paused for 15 minutes while he leaves.  I guess it makes sense that they didn't want explosive gunfire sounds all around while the President attempts to leave.  Go figure!

A few days later on July 3, Darren and I attended a formal affair at the U.S. Ambassador's House to honor "the occasion of the 236th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America" for "a traditional Independence Day celebration."  For the life of me, I couldn't figure out how we got invited, as the invitation just showed up at Darren's office one day, and we knew no one else who was going.  But when we arrived, we saw literally hundreds of people were there and Darren joked that the only people left off the guest list were Logan and Natasha.  In fact, a lot of the guests were dignitaries from Indonesia's highest ranks, and many US Embassy and USAID employees.  Once we walked around we saw that we knew 3 or 4 people, but we actually don't know too many Embassy folks - yet.  And so, this was a great opportunity to meet them. 

The set-up for the party was very elaborate and quite inpressive.  On the grounds outside the Ambassador's residence there were 4-5 huge tents set up - like the kind you would see for a large wedding.  One of the tents had a formal receiving line and a stage for the welcome ceremony and then a live honkey tonk band.  One tent had red, white and blue decorations, and one tent had free food from American corporate sponsors including Starbucks, KFC, Cold Stone Creamery, M&M's (Mars), Duncan Donuts, etc.  There was also a separate tent set up for dinner that had far more distinguishable American cuisine - NY strip steak, New Orleans jambalaya, Southwest tortilla soup and New England clam chowder, roast turkey, and more.

Also specifically for this occasion, the Ambassador's house, which is about the size of a small Smithsonian museum (and just as beautifully adorned), had in it a kitchy replica of the White House Oval Office, complete with a cardboard cutout of Barack Obama.  Everyone was invited to sit in the chair and take a picture next to Barack Obama, who is much loved in Indonesia since he spent several years growing up in Jakarta.  I waited in a long que to take my picture with Mr. Cardboard-Obama.  Most people did as you might expect and sat in the big Oval Office chair, hands crossed, smiling politely, and taking a picture.  Totally embarrassing my husband and surprising everyone in line, I did something different and made my picture a little more sassy.  

I think Bill Clinton would approve of this one.  Exert your Independence, right?  After all, it's the 4th of July.  As my mother-in-law reminded me, "well-behaved women rarely make history!"

Below are a few more staid pictures of this lovely 4th of July affair that we were honored to attend! 

The Ambassador's pool was filed with balloons arranged like a US flag.

After the singing of the US and the Indonesian national anthem, the US Ambassador gave a very nice speech, talking about the great strides the United States and Indonesia are making in helping one another.

Me and the Donkey are best buddies.  

Our friend Ted Osius, Deputy Chief of Mission, is returning to D.C. after several years in this high level embassy position.  In the Ambassador's speech, he gave Ted a special mention and  a very heart felt expression of gratitude.

Getting ready to dive into the 4th of July buffet!

Oy vey, Barack, can you please stand up straight and smile a little bit???  tee hee.

Today, on the actual 4th of July, I took my kids to a party at the American Women's association where they had their first taste of a root beer float (they only liked the vanilla ice cream, not the root beer - blasphemy!).  Plus there was swimming, a balloon toss and more.

Me and my friend Leah, the President of the American Women's Association.  

Between all of these parties, it was enough 4th of July celebrations to last me until . . .




 . . . next year.


Happy 4th of July, everyone!