Since coming to Togo we've had some good days and we've had some great days, but we just had our first 4th of July Embassy party, and it might be the BEST day I've had since arriving.
We started planning this party about 2 months ago, thinking there would be about 100 people, since only 50 people showed up last year. I recruited my partners in the mail room and, along with several of the Americans, we personally approached and invited every embassy employee and their families.
By last week, we were worried. Not only had we hit 100 people, we had
far exceeded it. Our list total was 450 people-- and we are a small embassy. We were about to have a BIG PARTY.
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| Before the Party... |
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| The line-up |
We partnered with the Marines who acted as our bartenders for the night, we put the FMO, IMO, Pol, & Econ officers on the grill and asked the Peace Corps kids to help set-up, we had a "dunk tank' commissioned and we had everyone else leading traditional 4th-of-July games like tug-of-war (tire-le-cord), cake walks, sack races, volleyball and basketball.
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| Setting up and trying out the dunk tank. |
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| Potato sack races |
In the end, 430 people came and partied. Both the Ambassador and the DCM were soaked from the dunk tank. The party ended at 7 with sparklers and Whitney Huston's rendition of the Star-spangled Banner.* Moments later it started to sprinkle. As we were driving around in the golf cart handing out a few leftover sodas to the local guard staff who had worked all night, each one of them stopped to tell us that, in Togo, if it rains at the end of your party, it means it was awesome. I'll take it. :)
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| Happy 4th of July everyone! |
*It had to be Whitney. There was no discussion. Togolese LOVE Whitney. I've never seen anyone tear up and belt out "AND IIIIiiiiiIIIII will ALWAYS love YoooouuuuuOOOOUUUUOoouuu" the way Togolese men can.
Dude, I'm so glad you are the new CLO! Can't wait to get back to Togo and party it up Kate style. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not!! We just got together and did it for fun. :)
DeleteAwesome Kate! I wandered into an Embassy party a long time ago in Costa Rica but did not think they happened anymore. I guess the embassies just need a Kate to get it going...
ReplyDeleteHahah! I think that's right! ;) Thanks Frank!
DeleteNo one throws a party like the Duder! Glad it was so fun. Miss you both tons!! Hi mich:)
ReplyDeleteUnless it's TWO DUDERS! :) I miss you duder! Hope you're having fun in OK!
DeleteThat sounds like an awesome 4th! We had a fancy schmancy party at the Hyatt, but I would have far preferred something like this. I'm hoping maybe next year I can throw an unofficial event (providing I have a CLO budget by then, of course).
ReplyDeleteIt was SO much fun! And don't worry-- it's totally do-able! We didn't have a CLO budget-- we didn't even have a CLO! We just sold tickets for a few bucks, served up some burgers and asked people to bring big side dishes. We had a little extra money and we used that for waterballoons, a few small party favors and a "dunk tank"! Since then people have been asking when we can have another party! Every day!It's great to know everyone had such a good time.
DeleteLet me know if you want any of my notes, I'd be happy to pass them on!