For the past month I've...

OKAY, for a while life was proceeding as usual and there wasn't much to fill you in on, which was a bit depressing. But two weeks ago this changed.

I have a new job!!!!!!!!!

I transferred to the Rule of Law office to work for the Justice Attaché. The Rule of Law Coordinator offered me a position I could not pass up, so within a few days my contract was switched and I’m in a new office building working with WONDERFUL people and learning so much everyday! Baghdad is new again, and my happiness level skyrocketed. This of course means my address has changed again

Unit 2031 Box 31

APO AE 09870-2031

My morale was low as of late. Lots of dust storms, lots of work, lots of question marks waiting for confirmation of the new Ambassador, stress, dust, no sign of getting to come home da da da … so to energize life a bit we’ve been having themed parties. First was Shorties and Forties. You see the pictures below prove how classy we can be in Baghdad.

This started out as an Edward 40-hands party, where you ingeniously duct tape a 40 to your hand for fun.

We added shorts to the theme and the party got good.

Living and working in a maximum security compound brings out the collegian in all of us, coupled with the “world cup” we have going on here—the Peruvian guards have put together a soccer league—going to watch a futbol game feels just like intramural.

(Yes, all those spots are dust. It is really miserable. And on a side note, the funniest thing to me is that they've brought in more:I mean, if there is one thing we do NOT need)It's so funny! Everyday we need more because it just blows away.

Now, I have been keeping up my schmoozing with the diplomats. Best parties of late have been reeling with the British General. Reeling is Scottish dancing, that’s similar to square dancing, but with LOTS of spinning around. I've been 4 times, so I'm getting pretty good--hello summer wedding receptions!

The General’s political advisor has become a good friend and tonight is going to be his 5th farewell party. This is David sandwiched between the UK Ambassador, B, me and T.The most intimate party was at the British Ambassadors residence. We had a delicious lamb dinner and played games.(Playing la-di-da at Ambassador Prentice's house. You pass cans of soda in a rhythm to the tune of la-di-da, which gets chanted faster and faster. If you knock a can over you are eliminated.

I won : )

We kicked off spring by putting on a Prom. The theme was “A Serenade to Spring” held on March 21, the first day of spring in "Larry's secret garden" which is my new bosses apartment--he is on R&R. It was Sadie Hawkins style, in the end about 40 friends arrived in their Baghdad Best to a very decorated apartment turned into a "garden". Our Chariot

Yes, Prom was complete with a King and Queen.

Prom King & Queen: Damien and Jessica

There were 5 foreign diplomats in attendance—so I guess you can take the girl out of Protocol, but you can’t take the Protocol out of the girl.

My mom mailed me about 20 feet of grapevine that I constructed an arbor out of which made for our photo spot.

This is me and Ashley, in our best "prom photo" pose.

Mariana, Me and my roommate Thérèse

We brought in fresh flowers from the red zone. And strung up gossamer and colored lights around the room.

We borrowed the disco ball from the Embassy for slow dancing to the best of the 80s, like Bryan Adams, Everything I do I do it for you. We were dancing all night!

The commemorative t-shirts are on the way.

A picture's worth 1,000 words

With my buddy Ash out of town, my roommate T and I have been making the most of life here in the IZ. Which means hosting parties. Birthday parties, dinner parties, cocktails, ladies nights, Lebanese dancing, ect.

Hooka and sparklers

Amidst the social events, I've been busy planning Ambassador Crocker's departure. He gave final farewell remarks to a captive audience: all Embassy employees. There was good food, cake and a photo line.

The lady in the blue jacket is the Deputy Chief of Mission, now the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Patricia Butenis. My Protocol responsibilities include logistics for her meetings and events as well.

After his farewell, I dashed away with my roommate for an overnight trip to a nearby camp, Victory, for an early morning meeting. Victory is a base that operates out of Alfaw Palace. It was funny how much I missed working in the Presidential Palace. I had almost forgotten the awe of walking into a Palace every day. After the meeting, which was an intelligence brief, coordinated by one of the CG's staffers, we did a little sight seeing around Victory.

A view from the roof of the Palace. This was an old game club where Saddam and his cronies would get-away. The lakes are all man-made. There are Palaces all around these lakes.

Me and T on top of the Palace.

Me, T and Joe, our tour guide for the day.

The helos are landing at BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) which you can see in the distance. We hung out on the roof for a little while taking in the view and watching planes take-off from the airport.

Inside the Palace, this is a gift to Saddam that turned into a photo op.

Saddam built a type of playground park that has now been coined Bed Rock, because it's reminiscent of the Flinstones. We visited and hiked around.

Bed Rock sits on the water facing a Palace...now a bombed out Palace.

We had a cin-a-bon picnic at bedrock. You can see we're rebuilding the destroyed Palace.

Me and T

Around Camp Victory, are a few other Camps, Liberty, Slayer, Sully... The slogan made me long for the Redneck Yacht Club. (Shout out to Mary and Scott!)

There is a recently built gas station! It's been a while since I'd seen one of these. We decided to stop in for a fountain soda and found all kinds of fresh fruits and frozen meats that we stuffed into our backpacks and carried home.

Gas Prices

Hopped a helo in the afternoon back to the IZ. It was too dark to take photos on the way out, so here are some views of Baghdad from the sky.

The Presidential Palace, former American Embassy headquarters where I used to work.

Happy V-Day!

We invited a few of our girl friends over for a Japanese Valentine dinner.

T cooks and I bake. Keep scrolling for dessert photos

That's the update for now. I'm just in preparation mode waiting for Senate confirmation on the new Ambassador. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

Once again, my address has changed:

Beth Zentmeyer

Unit 2066 Box 66

APO AE 09870-2066

The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music

Except this time it was not the Hills...it was the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Baghdad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheraton_Ishtar

The first event the Emabssy has held in the Red Zone! The Ministry of Culture in conjunction with our Embassy hosted a concert for Peace and Friendship in honor of Ambassador Crocker.

I managed the guest list (aprox 1400), final set up of the stage, traffic flow patterns for arrival and departure, flowers, VIP seating and the meet and greet of VVIPs. I spent the day before in the redzone at the Sheraton praying that everything would go as planned, on time, safely.

The stage was built for this event; satelite via Iraqi contractors.

VIP Seating

The Concert was also an art exhibition for local Iraqi artists. It was one of those typical weekend affairs that we take for granted, proving monumental for Iraqis and U.S. partnership with the Government of Iraq (GOI). Though unfortunately the Minister of Culture got sick the night before the concert, two of the three Deputy Ministers attended, a few other Ministers and a handful of Diplomatic Corp, along with many students and local Iraqis who filled the seats. I estimate almost 500 people. SUCCESS.

This is the sculpture I fell in love with. I did not buy it, but one day when I have a home I will track it down, Insha'Allah

Performers. An Iraqi band.















Dancer Troupe.

It's hard to explain what going into the redzone is like. Anytime we leave the Green Zone (GZ or IZ-International Zone) we have to wear helmets and kevlar (ballistic) vests, so not only are you traveling in a thick convoy, but you also stick out like a soar thumb in mismatched, heavy gear. I plead to remove my helmet asap because it's often embarrassing. You're traveling in a city where 300,000 people live. They operate everyday as usual. Sleeping, shopping, cooking, living; and here I arrive in an armored motorcade in a helmet. "Hi!"

As you swallow the fact that life as usual is ongoing outside of the security of the IZ, there is this intense looming threat. As movements are made, PSDs and DS agents are calling out on the radio, "that guy's texting someone" "3rd floor balcony" "what's he doing?!" "look on your left" which keeps my adreneline gushing and my heart pumping a zillion miles a minute. I breath a sigh of relief when we safely enter the IZ. I always return ever more appreciative for the security detail & military forces that map the course ensure my safe and sound return.