The little saying goes "One for the dough and one for the show." We are sworn in day one to make our entry on duty official and allow us to receive a paycheck (for the dough). But after several grueling weeks of information overload, wrestling with bureaucracy, and general all around exhaustion, you really do feel that you have at least earned your spot. It all culminated in our official Swearing-in Ceremony, and what a show!
The setting was Diplomatic Reception rooms on the top Floor of Main State. The rooms are filled with historic antique furnishings and artwork. Several rooms have fireplaces and all are awe-inspiring. Respect and decorum are particularly prized by diplomats. It was a properly somber and dignified event as one by one 79 of us stood when our names were called. Undersecretary Pat Kennedy administered the oath of office, and the official photographer took our class photo.
Afterward, I treated my husband and mother-in-law to lunch in the nearby Diplomatic Dining Room. It was a great day to relax and smile.
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