Today began with a tour of the Embassy of Nicaragua, followed by a general discussion of what it is that embassies do, with Sammia Hodgson, the Nicaraguan Educational Attaché.  Maria Margarita Espinosa, of PRONicaragua (the official investment promotion agency of Nicaragua), then gave a presentation to the students about the potential advantages of doing business in Nicaragua.  We concluded our visit with an informal conversation about life as a diplomat and simply as a resident of Washington, D.C., and left with a better understanding of Nicaragua, of how embassies work, of possibilities for future collaboration, and even bags of gifts!

The Fellows with Dr. Rezelman, Ms. Priddy, Ms. Espinosa, and Ms. Hodgson, Embassy of Nicaragua.

As we walked to the State Department, Ms. Massey, the Director of the Global Health Fellows program, was delighted to find herself across the street from the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (a Regional Office of the World Health Organization).

Ms. Massey in front of the Pan American Health Organization.

Our visit to the State Department began with a tour of its Operations Center.  Even in today’s world of high technology, managing emerging world crises still largely comes down to phone call and e-mails.  We then visited the Korean offices and discussed Korea, Burma, China, and the Foreign Service in general, with several experts including our host, Mary Beth Polley (’97).  As we were leaving, several Fellows were overhead to be already sketching out their plans to work for the State Department one day.

The Fellows with Dr. Rezelman, Ms. Priddy, and Ms. Polley, State Department.

While we were in the area, we couldn’t resist ducking down to the Mall to visit “Al and Abe”!

The Fellows with Dr. Einstein, The Mall.

The Fellows with Ms. Massey and Dr. Rezelman, Lincoln Memorial.