Terrific Visit to Sweden by Secretary of State Kerry

On May 17, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Ambassador and Mrs. Brzezinski greet Secretary of State Kerry upon his arrival to Sweden.

This week, US Embassy Stockholm was honored to support a remarkable and highly productive visit to Sweden by Secretary of State John Kerry, his first visit as Secretary. Two goals were paramount for the visit:  (i) to meaningfully and constructively engage on the future of the Arctic through the Arctic Council, which Sweden chairs and of which the US is a member (ii) to engage Swedish government officials on the challenges we face together around the world.

Secretary Kerry landed in Stockholm early Tuesday morning and got underway immediately with consultations with the Swedish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Whether it’s the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan or the nuclear issue in North Korea (where Sweden acts as the protective power of the US), these are not just American challenges but international challenges and we are pleased that Sweden is a key partner in trying to solve them. An enormous shared opportunity is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; we both look forward for negotiations over this agreement to get underway soon. Prime Minister Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Bildt are incredibly gracious hosts, and the conversation reflected how genuinely close and results oriented our bilateral relationship is.

Secretary Kerry then went to the US Ambassadorial residence, where he bore witness to the US Embassy’s salute to Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who chose not to be indifferent and saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. The US Embassy planted last year in front of the US Ambassadorial residence a horse chestnut tree (the same kind Anne Frank looked out over from her window in Amsterdam) in honor of Wallenberg.

Secretary Kerry then took a photo with our awesome US Marines, spending time to ask them about their service and where each came from.

Then the Secretary met with US Embassy staff members and families at the US Ambassadorial residence.  It was truly a warm, genuine and inspiring event.  Secretary Kerry immediately invited all the children on the stage with him, providing a poignant moment for the Secretary to reflect on life in the Foreign Service and speak of the great sacrifice, courage and patriotism of their parents. The Secretary took photos with all the kids, and went around the room and shook every hand. It was a wonderful and touching US embassy family moment.

After a casual lunch, in which we had the honor of being joined by US Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who had conducted an important wildlife program in the morning, we left for the High North of Sweden, to Kiruna for the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council was launched in 1996 to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, in particular on issues pertaining to sustainability and environmental protection.  The United States, together with Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Russia are members.

The first meeting I took part in was with the Secretary, Senator Murkowski and Alaskan Permanent Participants (including several Native American tribal leaders). The Secretary discussed the Obama Administration’s new National Strategy for the Arctic and then dove right in to discussions about social challenges and biodiversity depletion. It was an incredibly real and honest conversation about the challenges we face together in the Arctic, and what it is we can do together to solve them.

The following morning the Ministerial began, with Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt opening the conference and Minister of Environment Lena Ek reviewing the solid record of Sweden’s chairmanship. Then national statements were presented, and Secretary spoke on behalf of the United States in the most visionary and poignant way. Here are some key passages from the Secretary’s remarks:

·         “It’s an honor to be here in Kiruna, and I begin by saying that there are many areas where the eight Arctic states’ interests overlap significantly. And despite our different sizes and our different cultures, and many of the varied interests that we’ve heard today from permanent participants, we share many values and priorities. But there is nothing that should unite us quite like our concern for both the promise and the challenges of the northern-most reaches of the earth.

·         “Temperatures we know in the Arctic are increasing more than twice as fast as global averages, and they are endangering habitats and they are endangering ways of life.  Last September, the extent of sea ice covering the Arctic reached a record low, threatening marine mammal life and the indigenous and local communities that depend on them.”

·         “So we’re proud to join you today in the important work of protecting and preserving our shared Arctic, not just for the nations that touch it, but for the way that what happens here, for the stewardship that we have responsibility to execute, for the way that it touches every single person around the world and our way of life.”
The Ministerial was followed by lunch in the LKAB mine, the largest of its kind in Europe. Kiruna was founded in 1900 primarily around the extraction of iron. The mining industry remains so important to Kiruna that the town is currently in the midst of moving several large neighborhoods to a new location in order to enable further extraction.  With the local economy booming and with low unemployment numbers, Kiruna is thriving.

Secretary Kerry then returned to Washington. He returned having advanced the US interest bilaterally and multilaterally and the Embassy was honored to have had him here. We live in an ever smaller world, where problems have local roots but global reach. By engaging with our superb partners the Swedes, Secretary Kerry got us that much closer to addressing the challenges of our times.

I will end by saying that to me Secretary Kerry is a particularly inspiring leader. He speaks from the heart; has incredible military service and public service to draw from; and he shares President Obama’s great strategic perspective and vision. It was a deep honor to support his visit to Sweden.

For more pictures from Secretary Kerry’s visit to Sweden, check out the State Department’s Stockholm Flickr page and the Kiruna Flickr page of the trip!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
IMG-20130428-00013

The Excellent Stockholm Butterfly Museum

On April 29, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

On Sunday I took my daughter Aurora and my visiting Mother to the Stockholm Butterfly Museum (Fjärilshuset).  Sweden is a nature-lover’s paradise.  Whether it is the sub-Arctic High North, where the remoteness and space and beauty is captivating, or the thousands of little islands in the Swedish Archipelago, or the sunsets on the West coast, it is a country of gorgeous topography, and a love of nature.

In the capital of Stockholm there is a Butterfly Museum consisting of a 3000 square meter big tropical rainforest exhibition.  Outside the museum there are places to sit, with tastefully arranged chairs and places for children to play.

In the enclosed structures, high air humidity and temperature allows 1000 butterflies of different species to fly around freely in the facility. There are presentations of flower bouquets for the butterflies, as well as little hangings upon which the butterfly’s cocoon hang, and where you can watch the butterflies hatch.  Bouquets are strategically positioned  to attract butterflies so people can see them.  There are also parrots, dart frogs, turtles, and a number of really impressively large fish swimming in indoor ponds.

Here are photos of our visit to the Butterfly museum, from which we took wonderful memories from this unique exhibition.  Thank you Sweden for yet another wonderful memory!

Tagged with: • • • • •
 

Toca Boca Time!

On April 10, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Emil Ovemar and Mrs. Natalia Brzezinski with some Toca Boca friends!

Two Spanish, sing-song words encompass a foolproof solution for the traveling, exasperated parent: Toca Boca. The popular Swedish gaming application is not just a reliable silencer of agitated toddlers, but a celebration of the magic in every-day life.

 
The focus is just fun and letting kids be kids, according to co-founder Emil Ovemar who led us through Toca Boca’s colorful offices dotted with huge cardboard cut-outs and smiling faces of its iconic characters. At a time when kids grow up far faster than they should, Toca Boca’s creators are betting on prolonging the simple joys of childhood and learning through play. Children are encouraged to engage in interactive play that parents can feel good about Through a visual smorgasbord of never-too-perfect looking creatures— like my favorite “Bo”, a large hairy creature with a floral wreath adoring his jovial head— and simple activities like washing tea cups in a sink overflowing with suds or blow-drying the locks of a pink-haired girl with cat whiskers.

A part of the Bonnier Group, the concept was developed as a “digital toy” and launched in September 2010. The target age was originally 3-6, but today older siblings and even parents enjoy the meditative sensibilities produced by swiping away crumbs on a table meant for a bright tea set, concocting a pink polka-dot pair of pants via Toca Tailor or curling the unruly hair of a sanguine creature in Toca Hair Salon 2.

 
Today, it’s a wild success with a presence in most Swedish households and nearly 40% of its dissemination in the United States. In 2012, the game surpassed 22 million downloads and today vies with companies like Disney for top 3 status among most popular games. A strong collaboration with Apple and a prescient understanding of the times has propelled Toca Boca’s success. With most parents looking for an alternative to the violent, aggressive games that have been dominating the decade and a new generation of hands-on parents looking to cater to their child’s emotional development not only through ABC’s and 123’s. By emphasizing the simple things parents and kids do together like grocery shopping or setting the table, Toca Boca has hit a nerve.

New statistics demonstrating that Ipad play does not destroy the brains of your little ones (and in fact may enhance them!) and the focus of President Obama and many American law-makers on early childhood education may also add to the long-term social trends that will lead to the sustained success of games like Toca Boca.

 
Personally, my Ipad is replete with so many Toca Boca games that I’m even contemplating something I vowed to never do: purchase our nearly 4-year-old daughter her own Ipad.  I strongly believe in allowing children to play with whatever inspires them. If boys prefer ironing and arranging tea cups and girls enjoy strumming electric guitars and arranging train tracks (as our daughter does), so much the better for us all! The gender neutral nature of Toca Boca games is something that has always appealed to me. There are no pink Princesses with perfect blonde hair or loud, crashing cars; all the games focus on tasks that appeal to us all and characters who we can relate to.

Thank you Emil and the Toca Boca team for inviting me to your headquarters! We look forward to what creative games will be unveiled next!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
Mrs. Natalia Brzezinski visits Ftrack

Visiting Ftrack & diving into the world of our imaginations

On March 28, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Mrs. Natalia Brzezinski visits Ftrack

Most of us have been transfixed by the special effects of a Pixar film or heard the squeals of our children as they faced a scary sea monster peering at them through a movie screen. As the movie industry becomes more technically-enhanced with characters dancing in front of our theater chairs and touching our imaginations in new and innovative ways, it has become more important for the film production process to be streamlined, efficient and cost-effective.

This week, I was able to learn much more about these modern practices by visiting Ftrack, a path-breaking new company that has revolutionized the production and visual effects processes. I was met by CEO Fredrik Limsäter and Chairman of the Board, Eva Redhe Ridderstad, at the spacious, light-infused offices of Ftrack in a modern building in Södermalm, Stockholm’s more bohemian neighborhood and home to many creative and artistic companies.

 
Fredrik told me about the genesis of Ftrack. He worked at a major movie company in Los Angeles and soon realized that the rather long and occasionally cost-bloated visual effects process could be managed in a much better way. He came home to Stockholm and in 2008 developed a state-of-the-art, fully-integrated management platform to oversee all aspects of the production process. Along with a team of brilliant young programmers, he is incessantly improving upon the software to make what’s already a very user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing system even better. The software manages budget, supervises projects, edits images, and controls time and cost in a pragmatic manner. It is a unique development in the field which the company expects to permeate the market.

A tour of through the office space took us on a journey through the raging, blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the grassy, cow-speckled knolls of Northern Europe with rubber faces of hairy monsters or swarthy pirates interwoven through the adventure. The marriage of fairy-tale and the most evolved levels of high-tech was truly fascinating and instructive. Sweden is a leading producer of connective technologies and Ftrack is a prime example.

To add to the whimsical and positive energy was Alfred, the son of Ftrack’s CEO who followed us inquisitively throughout the tour, dodging between computers and under desks. Seeing a serious businessmen bring his child to the office and work seamlessly, unperturbed alongside the energetic boy was a lovely sight for me!

Thank you Fredrik and Eva for the generous tour! I cannot wait to see the new dimensions Ftrack will reach in the future!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • •
 
IKEA1

Visiting IKEA headquarters

On March 20, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Ten years ago while a first-year student at university, IKEA represented freedom, independence and a breadth of new opportunities to me. At that time in America, it had become a near requirement to purchase all of your university furnishings at the gleaming super-store.  Each piece of lightweight, streamlined furniture purchased represented one step closer to a new, exciting life!

Today the iconic brand symbolizes much more than just possibilities and potential for a fuller life. It symbolizes a core set of values— egalitarianism, sustainability and protection of the world’s resources, gender equality, social justice, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion, fiscal conservatism, a sense of community— which inform everything from its products’ “democratic design” to its style of informal, consensus-building leadership within the corporation’s management structure.

The short one-hour flight from Stockholm to Växjö, in the province of Småland, transported us to a serene, stony landscape dotted with leafless birch trees and known for its moose, and perhaps most of all, for IKEA and its founder Ingvar Kamprad who grew up there on a farm.

The land was notoriously hard to farm, thus instilling its people with a flinty hard work ethic and an aversion to waste. Kamprad brought the lessons he learned coming-of-age in a challenging setting to his vision for IKEA. A laser focus on efficiency is one of the reasons IKEA is able to provide its products at such low prices, explained CEO Mikael Ohlsson. Ensuring efficiency and strong partnerships with shared values along the entire supply chain is critical to IKEA’s success. The company has a “People & Planet Positive” goal for 2020 to make its stores, products and suppliers as sustainable as possible.

The focus on sustainable forestry is deeply impressive at a time when large timber tracts around the world are under intense pressure.  Great emphasis is placed on developing content alternatives other than just straight wood.

During our visit, we were able to see the production centers, scientific testing laboratories, design, the first-ever IKEA store and speak to designers in Älmhult. We even experienced a taste of home when we encountered an American supplier from Toledo, Ohio who was at IKEA headquarters with his wife for training and meet-and-greets, something IKEA does regularly to enhance partnerships and strengthened values transmission. When I asked Steve what he liked best about IKEA, he pointed to the strong focus on relationships.

One of the most personally exciting elements for me was their commitment to gender equality in the workplace. Many of the higher-level managers in the company started on the shop floor, and investing in employees’ productivity and development is paramount.

Today, IKEA has 42% female managers and has a short-term goal of 50%. One way they are attacking this challenge is through an initiative called “Battle of the Numbers” co-founded by Swedish media maven Eva Swartz Grimaldi  and Sofia Falk, that has received a one-year commitment from many of Sweden’s top companies (Ericsson, SEB Bank, H & M) to engage its top females in several seminars to discuss problems in gender equality within their corporation and find solutions. The solutions will later be presented to the CEO’s of all the companies to hopefully institute. IKEA’s assistant to the CEO, Fredrika Inger, an amazingly bright woman who helped guide and inform us through the visit, is directly involved in the initiative.

We ended this enlightening day in a very fitting place for Mark and me— the children’s section. Children, their development and their freedom to be and grow in every part of the home is a central value and driver for IKEA. The designers work with renowned children’s research centers to develop products that are first and foremost completely safe, even edible (as their markers are) but also lend to a child’s openness and creativity. Healthy eating and lifestyle are a key part of this message, and to underscore that we scanned reading books discussing gardening and squeezed plush toys shaped like carrots! Giving kids a healthy start is a passion and priority for our First Lady Michelle Obama and her path-breaking “Let’s Move” initiative, and many of IKEA’s values lined up perfectly with those of our President and many Americans.

Thank you Mikael Ohlsson and the IKEA family for an incredible visit! One that opened our eyes not only to IKEA, but allowed us to better understand the Swedish culture and what is important to Swedes.  Our visit places our shared values in an even stronger light!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
International Women's Day lunch guests listen to Mrs. Natalia Brzezinski

Celebrating International Women’s Day

On March 11, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Celebrating International Women’s Day underscores a clear fact: empowering women in leadership positions is central to a more economically prosperous, innovative and stable world.

Secretary of State John Kerry crystallized this message in an official statement on March 8th: “It is a great and too often untold global success story that so much of the political, economic, and social progress of the last few decades could never have been imaginable without the leadership and courage of strong women.”

To honor the scores of path-breaking female leaders in Sweden, I convened a lunch of 32 women, including established CEO’s, businesswomen and political leaders, matching them with younger “rising stars” in the business world. The sun finally emerged from a long absence on the Swedish horizon and shone valiantly through the large windows as women of all ages streamed into the U.S. Ambassadorial residence.

The theme of the afternoon was connecting generations of female leaders to share stories and have honest conversations on the “how” of women’s empowerment. How do we overcome long-held gender biases in the office, the promotion process and traditional leadership structures? How do we balance work and family in a way that doesn’t deplete our productivity and joy? How do we empower ourselves and each other?

To help answer those questions I asked two of my role models here in Sweden— Maria Veerasamy, CEO of Svenskt Tenn (the iconic Swedish design brand), and Eva Redde Ridderstad, CEO of Spago and former CEO of several finance firms— to share with the group how they achieved success.

Being the only child of an immigrant father who left South Africa during apartheid, Maria Veerasamy never had a formal higher education and began her professional life working with her hands as a tailor. That is how she forged a commitment with a concept that is now the cornerstone of Svenskt Tenn: quality. She began at the lowest level of another merchandise store in Sweden, always asking her employers “What’s next?” She never became complacent and maintained a laser focus on challenging herself and what potential opportunities lay ahead.

Eva Ridderstad is an effervescent woman brimming with positive energy and determination. As she described her career story, these qualities shone through and underlined the advice she gave to the group: surround yourself with positive people, do something you are passionate about and that is beneficial for the world, focus on results and have fun! Helping younger women climb the corporate ladder and believe in themselves is something she weaves into everything she does, and giving back is her key message.

An amazing thing I’ve been able to discover in Sweden is phenomenal role models and mentors both inside and outside of the U.S. Embassy. These women have been unabashed supporters, springboards for ideas and wells of confidence-boosting when I needed it.  Because of them I have never felt such a strong conviction in my identity as a woman, a mother and professional.

Sweden is a special place for women’s leadership. It’s a country that places a premium on social justice, equality, human rights and equipping both men and women with the tools they need to fulfill their goals. Both the United States and Sweden share these egalitarian values and a belief that people have the right to maximize their potential.

With this common foundation, our International Women’s Day celebration had a unique spirit, substance and joy about it.

Happy International Women’s Day to all!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 

To a great 2013!

On January 14, 2013, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

Ambassador and Mrs. Natalia Brzezinski

As a new year emerges with a very snowy January, Mark and I could not be more excited for what we know will be a new dynamic, fun and interesting year at U.S. Embassy Stockholm.

It’s still slightly surreal to imagine that we’ve been living in Stockholm for over a year now. My mind still conjures up vivid memories of our late night November arrival in 2011 with an exhausted, colicky toddler, two parents with the stomach flu and suitcases full of clothes that we quickly realized were not warm or waterproof enough for the very cold winter wonderland we arrived in. The city was frigid but the Embassy community could not have been warmer and kinder. As we stumbled around town in the darkness trying to find a grocery store or figure out where Strandvagen was, Swedes and Americans alike could not have been more helpful and genuinely kind and receptive.

Looking back on our first year, I’m amazed by all of the fresh and creative initiatives the Embassy accomplished and the diverse set of exciting visitors we received. A top highlight was the visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  We also received one of the largest Senate delegations ever to Sweden led by Swedish-American U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.  Additionally, we welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, U.S. Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, the legendary Paul Simon and Yo-Yo Ma and two sets of brilliant American Nobel laureates among many others. I know that I have grown personally and learned so much from following the lead of the talented U.S. Embassy team.

Our engagement flowed naturally and productively due to their hard work and also a sense of shared values that provides the basis of the strong American-Swedish relationship. A common commitment to democracy, innovation, sustainability and environmentalism, transparency and true partnership injected a special positive energy into the all of the goals and efforts by the U.S. Embassy. Through the Centennial celebration of Raoul Wallenberg, we were able to underscore the value of not being indifferent in the face of adversity and evil. It was extremely moving to be able to collaborate with the Swedish Foreign Ministry and other Swedish partners to celebrate Wallenberg.

In 2013, I’m looking forward to continuing my work in promoting diversity, youth engagement and women’s empowerment but also looking for new ways to be supportive and open within our community. Despite having a relaxing and lovely time over the holidays with my family in Chicago, Mark and I could not be happier to be back to a place and a set of people that we feel are home to us now.

Our daughter set the tone in this regard by voicing a near daily desire to go back home so she could “speak Swedish and go to dagis” to the chagrin and heartbreak of her grandparents!!

Among my many resolutions, one of the priorities is learning Swedish this year. In that hopeful vein, Gott Nytt år och God Fortsättning!

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • •
 

Thanksgiving with our U.S. Marines!

On November 23, 2012, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

The Thanksgiving 'Horn of Plenty'

The American holiday of Thanksgiving traditionally focuses on sentiments of gratitude; gratitude for the gifts each of us have, for our families and loved ones, for health and for country. I always remember as a young girl the image of the Thanksgiving “Horn of Plenty” filled with butternut squash, pears and other delicious foods. But moving abroad and being away from home can serve as a reminder that this holiday is less about cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes glazed with marshmallows and maple syrup than a sense of belonging, loved ones and home.

Nothing replaces family, but opening your heart and bringing people together in solidarity around national pride and community can be a powerful unifier. This is what we felt this year when our United States Marines honored us by joining our Thanksgiving meal.

These courageous young men risk their lives and sacrifice family, home and personal life every day to ensure the safety of ours. It’s not just our duty to return the generosity of spirit they give in their daily lives, but these are great guys and we had a fantastic time laughing, chasing around the kids and telling stories about our families. For three hours, we ate turkey and butternut squash pie, and talked candidly as the sun quickly set in the darkness of the Swedish winter. The maturity, perspective and prescient foresight in the words of these young men made me so proud to be part of this community.

Mark, Aurora and I feel so fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to be in Sweden and to have all of you in our lives. This holiday is about selflessness and inclusiveness, and that is what we have found in this Embassy community

This Thanksgiving I feel more blessed than I ever have before as I have gained another big family who inspires and teaches me so much every day. We are so thankful to have you all in our lives. Happy Thanksgiving!

Tagged with: • • • • • •
 

Creating a New Definition of Leadership

On October 12, 2012, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

What does leadership mean in today’s information-rich, interdependent economy? How can we create a new definition of leadership that encompasses diversity and openness?

These were some of the central questions asked Tuesday evening as I spoke to a group of young female professionals in a glass-enclosed, panoramic annex room of the Stockholm School of Economics. The young women were part of Barbro Ehnbom’s “Best and Brightest”, or the BBB network, which brings together rising stars from the university’s economics program to form a professional network. The goal of the network is to cultivate the leaders of tomorrow in the international business community, and the members receive valuable business contacts, scholarships and even job opportunities in China, which is Ms. Ehnbom’s latest scholarship effort.

Each year one of these women is chosen as the “Female Economist of the Year,” and I had the privilege to speak alongside one of the winners, Ambassador Lisa Svensson, on a range of topics concerning leadership, work-life balance and the obstacles women face in the corporate promotion and hiring processes, and especially in establishing an authentic form of personal leadership.

I relish these discussion opportunities because they are not moments where I speak at the group or preach my belief in work-life balance, but instead as a group we help create environments where we listen to each other and share lessons learned. I am not a female CEO or executive, and listening and learning from the panoply of international experiences those young women have had allows me to better understand the challenges that lay ahead for both young professional women and men. I truly believe that in the debate itself lies much of the solution. And together we were able to identify a series of obstacles that present themselves for young people in the workplace, such as avoiding burning out, managing personal life with career, and seeking out appropriate role models and mentors.

In the end, together we concluded what many statisticians and researchers have recently said: that the most effective executive boards or senior management groups are the ones with the most diversity. And not just gender diversity, but diversity in education, life experience, culture and religion. In an interdependent world where many corporations have a presence in more than a hundred countries around the world, being able to relate to others, have empathy and an open mind are critical to success. Being able to lead both from one’s emotional side as well as intellectual side is what the future of leadership will entail, according to many of the young women. Finding role models that emulate those qualities is of utmost importance. And one person mentioned time and again that evening as such a role model was Barbro Ehnbom, the founder of the network. Her passion for mentorship, belief in those young women and dedication to their futures is key to their self-confidence and something we all need more of: women helping other women, and human beings coming to each other’s sides in an increasingly competitive world rife with challenges.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • •
 

Celebrating the spouses & partners in the Embassy Community

On October 4, 2012, in Sweden, by Ambassador Brzezinski
0

There is one resounding lesson I’ve learned so far in Sweden: Diplomacy and public service is a team effort. The spouses of diplomats work just as hard and the embassy communities would not function without their support inside and outside of Embassy walls.

This was something conveyed to me in Washington, D.C. before we arrived at Post, and has only become more real and true as Mark and I have lived as a diplomatic couple. It’s been almost eleven months since we arrived in Stockholm and in that time I’ve had the joy and privilege to get to know on a deeper personal level many of the incredibly talented people that work in U.S. Embassy Stockholm. The past few weeks have also brought an influx of new Embassy staff and their families.  I’ve had several opportunities to welcome them and hear their stories, and am continually inspired by the sacrifice and determination present in their marriages and partnerships.

Spouses are often called on to perform some of the least glamorous but most critically important tasks to making an Embassy run effectively. Whether it is working in the mail-room, running the USECA store, or acting as our deft community liaisons to organize events and help make people feel at home— spouses bring heart and cohesion to the community.

Both inside and outside the Embassy, spouses make connections with important local traditions and groups, and act as some of our savviest advocates for our children as they transition into the local school systems and Swedish lifestyle. One of the most inspiring elements of this dynamic is how the role of “spouse” has modernized and evolved. In our Embassy community, we have several men who are allowing their wives to shine professionally and shouldering the burden of taking care of the household and family while theirs wives work long hours in a demanding job. They create home-grown nursery schools and children’s cooperatives to help out the other families whose young children may not have childcare, and put their own careers to the side.

We have same-sex partners who pick up their lives, leave careers and family, and move around the world following their diplomatic spouse, happily contributing in all the ways they can to each Embassy they land at. Whether it’s being a school bus monitor in Sri Lanka, organizing a rental car service in Brazil that’s less expensive for diplomats or home-schooling 6 children as they move around the world, or just being there to listen and absorb the frustrations that come with a very pressurized and complicated job, I’m amazed on a daily basis by the resourcefulness and strength of all spouses in our community.

How many people wouldn’t find it difficult to give up what’s theirs—a lucrative career, aging parents, a beloved homeland— and move to countries where conditions can be very trying to sacrifice both for the spouses’ success and their country? As the wife of a U.S. Ambassador I have so many resources that unfortunately and unfairly the spouses of other officers do not. So I would like to celebrate everything that all the spouses, partners, girlfriends, boyfriends and children do to make this Embassy so special and dynamic. Thank you.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • •
 
« Previous Entries