Meeting the Swedish Ambassador

I must call the Ambassador´s wife. She´s not in. I leave a message.

We are expected at 7. If we had more than one set of fancy clothes we would agonize about what to wear.

The ambassador takes a while to warm to us. I think it is because we don´t look very serious. He asks us what we do. We give him long-winded and complicated answers.

The servant is wearing white silk gloves. The food is exquisite. I comment on the roasted pine nuts in the salad. We are poor so we eat a lot of potatoes. I explain that potatoes here are a delicacy for us because they taste so much better than in Europe. Everyone loudly agrees with me.

The ambassador takes his coffee with lots of milk and two spoonfuls of sugar. The servant know this and doesn´t ask him first.The ambassador´s wife gives Francesca a big red poncho. I think this is a joke.

I would like to smoke but noone else does and there are no ashtrays.When conversation slows down it is the ambassador´s job to start talking to get it going again. He does this very well. He talks about his work and about music. When he talks about politicians he doesn´t mention their politics. He is friends with Dave Brubeck´s son.

The ambassador´s wife´s Peruvian family used to be big landowners. Now they are not so well off. Her brothers and sisters can´t take time off work to visit her because they are afriad they won´t have their jobs when they come back.

When we dance we are all very drunk. The music is very good and we don´t have to worry about the neighbours. There is a portrait of the Swedish royal couple on the wall. We are offended. We don´t believe in monarchy.

The fruit is very good. I eat most of it.