Comments on: When "Thanks for the grub" doesn't quite cut it.

Question: When "Thanks for the grub" doesn't quite cut it.

the luke parker fiasco — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:26:34 -0800

How do I properly thank an Ambassador? I'm a Peace Corps volunteer who was invited (with the rest of the in-country volunteers) to the Ambassadorial residence for Thanksgiving dinner. Now, I'd like to send a thank-you message on behalf of my group for the invitation, but don't really know how to proceed beyond that.

Is there a protocol (beyond using titles as opposed to given/family names) that I should be observing? Preferred/suggested verbiage? A specific level of formality? This is a world I've never inhabited before, and am uncertain as to how to approach. Suggestions greatly appreciated.

By: the luke parker fiasco

the luke parker fiasco — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:35:16 -0800

I've seen this thread, but am hoping for some suggestions that lean more toward the post-event protocol than an RSVP

By: DarlingBri

DarlingBri — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:44:34 -0800

Fererro Rocher!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

Miss Manners Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior has a section on just this, however. I don't have a copy at the moment or I'd look it up for you.

By: WCityMike

WCityMike — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:11:34 -0800

This might be a little helpful, but not entirely what you want by any means.

By: KathyK

KathyK — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:30:07 -0800

Definitely address him/her by their title. Being invited to an Ambassador's house for Thanksgiving dinner, an evening typically filled with friends and family, is a pretty special and intimate event. Kudos to your Ambassador to provide a bit of home-away-from-home for you and your group on a day where being away from your family can lead to homesickness. I'd go with personable, respectful and appreciative text and not worry about the level of formality. Add any personal reflections from the evening from either you or your group. Remember, Ambassadors are people too.

By: smcniven

smcniven — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:31:58 -0800

Try this. It's not specific to your situation, but will give you a starting point.

By: pineapple

pineapple — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:49:52 -0800

[Since you were invited for Thanksgiving and it's the Peace Corps, I'm going to take the liberty of presuming that you, the Ambassador, and your home country are American. If I'm wrong, please forgive my nationalism! I'm also going to assume you don't have any official Peace Corps stationery, if such a thing exists.]

I'm not a diplomat or protocol officer but I have to do exactly this sort of thing fairly regularly for work. If it were me, I would go the following route:

Get a nice, expensive card on heavy high-quality paper (preferably ecru), with a pre-engraved seasons-greetings message, ideally non-religious, ideally with a gold ink or foil accent. Not this exactly, but something like it. You can never go wrong with Crane, if it's available where you are, though I'm guessing not. Inside the card, with a black ink pen (preferably rollerball or gel), write something along this line:

(Was the ambassador's spouse attending the dinner, serving as co-host? If so, be sure to include him/her on the salutation inside.)

Dear Ambassador Lastname and Mrs. Lastname,
On behalf of [formal name of your group], I write to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your hospitality at Thanksgiving. We are all proud to be representing the United States in [host country], but when we are away from home at the holidays, the opportunity to share a meal with Americans is especially appreciated. Thank you for a lovely evening of fellowship.

Please accept our best wishes to your family and the Embassy staff for a happy, peaceful holiday season.

Warm regards,
the luke parker fiasco
[your title if you have one]

There are loads of resources online for addressing diplomats, so double-check those and also adjust for spouse and gender... but, this is what I would be doing.

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:56:09 -0800

It's "Your Excellency." Awesome, I know, but also true.

Otherwise pineapple's letter is perfect (if he's american.)

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:57:06 -0800

Also, a protocol breach in terms of the correct title would not even be noticed, so don't worry too much about it.

By: the luke parker fiasco

the luke parker fiasco — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:52:14 -0800

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone!

CunningLinguist: I was under the impression that "Your Excellency" was used to address Ambassadors of countries other than your own. I wasn't clear in my original post, but pineapple was correct in that the invitees were all American, and the event was at the foreign residence of the American Ambassador. Would it, in this case, be "Mr./Madam Ambassador", or "Your Excellency"?

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:35:35 -0800

Well whaddaya know. This is what wikipedia says about the title.

Though ambassadors are traditionally accorded the title elsewhere, the U.S. government does not use "excellency" for its diplomatic corps, preferring "the honorable" instead.

(I've been around (non US) diplomatic circles all my life and never knew this.)

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:37:20 -0800

But again, don't get hung up on the title. Diplomats only notice breaches of protocol from other diplomats, because it could mean a diss of some subtle sort. They don't expect real people to know the arcane lingo.