Visit to the United States Fortress...I mean Embassy

Having lived in Washington, D.C. during college, I always enjoyed walks down Embassy Row. The architecture of the embassies is truly a beautiful site to see. I think it is safe to say that this in not the case for the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru.

In 1993, Sendero Luminoso (The Shining Path) terrorist group car bombed the former U.S. Embassy. At the time it was located near the Plaza de Armas (where the Presidential Palace is located). After the attack, the U.S. relocated on the edge of the city and took the opportunity to build up a fortress that screams "don't even dare bomb this baby."

This morning I arrived at the Embassy for a security briefing. Overall security was very tight and I was escorted through the back hallways into the Cultural Affairs Office. There I was introduced to CA Officer, Paul Degler. We had a very nice chat. He beat me to Peru by only two weeks, and was very excited (though completely clueless) about the region where I will do my work.

After our chat, I was sent up to the security briefing. I sat in a room with, a DEA official, one State rep, two computer specialist contractors, and two marines.

Additionally, a very friendly gentleman presented himself and his wife. He said he was the Embassy's defense attache. As it turns out, he and I had actually met in D.C. at an election conference held at George Washington University in February. At the conference we just happened to sit next to each other and I had told him that I was a finalist for the Fulbright. He had been attending the seminar to learn a bit about Peruvian politics in preparation move to Lima to start his post.
...small world.

The security briefing presented information that was relatively boring. The process and the whole environment it presented, though, was extremely fascinating. I was enthralled by the security protection systems that is provided in Embassy staff houses as well as the Emergency Preparedness Planning. Each house has a safehaven with reinforced steel doors!!!

While I didn't get a cool security card (or reinforced doors for that matter), I'm excited to say that I am counted in as part of the Embassy community! I even got invited to join them in the marine house happy hours hehehe. It'd be a bit of a trip, but it's the thought that counts :)