After a whole day of sun and almost 30 °C, the rain is now poring outside my window. Which means that I won’t make it to the reception that I was invited to this evening at the Swedish residence. It is too complicated to get there in the rain, especially in the dress code that was announced on the invitation. It is the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings this weekend, so Government representatives from all over the world are in town, and hence the event at the Swedish Residence. And since another invitation to a panel discussion tomorrow announced the presence of Swedish Minister of Finance Andres Borg and Minister of Development Gunilla Carlsson, I guess they both would have been at the reception this evening. Well, another time! Instead, I am preparing a pizza and enjoying not having to make small talk with people I don’t know. Useful as they can be for networking, I have come to realize that these kinds of events are not my thing at all. As almost Moldovan Lars pointed out once: having to make small talk with people you don’t know but need to make an impression on while balancing a drink and a small plate with hors d’oeuvres, and at the same time eating with your hands must be one of the most forced situations one can think of. After becoming a pro at this in Moldova, one lesson learned is to never go to these events on an empty stomach (which is easily done since these events often took place directly after work). In that way, you at least don’t have to bother with the appetizers. Another is to wear comfy shoes since you have to stand up all the time. Hopefully I’ll be in the mood to go to the reception around the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in the fall instead, well trained as I am!
Monika and I in the garden of the Swedish Residence at our National Holiday, 2010.