Yesterday was the last day of the Fulbright Orientation, and in the evening, the Commission held a lovely (and far fancier than we were told about) reception in the garden of the Instituto Internacional.
I say it was far fancier than we were told about because we received a few emails informing us that there would be two business casual receptions, but then when we were at the orientation, we were told that the receptions would be a little more informal because it was so hot out. But then, several of the women who worked for the Commission were wearing heels and super-fancy cocktail dresses (one of them had sequins!). My new Fulbright and friends and I pretty much looked like we were going to an academic conference: simple dresses, flats, etc...
Members of the both the Spanish Exterior Ministry and the US Department of State attended and gave us all a nice welcome, and we filled up on delicious appetizers and loads of wine and sangria.
The waiters were hysterical all night long--constantly (and aggressively) bringing out plates and plates of food and loads of bottles of wine. There was one waiter especially who continued to stop by our group and top off people glasses of wine, even when they were already full. One poor girl ended up with a glass of wine that was 3/4 full at one point. We later learned that the waiters were so aggressive in passing out the wine and the food because the party ends when the beverages run out.
And indeed, when the beverages ran out, I headed home and went to bed to rest up after an exhausting orientation week.
I say it was far fancier than we were told about because we received a few emails informing us that there would be two business casual receptions, but then when we were at the orientation, we were told that the receptions would be a little more informal because it was so hot out. But then, several of the women who worked for the Commission were wearing heels and super-fancy cocktail dresses (one of them had sequins!). My new Fulbright and friends and I pretty much looked like we were going to an academic conference: simple dresses, flats, etc...
Members of the both the Spanish Exterior Ministry and the US Department of State attended and gave us all a nice welcome, and we filled up on delicious appetizers and loads of wine and sangria.
The waiters were hysterical all night long--constantly (and aggressively) bringing out plates and plates of food and loads of bottles of wine. There was one waiter especially who continued to stop by our group and top off people glasses of wine, even when they were already full. One poor girl ended up with a glass of wine that was 3/4 full at one point. We later learned that the waiters were so aggressive in passing out the wine and the food because the party ends when the beverages run out.
And indeed, when the beverages ran out, I headed home and went to bed to rest up after an exhausting orientation week.
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