Embassy events

The U.S. Embassy is in the left front of this image. In the center back is Bratislava Castle and the tower at St. Michael's gate, entrance to the restored medieval city. To the right of the Embassy is Hviezdoslavovo námestie, the public square named after the 19th-century Slovak poet. The web site for the Embassy: http://bratislava.usembassy.gov/

I have just gotten my first invitation to an event at the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava, a reception for a photography exhibit in honor of 9/11. We had been told that Fulbrighters are often invited to such things in the host country, and it's nice that something has already arrived.

The invitation was entirely in Slovak. It's a relief to realize how understandable it is, even before checking some words in my Slovak-English dictionary. My RVSP acceptance will be in English, however. It's one thing to read something in a foreign language, but something else entirely to compose a remotely credible communication, and my phrasebook for tourists has nothing relevant.