nice to meet you, Ms. Ambassador

Last weekend I was in Siem Reap and saw a flyer advertising an event at Angkor Hospital for Children. The flyer just said, "expats come meet your ambassador" which was enough for me.
It was a little intimidating walking into the event, actually. Networking and making conversation used to be so easy, but I'm a little rusty after a year and a half. Also, I was there alone and didn't even really know what to expect from the event. It turned out to be a really interesting and worthwhile evening. I met several expats, most of whom live in Siem Reap, and a few based in Phnom Penh who were temporarily working up north. There were a number of RPCV's there (returned Peace Corps volunteers) who were really friendly and interested to hear about my experience.
Carol Rodley, the US Ambassador to Cambodia, answered some questions along with several staff from the embassy and then the mingling continued. It was a fairly small event, fewer than 30 people I'd guess, so everyone had a chance to speak one-on-one with the Ambassador! I patiently waited my turn, trying not to feel creepy about standing/lurking there while the Ambassador finished her previous conversations, and then got to introduce myself! Ambassador Rodley was so friendly and open, and very enthusiastic about Peace Corps. I asked her about her appointment to Cambodia (did she get to choose?) and her opinion on development in Afghanistan (where she worked prior to returning to Cambodia as Ambassador) and her answers were interesting and thoughtful. She told me when she got the phone call that she was chosen to be an Ambassador she thought it was a prank call because it was midnight her time!
I am really glad I made my way into Siem Reap for this event, and glad that I overcame my hesitancy and nervousness about going alone. I mean, if I can come to the other side of the world not knowing anyone it shouldn't be hard to walk into a room of strangers, right?
On a side note, it appears Cambodia has begun blocking blogs. For some reason I can still post, but I can't see my own blog. So my apologies for any type-o's which I usually catch by viewing the post after I finish it.