Let's Have a Ball!

With the cooler weather (it gets down to about 70F at night these days), the ball season in Bangladesh has begun. There are lots of different parties to choose from, from the UN International Ball to the Dhaka Caledonian Society's St. Andrew's Ball (dress code: Scottish formal) to the Black & White Ball held by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Control, Bangladesh (but everyone calls that one "the Diarrhea Ball").

The first ball of the season this year was the Marine Corps Ball, put on by the Marine Corps Detachment ("Det") of the U.S. Embassy to celebrate the 231st anniversary of the Marine Corps. This was a black tie affair, so we all had a chance to dress to the nines. Of course, being the Marine Ball, it was a night full of tradition. After cocktails, we sat down to watch the presentation of the colors, a video presentation by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and a brief speech by the U.S. Ambassador. The traditional cake-cutting ceremony -- done with a ceremonial saber -- followed; cake was served to the guest of honor (the Ambassador), then the oldest Marine present, then the youngest Marine present. The Det Commander, Gunnery Sergeant Bryant (our next-door neighbor), then introduced the members of the Det. However, the Marines couldn't be found. Gunny sent someone to find them. After several tense, silent minutes, the Gunny's dispatch returned: "Gunnery Sergeant, I found them!" "Where are they?" "Gunnery Sergeant, the Marines are in the bar!" Thus was another Marine Ball tradition fulfilled.


The next night, the Australian High Commission and the New Zealanders (who don't have formal diplomatic representation in Bangladesh) held their annual Glitter Party, which couldn't have been more different from the Marine Ball. The Glitter Party is a costume ball, and everyone is invited to perform a skit or other dramatic routine. Men in drag, women with facial hair, raunchy musical numbers, and the bizarre & unusual are not only expected, but encouraged. Our table didn't perform a formal skit, but we did have a dramatic entrance. We went as the national airline of Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh. We had a drunk pilot, a blind mechanic (Jennifer), a couple of hapless flight attendants (one seven months pregnant), two clueless Western tourists, an abusive baggage handler, a corrupt Biman executive with money flying out of his pockets, and a giant cockroach (Patrick).



Many of the sketches were political in nature, as all of Bangladesh is on edge awaiting the parliamentary elections next month. However, the evening was dazzled by a (mostly) non-political procession of pigs in tutus, who performed "Swine Lake." A great local soul band (really!) performed, Saddam Hussein danced with "Make Love Not War" hippies, long-winded speeches were kept to a minimum, and a great time was had by all. Everyone needs to let their hair down every once in a while, and our friends in the Southern Hemisphere gave us a great chance to do just that.