Duane Butcher @StartEvo
Channel: startevo
Date: 2014-01-28

Duane Butcher, charge d'affaires of the American Embassy. -- I am the diplomat in charge in the absence of the ambassador.
I am a career diplomat. I've been working for US Foreign Service for 25 years. [...]It seems likes yesterday
My father was an US diplomat. I was born when he was on assignment overseas in Turkye.
I spent my childhood traveling from place to place: Africa, Asia, Europe.
My father was born in Oklahoma and was the first person from my family to go to University.
We had the classic American story -- my father. He was an inspiring person. He didn't had the money for university, he got a sports scholarship because he was a good athlete. 
I move from place to place.
My first memories are from Germany, Saudi Arabia, Sweden; I finished my high school in Kenya... My first education in US was in University.
I thought I would go to law school. I wanted to do something else... I ended up in the diplomatic service, because I wanted to take a small break from school. I wanted to see how it's like. :)
In summer of 1988 I joined Foreign Service.. I was 22 yo. I though: This was much more fun than school. [...]
I have very distinct memories. [...] It was a life that completely suited me. It was a good fit.[...]
I went from there to Munich.[...]
I was assigned to Baku, Azerbaijan. It was the first Golf war. I was at the edge of the action.[...] Very exciting.
From there I went back to Washington. I learned a lot about institution, about profession. I made many friends. I was assigned to Belgrade (1999), then I did a Romanian training. I came here in 2000.[...] 
My wife is from Azerbaijan. [...]
I was the first American diplomat to fly to Belgrade after the war. It was very interesting. [...] We built the Embassy from nothing. We started from a few hotel rooms. It was an amazing opportunity.
Advice: Be lucky :)
I learned that Embassies are not buildings. Embassies are people![...]
The US Embassy was abandoned for many months. We could not know what to expect.[...]
In July 2001 we moved for 2 years in Belgrade..They were so happy that Americans came back -- we could not pay for our beers :).[...]
I was assigned to Counsel General at Hamburg, Germany, then. [...]
So much history. They showed me a room in Bremen in the Chamber of Commerce, where in 1492 they celebrated because Europe discovered America! It was interesting, because they HAD a Chamber of Commerce in the year when the America was discovered. [...]
We were not worry about our safety. We had a lot to do.[...]
I went to Uzbekistan, as deputy ambassador. [...]
From there, I came back to Romania. [...]
We have here amazing numbers: 78% of Romanians are favorable to Americans. [...]
We have this myth of the American dream. This is helping us, since we are very young.[...]
Advice: People need to try to make a difference.[...]
Try hard to make things happen for yourself.[...]
It's much easier now with facebook, to stay in touch with everybody.[...]
I try to make a positive difference!