Sharing Experiences in the Meet the Diplomats Program

People to People International is a non-government and non-profit organization that sponsors a number of programs aimed at enhancing international understanding and fellowship amongst different peoples and nations worldwide. One of the most successful educational and cultural programs sponsored by People to People International is the Meet the Diplomats program, which offers especially Washington based diplomats the opportunity to travel and experience the life and culture of local communities throughout the United States.

In the first week of September 2007, the Head of Political Affairs of the Embassy of Croatia, Mr. Vice Skračić, and his wife Helena Skračić, visited the New Mexico Chapter of People to People International and were hosted by the President of the New Mexico Chapter Mr. Kevin Mains and his wife Karen Mains. During this first part of their stay, Mr. and Mrs. Skračić had the opportunity to meet with members of the New Mexico People to People Chapter in Albuquerque, during which they gave a presentation on Croatia. Mr. Skračić also held lectures on Croatian history and politics to three 11th grade and three 12th grade classes at Albuquerque High School.

Later in the week, Mr. and Mrs. Skračić visited the capital of New Mexico, the beautiful city of Santa Fe, where they pleasure of meeting the New Mexico Secretary of State Mrs. Mary Herrera. They were also offered the opportunity to see a number of New Mexico landmarks, including the Bandelier National Monument and the ancient Acoma Pueblo, as well as the Science Museum in Los Alamos and the city of Taos. At the end of their trip, they partook in the time honored tradition in Santa Fe with the burning of Zozobra. Zozobra or “Old Man Gloom” is the name of a giant marionette effigy that is burned every autumn during Fiestas de Santa Fe, and as his name suggests, he embodies gloom; by burning him, the worries and troubles of the previous year are destroyed in the flames.