Field trips!

Okay, so they are Community Liason Office (CLO) trips, not field trips, but they are still fun. The CLO is maintained to improve morale at post. They are staffed by EFMs "Eligible Family Members" of direct hire US employees of the Embassy. Our CLO office is very active since travel for individual American diplomats is limited here in Algeria.

My first CLO trip was to Tibhirine, site of The Monastery of Notre Dame of Atlas. The monastery was the home of seven Trappist Monks who were kidnapped and killed in 1996. The story was the subject of a recent French film, "Of Gods and Men."

The is was my first trip out of Algiers-Tibhirine is about a two hour drive from Algiers. Our new Ambassador accompanied us on the trip, which made the drive there interesting. Motorcades are kind of fun, even if they attract gawkers the entire trip.

We arrived and were greeted by a French priest who is now managing the monastery and farm. We began with a touching memorial service for the monks and were asked to lay flowers on the simple graves overlooking the fields worked by the Monks. It was a somber service, and I was touched to be included in the ceremony.

We took a tour of the grounds and chapel and were served lunch in the garden. We had a traditional Algerian meal of soup, chicken, vegetables, couscous and bread. Bread is served at every meal in Algeria. It was a beautiful day, and I enjoyed my first trip out of the city.

To read more about this tragedy: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/north/Movie-Highlights-Terror-at-Algerian-Monastery-118783859.html