Page 147 - 662

It was difficult to decipher if the ambassador was joking or
simply making a historical observation. When asked about the
interior design - red and gold wallpaper, striped maroon benches
and Dali-esque egg-shaped table lamps – he turned and slowly
looked around the room. He nodded and simply said, "It's nice."
Always the diplomat, Herbst spoke cautiouslv at every tum.
Although he brought his press secretary along with him, she never
needed to prevent him from disclosing any state secrets.
Herbst's previous posting was as U.S. Ambassador to
Uzbekistan, and before that he served as American Consul General
in Jerusalem. In the past, he's served as the Principal Deputy to the
Ambassador at Large for the Newly Independent States, as the
Director of the Office of Independent States and Commonwealth
Affairs, and as the Director of Regional Affairs in the Near East
Bureau. He's also worked as a political counselor at the U.S.
embassies, in Moscow and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
During his postings, Herbst takes an interest in each
country's cultural life, but said that Kyiv offered a special and
affordable advantage. He managed to slip in a night at the
Philharmonic recently, and was impressed by the caliber of both
the concert, and the music hall.
"The performance was world class and very affordable for
us, so it's a huge treat being here Herbst said.
Eventually, and with some gentle coaxing, one of Le Grand
Cafe's wait staff took our order. Herbst was a gentleman, and
taking his lead from the women, also ordered a salad. He asked for
a Caesar salad (Hr 58) and wasn't visibly bothered when the
iceberg lettuce arrived mere moments after he
ordered.
Herbst enjoys going out for lunch and dinner, but confessed
that he’s not had a chance to sample many of Kyiv’s restaurants.
He did have a holiday coming up, American Thanksgiving. That
celebration is a special one for this ambassador. Every year he

150