JEDDAH, 24 September 2004 — Four new officers have taken charge at the US Consulate General. They include Vice Consul Ben Ball, Management Officer Monica Sangbong, Political Officer Jerry Ismail and Timothy Duboff, who is dedicated to political and economic affairs.

Their induction will further strengthen the consulate and upgrade its services, US Consul General Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley said while introducing them at a farewell reception for Public Affairs Officer Lisa Swenarski de Herrera at the consulate on Wednesday night. The reception was attended by a large number of Saudis and diplomats

Lisa is proceeding to Cairo to join the US mission’s visa section. “Lisa did her job well promoting mutual understanding among Saudis and Americans,” the consul general said.

“It’s sad to leave this beautiful city. I came here to work for two years but am leaving within nine months, as my husband and daughter were ordered to evacuate on April 25 due to security reasons,” Lisa told Arab News.

“To leave the Kingdom after only nine months goes against my instincts. I feel I’m quitting and leaving a job incomplete,” she said.

Lisa added that Jeddah, with a record number of beautiful monuments displaying along its coast, has the most socially open community in the Kingdom.

“I tried promoting mutual understanding between the two communities despite great suspicion and misperceptions on both sides. I love my work. There is so much to do. The consul general expects excellence from her staff and I’ve been enjoying the challenge,” Lisa said.

She recalls the road trip to the south with her family.

The southern region is cool and mountainous and dotted with towns and houses hundreds of years old.

Speaking about the Saudi hospitality, she said: “We met kindness along the way. We stopped at a humble convenience store to ask for directions and we left with a gift of three bottles of cold mango juice.”

“Twice when we asked for directions, the person insisted on leading us to our destination,” she added.

Among the new officers, Monica has come from Abuja, Nigeria, where she spent three of four years of her diplomatic career.

Ball earlier worked in Washington and served his country’s diplomatic mission in Turkey and South Korea.

Ismail has come from Washington and this is his first overseas diplomatic assignment.