Juan David Latorre
Cultural Section Coordinator at The Diplomat
Poetry and lyrics often describe exactly one feeling. And in this case, the letter of a well-known Sevillana Spanish expresses what so many times sadly feel members of the Diplomatic Corps and, of course, those who work daily with them when it comes time to say goodbye to one of them.
Four years is, on average, the time spent by a diplomat in the country to which he has been assigned. At that time, and according to the character of each (it is clear), relations are forged more or less close. And many times those professional relationships end up becoming a true friendship. And I do not mean to facilitate work or have a special labor attention with a person, but to a real relationship of friendship, something unfortunately very difficult in these times.
But the advantage of diplomats is that, once they have finished their work in a country, it is possible for them to meet again in a future destination, whether on a different continent, in an area not too far away or in some international institution representing their country. The problem is greatest when in a friendly relationship one of the two people stays in the country where they met.
I have been working at The Diplomat for eleven years and from the beginning I have seen many ambassadors and diplomats generally go through receptions, I have visited and talked to a lot of them (it is my job) and in my case I have really garnered some very deep friendships.
The really sad thing is that when that “friend” diplomat leaves, it’s really going to be very difficult for our paths to meet again. Of course there is always the possibility of making a trip to meet again, but we already know what diplomatic life is and it is difficult to know for sure of which free time, and in what circumstances, the person whose friendship, trust and sometimes complicity we have enjoyed for four years.
Long ago, upon the farewell of a very dear and excellent ambassador, I said to myself that I would never again become attached to any other diplomat, that I would never again be personally involved with any. But it is really impossible, it is very difficult to suppress the feeling of friendship.
Therefore, comes to my mind the letter of that Sevillana who faithfully expresses that “something dies in the soul when a friend leaves”. Diplomats suffer when they have to go to their country or a new destination, leaving colleagues and friends… But those of us who collaborate with them, we stay here, wondering if we will ever see that friend again who has broken our souls with his farewell.
