The unexpected keeps on coming. On Wednesday our class found out that President Bush was so impressed with us at Negroponte’s swearing-in that he wanted to meet with just us. Yep, Pres. Bush wanted to make time during his day to meet with 68 other classmates, me, and Secretary Rice.

So on Monday, we all skipped our training (I’m in Consular learning about passports and documenting U.S.-citizen babies born abroad) and took a bus to the Old Executive Office Building, which is right next to the White House. It’s where the Vice President’s offices are. We went up to the 3rd floor in a special room used by the National Security Council and waited for about an hour. When the President wants to talk to you, you make sure to arrive early and work around his schedule.

He showed up around 2:30 and talked for about 20 minutes. We then were able to ask him questions for another 40 minutes. He never looked my way when asking for a question, so I didn’t get to ask anything. Sorry, but it was all off-the-record, so I can’t discuss what we talked about. I can say it was unbelievable! He was candid, blunt, loose, speaking off-the-cuff, and cracking jokes all the time. He joked with us and about himself. But he was also forceful and adamant about certain policy decisions. His next meeting was supposed to be at 3:15, but when that time came, he told his aide that he was bumping it back to 3:30 to spend the extra time with us. Regardless of what I thought about his policies and him as a person, I couldn’t help but walk away with much more respect for him and the Office. You also realize just how much responsibility the leader of the world’s only superpower has and how important it is to use it wisely (which I think is part of the reason President Clinton’s actions were so despicable).

I entitled this posting “Undeserved Favor” because all of my cool experiences have not been because of who I am (or my classmates are), but because someone far, far, far above me decided to spend time with us. Undeserved Favor. And whoever it has been making those decisions, I also realize that God has shown me Undeserved Favor in allowing me to have these experiences.

Now, back to ConGen training and reading immigration law.