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What to serve a guest who’s fasting? Hospitality

By WTOP Staff

CONNIE CASS
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — What do you serve a man who isn’t eating?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was served warm water and an empty plate as the guest of honor at a White House dinner Monday night and again at a State Department luncheon Tuesday.

It may seem odd to serve a dinner of crisped halibut with ginger carrot sauce to welcome a man who’s in the midst of a nine-day religious fast. People experienced in diplomatic protocol say such a circumstance is indeed rare — yet perfectly appropriate, so long as the visiting leader is pleased to sit and sip water while others dine.

Most would covet the invitation, said Anita McBride, who served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush.

“It’s a level of respect and honor to host a foreign visitor in your home, in the White House,” McBride said. “Every single one of these leaders wants to be able to go back home and say the president of the United States hosted me in the White House.”

The prime minister of India observes an annual fast dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, consuming only water or lemon-water for nine days. Modi says he’s been doing that more than 35 years. This time coincided with his first visit to Washington as prime minister. The State Department’s protocol office worked with the Indian Embassy to arrange suitable events and menus.

Attending dinners while fasting isn’t a problem, said Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesman for the Indian government, said Tuesday.

Modi’s only request is a glass of warm water, Akbuarddin said, and he insists that other guests should “please enjoy the feast that has been laid out by gracious hosts.”

Ann Stock, who served as President Bill Clinton’s social secretary, said even such small, working White House dinners for world leaders are meticulously planned weeks or months ahead of time to ensure the comfort of the guest and host. Dietary issues are just the start.

“You wouldn’t put together five flowers in a vase if five is a number that’s unlucky in that country,” Stock said.

What about guests chowing down near Modi? Some Americans might feel awkward.

“Whenever I’ve been in meetings with people who are fasting, I’ve refrained from food or drink,” said Jonah Blank, who served 12 years as South Asia policy director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But that’s not an etiquette requirement, he said.

Indeed, members of Modi’s delegation ate the meals.

“In India there are so many different communities with so many different dietary practices and restrictions, there is a lot more leeway for serving something that is going to be generally agreeable and accepting that some people will choose to refrain,” he said. “It doesn’t provoke surprise.”

Vice President Joe Biden got the issue out on the table before Tuesday’s luncheon of eggplant and sweet potato lasagna prepared by noted Indian-American chef Vikram Sunderam.

“The prime minister is fasting and we keep taking him to lunches and dinners,” Biden joked. “And we Catholics would say that’s an occasion for sin.”

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Associated Press writers Stacy A. Anderson and Matthew Lee in Washington and Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi contributed to this report.

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Follow Connie Cass on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/conniecass

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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