4-25 Secretary of State Blinken visits the Consulate in Shanghai

Today we are going to the Consulate for a family "Meet and Greet" with Secretary Blinken.  The whole Podolny-Reid family will be attending.  We take a car along with Tim and the kids.  Lisa is in charge of organizing the Secretary's whole visit to Shanghai and left early in the morning.  They have several stops to make before coming to the Consulate.  Lisa will be arriving at the Consulate in the caravan - a couple of cars back behind the Sec of State.  We arrive a couple of hours early - to get through security and then hang out in the Consulate Library for a while.  This event is for the family members as well as the people who work at the Consulate.  This includes the local Chinese staff as well.  

                                        

About 20 chairs are set up on either side of the podium that is set up on the center of the complex where there is a lawn.  Tim has arranged for Michael and I as well as the three children to be able to be seated there.  Jojo is on crutches as she has badly injured her ankle playing in a soccer tournament.  Most of the people gather standing in the back of the lawn under the shade of the trees.  It is hot in the sun.  I was so glad I didn't have to stand for two hours!  Tim had picked out a playlist of patriotic songs that played loudly on two speakers either side of the podium.  

The two staff members playing the MC's role practiced their lines several times.  They made the children all come up front and stand on the podium - as they would for their photo with Blinken.  All the roads that Blinken's caravan would be traveling to on his itinerary were closed to all other traffic.  Lisa was in the caravan.  Her comment was "I didn't know it only took so few minutes to get from the airport to the Consulate".  When they got the message that the caravan was only a few minutes away - everyone who had been at the back under the shade trees were urged into the space between the two groups of chairs.  

The marines are in position as the Sec of State and entourage arrive at the Consulate.  The audience was told not to clap until Sec Blinken stepped onto the podium.  So all was quiet as he greeted the staff who were waiting for his arrival.

Here they come.  On the far right - Shanghai Consul General Walker.  At the podium is China Ambassador Burns.  Behind him is Sec of State Blinken.

The Ambassador warms up the crowd and introduces Blinken.

Sec Blinken talks to the people of the consulate.  Your all doing a great job. I understand what you are going through.  I was once there myself.  

Three people in the crowd ask him questions.  A newbie who was at there first post of their State career asked the first question. Then someone who was a family member - a trailing spouse as they are known and then a local Chinese staff member.  Blinken answered each person with grace and understanding - with really common sense suggestions. As he told the newbie - focus on doing your job very well - don't always be wondering about the next position - and you will do well in the State Department.

Then all the children were invited to the podium for their photo op.  Sec Blinken shook hands will all three of my grandchildren.  He chatted for several minutes with Jojo.  Her obvious injury just begged for questions.

The professional photograph always seemed to be on the right side.  So Blinken and everyone else seemed to face that way.  You will notice a lot of the children on the right side are much younger.  Blinken would have had a more difficult time encaging them in a conversation.  There was another child in the audience who had a cast on her arm.  There was another photo op as Blinken signed her cast.   I was impressed with Sec. Blinken's poise and  man of the people demeaner.  He is heading to Beijing next where I think the atmosphere will be much more stressful.

Back in the consulate to use the bathrooms before heading home.  I noticed these photos.  People very important to those who work for the State Department - President Biden, Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Burns.

After the Secretary of State and his caravan leave the Consulate they are heading to the Pudong airport for Blinken and Ambassador Burn's flight to Beijing.  The Consulate staff including Lisa, will return to the Consulate and celebrate a job well done.