My Encounters, My Life: YSEALI PFP Day 11: The Art of Diplomacy

30 April 2019

French toast by Chef Ivy

Published a video collage of our ACYPL YSEALI Professional Fellows saying May Day greetings in their native languages. It was a spontaneous thought, and thankful to them for agreeing to do it so readily.

Collected my Metropolitan Family Services staff pass today!

Had a great conversation with my host, Ricardo Estrada, President & CEO, Metropolitan Family Services (MFS). Shared about my work, community involvement, and discussed possible areas of work of MFS that could support my project of providing economic opportunities for caregivers and vulnerable individuals. Ric used a phrase which I am beginning to like a lot. Some of us have the "ambition for good."

I then joined up with the other Fellows and ubered our way to University of Chicago for a lunchtime talk.

Union Avenue

We joined in the talk by Caroline Kennedy, former US Ambassador to Japan on the Art of Diplomacy, at the Institute of Politics, University of Chicago. The conversation was moderated by Ivo H. Daalder, President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO.

Ambassador Kennedy was the first woman to be Ambassador to Japan, and was appointed by President Barack Obama to the job. She shared that US continued to be an indispensable nation, and that many countries still looked to it for leadership, although there were increasing concerns on reliability of US as an ally. In her words, "Diplomacy is like gardening". One needs to be there in the country to know the country.

During Kennedy's term, the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe became the first premier to visit Pearl Harbour. Her team also managed to reduce the agricultural barriers for export to Japan under the Transatlantic Pacific Partnership (TPP), a benefit that US now could not enjoy. She shared the importance of Japan to the US, given that Japan is a neighbour to China, North Korea and Russia. Japan also hosts a large US mission of representatives of 17 agencies.

With Ida Noyes Hall in our background

A sumptuous lunch before resuming work

Checked out the Chicago Downtown Pedestrian Walkway System, also known as the Pedway, which is an underground walkway that connects several buildings together. During bad weather, the Pedway provides a sheltered linkway for those heading to and fro work.

Washington station. The subway system is called "L" as parts of it are eLevated.

Walkway to Cook County Administration Building

Directional signages like this is pretty common. As the city is on a grid, knowing the nautical directions is a useful way to help navigate from place to place

Did a google search on museums nearby and found out about the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum. Entrance is complimentary. Photo taking is only allowed in the museum, and prohibited in the other areas of the the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Federal Bank Bank of Chicago

Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States

One million dollars in 1-dollar denomination notes, just spinning in a cube

One million dollars weighs over one tonne

So near yet so far

The museum features several interactive booths which allow for learning to take place in a fun way.

The Fed Needs You

Inflation 101

US Money Timeline

Taken by a Photo booth

Saving Bonds

War Bonds

"An Act to incorporate the Bank of the United States" written by Alexander Hamilton in 1790.

A $5 silver certificate that represents electricity as a new force, while another features a native American

The Mint Act introduced the coinage system and the dollar became the principal unit of currency

This interactive booth lets you decide if a note should be shredded or kept, and lets you know if you made the right decision as well as the rationale

Complimentary souvenirs for visitors

Rich with unusable notes :D

Next, the life cycle of the currency note:

Printing

Distribution to commercial banks

Dollar circulation within the economy

Cotton trade was driven by the labour of African American slaves

This, certainly, is not a counterfeit

Neither is this

"To Counterfeit is Death!"

During the Vietnam War, soldiers were issued Military Payment Certificates (MPCs)

Military personnel transporting MPCs would torch them in event of emergencies

President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Before Excel was mainstream

Federal Reserve could issue Federal Reserve notes and Federal Reserve Bank notes, which were issued during World War I

So near yet so far, again

The Federal Reserve plays a role in regulating banks

And managing monetary policies

Next, Google pointed me to the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, which has a collection of exhibits on the first World War. Entrance fee was $5, but as I reached at 5pm and it was due to close at 6pm, the staff waived off the fee :)