Outside In
The two main scopes of an Expo are entertainment and education. A successful Expo has to be amusing while at the same time it should be illustrative and offer enriching content to visitors.
The vagaries of the city's weather cannot stop enthusiastic visitors from all over the world coming to Expo 2010 Shanghai. With a continuously increasing number of visitors, the demand for staff at the Expo Garden has increased as well.
Ding Xiaohuo is never going to ski the Alps or see the changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace. Like most Chinese his age, he'll never even see a real passport with his photo on it.
In the brief period that I have been representing the United States as a Student Ambassador at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, I have been most struck by the human aspect of the event.
For the past three weeks, I have been standing outside in 100 degree-plus (about 38 degrees Celsius) weather welcoming the thousands of Chinese visitors who flock daily to the United States Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.
Welcome to the Expo 2010 Shanghai. World Expos have a long and profound influence internationally. They are a gathering of people from all over the world that share the uniqueness of their home countries.
While most people at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo have spent their time looking towards the future, I spend much of my Expo experience thinking about the past.
I'm back in Stockholm after an incredible journey through wonderful China. A little exhausted after traveling intensive for 17 days, but most of all I am filled with memories and pictures that I will remember many years to come.
Volunteers in green or blue uniforms can be seen everywhere throughout Shanghai. With a warm smile and polite manner, they offer various services, as well as providing information to visitors from all over the world coming for Expo 2010 Shanghai.
This summer many Shanghai residents and visitors are asking me: "Which is your favorite pavilion?" "Hard to decide", is my usual response, while secretly favoring the Sweden, Belgium and USA pavilions.
