Expo Blog - August: A New Group Takes Over

A Visit Not Soon Forgotten                                               August 31, 2010
By HEATHER JOHNSON - Clemson University

I learned Chinese as a way to help myself, to compliment my major of Economics, to allow me to travel through China with ease, to bulk up my resume, but it was not until this summer that I realized the joy I could bring others with my language skills. My trip to visit some great kids in the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center showed me this. Read more of Heather's post...

A Day at the Jiangsu Pavilion: Reflections of the USAP? China Provincial Pavilions Exchange Program                                              August 30, 2010
By MARY ANNE MCELROY - Loyola University Maryland

If you want to really learn about a place without going there, the best way is to work in its pavilion. Walking into the Jiangsu Province Pavilion for yesterday’s USAP/China Provincial Exchange program, I knew little about Jiangsu other than what I’d seen in the beautiful water town Suzhou and the historical Nanjing. Walking out of the pavilion after a day of representing the province’s rich culture and history, I feel almost like an expert in Jiangsu’s special arts, landmarks, and more importantly the character of its people. Read more of Mary Anne's post...

Wujing Clan Ain't Nothin to Mess With                           August 10, 2010
By KATHERINE AIZPURU - Swarthmore College

One of the many forms of security that we have here protecting us at the World Expo is China's wujing, or armed  police. They aren't the regular police or the regular security (bao an), but they aren't the military, either. Wikipedia describes them as the People's Armed Police, a "paramilitary force primarily responsible for civilian policing and fire rescue duties in the People's Republic of China, as well as provide support to PLA during wartime." They wear militaristic olive green uniforms and stiff, hard hats. They stand very tall, often remaining standing perfectly still for hours at a time, watching the crowds. When they walk, their march is straight, arms swinging at their sides, and when two or more of them march they are perfectly in sync. When many of them march together they look like a marching military force. To be perfectly frank, I find them extremely intimidating and scary, and they are a constant reminder that we are in a police state. Read more of Katherine's post...

Where Has the Time Gone?                                               August 6, 2010
By BENJAMIN HAYFORD - BYU

Do you ever just look back on life and wonder, “Where has the time gone?” Back in April I began the physical journey that brought me to China and the USA Pavilion. Abandoning Provo in the midst of reading days, while all my peers were cramming for finals, was strange enough. Driving the fourteen hours home to my parents in Vancouver may have been lonely to some. Luckily for me, the painful solitude was interrupted by a lovely officer of the Idaho State Police. Thank you, Officer. I recite my words from that sunny afternoon, “I just want to go home, ma'am, and my home is NOT in Idaho.” Read more of Benjamin's Post

My Rude Awakening to the World of Haibaos and Pins  August 6, 2010
By MARY ANNE MCELROY - Loyola University Maryland

Here I am settled into Shanghai and ready to report on my first week as a Student Ambassador - and what a week it was. It was a week of Hai Baos, endless repetition of the phrase “Huan Ying Guang Ling Mei Guo Guan” and a week in which I made the peace sign in an embarrassingly large amount of pictures with Chinese guests. This week my expectations of Expo life and work were not met, but violently trampled by swarms of eager Expo visitors, then wonderfully recreated by the world of Expo I discovered. Read more of Mary Anne's post...

Training Day                                                                      August 1, 2010
By SUSAN WANG - University of Colorado-Boulder

Around lunch time I was able to attend a volunteering event that we (USAP) were hosting. USAP is trying to do more community outreach in Shanghai and today Dan Whitaker (community outreach director) hosted a lunch/tour for these migrant school children from the Minhang migrant school. I got to have lunch with them at our "QSR" or quick serve restaurant which serves KFC, fast food what not. Read more of Susan's post...