I hate to be controversial, however, I can't help but feel that us second session ambassadors are being put on the back burner. We found out this morning that the US-China institute has shaved a week off of our expo experience, for reasons unknown. We are not being housed in the Expo Village until the first week of August when we begin our positions. Ergo, we have little or minimal interaction with the first session ambassadors. It is possible that there just isn't any room for us in the Expo Village, but that being said, disorganization seems to be a key factor in this chaotic mess. Also, we are unable to discuss with the first session ambassadors what their opinion of their experiences are!
Not only have I written an innumerable amount of urgent e-mails to the operations manger in Shanghai for my expense-covered plane ticket to Shanghai, I encountered several e-mails stating I needed to "be more patient". It's almost June, and my flight is July 4th...I still don't have a Chinese visa. My parents have had visas to China for 2 months already and are flying out of the US after me. This is wrong! Anyhow, I am sure we will have no problems getting visas because it is signed off by the US government, but I can't help but feel bothered by the disorganization. Perhaps being an event planner has forced me to realize that things can't be slapped together last minute.
On a side note, the first session ambassadors met Hilary Clinton. Okay, now I'm super jealous. First, Chinese president Hu Jintao...now, US Secretary of State. If nobody special comes from August to November, I think I'm going to flip. Not only have they truncated our expo experience, we don't meet anyone of significance either? Obama, I beg of you to visit end of August!
Really, I have nothing to complain about. I have been granted an opportunity of which many were denied, but as in life..."if you give a mouse a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk". Too true. All I can be is honest. This is my honest opinion - I am appreciative, but I want the cookie, a glass of milk and perhaps a straw.
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Bad news is, my Egypt trip has been cancelled, and for good reason. I am going to graduate school and need the $15,000! Yes, you heard that right! I am attending Monterery Institute of International Studies for a Master's in International Management in January 2011. I will also be participating in a 2 year volunteer stint with the Peace Corps (PC) too as part of the Master's program after my initial 2 semesters. While my aspiration was to return to China, I have found out that PC only sends teacher volunteers to China, so if I want to stay in Asia, it will be either Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia or Mongolia - in Business Development or something of that related aspect. However, the PC may utilize my French speaking abilities and ship me off to Africa. I have to expect the worst and/or have little to no expectations - life of a Peace Corps volunteer!
While I have my doubts about my near future endeavors, I know to brush them aside. Even though "if everything works out and life is long", as Rachel Maddow says, my youth is short and I should accomplish as much as my young body can. Graduate early, check. Enjoy the chaotic life of New York City, check check. Shanghai World Expo, check! Trekking through the back roads of Indochina, check. Ship off to wherever Peace Corps will take me? Chhh...eck.
June 1, 2010 at 9:48 AM
Cassie,
You still have access to the Google doc with all our emails. I'm sure any of us would like to tell you about our experiences here.
I'm inspired by your many goals, btw.
-First-Session SA