World's Fair 1964 New York

Sakura, my Chinese penpal asked me “Do you want to go to the EXPO?”  I asked her, “What expo are you talking about?”  She emailed back:  “You don't know World Expo?! It is held in Shanghai, China this year.”  This is what I emailed back:

No, I really didn't know anything about the World Expo.  In fact, the only world expo I ever attended was the World's Fair in NY, in the summer of 1964.  I was 13 and my junior high school took a field trip to it.  Honestly, all I remember about it was that a new boy had just started school and was a real hunk.  All the girls were smitten with him, including me, not only because he was awesomely cute but because he was from California, and so was I.  Although I was born in NY, California had become my home.  My mother had just died and my father brought us back to NY to be with his family, which was good for him, but my whole life was uprooted and I had not made any new friends yet.

So this new kid starts school and ends up sitting next to me in home room!  I thought for sure I would be able to get to know him now, but no, all his attention was on a girl that sat a few seats in front of us that he had a huge crush on.  He was always staring at her and wanting to be with her.  Well, she didn't like him, and asked me to stay with her at the fair and keep him away from her!  So, kind of the first friend I made hated this guy that I really liked and I was caught in the middle.  It was a very dramatic day for me, really liking this guy and having to keep him away from this other girl, who I was really glad to be making friends with.  :)  I can’t remember a single exhibition.

So , it never occurred to me to go to another world expo. Until you came along and asked me about it.  I apparently learned nothing on my school field trip.  Except that maybe not every boy I like will like me back and that friends can come to you in strange ways.  :)

Now that you bring it up, I think the exhibits are probably fascinating and mind expanding, and now I'm wondering why I don't travel the world and go to every single one of them?  In fact, I think I might be a volunteer for them when I retire.  What a great way to make new friends and see the world!  You may have given me a new interest in life, and one that totally fits in with my love of drawing, writing and being a general ambassador of world goodwill.  :)

I guess this is what penpals are all about.  They make the world smaller and make you realize how much wonderful stuff is in it.  :) 

I just googled “Expo 2010 Shanghai China” and the website is really beautiful:http://en.expo2010.cn/

And here is a video of what I apparently missed on my field trip in mythic times:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPHbVY-Kq_A