Expo2010, Changing my life
Nov. 2, Sanya in front of the Yan Long Beach. This is the first family vocation for us this year and we all know the next one won’t happen until the Expo 2010 ends on Oct. 31, 2010. Watching both Nicholas and Leah building the sand castles and bridges in front the beach, my mind started to drift away and started to wonder what my kids will be like and will be building in another 20 years.
World Expo 2010 might just be one of those historical events for this ever fascinating city of shanghai, it has truly be been THE life changing event for me and hopefully also for many of the Chinese youth.
Feb of 2010, Dave and I moved to Shanghai right before the Chinese new year when Nicholas was just about 9 month old. It was the first time for Dave to travel to China. We were all overwhelmed by the excitement about the new project that I was going to take on – the 2010 Expo project for GM China. For me, it also means so much more than just another project after working in GM US for 8 years. It is a project that brings me back to the city I grew up at after leaving here when I was 18 years old. The fact that this is the first ever Expo to be held in China makes me feel even more fortunate to be part of it - Not everyone gets the opportunity to be part of building a world Expo pavilion that will hopefully inspire many people and leave a legacy behind.
The fact that the SAIC-GM pavilion at the 2010 Expo is a first ever Chinese and American joint automotive pavilion in the history of Expo makes this project a lot more meaningful yet challenging. Like managing a cross-cultural marriage, it takes every little bit of care and cultivation to overcome the cultural differences. It has been a great partnership journey so far because both companies share the exact same vision and understanding of the great cause that we jointly are serving to the society.
At the 1939 New York World Expo, the “Futurama” experienced at the GM pavilion presented to the world the concept of super highway. Inspired by this vision, the super highway network flourished on the US continent 20 years later and truly stimulated economic prosperity and transformed people’s lifestyle.
At the SAIC-GM pavilion at the 2010 Expo Shanghai, we are hoping to bring the same inspiration to the world and especially today’s youth if we do it right. By transporting the visitors to a beautiful world of the 2030, we’re hoping to deliver a transformational experience through the future city of Shanghai. And, hopefully this journey into the city life in 2030 will not only wow our audience but also make them believe that the vision is within our reach – it is a future that could become a reality if we can make everyone feeling inspired and believe in the possibilities ahead of us.
Before I left Michigan in 2007, I had the opportunity to talk to Ross, a retired gentleman worked on the GM pavilion project at the 86 Vancuvor Expo. As soon as he started to talk about his experience at the 86 Expo, his eyes were lit up and face glowing. I could feel that energy and passion still with him after 20 years. And, that is the one thing that gets me going everyday – I’m being part of presenting a vision to the world that will make the future cities truly a beautiful place to live for generations to come.
expo also changes my life...!