My Work as an Attendant with the Japan Pavilion World Expo '88

[Foundation Expo '88]

Brisbane's World Expo '88 was my first entree into the world of World
Expositions.

I was 18, just out of High School and a year as an exchange student in
Japan, and was keenly looking for work at the Expo, held in my
hometown of Brisbane.

I really had no idea as to what I wanted to do, but I knew that
something in PR or as a Guide would be fun - but as luck would have it
- the opportunity came to me out of the blue!

During 1987 I was in Japan and studying at Kwansei Gakuin Senior High
School in Nishinomiya City, and I was a member of the School's famous
Glee Club. I had been keeping in contact with my grandparents in
Australia who were scouring the news in Brisbane as to employment
opportunities at the Expo, but most of the positions were hiring in
Brisbane when I was still in Japan.

As luck would have it though, on the last concert of the Club, at a
sleepover at the Conductor's parent's home, I got talking to the
father of the Conductor about my plans once returning to Australia,
and mentioned that I wanted to work at Expo 88. He looked startled,
and said "Expo 88? My brother is working for JETRO for the Japan
Pavilion, let me ring him...". So that Sunday morning my fate was
decided, and in three weeks I was half-an-hour early for an interview
for the Japan Pavilion at Brisbane's Expo '88, in Tokyo - and I got
the job!

I returned to Australia and we soon met with our Australian and
Japanese counterparts, trying on our uniforms, getting our Employment
Passes, and starting our training. It was quite thorough and detailed,
and covered everything from stress management (K.I.S.S. - Keep it
Simple Stupid, was one of the things we learned!), to how to bow, how
to serve coffee to a VIP, a First Aid certificate with St John's
Ambulance, as well as explaining the under construction Pavilion to
guides from other Pavilions. It was very exciting.

Then came the official opening of the Pavilion - two days before the
official opening of the Expo - and we had numerous VIPs from Japan and
Australia, and I was chosen to guide Sir Sydney Schubert - head of the
Queensland Government Public Service, and one of the original
proponents for an Expo for Brisbane! He was very cordial and friendly,
and very soon we were chatting and joking with each other, leading
another VIP to ask "Are you Sir Sydney's son?". lol

Everything went off without a hitch.

We soon got our daily schedules, and this comprised of manning the
several positions through out the Pavilion in half-hour shifts, with a
5-minute standby. This was quite easy and each position had it's own
challenges - as well as boring bits! But we all tried to make each
position as interesting as possible!

After about 4 hours of manning a position we got a half hour break,
and we worked 8-hour days, in AM AM AM PM PM PM day off shifts
schedule, 10am to 10pm for each of the 185 days of the Expo.

In the Japan Pavilion's case the first position was the Reception
desk, where we smiled and welcomed guests and handed out Pavilion
pamphlets, as well as counted visitors on occasion; the second
position was the Shishimai robot display, where two industrial robots
dressed in lion dance garb 'danced' to traditional music - emphasising
the harmony between technology and traditional culture; the third
position was in the Communications Plaza, and so on.

Occasionally we were scheduled to do special tasks, such as MC for the
Pavilion if there was a special event on, or VIP Guide to a visiting
dignitary, whereby we might have to accompany them throughout the
Pavilion visit, or even to other Pavilions as well if they were a
'super' VIP.

On more dull days, we moved boxes of pamphlets from the store room to
the Reception Desk (this was a job for the male attendants only)... or
helped with the Passport Stamps (later there was a Passport Stamp
Robot!), or nearly fell asleep whilst listening to the traditional
Japanese music in the Japanese Garden.

The weeks turned into months quickly and each team - there was an "A"
Team, "B" Team, and "C" Team - organised a special day trip on their
day off - as well as prepared for the closing night's Variety
Performance by Pavilion staffers, which was really fun! David
Knijnenburg did a special rendition of "Simply Irresistable" with
seven Japan Pavilion companions (the Japanese term for a female
attendant).

Finally there were a lot of tears on the closing night, and lots of
parties after the Expo finished as well - but some lifelong friends
were made - and contacts too - which helped me pursue employment with
the Universal Exposition of Seville 1992 4 years later.

My advice to potential World Expositions Attendants and Guides is to
make the most of the three months - or six months that you're given -
and do the most to make the most of the many international friendships
you'll make as well as always being cheerful and professional with
your clients, colleagues, and superiors. You'll have a great time
you'll never forget!