By: Brittney Young, Student Ambassador, USA Pavilion

I think I was about six years old when I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for the first time (the Great Illustrated Classics version, that is). It was not until early January 2011 that I purchased the “real,” “adult” version as a part of a 50 Classic Novels omnibus for my e-reader, a Nook, I had received as a Christmas gift. Unfortunately, it took me until just about two weeks ago to start reading it. I had put off reading the novels until I had the time, basically until I finished my undergraduate degree. I decided to start reading the omnibus the first week of the Expo, and by pure happenstance on page one, I found my real version of Jules Verne’s classic. Even though it was first published in 1870, I am pretty sure Jules Verne actually meant it to be my guide through Expo 2012. Parts of the introduction are repeated almost word for word in Philippe Cousteau’s introduction in the USA Pavilion’s preshow; the introduction also mentions the important place the novel held for Jacques Cousteau himself. I could not recall ever hearing of New Caledonia before, but the same night I met two visitors at the USA Pavilion from there, I went home and read Professor Aronnax’s description of that very island. Going to the Theme Pavilion, I was convinced that I was watching a manatee for 30 minutes, but upon being informed that it was a dugong I was a little confused. A few days later, I was informed of their similarities and differences via Ned Land’s encounter with the creature. In reading 20,000 Leagues while working at the USAP, everything I have experienced at the Expo has given me a more personal connection to the Expo, as well as with the past and future. It’s purely by chance that I happened to read this book at this time, but it certainly has so much more meaning now than it would have had if I had read it last January. This is the magic of Yeosu. Or maybe it is Jules Verne. Or maybe the ocean. Or all three. Whatever the case, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is next on my reading list. And, who knows? Perhaps there will be a scandal in Bohemia lurking somewhere in Yeosu.