Day 7 - Felic Cumpleanys

Today was one of the Andorrans' birthday. So I didn't do much work today, besides track down some candles, balloons, and make a card. We celebrated with cake and beverages at the Andorran house in the village. These guys and girls are all awesome - so welcoming and friendly! We walk in and it's all hugs and kisses. They're lots of fun to work with!

Here's one of the sights I get to see that others don't. I took great care not to photograph any athlete here! I found some Swedes today too! Another fun day!

Full Day Today (Sunday, Day Six)!

I had to be up early today - all three of the Whistler NOC Assistants to Andorra were meeting with our chef de mission this morning to set our schedule for the rest of the month. I met Maria Ana on the bus, and Erin once we got to the NOC Services Centre. I think the three of us make a great team! We also have an Assistant in Vancouver, who I hope to meet on Tuesday.

After our meeting, I stayed on for the rest of the day. I didn't have a whole lot to do, but explored the athlete's village a little more to learn where the different teams were staying. I also saw the village store, the stage and the plaza area, which were all new to me.

This evening, Whistler Mountain did this Fire & Ice show at the base of the gondola, so I met 7 other assistants for dinner outside at the Longhorn. We FROZE, even under the heat lamp! Here's Erin, me and Maria Ana: And here's another terrible outdoor night shot, showing the ring of fire that the skiers and boarders were jumping through and doing tricks: It was pretty cool... and SO cold that I am still not warm yet, and I got home almost 2 hours ago. Granted, the cabin is pretty freezing but me and the Magic Bag are huddled under two blankets and I'm also wearing 2 sweaters and fuzzy socks. Hmpf, maybe I will wear my tuque to bed tonight... :)

Sunshine for my day five

Oh, I am just SO sick of this view. Wouldn't you be?Sigh.
It's just SO ugly here. As you can see above, it was PRETTY hard to get out of bed this morning. But I had things to do. Canada House had an open house today, so I went and had a cuppa with this guy: Just your average ordinary everyday dude... who HAPPENED to light the cauldron in Whistler last night! Meet Tyler, a super sweet 17 year old Whistler kid who hopes to qualify for London in 2012. I got to hold his torch! (no, that's not a euphemism...)

Also, you may know these cuties: I was strolling around enjoying some fresh air before going back to the arctic-temp cabin for my solitary TV and Dorito ritual when I got a call from the athlete's village. Could I help a couple of confused young Andorrans? Well, YES, I could! So I bolted home for my uniform and hustled to the athlete's village. I was able to fix their Internet connection, their phone passwords AND their front door to boot. I am officially a rock star. Today I met three new Andorrans - two Alpine skiers and one support staff. I didn't catch his position but they were all very nice (and forgiving of my French/Spanish butchery).

R, one of the alpine skiers, was worried about his skis. When he arrived at the athlete's village, he was assured they would take his skis directly to the ski locker at Creekside. However, he knew he would not sleep until he saw them, so they set off to find them. I spent some time tracking down flags, white board felts and electrical adaptors, then had dinner (curry chicken, potatoes, corn, salad, and banana cake). At the dinner table I met some Spanish assistants, who were great. They offered me a ride into Whistler village and I got home not too late.

Up early tomorrow; meeting at 7:45 so off to bed I go! More tomorrow... Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone!

I'm not Useless Anymore! It is now Day Four!

Hola! Bonjour! Awesome day today!
I woke up to this: OK so you can't REALLY see the fat flakes of snow, but they were there, I promise. Beautiful view from the cabin window!
And then I got ready for my first shift. Do I LOOK like a keener? Because I am SUCH a keener:
I checked in at the Athlete's Village. Once I got there I received word that I had almost two hours to kill before the revised arrival time for my chef de mission. I loitered in the break room for a minute before I saw a sign that said, "Extra time on your hands? Call Jason to help Event Services". So I did. I ended up working 90 minutes at security screening, filtering athletes and coaches through the metal detectors. I was at the rifle checkpoint, but didn't think to be freaked out by that until later. Did I mention I hate guns?

And later, I helped check my team into their accommodations. It was great to meet them! They are very nice, and I am now able to relax a little about the whole language thing. I spoke French with her, and she spoke a little Spanish and French back, and we got along quite well. They have a townhouse for their team, and it's really very nice! After I left them to unpack a little more, I grabbed dinner in the dining hall (BBQ chicken, rice, green beans, Thai noodle salad - all quite yummy!) and left for Whistler as the Torch was arriving tonight!

Whistler was CRAZY. I have never seen it so busy! It was just packed at Skier's Plaza at the base of the gondolas. There was music and entertainment, and red mittens everywhere! The crowds were a little much for me, so I hiked up the mountain a ways, past the first tower on the Fitzsimmons chair. Looking down on the excitement was beyond words. I was also in the fantastic position of being right on the route that Julia Murray, the Canadian Ski Cross athlete that Westminster Savings is sponsoring for the Olympics, brought the torch by on the snowmobile. Um, yeah. So it would have been a whole lot better, closer, clearer if I HADN'T fallen down the mountain just a little when I jumped in excitement at seeing her 10 feet from me. This is the picture I took after I fell. Um, see her? Yeah, me neither.

She lit the torch of Steve Podborski, legendary skier! He skied down into the village and lit the torch of a young Whistler resident chosen to light Whistler's cauldron. See that glow in the middle? That's Steve lighting Tyler's torch. It was a PHONE camera; don't give me a hard time.
It was a great day!

And it's my Day Three (should've brought Rock Band)

OK, so still bored here. But I have had two glasses of wine, so I probably shouldn't write much tonight...
Remember I said they were putting finishing touches on the Medals Plaza? Almost. Done. More banners with a beautiful mountain background.
First shift tomorrow - YEY! Except the timing of it means I will probably miss the Torch Relay coming through - BOO!
But I am still super excited because I am quite tired of being all by my lonesome, thank you very much. I haven't skiied yet due to being "on call" but I hope to get up the hill early next week once my shifts are settled. And I am enjoying my explorations of the village - it's just that it doesn't exactly take all THAT long to walk from one end to the other, and you can only walk back and forth so many times before people will start to notice you in your weirdness. So I ducked into a movie today at 4:30. Can't remember the last time I've done that! I had the ENTIRE movie theatre to myself. And then I slunk home to watch Vampire Diaries.
Tomorrow - driving the chef de mission and getting her settled in her accommodations at the athlete's village. And a stop for more wine - I'm almost out!

Whistler Day Two

This morning I was aimless. I hadn't even been here 24 hours and I'd already started and finished one of the four books I brought with me. AND watched 3 hours of Lost last night. I turned on the TV but there was nothing on. I watched a whole 12 minutes of the Maury show, and I'm pretty sure it was the same show I saw last time I watched Maury 9 years ago - "I ain't yo' baby's daddy". Turns out he WAS her baby's daddy! Who knew! Yeah, so 12 minutes was enough of THAT so as soon as I ate lunch I took off into the village for a stroll. Note: No Andorran flag. What's up, Olympics?

Our friends were here last Friday and said they didn't see much evidence of the Olympics coming to town. I'm not sure if they've pulled it all together in the last five days, but man! There are stages everywhere for all the live events that will happen, the finishing touches are being made to the Medals Plaza, and the road restrictions are evident with signs, volunteers and extra transit everywhere. The banners on the light posts are colourful, but even more so are the people strolling through the village. Today I saw members of the Russian team (easy to spot, giant letters spelling RUSSIA across their chests, speaking Russian loudly and smoking like chimneys. So stereotypical!) and members of the Polish team. I also walked past Switzerland House and Canada House, where they're gearing up to host some pretty awesome parties! I picked up a Pique magazine and I'm planning what to do on my time off.

I may go in to pick up an extra shift tomorrow. My Andorrans haven't arrived yet, but apparently they can use a few extra hands stuffing welcome kits for the athletes, so as soon as I hear the word I will head to the athlete's village. I checked out where my bus leaves from (12 minute walk from the cabin) so I'm all set. The bus conveniently picks up and drops off right in front of Sachi Sushi, only my favourite sushi place in Whistler! I may have to call ahead before I get off shift some days...

It was beautiful today! Sunny and about 2 degrees; truly a beautiful mountain day.

First Post from Whistler!

Hey all,
I have arrived in Whistler! I was expecting a little more fanfare, but nobody seems to have realized yet that the most awesome volunteer is now in their midst. I went into the village to pick up some bread and milk, and it is all-abuzz. Volunteers everywhere in their snazzy uniforms; decorations and excitement!
I arrived with a ridiculous amount of luggage, all of which was excruciatingly heavy, but made it to the cabin with no real struggle. I have so many ideas of what I want to do until my first shift! I brought books, DVDs, work, exercise gear... and all I've managed to do so far is buy milk and have a cup of tea.
And I have to say - I already find that it's too quiet! I will be happier when the boys come and visit, that's for sure!
I am still waiting to hear when my first shift will be. I am an Assistant to the country of Andorra. Once they check in, I will know more. In the meantime I had better brush up on my French and Spanish! And on another note, my cousin is in labour as we speak. Push, Annwen! Can't wait to meet my new little cous-nephew or niece... I think technically he or she will be a cousin once removed. Best wishes come your way! Tamsin