More Pictures of Shaka Around Whistler

Shaka and I watching the ski jump portion of the Nordic Combined team competition in which the USA team won it's very first medal in Nordic Combined. It was so exciting to see history in the making.


Ski Jumping was Shaka's favorite Olympic event.


After work we would walk around Whistler Olympic Village. It helped me to decompress and take in the sights and sounds of the Olympic tourists from around the world.


The weather was fantastic, for the most part. It wasn't until the last few days that the rain and show turned into slush. It was much colder.



Shaka's first experience standing out in the snow. He was underdressed, but the hot chocolate helped him warm up.

Shaka had a wonderful time. He was loved by everyone he met.

Workforce Break Room and Meals

Lining up for the cafeteria style food.


The first place we would stop was for the delicious soups. We had a choice of two types of soups every lunch. The soup and bread was my favorite part of the meal.


This is a fellow volunteer I met during lunch one day. This is the hot drink area. We would have as much hot water, coffee, hot chocolate, and tea as we wanted. I started every shift with a cup of hot chocolate. I limited myself to one cup a day.


This is a picture from the back of the dining/break area. The breakroom really got full during lunch time. Timing was everything. If you weren't there early enough, you didn't have much of a choice. They usually had a hot meal available while it lasted, or one would have to settle for a cold sandwich or wrap. After eating sandwiches for 6 days straight, I was hoping for a hot meal. Sometimes I would get it, but most of the time I would have to make due with the sandwich.


This is a shot from the front of the mess tent. In the break room we had coverage of the Olympics being broadcasted on flat-screen TV's. I would watch the events every time I was in there, although it was hard to hear the commentary.


This meal was one of my favorite. Lasagna and salad. They had a choice of fruit and granola bar with each meal as well as a beverage. Many times I would save the bar and banana for later in the shift. I usually had either water or orange juice. I was very good. I did not have any soda. I have given soda up since last June. Because Coke was an official sponsor, it was free during lunch.


This was a Thai chicken wrap. It was tasty, but I had to eat the inside with a fork because there was too much wrap. I think that I started getting sick of the carbs. I was thankful for a free meal everyday.

Mascots and Gifts

These were the gifts I received for being a volunteer: (1) Workforce Olympic Pin, (2) Miga, (3) a key chain made designed by a local jeweler, (4) a specially designed medallion, (5) a luggage tag, and (6) an Olympic Swatch watch. Miga is the stuffed animal I choose for a gift. I decided to get her because I live close to the sea. I also thought she was cuter than Quatchi.



Can you tell that I'm "Going Nuts" about the mascots. This was in front of a store in the Whistler Olympic Village.


Shaka enjoyed taking his picture with Miga and Quatchi.

Based on mythological characters, they are Miga, Quatchi and Sumi. Miga, a sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod near Tofino, and Quatchi, a young sasquatch, represent the Olympics, while Sumi represents the Paralympics that follow afterward. A sea bear is a First Nations creature, part killer whale, part Kermode spirit bear. While illustrated as being taller than the other characters, the mascot costume of Quatchi is the same height as the other two characters.The third mascot, Sumi, an animal-guardian spirit, is a Thunderbird that wears the hat of an orca. Sumi will be the mascot of the Paralympics. In 2004, the Times Colonist suggested a marmot might be a good mascot, except for their winter hibernation. The organizers still chose one, named Mukmuk, as their "virtual only" counterpart. I took these descriptions directly off of the mascot website.

Sites On the Way to Whistler Olympic Park

This is what I was able to look at every morning before work. It is so breathtaking.


My view as I opened the front door of my condo.


I walked up to the bus stop that I took to work.


This is where the spectators and workforce would get on the buses up to Whistler. They were from all over Canada as well as the United States. All of the bus drivers were so nice.


A beautiful semi-frozen lake I passed every morning on the bus to WOP.


I took this picture on the bus up to work.


Once we arrived at WOP we had to walk down this path to the security tents. The workforce and spectators entered different security screenings.


This bus grabbed my interest because on the side of it there were the faces of famous Canadian celebrities. I grew up watching many of these actors and entertainers.


This was the Whistler's Olympic Park venue's landmark.


These are two of the security guys who read the barcode on my accreditation every morning. If you look closely, you can see my picture on their monitor.


Every three days that the volunteers worked, we were given nice gifts. The next two pictures are of some volunteers who gave us our gifts. I'll post a picture of all of the gifts I received.




After going through check-in, I had to take a shuttle to the cross country and ski jump venues. The bus was always filled with work force team members and the media. Most of the time I had to stand because it would be full of people off to work.


This is Nixon. He is originally from Uganda, but now resides in Vancouver. His job was to make sure pedestrians were safe while walking across the road. He was such a happy and friendly person. I think that everybody knew and liked him. His smile and attitude was contagious.


These are my Press Venue Managers, Elissa and Alessandro. There are fantastic leaders. I'd work for them again. They were so focused and organized.

I Got a Bonus Day Off

To my surprise, by supervisors have given me another day off. I plan on trying to finish most of my blog, get ready for my trip home, and attend the volunteer appreciation party. It will be my last day up to Whistler Olympic Park. What an adventure I've had. Stay tuned.

Ski Jumping Venue

This is the site I see when I exit the shuttle bus at work. They were having practice jumps. The ski jumps are so big that I can barely see the athletes when they are jumping unless you are at the base of the hill.

This is an awesome venue. There is the large hill and the normal hill. The same three medalists who won on the normal hill also won on the large hill in the same finishing order.

Second and Last Day Off

I've been home blogging all morning and watching live Olympic coverage. My roommates are out sightseeing, but because I came down with a cold, I decided to recuperate here at home. I still have 5 more days for work and do not want to be sick when I return to teaching. I slept for 11 hours last night and feel so much better now. I'm glad that I decided to stay home. I'll be able to go into the village for dinner now that I feel much better. I think that the worst of my cold has passed.

It's been nice getting to post my pictures. I have to take more in the coming days.

May Nodar Kumaritashvili Rest in Peace

My sympathy goes out to his family, friends, and all of his countrymen and women.

It's no doubt that the saddest event during these games was the death of 21 year old Georgian, Nodar Kumaritashvili. I'll never forget working in the press venue when word of his death spread throughout the venue. Many of my colleagues were talking about seeing the video coverage. We were all in shock. I said, "What?!" I cried. I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't watch all of the film coverage of the crash. Afterwards, the big story was about how dangerous the sliding venue was. Much controversy surrounded this incident. I felt bad for the beginning of the Games and for Canada.

As I walked into Whister Village last night, I saw this memorial. Many people have stopped by to pay their respects and leave notes. The memorial grows bigger everyday. People have left flowers, Olympic pins, and flags from their countries. It's very sobering experience. I wrote a message.

Watching these games and being a part of these games have given me a better understanding of how dangerous winter sports are, especially in the Alpine events. These athletes are daredevils. Unfortunately we were reminded of just how dangerous it is.

It's Not Just All Work

Team USA Volunteers

It's amazing how athletes get in the sleigh. It's very narrow and cramp. This is stationed in the middle of Whistler Olympic Village. There are always lines of tourists waiting to take a picture here.

The Olympic Rings are next to the Olympic Medal Stage. Look for the flame in the middle of this picture.

I wish that I could get a picture right in front of the Olympic Rings, but there are just so many people.

Every night after work Kathy and I go back to the village to have dinner. We have discovered local hangouts that are very delicious and reasonably inexpensive. Unfortunately, Lynn works at the sliding venue and has a different schedule. Kathy and I have been exploring together. The weather has been perfect and the nights are very clear and crisp. We do window shopping and bought very few souveniers. We don't stay out too long because we don't care to be with the hundreds, if not thousands who come to party every night. So far we have avoided the drunk party goers. Lynn says that when she walks through the village past midnight, people are seriously crazy. They try to kiss her.

Kathy and I are generally home by 8:00pm so that we can watch the Olympics and get to bed by 10ish. I get up around 6:00am. I wish that I had more energy to stay out longer.

Inukshuk-A Symbol of the Vancouver Games

This is where all workforce get dropped off for work.

Kathy, one of my roommates, works at the biathalon just up the road from my workplace.

Shaka, my traveling gnome, is next to an inukshuk that someone built next the entrance to the press venue at WOP.

Shaka loved that they have inukshuk in his size.

I took this picture while waiting for the shuttle back home after work.

The inukshuk is a stone landmark built by humans in the Arctic region. It has been used for navigation as a point of reference a marker for hunting grounds, or as a food cache. This symbol can be found everywhere. I've see then in random places around WOP, Whistler Olympic Village, and on sides of the road. They are made from rocks, boulders, and snow. I just had to buy a pair of earrings with dangling inukshuk.

Home Away From Home

In front of the condo before going into town.

Cozy living room where we watch the Olympic coverage, laugh, and get to know each other.

I feel fortunate to be the one to have my own room.

Lynn said that I should get it since I was the one who found this nice place.I am very comfortable staying here.

I feel so fortunate to have rented a very warm, beautiful, and cozy condo. Kimiko, the wonderful woman who owns this condo, was so helpful and welcoming. We were so lucky to have found this place to call our home away from home.

Spruce Grove's Beautiful Surroundings

I took this picture of the snow plow so that my students can see what is done after a snow.

I was in the condo when I heard this tractor. It was just outside my door.

It's nice that they clear the roads whenever it snows.

This is a morning after a night of snowing, Feb. 16th.

This was the view outside my condo window.

This was the morning of my first day off.

This is the view from a bridge just a few 100 yards from my condo.

A picture that I snapped on my way to eating Sushi after settling down in my place.

The walk was only 10-15 minutes.

The place that I am sharing with two other American volunteers is lovely. It is very comfortable and only 5 minutes transit ride from the Whistler Olympic Village where I have to take my bus to the Whistler Olympic Park (WOP).