Opening Ceremonies

This is my third Games, but the first time I have been able to attend the Open Ceremonies. It was exciting because the atmosphere was electric. It began with the Parade of Nations. The teams marched into the Rogers Center (Home of the Toronto Blue Jays) in alphabetical order according to their Latin American names, so the United States was Estados Unidos, with the host country, Canada entering last. That was nice because Team USA was towards the beginning of the parade and I didn't have to wait so long to see them. Many of the 624 US athletes walked. There are an estimated 6,000 athletes from 41 countries and territories who will participate in 36 sports.

As each country was introduced, instrumental music that represented each team was played. There was very much the feeling of carnival. The athletes, some in their native costumes, some in their team sweats, and some in very stylish outfits paraded with cameras, selfie sticks, and flags. They waved and smiled at the crowds cheering them on. The audience was very supportive of all delegations. It was a proud moment for all. As for the entertainment, it featured mainly Cirque Du Soleil, but included an orchestra, indigenous people's dance, and BMX bicycle riders doing tricks up several ramps. My favorite parts of the ceremonies was the parade, the flag ceremony, and the BMX bikes. Cirque was fantastic as usual, but I have been to many of their shows.

Watching it live has its disadvantages as I was not able to follow the storyline very well. There is no commentating and so I really didn't understand it. It was artistic and beautiful, but there was a disconnect for me. Truth be know, I fell asleep during a short part of it. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and was thankful for the opportunity to see it live. The excitement of all and the sense of pride that each individual had for their country and countrymen and women was up-

lifting.

OOPS!

The previous post is obviously not from the Pan American Games. I was looking at my posts and thought that I could post it and it would go in the date I originally wrote it. Maybe it will peak your interest and you will go back and check out my previous blogs.

I Made Many Wonderful Friends

This is Bernardo from Mexico City, Mexico. I met him on my last bus ride down from Whistler Olympic Park to Whistler Olympic Village. I learned that he was the probably the only volunteer from Mexico. I tried to speak some Spanish, but thank goodness he had perfect English.

Elisabetta and I became friends because she was one of the interpreters from Italy. She was so sweet and excited about the Olympics. We would talk while waiting in the press conference room for the medallists to arrive.

Andrea is a German interpreter from The Bay Area in CA. I enjoyed our many conversations.

These two are a class act. They were very professional. I admire them because they know multiple languages. They worked well together. I learned the difference between a translator and an interpreter. One needs a translator for the written word and in interpreter is for the spoken word. There field is very interesting. Elisabetta and Andrea are pure sunshine.
Elissa, from Canada, and Alessandro, from Italy. Were the Press Venue Managers. They did an outstanding job. It was exhausting for them, but very rewarding I'm sure. I'd work for them again. We had a terrific team because we had wonderful leadership.

I'm hoping that Natalie will make it to my class someday to talk about and show the Gold Medal she won in the Atlanta Summer Games. She lives in Colorado, but her husband went to elementary school at Linda Vista, the next elementary school over from the one I teach. It's a small world.

Dee-Ann, Grace, and Asami on the shuttle after work. See how full of energy they were. Deanna how lives in Squamish, but is a transplant from Seattle, WA.

Jason is a technology expert in Seattle and a very friendly and helpful volunteer. I loved his energy and enthusiasm. He too wants to volunteer for the London Summer Games. I hope to work with him again.

Asami and Grace taking a little break. Asami is from Japan and helped out a lot with the Japanese journalists. She was very brave to come and volunteer because Japanese is her primary language and she was the only team member with limited English. At first she had to make a big adjustment, but did a fantastic job. She was very sweet, kind, and gentle.

As you can see, Paula is very focused and intense. She was in charge of Press Conferences and I was her right hand woman. We made a great team. I enjoyed working with her even though I had to keep reminding her that we had everything under control and not to worry.


I spent most of my time behind this help desk. It was a pleasure working with (from the back) Paula, Lillian, and Natalie.


This is Natalie, the press tent supervisor and former Gold medallist in synchronized swimming for the USA. It wasn't always all work. She was so happy to be able to go out to the cross country skiing event. She spent most of her time in the Press Venue at the Help desk, where I spent most of my time also. She was very calm, cool, and collected. I enjoyed working for her. She is very professional.


Grace and I with Squirtle and Shaka on the shuttle. Grace is so full of youth and energy. One day I know that she will become the sports writer that she dreams to be. She has so many stats and details about many sports, especially, hockey.


Cheryl and Ira worked with me in Beijing and were volunteers at the Women's Hockey in Vancouver. We met for dinner in Whistler in a place called Earl's. We had a terrific time catching up. They live in the Toronto area.

Lillian and Elisa. I loved their energy and friendship.



Grace and I rode home on the bus together. It's snowing in this picture.


Cheryl, Ira, and I have wonderful memories of our month in the USA House in Beijing.

My favorite part of going to the Olympics was getting to meet terrific volunteers, people from different hemispheres, and wonderful managers. I really did feel like a team member. Everyone was kind, helpful, and hard working. Most of the people I worked with are Canadian, but I also worked with an international group, fellow Americans, Asami from Japan, and Silke from Germany.

On the way home on the city transit (for the last time) to my condo from Whistler Olympic Village I met a young man from Peru. It was great talking to him about my travels in Peru this past summer. I really feel fortunate to have met so many people from around the world. The Olympic spirit was alive and well. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to share my stories with others as well as hear wonderful stories from the people I met in Whistler.

Staging Area for Athletes at the Opening Games

The program I am involved with was given access to the staging area for the Parade of Nations and then the Opening Ceremonies. This was awesome. One by one the buses arrived and each country and/or territory arrived in alphabetical order. They arrived dressed in a variety of outfits. Some in their team sweats, some in their country's traditional clothing, and some in impressive outfits from head to toe. The athletes were excited, awe-struck by other nation's athletes, and armed with Go Pros, selfie sticks, phones, and video cameras. The young reporters, mentors, and volunteers were just as thrilled if not more. As the teams passed us, I observed the young reporters looking closely for the countrymen and women that they knew. They were tasked to take flash quotes that were later uploaded on the Games News Service (GNS). I spent my time taking pictures of the reporters conducting interviews. 

This panoramic is of Team USA.

Coral found her former trainer. He was selected to be the flag bearer for 

Coral knew several of the athletes and coaches from different countries. The athlete in the left picture above was her coach and trainer in track and field for Puerta Rico. Roberto Sawyers was asked to be the flag bearer for Costa Rico.They had not seen each other in awhile.

Dennis interviews Costa Rico while Sydney interviews US Virgin Islands.

Jade is speaking with Cayman Islands. To the right, Alejandra interviews an athlete from Guatemala.

 

(Sorry for the terrible placement of these pics. I have tried to place them in other places, but gave up)
Carla, Alex, Paul, Fatima, Coral, and Cynthia interviewed athletes from Bolivia, USA, Peru, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic respectively.

It was great seeing the athletes eager to meet each other, trade pins, and take selfies. This was a night we will never forget. 

Missing my Pele and Mommy

When I travel, the hardest thing for me is leaving my dog. Pele and I love each other so much. It makes me sad when I know she is missing me. I wish I could speak-dog and make her understand that I miss her and that I will return. I am so thankful to Randy and Ron for taking care of Pele.
I miss Mommy too, but she is a bit more independent and doesn't really get upset when I leave. I never thought that I would have a cat, since I am allergic to cats, but Mommy has definitely grown on me and visa versa. It took her about a year or two until she began to demand that I pet her. She was a feral cat who adopted us. She too will be very happy when I come home.

People and Friends That I Have Met Along the Way

The best thing about volunteering at any event is meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures. The following pictures are some of the people I have interacted with on this adventure.  I've come to the conclusion that no matter where I go, there are terrific characters and people just as goofy as me who have fantastic stories to tell. Here are just a few of the people I've had the pleasure of meeting.

This gentleman reminded me of my Pop. It was around 10 am when he drove us to the Main Media Center. Operating on little sleep we all filed onto the shuttle. From the moment he met us, he was fueled by enthusiasm and anticipation for a wonderful Pan Am Games. He was loud high-5ing us and asking what country we were all from. When he found out that Georgina was from Mexico he began singing what he knew of Cielito Lindo. Ay Ay Ay Ay! He was a hoot! He got the entire group to start singing. Then Georgina put on her pink Nacho Libre Mask and he went nuts trying to wrestler her. He had such a positive energy. We all got a kick out of him.

I saw a friend of mine there. I attended his wedding in Kauai 3.5 years ago. He has been working on the Pan Am Games for several year. One of the big-wigs. We only had time to talk briefly. I am so proud of him.

These were two of the over 23,000 volunteers. 

These are several mentors and young reporters in our program. We are in the Main Media Center. A happy bunch of amazing people. They have inspired me to continue following my passions of education and sports. I hope to keep in touch with them and see where their passion leads them. There will be more to come. When time permits, I plan to blog about them.

This was one of the querkiest characters of them all. He was a volunteer at the staging area for the athletes before the Parade of Athletes. His job was to direct the athletes. There was music playing and he started dancing. Do you know those people who love to dance, but really doesn't dance conventionally? He had his own special moves and he smiled the entire time. One couldn't help but smily and chuckle a little. He was quite entertaining to all who witnessed his moves. I loved his spirit and genuine enthusiasm. I'll never forget him.

This is Ira. One of the nicest men I know. This is the third time we have volunteered at the same multi-sport event. He was with me in Beijing, Vancouver, and now in Toronto. I love him because he is kind, loving, funny, caring, and a true gentleman. He lives in Niagara Falls. We worked at the flat-water kayaking event.

Here's Ira again next to Cheryl and Shaka. Cheryl is his wife. I was thrilled to get to work with them again. I didn't think that I would get to work with them this games, but as luck would have it my assignment was changed the day before. They are my Canadian snow birds. I love that they travel and keep active. Their daughter, Elissa, is my dear friend.They are friends for life and such sweethearts. I consider them my Canadian family.The third person in the picture is their friend (darn if I can't remember her name). We hit it off from the time I met her.