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.