Friday, February 12, 2010.

I am trying to learn how to post pictures so bear with me..... the technique will improve hopefully. I am not sure how to label the pictures at this point so I'll just say that there are pictures of the 2 boys I am staying with, (Luke and Hunter) & pictures of Cypress Mountain the day I went up for volunteer training. (the volunteers are the people in blue jackets)

Hello!

I missed blogging yesterday as I went to see the opening ceremony dress rehearsal and we got home late. As a volunteer, I got 1 free ticket to see the opening ceremony and I could purchase 1 additional ticket. So I took Rebecca with me, the lady I am staying with.

All I can say is "watch the opening ceremonies" or tape it because I thought it was spectacular. They asked us not to spill the beans about what it was all about as they want it to be a surprise for the 3 billion viewers from around the world that will watch it. The headliners were great also.

Yesterday, I had some "venue" training to attend up at Cypress Mountain; which means they orient you to the mountain and where everything is located. No one can drive up to the mountain so they have "olympic" buses that pick us up in North Vancouver. It was neat to be on a bus with all volunteers in our uniforms! (picture of uniform soon to come I hope, I need Rebecca's husband Scott to help me download them) All the volunteers are very friendly; I met a man from Ottawa. There are 500 volunteers from the Ottawa area at the olympics.

It was a bit bittersweet seeing the mountain, bitter in that lots of the mountain had grass showing; like it looks on ski hills in May at home. The "sweet" was how spectacular the freestyle and snowboard course look! There is snow there as they have trucked in at least 400 dump trunk loads of snow from as far away as 250 kilometres. There were dump trunks constantly arriving and leaving for more snow. The mountain was a "buzz" trying to prepare for opening day on Saturday. (my first shift) There were many helicopters flying around with buckets of snow they were dumping on the hill. Just after we all arrived, it started to snow and there was a big cheer!

Today I have 2 more hours of training to attend. It's about how to do all the aspects of my job. They will have us doing something different every day so we don't get bored! I may have to do crowd control which everyone laughs at...knowing how aggressive I can be!

Tomorrow Rebecca and Scott (my house hosts) are having an "olympic opening ceremony party" . They are a young couple (relative to me) age 35, and their 2 boys are ages 2 & 5. Get this..they have invited 6 other couples who each have 2 kids under the age of 6. My math says there will be 14 kids here under the age of 6......... Will report on that later....

Hope all is well at home. Take care. We'' ll talk soon.

Marianne

Hello!

I missed doing a blog yesterday as I went to see the opening ceremonies (dress rehearsal) last night and we were late getting home. As a volunteer I received 1 free ticket to the dress rehearsal and then I could purchase 1 additional ticket. I took Rebecca (the lady I am staying with) to the opening ceremony and all I can say is "watch it" or tape it. It was spectacular. They asked us not to give any details away so I shall comply as my ticket was free! The headliners were great and they put on an amazing show.

Yesterday in the morning I went up to Cypress Mountain to get some "venue" training, in other words to get a tour of the mountain & learn where everything is located. An "olympic" bus

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Day 1 - Up at 4:45 a.m to get to the airport. Both Madeline and Kath & Bruce (and the dog) came to the airport which was very nice...

Big treat, got to go executive class. (that's all the seats they had on points, darn!) I've never gone in executive class before & it is going to be hard to go back to economy after hot towels, hot oatmeal cookies and gelato ice cream. The flight was smooth. I am not a great flyer but I was pretty good.

Vancouver airport was a "buzz" with volunteers everywhere and travellers that had team jackets on, bobsleigh, etc. It was neat. Vancouver was sunny and quite warm, some people in shorts. They do not have a speck of snow and spring flowers were blooming. Hard to believe they are hosting the winter olympics in 3 days.

A neighbor of mine knows a family in North Vancouver that were willing to rent me a room in their home. As the couple both work, I had to find my way to their house by public transit (which I never use) in a strange city. The good news is I made it, I only took the bus on the wrong side of the street once. The family I am staying with are great. The husband and wife both drive Harley's! They have 2 little boys; very cute, age 2 & 5.

I spent the day making my way around Vancouver on the bus picking up my uniform and picking up my free ticket to the opening ceremonies. (dress rehearsal) I must say everything has been so well organized and efficient. Everyone is very friendly.

Tomorrow I am headed up to Cypress Mountain for some training; I'll be able to give you the low down on the snow situation or lack of it.

Hope all is well with you all,

We'll talk tomorrow.

Marianne

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Nora (resident webminor)

I have now been taught how to post a picture. No guarantees I'll be able to do this in Vancouver with someone else's computer and no help from my friend!!

I am going to miss my furry friend Murffy in the photo. He is just recovering from his second ACL surgery in 9 months!!!

My next blog will be from Vancouver; looking forward to telling you my adventures. Let's get the plane ride over first as I'm not a great flyer.....

take care,

Marianne

Day before leaving!

Last day before I leave .......I still need to pack...better get at it!!! My friend Nora is here with me trying to help me learn how to download photos etc....she has lots of patience....