August 23, 2008
(Photos to come when I can. I have many, just been busy. In the meantime, look at the panos page, there are several new ones with more of those to come as well)
So, once upon a time, there was this thing called time. And it was in the future and present tenses, not past tense as we know it today…. Where did that time go?
And where did I leave off so long ago. Oh yeah, track and field. So everyone knows Bolt (ironic name, isn’t it) broke the 100m – the night I was there. I surely hope he’s the real thing. It would be so sad if something like that is artificial. And he’s the same age as me! I can run the 100m too… in about 4 times as long. That’s not who I was watching though. I was watching Richard Thompson (unfortunately spelled with a ‘P’), who got silver. I think he’s actually gotten two of them now. Go figure: “For the silver medal, Richard Thomson” hehehe. I like the ring of that… (for those who don’t know, Richard Thomson is my fiancé, Richard Thompson is from Trinadad.)
Just a question. What is up with countries using the wrong colors? (This blog is going to jump – my mind is like that right now) The Dutch are always clad in brilliant orange. The Aussies use yellow and green. The Italians, at least this year, are dressed in blue and silver. And NONE of their flags use those colors! It’s like gymnasts’ ages; they just don’t make sense.
As far as work goes, it was busy but soooo fun. The individual events were amazing to witness in person. Even though we are supposed to be unbias, it’s really hard to do. You just want the red-white-and-blue to win. And they have, with 107 medals at this count and a few more to go tomorrow. BTW, I sing the Chinese anthem in my sleep now. That and the Fuwa song they played in between each apparatus rotation in the NIS.
Yet, gymnastics had to come to an end, and overnight the venue was transformed into reckless world of handball. Let me tell you, the difference in the crowds… wow. I didn’t realize how quiet the previous fans were, even with a Chinese gymnast due up. I also had to bid farewell to my FQR job, at least for now. Heck, I don’t know anything about handball. Let the reporters who’ve been covering it do the job. Now I’ve been working in the Press Workroom – basically doing nothing but waiting to help a journalist who may need assistance.
Before the Olympics started, the city of Beijing put up posters for their residents about questions not to ask foreigners. Among them were: don’t ask about relationship status, don’t ask about jobs, don’t ask about politics, don’t ask about salary. I have gotten all of them – multiple times even. So, next time you just meet a stranger on the street, ask their salary (or the average salary, or my parent’s salary, one guy was very persistent). Hey, it’s what the Olympics people do!
And my job title should officially be changed to ONS Flash Quote Reporter and Foreign Visitor Services. I’m not as bad as my friend Ted. He is Korean (adopted as a baby, grew up in the states), and must be approached 30 times a day by Chinese visitors needing assistance. He’s definitely a good sport about it, and sometimes is lucky to have someone also speak English. But while in uniform I too am fair game for natives and Westerners alike. My favorite comment, from an Aussie I think, was “What, you’re not Asian?” hehehe. Ummm…. Sure. Let’s go with that shall we.
I do admit, some of the genuinely need assistance. And I have noticed many of the volunteers make up answers when they don’t actually know. The Olympic Green has three parts: the North Zone, the Olympic Common Domain (the main center), and the South Group. And, unfortunately for many tourists, they have been letting all three onto the OCD even though the other two are over a mile away. NO, water polo IS NOT in the Water Cube! Read the ticket! Hehehe. They could give people maps too, that would help.
However, with two Californian’s misfortune came a good surprise for me. I always go in at least an hour early to work, just to hang out and trade pins. As I was passing the NIS, I saw two men, one of them rather elderly, arguing with the security at the staff entrance. Knowing full well they speak little English, I go up and offer to help. Sure enough, they need Handball and Water Polo (both in the South). They tell me they have been wandering for hours on bad directions, have no water, and are extremely late (like 2 hours after their first ticket started). So, I offer to take them to a cab and to the other entrances – offering my water bottle of course. Come to find out, their names are Robert and Alexander (Sandor) Tarics. That last name may not mean anything to you, but it should. Sandor turns out to be the oldest living gold medalist. And at a youthful 95-years-old, he is still pretty spry, even with heat exhaustion. He competed at the Berlin 1936 games in Water Polo for Hungary. I was unfortunately not able to set up an interview with him due to my work schedule, but it really made my day. I just wonder how much the event has changed, good or bad, in that timeframe. People have claimed both to have very political overtones. Both are during a time of uncertainty in the world. Did a gold medal mean or symbolize something different back then? There are just so many questions to think about.
