The last day, and most people are supposed to be watching the men's gold medal hockey game, Canada vs. USA. So, how come I got to the line at the Royal Canadian Mint and was told it would be a 5 hour wait?! What are you all doing here? I guess they were all thinking the same as me, that it would be slow...
Well, I waited 3.5 hours from lining up, to touching the medals. It was a long line, where you got a stamp and a white glove to get access to the medal room for 10 minutes with about 20 other people. Somehow, we all got photos. The Olympic medals are circular, and the paralympic ones are more square. I met Dan, the Project Manager, who has been working on these for over 2 years! But what a gig! I almost want to apply!
People lined the streets, pouring out from the pubs to celebrate our win, 14th gold medal, the most ever, against USA!!!!
We headed to the (Australian) Moose Bar to watch the closing ceremonies. It was the only pub not over capacity and still had tables. We were right by the tv, but it was so loud at times, that it was hard to hear. What great talent they showcased: William Shatner, Michael J Fox, Micheal Buble, K-Os. It was definitely more upbeat than the opening.
We then went to German Fan Fest. My elementary school friend was in town. He lives in Germany now, and when he bought Olympic tickets, he got VIP. We got in, although there wasn't much of a line. However, we didn't have to pay the $20 cover and got a free bratwurst and beer.
Acoustica was the in house band, what a gig! They were dressed in red and white.
We noticed that there was a VIP tent, but it wasn't us, but meant for the athletes, VVIP. We saw some athletes in ski suits, yellow, with pink vests (for the girls) and blue vests. Neither one of us knew who any of them were, but my friend went over to speak to 1 of 2 ladies. He recapped his German conversation with me:
Hi, are you an athlete?
Yes
What sport do you do?
Luge
Did you win a medal?
Yes, gold
GOLD?! (at this point, I knew the conversation was not going well)
Hey, take my picture (as he hands me his camera)
She did not look impressed. She pointed towards her friend and said, she won silver for bobsleigh.
He still didn't know her name. We didn't have an iphone to check. How embarrassing is that!
She is Tatjana Huefner, luge gold medalist.
There was also a group of men, but I just couldn't embarrass myself. Especially since he told Tatjana that he's not German, but his wife is (and I'm not his wife), and I'm wearing his German coloured scarf. If I had my Canadian red on, I would feel a little better for being so ignorant.
He said that it's so hard to keep up. Germany won 30 medals, Canada won 26, totalling about 56 ahtletes, and include all the non medalists! Germany has 152 ahtletes, Canada has 205, and there were 2622 in total. Congratulations to them all!
My friend ended up asking a non ski suit wearing guy, who his athlete friends were. We were told luge silver medalist. I found one: David Mueller. I still gotta find the other 2...perhaps Torsten Wustlich, luge, and luge gold medalist Felix Loch? Hard to tell when they're not smiling in the Olympic photo and I've got one guy here with his eyes closed. I hope I got it right, and congratulations!!!
We headed out about 1230am and walked up Granville. Tons of people on the street, doing nothing but wandering around and not wanting to go home. I had to work on Monday, so I wanted to go home to sleep. I didn't want the Olympic party to end either, but I needed sleep. We got to Robson and Granville and there was still a sea of people. There was tons of trash on the streets, the smell of urine as many guys had to find a place to pee after all the beer drunk this afternoon, and lots of graffiti on the cutout pose statues.
It's like Vancouver was given the opportunity to really party like we've never done before. I felt emotional each time a medal was won by a Canadian. I felt friendly as an Olympic volunteer. I felt like an ambassador for Vancouver to all who came and wanted to enjoy the city and the Olympic fever. I felt that I could really go out with friends and see what happens, be spontaneous, adventurous, but patient at the same time. I really got a chance to enjoy my city in a way that I've never had.
I think being a volunteer gave me the opportunity to do things, and see people I would never get the chance to (Tyson Heung, Apolo Ohno, Patrick Chan, Joannie Rochette). I think volunteering allowed me to see how all the prep comes together; it makes me appreciate how this massive event was coordinated, and with many hiccups. I don't think I will volunteer again, I would rather get paid ;! Hmm, London 2012?
In so many ways, I'm so proud to be Canadian, a Vancouverite, but at the same time, I feel that the world will take me somewhere else where I can really be myself, and happier than ever, to be able to let loose, hang out, enjoy the city. Unless of course, Vancouver loses its "no-fun city" logo...
I think my volunteer life may be coming to an end, and perhaps even Vancouver as a home. I will wait and see how this moment in time has altered my life journey. I feel that something will happen for me soon, I just don't know what. I feel detached and this will allow my destiny to come to be.
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