Today was amazing. When I left on this journey, I imagined what it would be like helping here in Whistler. Today was just as I dreamed.
I woke up in the middle of the night to a steady stream of snow. It wasn't a blizzard, but just gorgeous. There are no curtains on my window, and I am on the third story. I saw branches of pine trees bending down and pooring snow on to the ground. Throughout the night I awoke to a bunch of white powder rushing off the roof. It truely was a winter wonderland here.
I walked to the bus and watched my footprints behind me in the snow. I packed an extra sweatshirt in case I got cold, but didn't need it. Every turn, every tree I passed on the way to the village looked completely new to me. The view of the snow falling on the trees all down the mountains was breath taking. I got to work and walked down the main street of the athlete village as if it were my first time. Everything really was more beautiful covered in snow. Mostly the last week I have been here, any snow we had was like mush. But, today the crew was out shoveling snow. By noon the snow had stopped and unfortunately the temperature started to rise. I wish the snow had continued the rest of the day.
One girl I worked with who is local announced that she was just too busy with her "real life" and today would be her last day. As sad as I was, the village was pretty slow today (think almost every athlete was competing!) and we took advantage of the down time to take some goodbys pictures. It was then time for our one big task of the day. Covering the press conference for Charlotte Kalla, Sweden's Olympic Gold Medalist for the Cross Country 10K. I wondered if she would wear her medal to the conference. I tried not to get too excited. All of my co-workers were conspiring to see if they could get a picture or even touch it. But I am just too much of a rule follower for that. In truth just getting close to a real gold was my dream for the day. In walks Charlotte and she is beaming. I have had a lot of amazing times at the village, but I immediately know this is one I won't soon forget.
In follows all the Swedish press; tvs, camera and writers. The photographers are snapping her picture. She is posing for the camera. Biting the medal, holding the medal up, the pictures are just priceless. As she is answering some questions of the Swedish broadcasters, I see one photographer download his pictures. They are amazing. I mean cover of Sports Illustrated amazing. He is cropping and editing as fast as he can, but I can't take my eyes off her face. This is the girl who has been in a couple times before. Always kind, yet serious. The woman who was in these pictures was different. You could see it in her eyes. She had attained the ultimate goal, and now it was time for her to be rewarded for years of hard work.
She stood right in front of me before she walked out the door. There it was on her neck. Something I could just dream of as a child. Never something really attainable for me. It seemed so much bigger than I expected. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. It didn't seem fair that I was the only one who got to see it. I went to the front desk and sent my co-worker back so she too could see the medal. She took a picture and brought it back. I was dumbfounded...that is a big no-no for us. "Its my last day" she says proudly.."What are they going to do, fire me?" She promised to send me her picture.
I worked until 9 pm, and then stopped by the village on the way home. It wasn't crowded, just a little busy. I heard drumming and followed the noise. It was the fire and ice show I had heard so much about. On the bottom, was snow and up on the stage were fire dancers, girls in skin tight outfits lit up with blacklights, and people playing with hula hoops filled with glowsticks. A small fire sits on the snow on the bottom corners of the elevated stage. A dj in the center with drummers pounding away. I feel so lucky to be able to have this once in a lifetime experience. I ride the bus home, eat and now am off to sleep. Hoping to land some hockey tickets in the next day or so. Tomorrow, the Bare Naked Ladies are playing Whistler village. So that is where I will be.
More soon!
Cath
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