Owning our experiences...

Sitting in our stretch SUV limo on the 404; tired, happy and thrilled to be home. It's been a long day. We left the Reid house in Richmond at 8 am BC time and pulling in at home at 8 pm Ontario time.

We wore our uniforms, just to make an exit worthy of this group of proud, retired 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic volunteers, and even here at Pearson Airport we are stopped and asked about our jackets by both the flight attendants and passengers outside.

Finally at home and it is so difficult to express the emotions surrounding this experience. We are nine people who have become coworkers, roommates, travel partners and for this brief period of time, we were family. I am sad to think I can't drag everyone to Starbucks every morning on our way to work (Sean and Jen are now as Starbuckian as Daisy and I), that Peggy won't be starting a pillow fight tonight, that Bruce won't be showing us his new pin, Ben won't be asking about our day at work and Larry can't bring us all treats from Dairy Queen (sorry Sylvia, I am letting it leak about the ice cream).

My favourite part of evenings before bed was the anecdotal sharing of our day. Each one of us had at least one funny, weird, exciting or scary event to share daily and it was our Olympic volunteer's version of a bedtime story. They were as simple as asking a local for directions to the subway and being sent to "Subway" restaurant, to being offered a thousand dollars for our volunteer jacket. We were almost caught in the middle of the riot downtown on the first day of the Games and were lucky enough to have pre purchased tickets to not only the gold medal presentation of the first to be won on Canadian soil, but also the second, though the first won by a woman. We were waved at by Ben Mulroney, met Ryan Kesler's family, told off by anti Olympic activists, rode transit with the Swedish ski team, the American ski team and accidentally caught the torch run outside the restaurant where we happened to be having lunch. I could go on and on about the kismet that surrounded this group but it would be better if you just made a coffee date with us because I could never reiterate with the same animation that the stories would be shared in person.

I have used the word "experience" many times during our trip, but I can't seem to find another word that has the same tangible quality to it. Experiences are something you take with you, hold onto, are valuable and the stuff that memories are made of. I want to thank this group for giving me the opportunity to support people in owning their unique experiences and what more a fantastic way to gather experience than as Volunteer at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Fantastic people and exceptional opportunities...

Today was the last day for the Community Living Newmarket/Aurora volunteers and what an event to blow out on! Jen, Ben, Daisy and Sean were all ringside (rinkside actually) for the USA - Norway hockey game! Each one of the volunteers were ushers in a specific section with a view of the game to rival anyone's tickets. Jen was posted feet away from Ryan Kesler's family and had a lovely conversation with Mrs. Kesler. We could not have requested a better post for our last shift.

Our whole trip has been like today; bits of luck, happenstance and great fortune all thrown in together to make one hell of an experience.

Right from the beginning of our application in February 2008, we have met fantastic people and been given exceptional opportunities to get us to Vancouver.

The positive energy did not stop there and so many amazing things have come our way that it's been difficult not to believe the universe is conspiring to our benefit.

Truthfully though, it's because of the volunteers that we are here. If it were not for Ben, Jen, Sean and Daisy this trip never would have happened and the five staff feel honoured to have been asked to attend. I have learned so much about these four people and see them differently than I did before, as with anyone you get to know better than acquaintance.

Ben is an old soul. Full of questions and always interested in what everyone is doing. Ben remembers everything you tell him and everywhere he has been. He has a knack of touching something in people, complete strangers even, that makes you want to open up and let him get to know you. He can tell you every Skytrain station and where the elevators are and assisted so many other lost tourists on their merry, city transit way.

Daisy is... well... sweet. Everyone likes Daisy the second they meet her. Don't let her smile fool you though; she is capable of directing thousands of people through security gates and will make sure you stop if you are going the wrong way. She is a determined lady who is worthy of admiration and that adds spice to the sweetness that is Daisy.

Sean is a charmer. With his outgoing personality, he could wrangle his way into the Canadian dressing room. He introduces himself to everyone he meets along with anyone who happens to be with him. I have met so many interesting people while traveling with Sean, people I would not have met otherwise. Sean truly knows how to get the most out of his experiences and if you get the chance I suggest going along for the ride.

Jen lives with gusto and wants to drag you along by the hand, making sure you do as well. She has been so caring of everyone else's experience and today it was incredible to watch the pinacle of her experience while ushering at the hockey game. If you haven't had the chance, watch the video from earlier today and you will witness it yourself. Jen will do great things, just because she approaches everything with big enthusiasm.

Tomorrow we fly back to Ontario. if I could take one thing home with me, I would carry the memory of my experience supporting these outgoing and hardworking people and how the relationships we have all built have made this the phenomenal experience it is.

VLog - Jenn preparing for her final shift at Canada Hockey Place

Here's a quick video of Jenn preparing to be an usher at Canada Hockey Place, USA versus Norway game on Feb. 18 2010. This shift she gets to work just below the VIP section!

Briefing room before our last volunteer shift...

You are the author of your experience...

"And some say what defines us

Is something as simple as 'please' and 'thank you'

And as for 'you're welcome,' well, we say that, too..."

You may have noticed we did not write yesterday. Our group is still excited and pumped but we are slowing down. We took the evening to meet up with Lance and watch the Canada/Norway game at our local neighbourhood pub. People are getting to know us and the cheering and clapping with our neighbours over beer re energized and boosted our spirits! It was so nice to see Lance and I did not want to stop talking to him about the potential impact the Olympics will have on the Aboriginal community and the disability community, hoping it will create awareness and change future hiring policies here in BC.

As Jen and I were on our way home yesterday on the Skytrain, I noticed we were not making the same kinds of connections with people as we have been on past trips. I became aware of our slumped positions, our lack of smiles and repeated yawns. I am guessing we did not look overly welcoming.

I thought back to a conversation we had overheard earlier that day when a tourist asked a "local" directions to an event and was met with enthusiastic navigation and suggestions. As the tourist was walking away, Jen and I heard her exclaim "Canadians really are friendly!" And we beamed! There are worse national stereotypes in the world and if being friendly, accommodating, polite and welcoming are what define our country's culture, this group has been more than happy to represent.

We needed the last evening to refuel and bond over wings, beer and a Canadian hockey game and are back out on the street and off to volunteer as symbols of the true north. Each and every one of us is truly the author of our own experience and you get back what you give to the world. How extraordinary to be Canadian ambassadors, greet the world with a smile and in return create lasting memories for ourselves.

"We are part of the landscape"-quote by Daisy Joseph

A national community...

What an absolutely monumental occasion! We are on the Skytrain, on our way home, after the Victory Ceremony where Alex Bilodeau received the gold medal.

It was truly a sight to make your heart glow, looking around at all the red and white in the stadium. It was pure luck, landing tickets to the event, as they were purchased weeks ago when the group was still planning our trip. Last night while volunteering at the security gates at Canada Hockey Place we could hear all of Vancouver break into a unanimous roar! The news spread across the crowd in a wave, that Canada had just captured gold in men's moguls, and just as quickly a second wave of cheering followed. Everyone excitedly resumed their duties and it wasn't until later in the evening on our way home that we realized we had purchased tickets to the next nights events and would witness the presentation of the medal.

Being in Vancouver during the Olympics is enough to make you want to break into both the English and French versions of "Oh Canada" and being a volunteer only heightens that experience. I find I am humming it regularly this week. Being at the ceremony this evening blew all of those patriotic experiences right out of the water (ocean to be specific)! The stadium vibrated with full frequency as 20,000 people cheered, shouted, stomped and cried for Alex the Great (yes, there were tears)!
Did you see Alex's face? We are standing here at the bus stop trying to find the words to describe it; elation, pride, overwhelmed with emotion... Whatever the proper description would be, that boy is going down in history. Never again will there be a first gold medal awarded to a Canadian on Canadian soil and a country was united in pride.

A historic day like no other that will occur again and this group feels fortunate to be involved. We are so very proud to belong to our national community.

Excited group ready to see Alexander the Great own the podium! Fantastic floor seats! How did we get so lucky?!