It's been a long day of sight seeing and walking around the city of Vancouver. We were stopped at least 20 times to assist visitors and did the best to be ambassadors even though we had landed here only recently ourselves. Wearing the blue jacket is an awesome responsibility and we take it seriously. Some are patient with our direction to transit and city assistance, some are irritable and abrupt. Regardless, we are high on excitement and our obligation to being official ambassadors.
Each one of us was shocked as we walk by The Bay; the damage from protests, mail boxes through windows and red paint everywhere, seems senseless. A group who are promoting what we believe in cannot abide by violent protest and wish everyone could be proactive in making change.
Before checking in at Event Services, Canada Hockey Place. We were thrilled to find out that Steve Scott is our shift supervisor and had the chance to meet Darlene, his wife, during our briefing. The briefing room is the basement of former GM Place, filled with a sea of blue jackets, all buzzing in anticipation of the first game; Women's Canada vs Slovakia. (Way to go Canada! 18 - 0!) You cannot turn around without making a friend and each story of an individual volunteer experience is better than the last.
Jen is sent to street level to help direct pedestrian traffic, Sean to pacing at the security gates, Ben to usher at the seating area and Daisy to check press access at gate 2. There are no words to describe the "holy cow" feeling when in the moment of redirecting hundreds of people, denying access to a someone who feels deserving or ushering a thrilled visitor to their seat! The shifts fly by and no one wants to leave at the end of our duty.
Steve and Darlene just dropped by to see how our shifts went and were welcomed by nine loud, energetic people and given a glass of wine. The stories flew, all speaking over one another and walked the couple back out to their car. Steve and his wife have become part of our group and have added so much into the tapestry of this experience and again, the words Thank You are just not big enough.
We are off to bed, happy and tired, and can't wait until our shifts tomorrow.
