So the two people in our group working at the Main Press Center and the four Photo Assistants for Laoshan Velodrome (I am one of these four) head to the MPC for what we thought was training. As it turns out, the four photo assistants were not supposed to be there. At this point, we didn't care at all since the MPC is a beautiful, brand-new giant facility buzzing with Olympic excitement. We were kids in a really big Olympic candy store.
Since the four of us were basically stranded at the MPC, we made friends with some other Chinese student volunteers and they offered to show us around. From this point on, I will have a huge smile on my face, my jaw will be dropped and my eyes will be wider than ever. We saw everything at this building... giant press rooms where reporters will be frantically writing stories, workrooms for AP, Getty Images, AFP, Bloomberg (if you are at all interested in News Media... this is a dream) and even a huge huge huge press conference room that holds 800 people! The four of us wasted no time in asking if we could sit at the front desk... daydreaming about what amazing people will be sitting in those very seats in just a month.
One of the coolest things I saw was what they call "Pigeonholes." These are a series of little shelves that the most recent information for the events are filed into. Every sport has a section, and the shelves stretch on forever!
Basically it was the best. And we're all really glad we got on that early bird bus.
Short story: We were also the studio audience for a Chinese CCTV talk show. Hilarious. And everyone wore headphones because everything was interpreted. So when the host would tell a joke... we would laugh a few seconds later after we got the translation. That is all.
2 comments:
Oh my gosh! It IS beautiful! Somehow the vision of you sitting at a huge press conference table doesn't surprise me...you fit there quite nicely! I'm sure just seeing that venue made you more excited for the 22nd (not to mention, what better day to gather large groups of people, than for your birthday!)
Hey Lysh! I can't believe your working at the freakin olympics!!! Every time I read a new blog post, all i can think is "My sister is unbelievable." It's 3:27am there right now and your 22!!! Happy Birthday Sis and I hope you have an awsome day. When you get home, there'll be a whole box of tasters in the freezer for you :-D. Love you and miss you
your little bro,
Brandon
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