big day, part II.

Upon arriving at Laoshan, we could feel the Olympic energy like never before. For the first time there were spectators pouring in with all kinds of national pride. There were press and photogs everywhere. I walked into the photo workroom (my station for the night) and was greeted by the site of maybe 15 photographers all wielding HUGE lenses (which, btw, they toss around like they're toys).

I answered a lot of photographers' questions, especially when all four of the other Chinese volunteers would jump up to provide an answer, all talk at the same time and confuse the photographer who would then look at me. I've played the role of "information girl" before, and I really love it. I don't know why I'm so patient with people asking the same question over and over; I think it was all those years as a Purdue tour guide.

After a while in the workroom (where on the TV we saw the very first cycling race, which also included the very first crash... Poland), I was told to go up to the moat. The moat is a little balcony area around the top of the track on one side where photographers stand. This is where most photographers go because of the great shots they can get of the start/finish line. So I donned my turquoise XXL photo vest and made my way up there where I found Christina in the moat already. My bosses Ding and Kai told me that they needed people who spoke English up there more than ever because photographers weren't listening to the Chinese volunteers. Christina said the same thing and was glad to have another photo enforcer up there.

So I got to watch the races all while telling photographers to not hold their equipment over the track (safety first, please)... not to stand on chairs (again, safety first)... put their photo vests back on (no body likes a photographer without a vest)... and almost (not even kidding here) to put your shoes back on and stop climbing up the railing. I just let him go though... it was during the medal ceremony and really doubt he was going to like me telling him to find his shoes as he shot that emotionally charged moment.

I watched the medal ceremony from the moat too. If you watched it on TV, I am directly behind the podium, about 20 feet up at the edge of the track. Also, you might have seen some of my other friends on TV; we all wear turquoise vests over our uniforms.

So all in all, I'm going to say it was a decent first day of real work. I would love to be doing a lot more, but none of the volunteers, even the flash quote reporters (the job we were originally here for) were busy the entire time. With so many volunteers it is a bit impossible to keep everyone occupied all the time.

It is fun though to be running around an Olympic venue with the credentials to get almost anywhere in the building (the only places I can't go are the athletes lounges). I love the crowd with everyone chanting and waving flags and yelling in different languages to their countries' athletes. And I especially love the medal ceremony because (just like I always do) the athletes tear up a little bit during their own nation's anthem... grown men in spandex bike suits crying. Chances are slim, but I'd love to hear the Star Spangled Banner being played in that velodrome. Gets me every time.