I'm ready to begin dishing about the Olympics so get ready! Unfortunately, my pictures are limited, so my apologies. Unless you all want me coming home earlier than expected, I won't be able to provide the pictures you want!!!! But, I have done my best with my writing abilities, to invite you into my world of THE OLYMPICS!!!!
So enjoy and be prepared for lots of updates and GO USA!!
Lots of love,
Sheila.
After a fun three weeks of traveling with the boys, I am happy to finally be in the presence of some women! And, I find myself back in Beijing and living at Beijing Normal University. Since I last wrote, the factories in Beijing and other areas have ceased their work (but there is still some “fog”), and even numbered and odd numbered cars have designated days for driving. (I believe today is an even day!) So I think it is safe to say that the Olympics are pretty much just around the corner!
Beijing Normal University is the home of the USA High Performance Training Center. What this means is that all athletes will move into this campus during their training BEFORE they compete. Once they begin competing, the athletes will move to the Olympic Village with athletes from around the world. But here at HPTC, the athletes live in the same dorms as us and all of their meals are specifically designed to meet their training needs. For example, at lunch, there is a recovery menu/bar for after their morning training. This morning, I was talking to one of the boxers who was throwing what looked like five servings of food on his plate. He was going on and on about his morning run workout outside in the middle of the Beijing summer and complaining that he was “fat”. There are weight classes in boxing, so it’s vital that he doesn’t gain weight! HPTC also houses all of the accredited media and members of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). So it’s a bustling place right now and it’s just getting started!
My last week was pretty grueling. Attached to our dorm is an upscale Chinese restaurant and it is my guess that it ranks up there among Beijing restaurants. So it is only fitting that the USOC chose this restaurant for their athletes and Olympic delegation. What does this mean for me? Well, we had two and a half days to turn this Chinese restaurant into an “American” restaurant. The designers wanted every person to feel like they were in America. So I spent two days moving furniture, building furniture, and painting furniture (I must say I was more handy than I thought I was, I was definitely raised well in that area! Mom, thanks for the Bob Villa upbringing!)
I was also really lucky to work one-on-one with the designer who was hired to transform the place into a red, white and blue heaven! I had a ton of fun and learned a bunch about designing and event planning. I’ve really enjoyed watching the planning that these people have done for years actually begin to take shape. I am actually going to witness the beginning, middle and end of this entire process. There is an incredible amount of detail in every single thing they do. (for example, They can only repeat centerpieces twice!!) In addition to working my butt off last week, I also became best friends with the breakfast chef. Yes, I know that’s a selfish thing to do but I LOVE MY BREAKFAST.
(The Chinese government has stepped up security significantly!)
Now, time for the fun stuff. Work has begun and I’ve never been more tired. I have a newfound respect for waiters and waitresses. It’s exhausting! My days begin when my alarm goes off at 4.30am and I don’t think I sit down until dinner. But I’m not complaining because I spend my entire day with the US athletes. So far, the women’s soccer team, women’s weightlifters, and the men’s boxing team have arrived at the HPTC and believe it or not, THEY ARE REAL PEOPLE! The soccer players are so nice and they’re dinner conversations are similar to mine with my girlfriends. It’s so bizarre because we put these athletes on such high pedestals (as we should, they’re awesome) but when it comes down to it, they are like you and me.
(Here are two of my co-workers behind the coffee bar)
The boxing team was telling me today at lunch about their trip to the Great Wall of China and they couldn’t stop laughing because they found it incredibly difficult! At one point, their coach made them run up the wall. (So much for a day off of training!) One was describing the magnificence of it and it reminded me of my exact reaction when I looked over the edge of the wall. They are as wide-eyed as I still am!
I feel so lucky to be in this position and a part of this unbelievable event. I feel like I have been pinching myself all year and I still am! This has also been the first time in a year that I have been a room with more than seven Americans and I must say, it is pretty nice! Additionally, I haven’t mentioned the FOOD. I’m surrounded by all the food I’ve missed this year!!!! (KASHI CEREAL, COFFEE, WAFFLES, SALAD just to name a few)…American food is very exciting for me at the moment! I am definitely having a significant itch to get home, but I’m not ready quite yet! The opening ceremonies are in TEN DAYS and I have a ton more athletes to feed. (Rumor on the street is that the extremely handsome water polo players come tonight!!) ;) I’ll keep you posted!
(Here's Mark and me in our USA uniforms!)
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