I may qualify as being a stalker.

Like I said in my first Olympic blog, there are a few things that we are forbidden to do. Socializing with athletes, asking for autographs and taking pictures are some of the minor no-no’s among others that we were told not even to think about… With the Closing Ceremonies just days away and the ability to count my flight home on two hands, this little rule follower has decided to live on the edge.






It’s not too exciting, but I snuck some photos. Here is the Women’s Volleyball team who are currently one of the favorites to watch on TV at HPTC. They have made to the quarterfinal, which will commence this evening! (My time). They are so tall. I feel like I am standing next to giants when they come in and boy do they eat! I snuck this photo because they were singing Happy Birthday to a teammate and everyone’s attention was on them!






One of the biggest disappointments for me has been the absence of both the women’s and men’s gymnastics teams. I was really looking forward to meeting them. Instead, the men’s coaches are three meals a day people and I often comment on the competitions when I serve their table. (They are a quiet bunch and normally I think they would come off as rude, but I just think they are serious). So yesterday I was busy working when I noticed my austere bunch sit down in my section. And then! Much to my surprise, the entire men’s gymnastics team followed suit, silent and stone-faced, they sat down. After my 4am alarm that morning, I felt my first second wind of the day! I followed many of them to the buffet line just to see them a bit closer. I was in shock! They are all short but incredibly built. I think it would be safe to say that they were all within inches of ME! I definitely expected them to be at least six feet tall because on tv they look like monsters.

So in conclusion, my men’s gymnastics team was a nice group. But just like every other team, they didn’t mingle (another little surprise for me). I at least expected some teams to intermix and converse with each other, but for the most part, teams sit with teams and say little more than “Hello” to other athletes.

I know I’ve discussed the water polo team several times but they are the loudest, most fun, and biggest eaters we have at HPTC. They have put an effort into getting to know our names and are one of the only teams that jokes with us. (I think they realize that we are people first, servers second). Two of my co-workers in particular who work behind the coffee and smoothie bar, have a bit of an obsession with them!!! (That would be Cissy and Josh) and because the water polo players frequent their area so often for “another strawberry smoothie bro” Cissy and Josh are two of their favorites. So here is an illegal photo they took with the hilarious water polo players!







In other news, I went to my third event after work yesterday and I was lucky enough to get to baseball! But don’t get excited, it wasn’t filled with your Derek Jeter’s, A-Rod’s, or my fav, Robinson Cano’s. The play itself felt like a minor-league game, but the atmosphere was awesome! We went to Cuba vs. The Netherlands on a beautiful Beijing night and sat right next to a group of almost drunk Cubans who were anything but bored!






I have mentioned earlier how great an international sporting event is but I need to reiterate this. I absolutely love being around the fans because the rest of the world knows how to party!!! We watched the Cubans rout the Netherlands and after every $.50 beer we consumed, we ourselves were becoming pretty great fans. The four of us sided with the Cubans because we liked their fans so much! We had another great night and another awesome experience at an Olympic event.






With just days left before the Closing Ceremonies, we expect to see a decrease in service at HPTC because most athletes are finished training and competing. But I promise you all that I will try to continue to be a little stalker and take as many secretive pictures as I can! I wish you were all here to be a part of this. Everyday I wake up (unfortunately at 4am) and still can’t believe that I am a part of this huge event. It is incredible!

(This picture is pretty hilarious. The Olympic mascots are called Fuwa’s and they are everywhere and on everything!!!) Anyways, the mascots came out between innings and at one point, one Fuwa was trying to be clever but fell flat on his or her face and couldn’t get up. The entire crowd erupted in laughter. I just thought many of you would find this funny.)






Here is a picture of the Olympic mascots. Each Fuwa is a color of an Olympic ring and has a rhyming two-syllable name and when you put their names together – Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni—they say “Welcome to Beijing.” It’s a pretty cool idea!





Last but NOT least…..please cheer for the USA beach volleyball team; Phil Dalhuasser and Todd Rogers! They are so unbelievably nice and so funny!