VVL Workforce Party

I got to the Village just in time to get all the food (and dessert ie. cake and strawberry ice cream) I wanted. We had goodbye hugs from everyone who left right after dinner. I got lotsa hugs from Robbie. He said he'll miss my cute little voice and said that I'm one of his favourites. Stephen gave a me a Team GB shirt :D , an "extra drink ticket" (he didn't take my drink ticket 'cause I "made everyone chuckle"), extra tea towels, and a Miga doll.

Stephen: *looking out from the shift gift area* Is Carmela still out there?
Me: *enthusiastically* Here I am! :D *waves and runs over*
Stephen: *hands me a Miga doll* Here you go.
Me: *big grin*
Stephen: Go on now, [go home,] bye.

Those of us who remained proceeded to The Sin Bin. We sat in the VIP Room with the Parking crew and got to watch the hockey game and listen to music. We introduced Monika to yam fries. She said if I need a reference letter I just have to email her. :D She said I can visit at VVL anytime I want during the Paralympics. I just have to let her know in advance. Will and I talked hockey e.g. about how I played like Jannik Hansen and about how Jannik Hansen was a fast skater and could be really good after another year of development. Will, Erin, and Collin were quite amused that I like the Red Wings. I told 'em I appreciate good, exciting, run-and-gun, fast-paced hockey. :) I told Will I loved the story of him and the woman he reunited with after 28 years. :D He and Erin were quite amused at how I looked up at them intently. I just wanted to a turn to say bye to Will. 0 = ) Will gave me a warm hug bye after we made sure we were covered (bill-wise). Erin generously paid for my food and drink despite my attempts to add bills to the pile 'cause "[I'm] a starving student."

Angela and I told Monika we like her Villages Team jacket with a heart on it. Monika and Erin gave me a hug bye. Roger told me to keep smiling and gave me a hug bye too.

I'll miss everyone from our Olympic Transportation team. We're gonna keep in touch via email. :D

Day 16 (Last Shift) at VVL

Monika told us to go to Stephen after we checked in. I was the ceremony veteran. :) I was leading the team to the busses, explaining how we'd hold the numbers and load the athletes onto the busses similarly to how it was for the Opening Ceremonies. Jacquie let us watch the last few minutes of the 3rd Period of the hockey game before we had to begin transporting athletes again. One of the drivers watching with us took a video of us cheering and watching the game in the drivers' lounge. He said he was gonna go outside to see everyone celebrate when the game ended. Parise scored in the last few seconds of the 3rd Period. The only American driver in the room celebrated. We then had to go to Stephen. I got the clipboards for the numbers. Terrance and Stephen retrieved us from the other side of the gate so we didn't have to go through mag and bag again. Terrance said we were the crew who were gonna make it happen. :) I texted Vetter to ask what was going on. He gave a wee update that we were in overtime. The guys at the Airport Check-In area cheered. I then knew one of the teams won. The bus driver I was with was American.  An Airport Check-In guy said that Crosby scored the game winner. We started hearing people celebrating from Cambie Bridge. :) I gave some French guys directions (in French) to the Airport Check-In. :) An older French guy winked at me. I held #6 when we loaded athletes, coaches, and officials onto busses for to the Closing Ceremonies. They were counted before they got to us. I only had Stephen the host, a fellow volunteer, with me. He checked the athletes' passes. One of the coaches was creepy. Some of the athletes and coaches tried to take my clipboard or flip the number over. Perhaps #6 wasn't the best number to hold up. O well. I loaded Team Italy, Team Germany, Team China, the Dutch Team, Team Norway, Team USA, and Team Canada. I think I loaded Team Russia too. I saw Team Cayman Islands and Team India. :) A nice fellow workforce member gave me and T smoked salmon. She caught the fish herself. She was offering that smoked salmon to the athletes. T and I agreed that it was nummy. Monika gave me a Nature Valley bar. Brett from the Villages Team gave me a Starburst. :) We saw the Slovenian team and their nice outfits for the last time. A Canadian athlete gave me a pin. :D I had a convo with Alexandre Bilodeau en francais:

Me: Salut, ca va bien?
Alexandre Bilodau: Oui, ca va bien. Et toi, ca va bien?
Me: . . . Ouais ca va bien parce que tu es ici.
Me pulling a line in French on Alexandre Bilodeau. Who'da thunk? *drumbeat*

I told Matt Morison I was rooting for him, I loved him anyway and that we'd always love him. He said thanks and patted my head. :)

Notable Athlete/Coach Sightings:
Shirley Brown
Evan Lycasek
The little Italian speed skater girl
Alexandre Bilodeau
Michael Lambert (2x ~ he looked grumpy both times)
Dutch Long Track Speed Skating Coach (same one we'd seen many times going to the ROO van)
Pink-Haired American moguls girl
Grumpy Patrick Kane
The rest of the American hockey team aside from Ryan Miller coming home from their game during the Closing Ceremony

The ever-wonderful Stephen got us permission to watch the Closing Ceremonies backstage in the Salt Building aka the village Living Room. :) We quickly grabbed dinner. We got to watch the entire closing ceremonies. Our password to let other TRN Smurfs into the Salt Building was "Stephen sent us." :)

I got to use the two nice bathrooms in the Village and even called to get a toilet fixed. *superhero pose*

Monika repeatedly checked on me, smiled at me, gave me instructions, and said I was doing a good job. She said it's a pleasure working with me 'cause I'm always smiling/have a smile on my face. She thanked me. I thanked her too. :D

Anthony offered me his lightsabre, but he disappeared after I got back from the NOC washroom that I helped fix.

I gave an American guy directions to the American building.

We found glowsticks and Closing Ceremonies items that the bosses let us keep.

We took pictures together, danced to the athletes' great party music that was playing in the Salt Building, said our byes, and gave our hugs.

Stephen said we could go home. Stephen gave us hugs and said good job and thank you.

Monika said she'd make sure I get my watch on Wednesday 'cause I wouldn't be needed at the Village tomorrow and on Tuesday. I said I'd miss volunteering at the Village. Monika said it's a good thing she has the Paralympics otherwise she'd be in tears. She gave me my medal and pin at the office. I waved bye to the bosses. Tony helped me carry my gloves, vest, and Closing Ceremonies memorabilia. I told Tony I was quite relieved that the Games took up just the right span of time. Any more days and I'd be completely exhausted. Tony and I said bye to Gloria and Alan again. At the trailer he gave me postcards for Mom. He gave me a hug, said thanks, and said I was a sweetheart. :)

Today's Highlights:
"There's hope for you yet." - Stephen after Monika made a brilliant suggestion
T said it'd be great if I could lend her my Bottine Souriante CDs.
Tony dancing to "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne.
Watching the entire closing ceremonies at the back of the Salt Building
"Don't go running off eh." - Stephen
Convo with Stephen on empty busses: "All those other busses are empty."
"Eh?"
"All those other busses are empty."
"I know."




I am so used to volunteering at the Village that I am somewhat at a loss as to what I'll do tomorrow and on Tuesday before the workforce's Olympic goodbye to the Village on Wednesday. I must remember to get my last shift gift on Wednesday. XD

Glasses Shopping/Olympic Coolness

Mom bought me nice new Olympic glasses: one pair with a funky red, white, and green design on the sides, and one pair with a dark frame with wave blue on the inside. :) I was able to watch the gold medal women's hockey game, Caroline Ouelette's post-medal interview, the Canadians in ski aerials, Joannie Rochette's bronze medal program, and an interview with the gold medal winning Canadian women's hockey team. :) I bought Mom a Sumi keychain for half price ($5) at London Drugs. I texted Ate Marge, Bunthai, and Ryan about it. I put Sumi on my backpack. Mom didn't freak out after. :) I stomped on the noisy forest planks downtown. :) It would be cool for someone to dance to fiddle music on them. :D