Even when the days are slow at work and there really isn't much actual work to be done, I still love my job. We're still going to be setting up the broadcast compound for the Water Cube for a few more days, but today I went on a pretty exciting adventure. My broadcast manager sent me in an NBC van out to pick up some boxes, but didn't tell me where I was going or what I was picking up. All I knew was that I was looking for someone named Amy. So I hopped in the van with an Olympic Committee driver who didn't speak any English and his translator in the passenger seat. We drove for about 45 minutes, me still having no clue where we were going, and finally arrived at this huge warehouse and the drivers were asking me where I needed to go. I kind of felt like Anne Hathaway in "The Devil Wears Prada" having to run all of these impossible errands. When I finally found a door, I found out there were 3 Amys that worked there and I had no clue which one I was looking for or what I was looking for, and hardly anyone spoke English. When I finally found the boxes I needed (by some miracle) and got them back to our compound, I unpacked them to find all kinds of NBC Olympics merchandise that we got to decorate all of the offices with. I've got my eye on a Beijing 2008 cloth banner when we take the set down in a few weeks...
When we had some down time today, the 3 Chinese girls we're interning with were teaching us Mandarin and giving us suggestions on good restaurants and shopping in Beijing. After work, Claire and Shannon and I ventured our way to the Bird's Nest, where the Opening and Closing ceremonies and track and field events are being held, which is directly across the street from the Water Cube. We're friends with the 2 guys interning there setting up their compound and they had told us on our lunch break that if we went over we would be able to walk on the actual track inside. We were so excited, and were even practicing poses for ridiculous pictures we wanted to take on our walk over, but, unfortunately, we got there too late and every single gate was closed. The plan is to go during our lunch break tomorrow now. We're trying to see one new venue every day before the Games start because the entire area is blocked off to the public right now so it's not at all crowded.
The Bird's Nest is the biggest venue in all of the Games. It is a tangle of all these woven pieces of metal around the whole outside that literally make it look like a nest. And they have the coolest statues outside of it. The details of these venues are what make them so amazing -- even the lighting along the ground on the sidewalks looked like miniature nests.
Right next to the Bird's Nest is a high, geometrically-shaped tower with huge glass elevators that go all the way up both sides. That's where they're going to be filming the Today Show from! It's so neat to see. And it actually rained last night and a little bit today so the air cleared up enough to see farther than we ever have yet. The city skyline between all of these venues and broadcast towers is absolutely gorgeous.We were all too tired to do anything tonight after work, so we took a shuttle from the IBC back to the Media Village to settle in for the night. On the bus, though, we met 3 Australian radio journalists, one of whom has lived in Beijing for the past 4 years, who were telling us about more good places to visit if we get the time. They told us about this one place that serves all-you-can-eat hot pots (which I guess are some really surprisingly delicious Chinese entrees?) and drinks are buffet-style, as well. One of the guys gave us his business card and they offered to take us there tomorrow night if we want. We are seriously considering it; I'm really interested in these hot pot things.
I found out today that one of our jobs as interns might be running back and forth between the broadcast compound and the NBC commentary box that's right at the finish line in the pool. If I get to meet Rowdy Gaines, I will probably fall over the second I shake his hand. That would be such an incredible opportunity! I know that after everything is set up and our broadcasts are starting, my job is going
to get way more exciting -- and I seriously cannot wait for that day!
8-8-08 is coming up so soon...
1 comment:
I have been reading your blogs everynight, have a great time.
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