Meeting the big wigs

8/4/08 7:20am Local Time, Logistics Office, Media Village

One of my favorite things about being here is experiencing bits of every different culture and hearing all of the different accents. The IBC is hopping with people from both sides of the world, and it's so exciting to be added to the mix. Yesterday we actually gave a ride to 3 Ukrainian swimmers in our golf cart to the IBC. We thought how strange it was to see them walking -- the U.S. team would definitely never be left walking anywhere. But we certainly didn't mind giving a lift to a few Olympic swimmers!

We finally met some talent at work yesterday! Rowdy Gaines, Dan Hicks, and Andrea Kremer all walked in together in the afternoon. We were in the catering tent with them and Shannon did a double take on Rowdy and proceeded to flip out. When she introduced herself later in the day, one of our camera guys who was in the office called her out on her excitement and Rowdy came over to give her a big hug. She couldn't stop giggling, because apparently that's what she does when she's uncomfortable. It was quite the scene.

Later in the afternoon, when there was nothing really to do, the guys who control the video tape room (which is the first place the video goes to on our compound from the cameras inside the pool) popped in the "Superbad" DVD on one of their big screens and I sat back with my feet up and watched it with them. The guys are hilarious.

When I got back from work last night, I finally had all of my roommates and I found the rest of the Syracuse people that were coming (the charter plane got in yesterday and brought most of the NBC staff). I showed a couple of my Syracuse friends and a few new interns around the Media Village, then just hung out and watched "Blades of Glory" on HBO with a friend. We take HBO very much for granted in America, and it took having it be the only television station in English for me to realize that.

One thing I keep forgetting to mention is that the Olympic Village has officially been open for a few days now. Every time we drive past it on our way to the IBC, there's a new flag up denoting which countries are staying in which section of the Village. It's getting very colorful!

Another cool thing is the friendliness of everyone in the entire city, which I know I have mentioned before, but it still baffles me. I've decided that it's because everyone is here for one of two purposes: to compete, or to cover the competitions. "One World, One Dream" explains it so perfectly. It's just an unreal experience to be caught up in the middle of it.

It's a very smoggy day today, unfortunately, so I'm hoping not to be working outside very much, but we've been spoiled with blue skies the past couple of days. I can't decide if I like it better when the blazing sun is beating on me but the air is clearer, or if it's better when the air is smoggier but it blocks the sun and feels cooler.

The U.S. Swim team arrives today and is scheduled to practice from 5-7pm. The Today Show is coming in to film practice, and I'm really hoping we'll get to help out when they get here. And -- only 4 days until Opening Ceremonies!