***Disclaimer: These are only my personal experience.
I finally feel like I’m in Russia.
As volunteers, we were given the opportunity to watch the opening ceremony rehearsal.
the nose bleed seats rival the front row for best view.
Sochi is a confusing place; It’s filled with palm trees, rain, and a coastal atmosphere.
I knew it was considered “sub-tropical,” but I still thought it would feel more Russian.
Then the rehearsal–now it feels like Russia and I’m finally satisfied.
There is NOTHING to do at the press centre yet.
I pretty much just sit at a desk and watch ski movies.
Doing as little as possible is important.
I’ve been filling as much down time with learning Russian as possible.
I can read and write in Russian now.
I don’t know what I’m reading or writing, but it is the first step.
I have also figured out an important word–Kacca.
Said Casa, it mean’s tickets.
It’s quite wonderful.
More exciting, I had a chance to view the Laura venue.
Biathlon isn’t my thing, but my coworkers wanted to ride the cable way (the gondola).
Is it normal anywhere to call it a “cable way?”
I’ve never heard that term before until I came here and they all say it.
The venue was pretty neat and I got my first olympic rings photo.
I won’t be back to that venue, so it was neat to walk around.
I discovered a lot less people speak English there.
Good luck English speakers!
(Laura)
The most exciting part of the week was that I finally went skiing in Russia.
Skiing on 3 continents this year; it feels amazing.
Perhaps I can find a reason to head to South America this summer and we can make that 4.
I have so much envy for professional skiers who live this way as a career.
I’ll have to think more about this later.
I did my first 180 off a lip into powder.
Landing backwards in powder is a lot more challenging than I anticipated.
I landed it but fell on the turn around.
Bonus points came for doing it under the chairlift.
There was a hot Russian avy control worker that I wanted to impress.
I really hope he didn’t speak English.
(I really wish this chair had been open!
The side affect I wasn’t expecting is the amount of N.American and European athletes on this app.
I’m pretty sure I have now been matched with the entirety of the Sweden freestyle ski team.
1 year away from statutory is too close for me.
I am now taking screenshots of athletes.
Perhaps a great first submission to Buzzfeed for the opening ceremonies.
More on this to come.
(The bus that I can’t explain)
On an alternate awesome note.
I was contacted by the Wall Street Journal for an interview on cellphone usage while traveling internationally.
Now maybe I can make something interesting happen with Tinder.
(The shared bathroom of 8 females - I’m worried what it will look like in 3 weeks)
