In actuality, I had a fantastic time.
At the moment, I can’t wait to get on the airplane.
My flight is headed to Istanbul and I couldn’t be happier.
I’m drinking a beer right now to celebrate.
The events are done.
The hotels have emptied.
For the most part, it’s already become another Russian ghost town.
On my last post, I was a bit worried about writing updates.
I know of two volunteers that were kindly asked to remove their blogs.
Another volunteer was simply sending emails to 200 of his closest friends about what he was doing.
Shortly there after, he was informed he could go home or be reassigned.
He chose to be reassigned.
It turns out they have been intercepting pretty much everything.
(I made it to an Olympic hockey game.
I’d do it again.)
Overall, I would do it again.
I shared a room with 3 too many females for it to feel like a comfortable hostel.
The room was constantly too hot.
The food was terrible and I think I actually managed to contract giardia.
Don’t get it.
I basically felt like throwing up all the time regardless of if I had eaten or not.
I didn’t but I came close a few times.
I’m not going to lie though.
In a drunken state, I drank a large glass of water from a questionable source.
That was probably the culprit.
Now that I’m about to board the plane, let’s discuss security.
I have never felt so secure and questioned security so much in my life.
How did they miss all this?
I’m pretty sure they didn’t care.
Although yesterday the finally confiscated the nail file that has been hiding in my backpack the last 40+ days.
Good for them, I was planning on cutting a jugular at the vet office.
I’ll have to use my pen now and try for a stabbing move rather than slice.
(Made it into my final press conference with a beer.)
Additionally, crying seems to get you into places.
Both times, a few tears and I was in.
Then there was the time I ended up in the athlete area.
Just walking in seemed to be enough to convince people I belonged.
(A press conference that I’m not actually supposed to be at.)
Now for the part that makes this all relevant.
Even my mom knew about it.
(The people responsible for not getting Gus his puppies–YET.
It’s a work in progress.)
But all of that is probably going to leave out what I’ve gone through the last 2 weeks.
Somehow I volunteered to crawl under the security tent to see if the puppies were there.
Gus wanted to go, but he was in jeans and a sweater.
So into the hole I went.
It was raining, so it was watered down and flowing slightly.
I used my arms to pull my way through.
I thought that it would be the last of my favourite Armada Jacket and my brand new snow pants.
To my surprise, I came out covered in shit, but dry.
I spent 30 minutes washing it off with hand soap and taking a European shower.
3 hours later I was with my friends at Men’s Halfpipe.
Aside from that, I’ve played mostly a secondary role.
(One of the places in Sochi I was not meant to see.
I was meant to leave Sochi on the 26th.
Had this happened, I would have left with nothing but positive feelings.
As we sat, I started to get text after text from Robin.
Having no work to go home to, I agreed.
(The puppy I fell in love with and wish I could adopt.
She has a broken leg so she will be put down if someone doesn’t take her FAST.)
(Mama and I.
Before things went sour.)
(The war of the vets.
Gus still has no puppies.)
Everything since has been a bit of a nightmare.
Robin is staying back in what seems to be a last hope effort.
Gus has no puppies yet.
The Sochi official Vet Clinic is a disgrace to animal lovers and I’m sickened by what happened today.
I could go on about events, but Ethan did a fantastic job with that.
He still owes me a beer (sorry Ethan, I was trying to save puppies).
Flight boards in 10 minutes.
I am far too excited to eat airplane food.
