Day 1

What a super day I had today to start my Olympic adventure. Diana my cousin and her granddaughter Nicole had skating lessons this morning at the Port Moody Rec Center, so I tagged along and learned a bit about when the Olympic Torch Relay will be coming through Port Moody on February 10th at 6:00 am. A bit early for some but I am sure they will have a huge turnout. I will have a shift that day but don’t need to catch the train until 7:20. After skating we went for a walk along the banks of the little stream and down to the Barrard Inlet. After all the snow in Edmonton, to see the trees just starting to bud is mind blowing. After a quick stop at Starbucks (a regular stop for Diana and Nicole) we dropped Nicole off at school and headed downtown to the Volunteer Uniform and Accreditation Center to get my accreditation card and pick up my uniform. The process was very smooth and was running like clock work. Show ID, get picture taken, go to printer 6, pick-up freshly laminated card (it took only about 10 minutes). Then on to uniform pick-up: check –in at front desk, get yellow form, take number and wait in waiting room (15 minutes) go to change room, try on uniform, (5 pieces: pants, vest, jacket and 2 long sleeve shirts), once you had your correct size, they marked it on your yellow form, you then proceeded to the distribution area, where you were given your uniform as well as a recyclable tote bag, toque and welcome package, last stop was the check out where they scanned your accreditation card and all your goodies and you were done (total time 35 minute). They have already put through 18,000 volunteers and at the check-out they usually process 70 volunteers per hour. Once we arrived home it was time to find out how I was going to get to my first shift which is from 9:00 to 6:00 on Wednesday. After much consulting on the web page, we have decided I will catch the bus at the bottom of the hill at 6:40 get off at the West Coast Express train station in time to catch the 7:15 train that should get me downtown at 7:50 and a quick walk to the Main Media Centre. I know that is very early but most of my other shifts begin at 8:00 so I want to get a feel for it and as it is my first shift they want you there 30 minutes early. So wish me luck and I will let you know how thing go tomorrow.