This past week has been an eventful one. In the vein of “be careful what you wish for”, I received a Games-time offer. I’m to be an NOC assistant for the nation of Ethiopia based in Whistler for the entire duration of their stay in BC: 22 days. Wow. It’s still sinking in. This is major.
I knew Jamaica had a bobsleigh team, so a Saharan country participating in the Olympic Winter Games is not what I would call a shocker. I kind of thought I’d be doing a European country, seeing as I am fluent in German, grew up in Europe, and have a smattering of Italian, Spanish, and French. But Europe tends to mean many powerhouse winter sports nations, most of which are going to be arriving as soon as they are permitted to arrive and leaving on the last possible date. My availability despite linguistic matches didn’t work then, so enter the non-obvious countries. What on earth does Ethiopia compete in? I went to the Vancouver 2010 Web site and there isn’t a list of what sports qualified countries are competing in, that would have been useful. From what I’ve heard, qualifications are ongoing, and will be until late January, so perhaps things are still in flux. I would assume, bearing in mind the larger implications of using the word, that as a neighbour to Kenya, known for their endurance running athletes, that Ethiopia would have a similar focus, so perhaps the endurance events such as cross-country skiing or biathlon. Seeing as both of these are based in Whistler, this would be a logical conclusion.
Then there’s the part about me working for a living, with print deadlines and things. Fortunately, the timing would work so I would only miss a couple of classes at University, because they’re shutting down for two weeks on an extended reading break, and I could take all of my reading with me (note-taking buddy will hopefully get worked out in January). But work-wise, if I’m based in Whistler, then I can’ t go to work on days off, even for a few hours because a good 6 hours of that one day off would be spent in transit, either by bus or whatever other transportation options are available. I don’t have the software on my computer that I would need so I could theoretically do it remotely, so that part is a bit of a mess. It’s weird. Most of what I do has to do with electronic communication and transmission, and yet, I can’t feasibly do it without being on site. Maybe Whistler would have a business centre that has Microsoft Publisher or InDesign available on a computer or something. I’ve been told in no uncertain terms, there will be no one doing my job whilst I’m away. The joys of being a one-woman department without actual department status, I suppose.
I wouldn’t see my apartment (or be able to water my plants for 3 weeks). What if there’s a water leak of some kind? What if the heating blows up or something? What if my PVR melts down? Going to Whistler (I’ve been there maybe 4 times in my life) gets me quite a bit out of my comfort zone. And then there’s me: the pasty white, undertall, blonde-haired pudgy person looking after all of these no-doubt tall, lanky athletes. I’m getting a distinct Laurel & Hardy visual. You?
Logistics and over-thinking aside, I have no doubt this will be an exceptional experience. Truly one-of-a-kind, and I would actually be needed. Smaller teams get fewer Assistants and “my country” would rely on me a great deal. There’s not a doubt in my mind I wouldn’t be welcomed, but not being up on “local knowledge”, I wouldn’t want to disappoint. Any connections or local expertise I have is limited to Vancouver, so I’ll have to let my fingers do a lot of the walking up in Whistler. Or, get a couple of “field-trips” in before-hand.
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