Procrastinating on work, so I'm going to take a few moments to jot down thoughts about the first three days of the Olympics...
I've always been proudly Canadian, but to be honest, I don't think I really knew what being proudly Canadian truly meant until the last 72 hours. From watching to the Opening Ceremony live to seeing Alexandre Bilodeau win the first gold on Canadian soil (ever) on TV, my heart has been bursting with so much pride that I think I am oozing maple leafs out of my pores. There are no words to describe this entire Olympic experience (so far), but I will make a few observations...
I have never seen so many people on the streets of Vancouver - Ever since I've lived here, there have been very few occasions (like Boxing Day) where the streets are literally teeming with people. But in the last few days, there have been people EVERYWHERE, at all hours of the day. Stores are open late, people are dancing on the streets, and the buzz in the air is just amazing. It almost feels like we live in big city. ;)
Aboriginal Peoples rock - I am so glad that VANOC has made a strong effort in promoting and highlight the Four Host First Nations (Squamish, Musqueam, Lil'Wat, Tseil-Waututh) who are as much the hosts of these Games as the city of Vancouver is. They have a beautiful pavilion, played a key part in the Opening Ceremony, and produced beautiful artwork. I hope the millions of visitors (and Canadians) will take the time to learn about their culture and contributions to our country.
Pins, pins and pins - I thought these were a Disney phenomenon, but pins are quite the hot commodity at the Olympics! Coca-Cola has a dedicated pin-trading area in their store, and every pavilion has pins available (if you know who to ask). I've only picked up a few so far, but have already been schooled on the difference between a pin and a button. Sheesh.
True North Strong & Free - I've been living in the US for so long that I'll admit to being slightly brainwashed by all of the American propaganda. It's been incredibly refreshing to come home and just soak up all things Canadian -- people here are unabashedly proud of the fact that we rock at curling (pun intended), that hockey is practically a religion, and that it's ok to be nice to perfect strangers and expect nothing in return. We're probably some of the best hosts you can find in the world today, and we're excited that everyone's in town to celebrate with us.
There'll always be naysayers - And as a counterpoint, there will always be people who are indifferent or even staunchly opposed to the Olympics. There are the people who find all the road closures and traffic change disruptive and annoying, and the protesters who think the best way to make a point is to knock over mailboxes and smash store windows. And to those people: i say, boo on you. Your mommies taught you better than that.
Tomorrow, we're off to Whistler to watch the women compete in luge. More to report when I get back...
