Having sorted a few things in the morning, I was due to be at my first shift for 2pm. The walk is not far, about 20 minutes or less, straight along the road where we are staying. Having a liitle prior warning of how to find the access was useful, and I was even able to help a Portuguese speaking journalist to find his way. International signs and gestures are always good, though I do find myself reverting to sign language hand signs to explain myself.
Went through security, checked in at workforce check-in and received an armful of snacks, was directed to the Main Press Centre (MPC) where I am to be based, due to the closure of the conference centre.
I was sent to the press photography desk to find Camilla, my manager, who was not there, but at lunch, so I was taken to the Main Help Desk team and was introduced to Ana who is in charge there. Sounds like I am now to be in her team.
I met another volunteer, Hannah, who is coming to see the last leg with me in a few days time, and ended up shadowing what she was doing, until I was proficient enough to do it myself. So just the once or twice then, it wasnt that difficult. Handing out the press packs was the easy bit, knowing any answers to the questions they may have had, not so easy.
At check in, I was given an " I speak English" tag to add to my accreditation, I did ask if they also had an "Eu nao fala Portuguese" but sadly they didn't have those so will just have to learn very quickly.
Around 5pm, Ana said we were going to "do the rounds" of the shops in the press building to take note of customer numbers and sales etc. Apparently it is an experiment this year to see if a Press Village is a good idea for future games. This is to be one of my tasks when I am on shift, so that will test my non existent Portuguese.
There is a supermarket, souvenir shop, massage parlour, post office, where I am hoping I can get some stamps with me on them, like I did from London. There's also a dry cleaners and a money exchange place, who gave me a pin. Exciting times.
Heading back in, went back on the checking in desk, looking cool in my tinted reading glasses, as i left my regular readers at home, doh! So getting dark and dark glasses on I was waiting for my autograph requests. Instead i got a pin, from a Greek journalist, after checking him in for his Press Pack. Followed by one from Ana, a special media pin. Collection started. (I have now added a few I brought with me as swaps so will see if I can get more).
Lisa, my flat mate, is working in the Athletes Village, so her pin collection chances are far greater. Hey ho.
We had dinner around 6.30, and I headed off with another volunteer Samantha, who is heading back to the USA on Tuesday evening after 2 months here. We sat and ate in the company of a friend of hers from home who is a freelance photographer, and he was so interesting to talk to with his tales of all the games he had been to.
Then it was time to head back to work, except we had wound down for the day, so there really wasn't much left to do apart from tidy up.
A final task saw me reading through an email to double check all Olympic references had been removed, for a Paralympic Village tour, and ended with me quickly creating a couple of word tables to replace those in the original document that couldn't be edited. I think Ana then realised I might actually be useful. Now to work on her delegating things rather than having to sort them all herself.
Finally left just after 9.30pm for the walk home, still warm so no jacket needed.
Here's to the next shift. I wonder what excitement there will be.
(Note:still having photo issues, so will upload some when i get that sorted)
Tchau
Went through security, checked in at workforce check-in and received an armful of snacks, was directed to the Main Press Centre (MPC) where I am to be based, due to the closure of the conference centre.
I was sent to the press photography desk to find Camilla, my manager, who was not there, but at lunch, so I was taken to the Main Help Desk team and was introduced to Ana who is in charge there. Sounds like I am now to be in her team.
I met another volunteer, Hannah, who is coming to see the last leg with me in a few days time, and ended up shadowing what she was doing, until I was proficient enough to do it myself. So just the once or twice then, it wasnt that difficult. Handing out the press packs was the easy bit, knowing any answers to the questions they may have had, not so easy.
At check in, I was given an " I speak English" tag to add to my accreditation, I did ask if they also had an "Eu nao fala Portuguese" but sadly they didn't have those so will just have to learn very quickly.
Around 5pm, Ana said we were going to "do the rounds" of the shops in the press building to take note of customer numbers and sales etc. Apparently it is an experiment this year to see if a Press Village is a good idea for future games. This is to be one of my tasks when I am on shift, so that will test my non existent Portuguese.
There is a supermarket, souvenir shop, massage parlour, post office, where I am hoping I can get some stamps with me on them, like I did from London. There's also a dry cleaners and a money exchange place, who gave me a pin. Exciting times.
Heading back in, went back on the checking in desk, looking cool in my tinted reading glasses, as i left my regular readers at home, doh! So getting dark and dark glasses on I was waiting for my autograph requests. Instead i got a pin, from a Greek journalist, after checking him in for his Press Pack. Followed by one from Ana, a special media pin. Collection started. (I have now added a few I brought with me as swaps so will see if I can get more).
Lisa, my flat mate, is working in the Athletes Village, so her pin collection chances are far greater. Hey ho.
We had dinner around 6.30, and I headed off with another volunteer Samantha, who is heading back to the USA on Tuesday evening after 2 months here. We sat and ate in the company of a friend of hers from home who is a freelance photographer, and he was so interesting to talk to with his tales of all the games he had been to.
Then it was time to head back to work, except we had wound down for the day, so there really wasn't much left to do apart from tidy up.
A final task saw me reading through an email to double check all Olympic references had been removed, for a Paralympic Village tour, and ended with me quickly creating a couple of word tables to replace those in the original document that couldn't be edited. I think Ana then realised I might actually be useful. Now to work on her delegating things rather than having to sort them all herself.
Finally left just after 9.30pm for the walk home, still warm so no jacket needed.
Here's to the next shift. I wonder what excitement there will be.
(Note:still having photo issues, so will upload some when i get that sorted)
Tchau
No comments:
Post a Comment