Opinion Travel

Sleepless in Vancouver: Workin’ the 2010 Olympics

Canada loves them some hockey!

There are piles of clothes accumulating in my apartment. Every red t-shirt, sweater, and hat I own is heaped on the floor. There is a row of empty Venti Starbucks cups, chocolate wrappers, and a pile of gadgets cluttering my desk. I’ve been living off caffeine and KD, and I’m out of frozen dinners. I’ve actually resorted to boiling eggs and eating them straight out of the pot because I have no clean dishes, and now, no clean pots.

Outside Vancouver is jumping up and down and screaming, “Go Canada Go!” and I’m here just trying to catch a cat nap before I have to buckle down and get to work again. It’s hard to stay focused in this madness. The irresponsible me wants to join in the party with reckless abandon, while the responsible me knows that it’s two hours before deadline and I’m staring at an empty page.

Since the Olympics started, the city never seems to sleep. This morning I was jarred awake by a noisy Chinese dragon announcing the Year of the Tiger with what felt like the loudest cymbals ever. Once the crashing noise had dissipated, my Swiss neighbour started rockin’ the cowbell. I reckon he thinks he’s a cow bell virtuoso. Clang. Clang. Clang. There’s almost a beat there. A Bossa Nova perhaps?

Later on Canada wins Gold and everyone erupts in celebration. I hear cheers, w00ts, whistles and air horns well into the early morning. 4am to be exact. Not that I noticed. (I did).

Ah, but who can possibly be an Olympics grinch, when everyone is so uplifted and happy? I even saw someone try to get angry at a volunteer for having to wait so long in a line at LiveCity Vancouver, but the volunteer was so lovely they ended up high-fiving and exchanging email addresses after 5 minutes.

That is my Olympic experience so far. Every time I get worked up over road closures, slow moving pedestrians, or general Olympic headaches, some fantastic, moving moment happens and I’m swelling with Canadian pride. So Vancouver, my advice: stock up on aspirins, ear plugs, and bucket loads of patience because this 17-day party has only just begun.

Ahem, can all those people celebrating the Olympics please turn the volume down a few decibels? Some of us have to get up and go to work tomorrow.

You Might Also Like

  • BilliamJ
    February 16, 2010 at 7:00 PM

    Lovin your posts on your feelings of the craziness that is the Olympics

  • dan
    February 17, 2010 at 8:04 AM

    hey lisa,
    being a canadian living in switzerland, i love your posts. they passing the olympic feeling in a great way. lovin’ it. please keep posting every day. pressure is on… thx!

  • Mostly Lisa
    February 20, 2010 at 1:05 AM

    thanks! i’m hitting a wall right now, but hopefully i’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight and be ready to go again tomorrow!

  • AlanD
    March 1, 2010 at 12:16 PM

    I hadn’t seen this post till now. I can totally relate to the first paragraph. Am very impressed that you managed to keep it together; running out of frozen dinners is a post-apocalyptic scenario in my world!

    I’ve really enjoyed your quirky utterly-adorable behind-the-scenes reporting throughout the Olympics. Excellent work.

    BTW, Mukmuk or Quatchi?