Traveling to Olympia started at 3:30 a.m. and we didn't arrive until 11:30 p.m., it wasn't as bad as it sounds but it was definitely a long day! The worst part was the bus ride from Athens to Olympia which consisted of a lot of cliffs on a bus with crazy turns. I got so nervous that we were going off the cliff at one point that I had to just go to sleep haha but we made it!!
Today we walked around the town of Olympia to see the historical sites. There was a lot of temples and buildings that looked like a bunch of rocks on the ground but once we went to each place and heard about what happened there it meant a lot more. I really liked seeing what was left of the Temple of Zeus and seeing the Palestra which is where the warriors use to train. After we went to the museum we saw a model of what the place use to look like so we were able to get a better visual!
However the highlight of the day/trip was on our break at the pool. Professor Ryan schooled all of us on diving! This was hilarious and I will never forget how shocked we all were at his diving skills haha I'm glad I caught this on camera!!
-Nicole
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Last Day in Switzerland
Last day in Switzerland was our free day and it ended being a really chill day. Ill start off with we got to wake up late and didnt leave until 10am. We took a short train ride to Montreux and just walked around for the day. Of course, we saw more beautiful mountains and water. There really is no place like Switzerland, atleast that I have been to. Joe finally got his wish as we rented a boat for an hour and four of us at a time went out to see. The boat ride was nice except we were expecting to go a little faster, but I really enjoyed being out on the water for a little bit. No surprise even Mcdonalds was expensive and each value meal was at least $12, so I got a small fries which was $3 and ate a snadwich when I got back. Like everyday we got back to the hotel with a little time, so a couple of us took naps. For the last night in Switzerland a couple of us just went to our spot at the White Horse for dinner and had a relaxing night because we had to be down stairs at 4am for one of the longest travel days of my life.
-Brandon R
-Brandon R
Ouchy!
The past few days in Switzerland have been so much fun. Waking up every day to a great view of the water and the mountains was unbelievable. The hotel was very nice and the staff was so accommodating, they really had an effect on our stay in Lausanne. I would actually consider coming back to Lausanne one day because everything is so relaxed here. But, I do have to say they are very expensive out here!! So definitely save up.
The meetings with Wada and the IOC this week was very helpful. I felt like they didn't just talk about their company they talked about topics we would be interested in and information that would be helpful in the future. They also didn't last so long and I felt like they got straight to the point so we weren't really bored and we could actually stay engaged and then ask questions at the end. After the two meetings we had time to relax and catch up on some sleep. Later we went and sat on the water and hung out for a few hours and took a lot of pictures.
On the walk back we stopped at the carnival, which had a lot of crazy rides. A few people went on the trampolines and it was hilarious to watch. I also had the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. Its called Movenpick and it has bits of fruit in it, I wish we had it back home I'm going to miss it so much!!
Our last day here we went to Montreux which was a short train ride away. The mountains were so pretty and I was able to sit out on the water and relax for most of the day. I also saw a lot of people fishing out there, so I was so jealous. Then the ladies and Professor Ryan went out for crepes for dinner, crepes aren't my favorite but I'm glad I tried them. For dessert we went and got Movenpick for the last time :( and sat on the water. I'm going to miss Ouchy, Lausanne so much, so many good memories here and I love the name even though we pronounce it wrong :)
Tomorrow is Greece can't wait to get there and hopefully they have nice weather all week!
-Nicole
The meetings with Wada and the IOC this week was very helpful. I felt like they didn't just talk about their company they talked about topics we would be interested in and information that would be helpful in the future. They also didn't last so long and I felt like they got straight to the point so we weren't really bored and we could actually stay engaged and then ask questions at the end. After the two meetings we had time to relax and catch up on some sleep. Later we went and sat on the water and hung out for a few hours and took a lot of pictures.
On the walk back we stopped at the carnival, which had a lot of crazy rides. A few people went on the trampolines and it was hilarious to watch. I also had the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. Its called Movenpick and it has bits of fruit in it, I wish we had it back home I'm going to miss it so much!!
Our last day here we went to Montreux which was a short train ride away. The mountains were so pretty and I was able to sit out on the water and relax for most of the day. I also saw a lot of people fishing out there, so I was so jealous. Then the ladies and Professor Ryan went out for crepes for dinner, crepes aren't my favorite but I'm glad I tried them. For dessert we went and got Movenpick for the last time :( and sat on the water. I'm going to miss Ouchy, Lausanne so much, so many good memories here and I love the name even though we pronounce it wrong :)
Tomorrow is Greece can't wait to get there and hopefully they have nice weather all week!
-Nicole
Love the pic!
Sounds like everyone is in love with Lausanne! Professor Ryan always says this is the part of the trip I would adore. We love the pictures - it's nice to see everyone smiling. Keep enjoying every minute since it will soon come to an end.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Switzerland is my Paradise!
I've decided that I just may boycott leaving Switzerland tomorrow. I mean boycotting is in the spirit of the Olympics right? THis really has been my favorite stop on the trip so far and I'm not ready for it to be over. Every morning, it's like waking up in a fairytale land. Let's just say that I'm very content having a hotel window overlooking the gorgeous Lake Geneva with the snow capped Swiss Alps in the background. Oh yeah, and my favorite part of the accommodations here...my first warm, non-flooding shower, a face cloth, and daily househeeping!
We went to the Olympic Museum earlier in the week, which was really cool to see, especially after spending the semester studying the history of the Games. My favorite part was seeing the cauldron used to create the flame for the torch at the beginning of the relay in Olympia, Greece. We also got to see all of the different torches and medals used in each Olympiad. It was really interesting to see how unique each one was. Visiting WADA and the IOC headquarters was also a great experience. We learned about both organizations in class, so it was really cool to meet people who actually work there and listen to what they have to say.
Oh and we can't forget the food! It's safe to say that I fell in love in Siwtzerland...with Movenpick ice cream!!!! Plus, the chocolate and the bread were of course both amazing. The only down side to Lausanne has been the fact that everything is so so expensive.
Since I'm keeping track of the best quotes of the trip...I would have to say that my favorite from this country was definitely from Professor Ryan at dinner on Wednesday night. We were trying to check the weather and he read from his Blackberry "the forecast for tomorrow is calling fro a 20% chance of PARTICIPATION..." haha! He kept saying participation over and over. We all agreed that while we may have been pretty spacey at Paris-Sobornne, there was at least a 50% chance we were going to pay attention here!
I can't put into words how much I've enjoyed it here. It's just so peaceful and relaxing sitting by the lake and staring at these giant mountains. We had a picnic on the beach on Thursday and after dinner just sat on the rocks for hours watching the sun set and talking. I've really enjoyed getting the chance to meet and bond with everyone on the trip through experiences like that.
Missing everyone at home,
Ashley
We went to the Olympic Museum earlier in the week, which was really cool to see, especially after spending the semester studying the history of the Games. My favorite part was seeing the cauldron used to create the flame for the torch at the beginning of the relay in Olympia, Greece. We also got to see all of the different torches and medals used in each Olympiad. It was really interesting to see how unique each one was. Visiting WADA and the IOC headquarters was also a great experience. We learned about both organizations in class, so it was really cool to meet people who actually work there and listen to what they have to say.
Oh and we can't forget the food! It's safe to say that I fell in love in Siwtzerland...with Movenpick ice cream!!!! Plus, the chocolate and the bread were of course both amazing. The only down side to Lausanne has been the fact that everything is so so expensive.
Since I'm keeping track of the best quotes of the trip...I would have to say that my favorite from this country was definitely from Professor Ryan at dinner on Wednesday night. We were trying to check the weather and he read from his Blackberry "the forecast for tomorrow is calling fro a 20% chance of PARTICIPATION..." haha! He kept saying participation over and over. We all agreed that while we may have been pretty spacey at Paris-Sobornne, there was at least a 50% chance we were going to pay attention here!
I can't put into words how much I've enjoyed it here. It's just so peaceful and relaxing sitting by the lake and staring at these giant mountains. We had a picnic on the beach on Thursday and after dinner just sat on the rocks for hours watching the sun set and talking. I've really enjoyed getting the chance to meet and bond with everyone on the trip through experiences like that.
Missing everyone at home,
Ashley
WADA, IOC, and everything else that is unimportant.
Hey guys,
The highly anticipated meeting happened on Friday. It was the meeting with the Vice President/Director of Television and Marketing of the IOC, Timo Lumme. This meeting was so important that everyone was on their A-game when they went to visit. Professor Ryan prepared us and made sure that we all knew the background of the IOC so that we were prepared to ask questions during the meeting. As students, we were also very excited for this opportunity to meet someone of such high caliber and great success. Before we went to the IOC, we went to the WADA headquarters in Lausanne and met with the manager of Relations with International Federations, Amandine Bousigue. I think we all enjoyed her relaxed and active personality, which wasn’t what I was expecting. She was very open and friendly and answered any questions that we had. The World Anti-Doping Agency was a very interesting topic that I never considered before because I always cared more about the concrete marketing, legal, or public relations aspect of the Olympics. I definitely recommend a meeting with WADA or with Ms. Bousigue in the future. Then, we walked around the Olympic park, which was beautiful. As a New Yorker, I don’t get much of that fresh air especially in Manhattan, unless I’m near Central Park. I was enjoying the fresh air, warm and sunny weather as much as I can. As Angelis mentioned, Lausanne is located right across from the Swiss Alps so imagine how magnificent the scenery was. We relaxed for a few hours and then we finally made it to the headquarters of the IOC. We met with Christina Low, the Head of Broadcast Services and James Moy, the manager of Business Development. Both of them are relatively new to the IOC but they handle the most important components of the Olympic Games. They used the 2008 Beijing Olympics to evaluate the broadcast rights and the marketing aspects of the event. It was interesting to see how they abide to the IOC Charter. They also explained about the Summer 2010 Youth Olympic Program that will be held in Singapore. It will be a first time event and they have full faith that it will not depreciate the value of the Olympics because it has an educational component part of it. I clearly learned a lot about the broadcasting and marketing aspect of the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Timo is a busy man so he came back and forth to give some brief remarks. After the meeting, we took a group photo and we walked back to our hotel. It was an educational day that made me want to work for the IOC. With such power and working with such high quality people, it is inevitable for people to want to be their best.
After a long day, we all separated to have lunch. Angelis and I had a great Vietnamese cuisine by the shore and had Movenpick ice cream for dessert. It was the biggest and best ice cream I have ate. Movenpick is a brand of Swiss ice cream and I believe it is comparable to America’s Ben & Jerry or Haagan Daaz. Delicious! It’s a must-have if you ever come to Switzerland. At night, we went out to Lausanne-Flon and enjoyed our stay at a nightclub called D! It was the first night that everybody in the group went out together. It wasn’t anything spectacular but I think we all enjoyed going out together. If I had to criticize Switzerland, it would be the music at the nightclubs or pubs. They are usually always electro, trance, or techno. I like those but not all night long. **Headache**
Today, we just had a very relaxing and wonderful day at Montreux, Switzerland. It was another state that was near the ocean and we all enjoyed taking beautiful scenery pictures that I will upload later in the blog. (I didn’t bring a camera so I have to borrow Angelis’s camera and she plans to upload every time we change a location.) We really wanted to go climb part of the Swiss Alps but it was about 130francs, individually, in order to get there. That is way too much! On the way, we saw a French old lady walking a poodle, so cliché but it worked! We all took pictures of it for our scavenger hunt! Eventually, we ended up at a port where they allowed boat rentals and etc. so some people went on a motorboat driven by Joe Fanelli, while the rest enjoyed the warm sunshine and beautiful mountains. We didn’t do too much but it was very relaxing. After we came back to Lausanne, everybody separated to do their own thing. Angelis and I had lunch and then we tanned a little bit. Eventually, we couldn’t help but get the delicious Movenpick ice cream again. We sat by the shore and tanned. Later, we went to buy some souvenirs because we can’t forget the good, old friends at home. The ladies had crepes for dinner except for yours truly because I didn’t want to change more francs. I had a healthy Greek salad and now I am at “the White Horse” pub to borrow their free Internet. (The lady at the front desk advised us and gave us free coupons for a free beer so that we could sit in and get free Internet access. Swiss people, they are just so KIND.)
The BEST travel day is going to happen in a few hours: 4:15 a.m. Can’t WAIT! Haha. NO, but since we are going to Greece, I will suck it up and make it through! Hopefully, there’s Internet service so that I can post more pictures up, instead of bombarding you all with a bunch of worthless words.
Hope everybody is doing well in the states. Enjoying the HOT weather and drinking lots of water.
Out&About.
Olivia.
The highly anticipated meeting happened on Friday. It was the meeting with the Vice President/Director of Television and Marketing of the IOC, Timo Lumme. This meeting was so important that everyone was on their A-game when they went to visit. Professor Ryan prepared us and made sure that we all knew the background of the IOC so that we were prepared to ask questions during the meeting. As students, we were also very excited for this opportunity to meet someone of such high caliber and great success. Before we went to the IOC, we went to the WADA headquarters in Lausanne and met with the manager of Relations with International Federations, Amandine Bousigue. I think we all enjoyed her relaxed and active personality, which wasn’t what I was expecting. She was very open and friendly and answered any questions that we had. The World Anti-Doping Agency was a very interesting topic that I never considered before because I always cared more about the concrete marketing, legal, or public relations aspect of the Olympics. I definitely recommend a meeting with WADA or with Ms. Bousigue in the future. Then, we walked around the Olympic park, which was beautiful. As a New Yorker, I don’t get much of that fresh air especially in Manhattan, unless I’m near Central Park. I was enjoying the fresh air, warm and sunny weather as much as I can. As Angelis mentioned, Lausanne is located right across from the Swiss Alps so imagine how magnificent the scenery was. We relaxed for a few hours and then we finally made it to the headquarters of the IOC. We met with Christina Low, the Head of Broadcast Services and James Moy, the manager of Business Development. Both of them are relatively new to the IOC but they handle the most important components of the Olympic Games. They used the 2008 Beijing Olympics to evaluate the broadcast rights and the marketing aspects of the event. It was interesting to see how they abide to the IOC Charter. They also explained about the Summer 2010 Youth Olympic Program that will be held in Singapore. It will be a first time event and they have full faith that it will not depreciate the value of the Olympics because it has an educational component part of it. I clearly learned a lot about the broadcasting and marketing aspect of the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Timo is a busy man so he came back and forth to give some brief remarks. After the meeting, we took a group photo and we walked back to our hotel. It was an educational day that made me want to work for the IOC. With such power and working with such high quality people, it is inevitable for people to want to be their best.
After a long day, we all separated to have lunch. Angelis and I had a great Vietnamese cuisine by the shore and had Movenpick ice cream for dessert. It was the biggest and best ice cream I have ate. Movenpick is a brand of Swiss ice cream and I believe it is comparable to America’s Ben & Jerry or Haagan Daaz. Delicious! It’s a must-have if you ever come to Switzerland. At night, we went out to Lausanne-Flon and enjoyed our stay at a nightclub called D! It was the first night that everybody in the group went out together. It wasn’t anything spectacular but I think we all enjoyed going out together. If I had to criticize Switzerland, it would be the music at the nightclubs or pubs. They are usually always electro, trance, or techno. I like those but not all night long. **Headache**
Today, we just had a very relaxing and wonderful day at Montreux, Switzerland. It was another state that was near the ocean and we all enjoyed taking beautiful scenery pictures that I will upload later in the blog. (I didn’t bring a camera so I have to borrow Angelis’s camera and she plans to upload every time we change a location.) We really wanted to go climb part of the Swiss Alps but it was about 130francs, individually, in order to get there. That is way too much! On the way, we saw a French old lady walking a poodle, so cliché but it worked! We all took pictures of it for our scavenger hunt! Eventually, we ended up at a port where they allowed boat rentals and etc. so some people went on a motorboat driven by Joe Fanelli, while the rest enjoyed the warm sunshine and beautiful mountains. We didn’t do too much but it was very relaxing. After we came back to Lausanne, everybody separated to do their own thing. Angelis and I had lunch and then we tanned a little bit. Eventually, we couldn’t help but get the delicious Movenpick ice cream again. We sat by the shore and tanned. Later, we went to buy some souvenirs because we can’t forget the good, old friends at home. The ladies had crepes for dinner except for yours truly because I didn’t want to change more francs. I had a healthy Greek salad and now I am at “the White Horse” pub to borrow their free Internet. (The lady at the front desk advised us and gave us free coupons for a free beer so that we could sit in and get free Internet access. Swiss people, they are just so KIND.)
The BEST travel day is going to happen in a few hours: 4:15 a.m. Can’t WAIT! Haha. NO, but since we are going to Greece, I will suck it up and make it through! Hopefully, there’s Internet service so that I can post more pictures up, instead of bombarding you all with a bunch of worthless words.
Hope everybody is doing well in the states. Enjoying the HOT weather and drinking lots of water.
Out&About.
Olivia.
Au Revoir Paris, Bonjour Lausanne!
Greetings.
I am late on blogging but I will fill you in on a brief summary of our experience in Paris and what travel day was like.
The two fully scheduled and strenuous days at Paris are over! Even though it was only two days, so much happened and I was so impressed that we were able to hit all the important attractions of Paris. From the infamous Eiffel Tower to the beautiful boat tour ride that introduced the many sights in Paris, it was a memorable experience. Although there was a language barrier, we still had many entertaining times deciphering and trying to understand the French culture.
Travel day is always the most hectic and tiring day. As a group, it is inevitable to fall behind schedule sometimes, but as Professor Ryan says, “The train doesn’t wait for us.” We incorporated some lateness and unexpected traffic times into our schedule to ensure that we won’t miss the train to Lausanne. We met at 6 a.m. and eventually made it to the station before 7 a.m. The train didn’t come until a little before 8 a.m. so since we were extra early, we just waited around the platform. Im sure Jen enjoyed the numerous amounts of pigeons flying around the station that morning. Jen definitely appreciated Professor Ryan's plastic bird gift that he bought for her near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. We all enjoyed the fact that she really detests birds. It might just be a problem in Lausanne because I heard that there are a lot of birds.
Anyways, after a short detour, we made it the Hotel Aulac. The moment we reached our destination, I knew I was going to love it here. Our hotel faces the Swiss Alps and docking port. Everything looks so refreshing and relaxing. When we got to the hotel, our rooms weren’t ready yet so we left everything in Professor Ryan’s room and went to do laundry. After a few hours, we returned to the hotel and settled in. We all joined together to eat at an extremely pricey restaurant by the waterside overseeing the Alps. How beautiful?! After a great meal, we all went to this nice pub called “The White Horse” which we all received cards for a free Carlsberg beer. Cheers! Travel day definitely wore us out so we all went to bed early. Can’t wait for the Sunday trip from Lausanne to Athens. [Absolutely not!]
Until then, stay in touch.
--Angelis
I am late on blogging but I will fill you in on a brief summary of our experience in Paris and what travel day was like.
The two fully scheduled and strenuous days at Paris are over! Even though it was only two days, so much happened and I was so impressed that we were able to hit all the important attractions of Paris. From the infamous Eiffel Tower to the beautiful boat tour ride that introduced the many sights in Paris, it was a memorable experience. Although there was a language barrier, we still had many entertaining times deciphering and trying to understand the French culture.
Travel day is always the most hectic and tiring day. As a group, it is inevitable to fall behind schedule sometimes, but as Professor Ryan says, “The train doesn’t wait for us.” We incorporated some lateness and unexpected traffic times into our schedule to ensure that we won’t miss the train to Lausanne. We met at 6 a.m. and eventually made it to the station before 7 a.m. The train didn’t come until a little before 8 a.m. so since we were extra early, we just waited around the platform. Im sure Jen enjoyed the numerous amounts of pigeons flying around the station that morning. Jen definitely appreciated Professor Ryan's plastic bird gift that he bought for her near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. We all enjoyed the fact that she really detests birds. It might just be a problem in Lausanne because I heard that there are a lot of birds.
Anyways, after a short detour, we made it the Hotel Aulac. The moment we reached our destination, I knew I was going to love it here. Our hotel faces the Swiss Alps and docking port. Everything looks so refreshing and relaxing. When we got to the hotel, our rooms weren’t ready yet so we left everything in Professor Ryan’s room and went to do laundry. After a few hours, we returned to the hotel and settled in. We all joined together to eat at an extremely pricey restaurant by the waterside overseeing the Alps. How beautiful?! After a great meal, we all went to this nice pub called “The White Horse” which we all received cards for a free Carlsberg beer. Cheers! Travel day definitely wore us out so we all went to bed early. Can’t wait for the Sunday trip from Lausanne to Athens. [Absolutely not!]
Until then, stay in touch.
--Angelis
Friday, May 28, 2010
A day/night we will never forget
Well it has been over a week since our last pidgeon related incident, and keeping our fingers crossed, it seems as though we have mastered the art of staying clear of their flight paths. We have also abided by the strict rule of not trying to walk on moving public transportation vehicles, and as a result, have avoided any possible injuries that may have been incurred. This Thursday was our first full day in Switzerland, and it certainly provided us with a great deal of fun and excitement, in both education and leisure.
Our morning started off at the Olympic Museum and Research Center. The museum was pretty small in size, but it housed a ton of interesting Olympic artifacts, ranging from ancient Greek pottery and statues to Usain Bolt's Olympic uniform.The tour of the museum was a great learning experience, and half way through our trip, we were lucky enough to be blessed with the experience of having a plague of Swiss school children join us. These children took over the museum, running and screaming through the exhibits, making the overall experience utterly unforgettable. After the tour of the museum, we were able to take in the research center where we were able to research some of our individual research projects. The center provided us with a great variety of useful books and materials which I'm sure we all found helpful. I, along with Brandon, decided to take advantage of the center's collection of films, and let me just say, with our taking in of the films Space Jam and Cool Runnings, research has never been more fun.
After a day in the town, we decided to have a unique experience for dinner. We all went to the local market and bought a wide variety of foods for a beachfront dinner on Lake Geneva. With an assortment of breads, meats, and cheeses, we opened a bottle of whine and took in the beautiful sunset against the mountains. It was a beautiful night, with the scenic view truly making us feel as though we were in our own little postcard. It was truly an unforgettable night, and surely one I will never forget. Without a doubt, this is the most beautfil place I have ever visited, and I'm positive that most of the others share that same feeling.
Our morning started off at the Olympic Museum and Research Center. The museum was pretty small in size, but it housed a ton of interesting Olympic artifacts, ranging from ancient Greek pottery and statues to Usain Bolt's Olympic uniform.The tour of the museum was a great learning experience, and half way through our trip, we were lucky enough to be blessed with the experience of having a plague of Swiss school children join us. These children took over the museum, running and screaming through the exhibits, making the overall experience utterly unforgettable. After the tour of the museum, we were able to take in the research center where we were able to research some of our individual research projects. The center provided us with a great variety of useful books and materials which I'm sure we all found helpful. I, along with Brandon, decided to take advantage of the center's collection of films, and let me just say, with our taking in of the films Space Jam and Cool Runnings, research has never been more fun.
After a day in the town, we decided to have a unique experience for dinner. We all went to the local market and bought a wide variety of foods for a beachfront dinner on Lake Geneva. With an assortment of breads, meats, and cheeses, we opened a bottle of whine and took in the beautiful sunset against the mountains. It was a beautiful night, with the scenic view truly making us feel as though we were in our own little postcard. It was truly an unforgettable night, and surely one I will never forget. Without a doubt, this is the most beautfil place I have ever visited, and I'm positive that most of the others share that same feeling.
WADA and IOC meeting
Switzerland is absolutely beautiful, and our hotel is right on the water. This has become my new favorite place. Today we first had a meeting at WADA with Amandine Bousigue who was a great speaker and very informative.
She talked about the beginnings of WADA and some of the restrictions top althletes have to follow. For example almost 10,000 top athletes have to check into a computer system everyday called ADAMS and tell there where they are going to be that day, and also leave one hour of time open for possible testing. If the athlete is not where they say they are during this hour and are suppost to be tested, it is considered a mistest. We also left with some pretty cool free water bottles, note pad, and pen.
Our next meeting was at the IOC Headquarters with Timo Lumme Managing Director, James Moy Manager Business Development and Christina Low Head of Broadcast Services. The three of them gave us a presentation of the IOC's television and marketing services (TMS). They first began explaning how the teleivison rights for the games work, as well as the different media outlets they are using with the advancement of technology. Bejing was the first to broadcast on the internet. They talked a little bit about the goals for the new youth olympic games happening in Singapore 2010. James talked mostly about the Olympic TOP program, and the types of sponsorships. Despite the economy, he said there has not been a decrease in sponsorship. We also walked away with some pretty cool stuff, such as a hard copy of the entire Bejing maketing plan, and a black bag with the 5 Olympic rings on it. The bag will definitely help out in bringing all the things I bought home.
Pretty interesting day, and know its off to dinner.
-Jen
She talked about the beginnings of WADA and some of the restrictions top althletes have to follow. For example almost 10,000 top athletes have to check into a computer system everyday called ADAMS and tell there where they are going to be that day, and also leave one hour of time open for possible testing. If the athlete is not where they say they are during this hour and are suppost to be tested, it is considered a mistest. We also left with some pretty cool free water bottles, note pad, and pen.
Our next meeting was at the IOC Headquarters with Timo Lumme Managing Director, James Moy Manager Business Development and Christina Low Head of Broadcast Services. The three of them gave us a presentation of the IOC's television and marketing services (TMS). They first began explaning how the teleivison rights for the games work, as well as the different media outlets they are using with the advancement of technology. Bejing was the first to broadcast on the internet. They talked a little bit about the goals for the new youth olympic games happening in Singapore 2010. James talked mostly about the Olympic TOP program, and the types of sponsorships. Despite the economy, he said there has not been a decrease in sponsorship. We also walked away with some pretty cool stuff, such as a hard copy of the entire Bejing maketing plan, and a black bag with the 5 Olympic rings on it. The bag will definitely help out in bringing all the things I bought home.
Pretty interesting day, and know its off to dinner.
-Jen
Update from Prof Ryan
I hope all who are following our Olympic Odyssey Blog are enjoying our exploits as much as the students appear to be enjoying the trip. After reviewing the blog posts it appeared to me that you may be thinking this is all fun and games. …yes I almost sent Eric to the hospital by telling him to stand up on an (non)-moving bus…how did I know that it would be the exact time the driver decided to try out for the NHRA. …And yes, I did make a new friend with the ticket taker at the Louvre….and yes it is not a good idea to ask 9 non-French speaking US students to sit through a 2+ hour tour of the Sorbonne to see 15 minutes of Olympic related material…did I mention the guide only spoke French…(why can’t the French learn English…how inconsiderate).
This blog sight is for the students to express anything they like…it is not intended to be necessarily academic related, and I want them to have fun with it, but I thought it would be time to update you on the educational side of the trip so far. I will also post some photos.
What we have experienced so far…
Wembley Stadium…site of the 1948 Olympic Games and host to the Finals of the 2012 Olympic Football match (soccer).
Guest speaker, Mike Gillespie… An Assistant Dean and representative of the UK Curling Federation.
Charlie Forman, Representing the government municipality hosting the 2012 Games and discussing the current and future impact the games will have on Hackney.
A tour of the construction site of the 2012 Olympic Games…
Paul Deighton, CEO, London 2012…yes this is the person ultimately responsible for managing all aspects of the 2012 Games, and thanks to Prof. Burton for making this happen. This was a big deal…a really BIG DEAL.
More in London…The British Museum (ancient Greek relics), Tower of London, and most of the request stops…
In Paris… The Louvre (ancient Olympia relics) and the student’s favorite the Paris-Sorbonne
In Switzerland…
The Olympic Museum and Olympic Research Center
WADA (World Anti Doping Agency)… represented by Amandine Bousigue
And our last stop today…a meeting at the IOC Headquarters with Timo Lumme, Managing Director; Christina Low, Head of Broadcast Services; and James Moy, Manager Business Development all with the IOCs Television & Marketing Services. (Thanks again Rick)
…well we will be taking on a FREE DAY on Saturday (yea), and who knows what adventures are in store for us. Sunday is a travel day none will enjoy, but we are looking forward to Greece….more later
Prof Ryan
This blog sight is for the students to express anything they like…it is not intended to be necessarily academic related, and I want them to have fun with it, but I thought it would be time to update you on the educational side of the trip so far. I will also post some photos.
What we have experienced so far…
Wembley Stadium…site of the 1948 Olympic Games and host to the Finals of the 2012 Olympic Football match (soccer).
Guest speaker, Mike Gillespie… An Assistant Dean and representative of the UK Curling Federation.
Charlie Forman, Representing the government municipality hosting the 2012 Games and discussing the current and future impact the games will have on Hackney.
A tour of the construction site of the 2012 Olympic Games…
Paul Deighton, CEO, London 2012…yes this is the person ultimately responsible for managing all aspects of the 2012 Games, and thanks to Prof. Burton for making this happen. This was a big deal…a really BIG DEAL.
More in London…The British Museum (ancient Greek relics), Tower of London, and most of the request stops…
In Paris… The Louvre (ancient Olympia relics) and the student’s favorite the Paris-Sorbonne
In Switzerland…
The Olympic Museum and Olympic Research Center
WADA (World Anti Doping Agency)… represented by Amandine Bousigue
And our last stop today…a meeting at the IOC Headquarters with Timo Lumme, Managing Director; Christina Low, Head of Broadcast Services; and James Moy, Manager Business Development all with the IOCs Television & Marketing Services. (Thanks again Rick)
…well we will be taking on a FREE DAY on Saturday (yea), and who knows what adventures are in store for us. Sunday is a travel day none will enjoy, but we are looking forward to Greece….more later
Prof Ryan
Ministries and OCOG's
Well hello everyone! Joe Fanelli here to give you the lowdown to what happened last friday in london. Yes I know Im a week late and no i dont remember why my posting name is Esquire, nor do i know how to change it since this computer is talking to me in French...
Ahhhh London... twas so long ago. That was the day we traveled out to Canary Warf to mingle with the suits and meet with the CEO of the LOCOG, Paul Deighton. First of let me say that this part of London was boderline "surreal" because of it extreme cleanliness, the perfectly mannered upper class citizens and its lush grass. Also, were else would you find a group of swinging bellsmen in the main square for a free/odd performance. Anyways, the meeting. It went great when i wasnt falling in and out of conciousness; the view from the top of that 50 story building was breathtaking. Prof. Burton was there to bring an added spice of sarcasm too.
Times running low so let me get to the good stuff... That night we went to this club called Ministry of Sound by this obscure place named Elephant and Castle. I was the one with the idea since one of my very good friends who is in London abroad, recommended it. Here's the description of the club in a nutshell. Imagine a bunch of dark, smoke-filled rooms with pulsating neons. Then add a slew of Brits fistpumping with one hand to the techno beats and holding their corona with lime in the other hand. Its a scary picture, I know. Regardless, I had a blast!!!!! Some random girl was buying me drinks and this other girl who was hanging with us was ridiculous. Needless to say i was there until the wee hours of the morning so when i got back to the flats i expected the others of the group to be asleep since they let the club about 2 hours before... I WALKED IN RIGHT AFTER THEM
Apperantly they had a bit a trouble getting home. Something that never would happen to me ;)
-Joe
Ahhhh London... twas so long ago. That was the day we traveled out to Canary Warf to mingle with the suits and meet with the CEO of the LOCOG, Paul Deighton. First of let me say that this part of London was boderline "surreal" because of it extreme cleanliness, the perfectly mannered upper class citizens and its lush grass. Also, were else would you find a group of swinging bellsmen in the main square for a free/odd performance. Anyways, the meeting. It went great when i wasnt falling in and out of conciousness; the view from the top of that 50 story building was breathtaking. Prof. Burton was there to bring an added spice of sarcasm too.
Times running low so let me get to the good stuff... That night we went to this club called Ministry of Sound by this obscure place named Elephant and Castle. I was the one with the idea since one of my very good friends who is in London abroad, recommended it. Here's the description of the club in a nutshell. Imagine a bunch of dark, smoke-filled rooms with pulsating neons. Then add a slew of Brits fistpumping with one hand to the techno beats and holding their corona with lime in the other hand. Its a scary picture, I know. Regardless, I had a blast!!!!! Some random girl was buying me drinks and this other girl who was hanging with us was ridiculous. Needless to say i was there until the wee hours of the morning so when i got back to the flats i expected the others of the group to be asleep since they let the club about 2 hours before... I WALKED IN RIGHT AFTER THEM
Apperantly they had a bit a trouble getting home. Something that never would happen to me ;)
-Joe
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
--- the Unfortunate happened ---
Hey guys,
We are in Lausanne, Switzerland. The view is just unexplainable; there are no words to describe how beautiful this place is. This is probably going to be the most important week because the much anticipated meeting with the VP of the IOC is going to be Friday. We are all very excited and are trying to prepare to the best of our abilities to ask the most important and relevant questions possible.
Despite all the commotion, the unfortunate occurred. I lost my wristlet which had my credit card, debit, francs, and ID. I am very disappointed in myself but hopefully some nice soul will return it sooner or later. Highly doubt it but it made me realized one thing: you just need to be careful because you never know when it will happen to you.
I have lots to say but time is limited because internet service is by the hour here. Hopefully, everyone else is enjoying the sunny, beautiful weather in the states.
Out&About.
Olivia.
We are in Lausanne, Switzerland. The view is just unexplainable; there are no words to describe how beautiful this place is. This is probably going to be the most important week because the much anticipated meeting with the VP of the IOC is going to be Friday. We are all very excited and are trying to prepare to the best of our abilities to ask the most important and relevant questions possible.
Despite all the commotion, the unfortunate occurred. I lost my wristlet which had my credit card, debit, francs, and ID. I am very disappointed in myself but hopefully some nice soul will return it sooner or later. Highly doubt it but it made me realized one thing: you just need to be careful because you never know when it will happen to you.
I have lots to say but time is limited because internet service is by the hour here. Hopefully, everyone else is enjoying the sunny, beautiful weather in the states.
Out&About.
Olivia.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
No we can't leave Paris yet!!
I feel like we just got to France and we're already packing to leave! This is the most fun I've had on the trip so far Paris was amazing. We started off with a dinner and a movie night to see Robin de Bois (Robin Hood). Which was an experience trying to tell them what I wanted from the concession stand, but I got through it and enjoyed the movie. The one surprising thing about a movie theatre in France is there are no cup holders!? haha
The next day was sooo long but I loved every moment! We went to Notre Dame which was beautiful. I must have took atleast ten pictures of the front entrance alone and it was so crowded. There was a fake Quasimoto and real gypsies outside which completed the whole experience of seeing Notre Dame. Apparently I was too excited because as we were walking in I was yelled at by the guard to quiet down before going inside, but I just couldn't help myself :)
Then we were off to the Louvre! This place was just huge, it would honestly take someone atleast a week to go through the whole thing properly. I'm just happy that me and a few others were able to get through the few sections that we did because we were so exhausted towards the end. We saw the Code of Hammurabi, Venus de Milo, Nike, the last supper, and the Mona Lisa. How many people do you know that can say that?! Of course I took a picture of everything but, the Mona Lisa and the last supper was tough! They shouldn't have both of those paintings in the same room, I had to push my way to the front to see the Mona Lisa and then I turn around and realize I'm by myself ..haha. I didn't realize how small that painting was but atleast I got the shot!
After the Louvre and walking around a bit we finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. This was my favorite part of the whole day. It looked just like the movies except seeing it in person was ten times better. I took a picture with every pose possible, it was just life changing. And, to top it off we got ice cream when we were done.
Later that night we took a boat ride from the Eiffel Tower. To see everything from the water was nice and we went at the perfect time (sunset). As the boat ride was ending the lights went on for the Eiffel Tower....priceless! So can you see why I don't want to leave yet? :) All the trouble with the metro and trying to understand French was worth it! Like Olivia said it makes you want to learn French and more of the culture.
Well its off to Switzerland tomorrow, I'm sure this will be interesting with all of the different transportation we're taking but it wouldn't be traveling without a hassle right? ;-)
<3 Nicole
The next day was sooo long but I loved every moment! We went to Notre Dame which was beautiful. I must have took atleast ten pictures of the front entrance alone and it was so crowded. There was a fake Quasimoto and real gypsies outside which completed the whole experience of seeing Notre Dame. Apparently I was too excited because as we were walking in I was yelled at by the guard to quiet down before going inside, but I just couldn't help myself :)
Then we were off to the Louvre! This place was just huge, it would honestly take someone atleast a week to go through the whole thing properly. I'm just happy that me and a few others were able to get through the few sections that we did because we were so exhausted towards the end. We saw the Code of Hammurabi, Venus de Milo, Nike, the last supper, and the Mona Lisa. How many people do you know that can say that?! Of course I took a picture of everything but, the Mona Lisa and the last supper was tough! They shouldn't have both of those paintings in the same room, I had to push my way to the front to see the Mona Lisa and then I turn around and realize I'm by myself ..haha. I didn't realize how small that painting was but atleast I got the shot!
After the Louvre and walking around a bit we finally made it to the Eiffel Tower. This was my favorite part of the whole day. It looked just like the movies except seeing it in person was ten times better. I took a picture with every pose possible, it was just life changing. And, to top it off we got ice cream when we were done.
Later that night we took a boat ride from the Eiffel Tower. To see everything from the water was nice and we went at the perfect time (sunset). As the boat ride was ending the lights went on for the Eiffel Tower....priceless! So can you see why I don't want to leave yet? :) All the trouble with the metro and trying to understand French was worth it! Like Olivia said it makes you want to learn French and more of the culture.
Well its off to Switzerland tomorrow, I'm sure this will be interesting with all of the different transportation we're taking but it wouldn't be traveling without a hassle right? ;-)
<3 Nicole
Last Sunday/Monday
So this blog is a couple of days late because of lack of internet access, but finally able to blog. Last Sunday, we traveled from London to Paris. The train ride was nice probably because the majority of the group caught up on some sleep. When we arrived in Paris our first obstacle was the stairs of hell with our luggage, but they actually were not that bad especially for Nicole because Joe and I took turns carrying her luggage up and down the stairs. The hotel was not far from the train station and we were excited to finally get comfortable in our rooms after waking up at 8am, but we got a few surprises. I walked in the door and banged the door against my tiny maybe twin size bed which actually turned out to be the most comfortable. Some of the other rooms had broken showers and other problems, so I guess the boys room was okay. It was a pretty relaxing day, after a little time in the hotel we went to our first French restaurant and the waiter did not speak a lot of English, but the food, after we asked for an English menu and a little difficulty ordering, was delicious. Later that night we decided to take it easy compared to other nights and just went to the movies to see Robin Hood with Mr. Ryan. We had a little difficulty ordering tickets as we tried to order student tickets, but a not so nice older lady explained how to get tickets for 4.50euros if you are under the age of 26, so it worked out. The movie was really good, especially since it showed the Tower of London and other stuff that we had just experienced in London.
The next day we went to Notre Dame Church, Louvre Museum, and Eiffel Tower which were all amazing experiences. I know visiting the Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower would appear the be the best part of the day, but my favorite part was Mr. or Professor Ryan almost getting Eric and myself kicked out the Louvre by security. As Mr. Ryan, Eric, and I tried to re-enter an exhibit. The secuity guard would not let us because Mr. Ryan had a tour guide sticket, but we were missing the rest of the group. So, Mr. Ryan tried walking past anyway and I have never seen someone pick up the phone so fast as the security lady was calling for backup security and a security guard jogged to stop Mr. Ryan. When we were walking away Mr. Ryan said one of his many great quotes on this trip so far "freakin French." We were not allowed back in that exhibit without the Jen and Kelsey, but it was okay I got my entertainment for the day as I was laughing until we finally left the Louvre.
-Brandon Rollins <3 :)
The next day we went to Notre Dame Church, Louvre Museum, and Eiffel Tower which were all amazing experiences. I know visiting the Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower would appear the be the best part of the day, but my favorite part was Mr. or Professor Ryan almost getting Eric and myself kicked out the Louvre by security. As Mr. Ryan, Eric, and I tried to re-enter an exhibit. The secuity guard would not let us because Mr. Ryan had a tour guide sticket, but we were missing the rest of the group. So, Mr. Ryan tried walking past anyway and I have never seen someone pick up the phone so fast as the security lady was calling for backup security and a security guard jogged to stop Mr. Ryan. When we were walking away Mr. Ryan said one of his many great quotes on this trip so far "freakin French." We were not allowed back in that exhibit without the Jen and Kelsey, but it was okay I got my entertainment for the day as I was laughing until we finally left the Louvre.
-Brandon Rollins <3 :)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Bye bye London -- Here we go France!
Hey guys!
We are in Paris, France! Finally, there is service!! I don't even know where to start but London was .. an adventure, I must say. Professor Ryan and the group will probably agree with me that we checked off almost all the things that we each wanted to experience in London.
We met with Charlie Forman on Thursday, which honestly changed my perspective of the Olympics. Charlie went through all the details of each component as to what needs to be part of the proposal during the Olympics. Although they received the bid seven years ago, it is a time constraint for all the people that is part of the London Olympics 2012 Committee. They have to incorporate every aspect, from the games, safety, athletic departments to the local issues with the citizens. There are just so much that it is mind-bottling that each Olympics, cities get it done! London 2012 is focusing on creating something that will sustain for a preferably revitalized new community to bring about better economic standards. Unlike the Beijing Olympics, which was centralized in the best parts of the country, London is trying to change. The change is so in-depth that it will take about 20-25 years in order to evaluate whether this project becomes a success for the long run. On Friday, we met with Paul Deighton,the CEO of the London Olympic Committee Olympic Games. Professor Burton helped us confirm this meeting which intrigued me to get into the Olympics. I never looked at the Olympic as such a huge project because we usually watch the games. Not many people look deep into all the background, support systems that needs to be put in place in order to make the Olympics happen.
Aside from the Olympics so far, how can we forget that it was Professor Ryan's birthday on Saturday. Based on a late Friday night, only part of the group was able to join Ryan to go to the Portobello's market. It was a beautiful neighborhood that had blocks of clothes, foods, fresh fruits, and many other antique shops. It was a great walk but we were exhausted from the days before, so we decided to go to the Westminister Abbey to learn some history of London. We saw Big Ben which was just ridiculously beautiful. At night, we went to Angus Steakhouse to celebrate Ryan's birthday. Of course, since we love him so much, we couldn't allow him to enjoy his birthday himself. We understand what happened for his birthday's last year but we wanted him to remember. I'm sure he enjoyed the unbelievably friendly waiter, the walks and talks throughout the night. Let's just say, he had a great night sleep.
Since it was the last night at London, we didn't want to put it to waste but we didn't want to just go to sleep. My roommate and I walked all around. We made a visit to college town, found some nice souvenir shops, and searched for a dessert place. We went to Leichester Square and dreams came true. You can imagine how beautiful it is. Let's just say, it's comparable to 42nd Street in New York City.
We are currently in Paris, France. The trip here was a hassle, I must say. We had to take the "tube" in London to take the Eurostar to get here. With all the amounts of luggage we had, there were some issues. No big deal, we got through it but hopefully our travel to Lausanne, Switzerland won't be as tiring.
Since we are here on Sunday to Wednesday morning, there really isn't much of a nightlife that we can do. The most exciting part is that we are able to go SHOPPING! We will visit the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, possibly Church de Notre Dame, and many major sightseeing places. I came to France a few times already and I absolutely love the French culture. We went to a restaurant for late lunch/early dinner and had issues with the French menu already. It just makes me want to learn French and its culture even more. We'll see as the days goes by what the similarities and differences between London and France are.
Oh, I tried to keep it short. But how is that possible, when we are on a trip in Europe? Haha! I hope everyone is enjoying our slow updates.
Paris, France
Out&About.
Olivia.
We are in Paris, France! Finally, there is service!! I don't even know where to start but London was .. an adventure, I must say. Professor Ryan and the group will probably agree with me that we checked off almost all the things that we each wanted to experience in London.
We met with Charlie Forman on Thursday, which honestly changed my perspective of the Olympics. Charlie went through all the details of each component as to what needs to be part of the proposal during the Olympics. Although they received the bid seven years ago, it is a time constraint for all the people that is part of the London Olympics 2012 Committee. They have to incorporate every aspect, from the games, safety, athletic departments to the local issues with the citizens. There are just so much that it is mind-bottling that each Olympics, cities get it done! London 2012 is focusing on creating something that will sustain for a preferably revitalized new community to bring about better economic standards. Unlike the Beijing Olympics, which was centralized in the best parts of the country, London is trying to change. The change is so in-depth that it will take about 20-25 years in order to evaluate whether this project becomes a success for the long run. On Friday, we met with Paul Deighton,the CEO of the London Olympic Committee Olympic Games. Professor Burton helped us confirm this meeting which intrigued me to get into the Olympics. I never looked at the Olympic as such a huge project because we usually watch the games. Not many people look deep into all the background, support systems that needs to be put in place in order to make the Olympics happen.
Aside from the Olympics so far, how can we forget that it was Professor Ryan's birthday on Saturday. Based on a late Friday night, only part of the group was able to join Ryan to go to the Portobello's market. It was a beautiful neighborhood that had blocks of clothes, foods, fresh fruits, and many other antique shops. It was a great walk but we were exhausted from the days before, so we decided to go to the Westminister Abbey to learn some history of London. We saw Big Ben which was just ridiculously beautiful. At night, we went to Angus Steakhouse to celebrate Ryan's birthday. Of course, since we love him so much, we couldn't allow him to enjoy his birthday himself. We understand what happened for his birthday's last year but we wanted him to remember. I'm sure he enjoyed the unbelievably friendly waiter, the walks and talks throughout the night. Let's just say, he had a great night sleep.
Since it was the last night at London, we didn't want to put it to waste but we didn't want to just go to sleep. My roommate and I walked all around. We made a visit to college town, found some nice souvenir shops, and searched for a dessert place. We went to Leichester Square and dreams came true. You can imagine how beautiful it is. Let's just say, it's comparable to 42nd Street in New York City.
We are currently in Paris, France. The trip here was a hassle, I must say. We had to take the "tube" in London to take the Eurostar to get here. With all the amounts of luggage we had, there were some issues. No big deal, we got through it but hopefully our travel to Lausanne, Switzerland won't be as tiring.
Since we are here on Sunday to Wednesday morning, there really isn't much of a nightlife that we can do. The most exciting part is that we are able to go SHOPPING! We will visit the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, possibly Church de Notre Dame, and many major sightseeing places. I came to France a few times already and I absolutely love the French culture. We went to a restaurant for late lunch/early dinner and had issues with the French menu already. It just makes me want to learn French and its culture even more. We'll see as the days goes by what the similarities and differences between London and France are.
Oh, I tried to keep it short. But how is that possible, when we are on a trip in Europe? Haha! I hope everyone is enjoying our slow updates.
Paris, France
Out&About.
Olivia.
So we thought London's traffic was bad.....
Last Thursday may still have been pretty early in our trip, but it left us with some great life lessons in regards to London and personal safety. The day started off well enough. We went over to Londons borough of Hackney where we met with Charlie Forman, the borough's chief officer for the legacy of the 2012 games. Charlie was a terrific guy who provided us with some great insight into what the games are meaning to London beyond sport. While the Olympycs obviously have huge sport implications, London is using this opportunity to rebuild one of its city's poorer districts. It is a great undertaking, but Charlie seemed pretty confident that the games would be a success, from both the sporting and community perspective. After the meeting however, didn't go so well and proved to be almost fatal for a couple of us, including myself. With that said, I present to you what may be the greatest lessons we may learn on this trip.
1. Don't always listen to Professor Ryan....
Our way to the British Musuen should have merely consisted of a simple ride on one of London's famous double decker buses. Two stops before ours, Professor Ryan advised us to go down to the first level as to not miss our stop. Being the leader that I am, I got up first and proceeded to walk down the stairs. Professor Ryan told me to go as the bus was in fact stationary. As soon as I start walking down however, the bus jolted forward, sending me flying down the steps. Had I not been able to reach back at the last second and grab the railing behind me, I surely would have went head first into the wall. I was probably only an inch or two from death, although the rest of the group seemed to find it funny as I dissapeared from their view in a split second. Now I'm not normally one to point fingers and place blame any one particular individual, so I won't. But if I had to name names, it would definitely be Professor Ryan.....
2. London pidgeons are dangerous...
Over the past couple days, we have all been mocking Jen over her seemingly irrational fear of birds. She had tried explaining why, but it was just easier to laugh at her than to show sympathy. Anyway, right before walking into the British Museum, just moments after the famous bus incident, a pidgeon flew directly into Jen's face. This is just too good for me to be making up, so I hope you'll believe me. I was standing right behind her when it happened, so I had the best view as the violent bird went full speed into Jen's left cheek, catching her totally by surprise. None of us could believe what we had just witnessed. It was like the creature had specifically targetted her. Having the best view possible, I got to see the bird's takeoff, flight, and subsequent crash. Should I have warned Jen about the pidgeon? Probably. Did this outplay of events provide us with a much greater story though? I think yes...
1. Don't always listen to Professor Ryan....
Our way to the British Musuen should have merely consisted of a simple ride on one of London's famous double decker buses. Two stops before ours, Professor Ryan advised us to go down to the first level as to not miss our stop. Being the leader that I am, I got up first and proceeded to walk down the stairs. Professor Ryan told me to go as the bus was in fact stationary. As soon as I start walking down however, the bus jolted forward, sending me flying down the steps. Had I not been able to reach back at the last second and grab the railing behind me, I surely would have went head first into the wall. I was probably only an inch or two from death, although the rest of the group seemed to find it funny as I dissapeared from their view in a split second. Now I'm not normally one to point fingers and place blame any one particular individual, so I won't. But if I had to name names, it would definitely be Professor Ryan.....
2. London pidgeons are dangerous...
Over the past couple days, we have all been mocking Jen over her seemingly irrational fear of birds. She had tried explaining why, but it was just easier to laugh at her than to show sympathy. Anyway, right before walking into the British Museum, just moments after the famous bus incident, a pidgeon flew directly into Jen's face. This is just too good for me to be making up, so I hope you'll believe me. I was standing right behind her when it happened, so I had the best view as the violent bird went full speed into Jen's left cheek, catching her totally by surprise. None of us could believe what we had just witnessed. It was like the creature had specifically targetted her. Having the best view possible, I got to see the bird's takeoff, flight, and subsequent crash. Should I have warned Jen about the pidgeon? Probably. Did this outplay of events provide us with a much greater story though? I think yes...
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Are you there?
Why aren't we hearing from you? All of your friends and family are looking for "posts and pics". Get busy!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Where is Prof Ryan…
To say the least it has been a very wild 4 days. Prior to the start of the trip I spoke with the team who helped me organize our odyssey and said “civil unrest in Greece, and volcanoes …how much worse can it get” then they informed me that British Airways was going to go on strike. Well we have avoided the meltdown in Greece (things were never as bad as US TV made it out to be according to my friends in Greece) and British Air (BA)lools to be OK for a few more weeks…but mother nature got the best of us. As you may know the short version is BA took good care of us and a bit late we made it to London. A few rearrangements and we are back on track. Today we visited Wembley, the site of the 1948 Olympics and the host site for Football (soccer) finals for the 2012 Olympic Games… I am being kicked off my computer…another class needs the room, but more on Thursday….so long for now…Pat
Wembley, Curling and the London Tube
We started off Wednesday by heading out for a tour at Wembley stadium. We used our new oyster cards to take the tube. We then met our tour guide, Paul, who was fantastic and took us through a group tour with people from Australia, Switzerland and England. Wembley has 90,000 seats and holds events including soccer and concerts and as Paul told us, has the most bathrooms of any other stadium facility-2618. We saw England's locker room, the royal box, the media press room and took pictures with the FA cup.
After our 90 minute tour-the time of a soccer match, we headed to lunch and then back to the tubes to head back to our flats. We had a bit of a detour when we took the Picadilly circus rail the wrong way but eventually got back to the flats. At 3pm we headed back to the Faraday house to talk with Mike Gillespie. He teaches here at SU London and serves on the British Curling board and talked to us about London 2012 and then specifically talked about curling and the process of choosing athletes, funding and how a sport becomes an Olympic event. We also learned about curling-how its played on ice with rocks, how the great britian captain was 19 years old and how scotland created curling (along with scotch and golf). All in all it was a great day!
-kelsey
After our 90 minute tour-the time of a soccer match, we headed to lunch and then back to the tubes to head back to our flats. We had a bit of a detour when we took the Picadilly circus rail the wrong way but eventually got back to the flats. At 3pm we headed back to the Faraday house to talk with Mike Gillespie. He teaches here at SU London and serves on the British Curling board and talked to us about London 2012 and then specifically talked about curling and the process of choosing athletes, funding and how a sport becomes an Olympic event. We also learned about curling-how its played on ice with rocks, how the great britian captain was 19 years old and how scotland created curling (along with scotch and golf). All in all it was a great day!
-kelsey
WE ARE ALIVE!
We made it! We are in London!!!!!!!!!!
What can I say; the most memorable trip is on its way. From a day late start to a night living in London, I think I can get used to this type of lifestyle. These Europeans have such beautiful accents. I can't help but try and mock them everytime they speak to me. I'm sure we all have a tendancy to want to act like we have the same accent. Although London is a beautiful place but I'm not sure it is that safe. There were maybe 5+ near death situations because of the way these people drive here. It's crazy. Our motto: Look left, look right, look left, look right one more time.. and so on. Don't stop because you just never know!
Well, we are about to sit in on a lecture. It better be interesting because the most expensive part of this trip is the educational part. I will be an expert on the Olympics when the trip is over. [I hope it doesn't; in fact, I don't mind if British Airways goes on strike. We can stay in Europe for all I care. I'm sure we all do!]
Okay.
Out&About.
Stay tune for more real insights of the Olympic Odyssey expedition.
Olivia.
What can I say; the most memorable trip is on its way. From a day late start to a night living in London, I think I can get used to this type of lifestyle. These Europeans have such beautiful accents. I can't help but try and mock them everytime they speak to me. I'm sure we all have a tendancy to want to act like we have the same accent. Although London is a beautiful place but I'm not sure it is that safe. There were maybe 5+ near death situations because of the way these people drive here. It's crazy. Our motto: Look left, look right, look left, look right one more time.. and so on. Don't stop because you just never know!
Well, we are about to sit in on a lecture. It better be interesting because the most expensive part of this trip is the educational part. I will be an expert on the Olympics when the trip is over. [I hope it doesn't; in fact, I don't mind if British Airways goes on strike. We can stay in Europe for all I care. I'm sure we all do!]
Okay.
Out&About.
Stay tune for more real insights of the Olympic Odyssey expedition.
Olivia.
Day 2
WERE HERE AND SO EXCITED!!
The airplane was huge, and we each had own TVs with movies, TV, shows, and music channels SO the flight went by pretty quickly. After a pretty quick bus ride we made it to our flats around 11 and they are pretty nice they have a full kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, and 2 showers although one currently does not drain.
We went to a quick orientation and learned not to take mini-cabs and watch out when crossing the street. My near death toll is already at 4. Following this was a long nap that we all needed and then exploring a bit on London. We had dinner at a pretty American sports bar where Brandon tried to get his food to-go which completely confused the waitress, but we now know is called take away.
-Jen
The airplane was huge, and we each had own TVs with movies, TV, shows, and music channels SO the flight went by pretty quickly. After a pretty quick bus ride we made it to our flats around 11 and they are pretty nice they have a full kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, and 2 showers although one currently does not drain.
We went to a quick orientation and learned not to take mini-cabs and watch out when crossing the street. My near death toll is already at 4. Following this was a long nap that we all needed and then exploring a bit on London. We had dinner at a pretty American sports bar where Brandon tried to get his food to-go which completely confused the waitress, but we now know is called take away.
-Jen
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
London Calling...
Glad to hear you've made it to London ! Have a wonderful time and if you're looking for a bite to eat, check out Wagamama.....ummm noodles:
http://www.wagamama.co.uk/locations/map/
You are in London
So happy to get Professor Ryan's call letting me know you are all safely settled in London. Have a wonderful day and keep all your family and friends posted on your exciting learning experiences.
Monday, May 17, 2010
The Start of our Grand Trip...All the Way to Jamaica, NY
We were all set to go. We said our goodbyes, the bags were on the plane and we were sitting at the gate. I was soo excited and nervous at the same time because the furthest I've been is Canada. Then, of all the natural disasters...our flight was cancelled due to "volcanic ash."
It was a huge bummer and an awful start to the trip, but Professor Ryan and our team of travel agents at Syracuse were all over it. Professor Ryan put the airline employees, as well as all the other people waiting for hotels, in their place. He used his people-skills to get everyone is a single-file organized line, even though that line had to move three times.
We eventually got a hotel, The International, which all of us began to doubt its existance when we had to wait for the shuttle bus for 40 minutes. It did show up, though, except the driver was not at all interested in helping us load the van with all of our luggage.
When we got to the hotel we went out to our first group dinner. We found out that our flight was rescheduled for 9am so we all planned to meet in the lobby at 5:50am to catch the shuttle back to the airport.
At 5am, we all got wake up calls from Professor Ryan saying that our flight was moved once more, this time until 7pm tonight! So, for now we are all in Professor Ryan's room waiting to leave for the airport again. Please, everybody, keep your fingers crossed that we get out tonight!!!
Ashley :)
It was a huge bummer and an awful start to the trip, but Professor Ryan and our team of travel agents at Syracuse were all over it. Professor Ryan put the airline employees, as well as all the other people waiting for hotels, in their place. He used his people-skills to get everyone is a single-file organized line, even though that line had to move three times.
We eventually got a hotel, The International, which all of us began to doubt its existance when we had to wait for the shuttle bus for 40 minutes. It did show up, though, except the driver was not at all interested in helping us load the van with all of our luggage.
When we got to the hotel we went out to our first group dinner. We found out that our flight was rescheduled for 9am so we all planned to meet in the lobby at 5:50am to catch the shuttle back to the airport.
At 5am, we all got wake up calls from Professor Ryan saying that our flight was moved once more, this time until 7pm tonight! So, for now we are all in Professor Ryan's room waiting to leave for the airport again. Please, everybody, keep your fingers crossed that we get out tonight!!!
Ashley :)
In London??
Hey there,
Just checking to see if the group arrived in LHR given the closure of some airports.......
Any word?
Theresa :)
Just checking to see if the group arrived in LHR given the closure of some airports.......
Any word?
Theresa :)
Just a bumb in the rooad
Hang in there friends! Remember it is the not destination but the journey that counts.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Packing for Olympic Odyssey Trip
AHHHHH!!! The anticipation is almost over because the trip is coming sooner than imagined. Finally, the school year is over and what better way is it to start off the summer with a Europe trip. That's definitely a bang! As I am still stranded in Syracuse University packing my life out of this apartment, I can't help but take 10 minute breaks in between to check out things to do in Europe. Our first stop will be London and it is known to be one of the most luxurious and extravagant places in the world. How can we forget that the upcoming Olympics will be in London, 2012? That gives it even more of a reason for us to visit. I am excited to learn about bid day and what happens behind the scene before London 2012 happens. The rest of the the way, I will post more when it happens.
For now, I just wanted to see if everyone else is as excited as I am about the trip. Educational, Entertaining, and Expensive! Just great!
Out and about, peace&love .
Olivia .
For now, I just wanted to see if everyone else is as excited as I am about the trip. Educational, Entertaining, and Expensive! Just great!
Out and about, peace&love .
Olivia .
Sunday, May 9, 2010
To the OlyOdy Class of 2009 (Last Year)
I would like to invite you to post any good information for the class of 2010. We will be following the same itinerary as last year so you may want to point this years class to your favorite spots!
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