Before the Olympics started, Olympic volunteers were newsworthy, especially ones learning to write “I love China” in traditional calligraphy.  While going through my rigorous training leading up to the Olympics at the basketball Cube, my opportunistic supervisor jumped on the chance to get her two trainees on tv and in front of who knows how many Chinese viewers.  As she’d instruct us, we would repeat in Mandarin “I love China.”  The video isn’t the best quality because I was using a Flip Cam to record a tv screen.  This aired on CCTV’s Olympic Channel.

Somewhat nauseating, mostly funny.  Here’s the clip for your viewing pleasure.

After a competitive interview process to get into the program back in October and then a grueling test administered by BOCOG officials over two weeks ago, it is official:

I’m going to the Beijing Olympics this summer!!

It has been weeks of preparation, anticipation and suspense waiting for this announcement. After reading the email, there was sigh of relief and now a gigantic smile is plastered on my face.

Here’s a glimpse of some landmarks since I first found out about the program:

Timeline:

Sept. 13 – The Beijing Olympics Program was announced

Sept. 24 – Information session on program

Sept. 28 – Deadline to apply – 143 students applied

Oct. 15 – Notified I made it to second round in application process – 58 students selected

Oct. 30 – My interview

Nov. 1 – News that I got into the program – 35 students selected

Dec. 14 – Meeting for accepted students – first time we meet

Jan. 23 – Sports Journalism and Chinese Culture class starts

Feb. 27 – Written portion of test with BOCOG officials

Feb. 28 – Debate portion of test with the BOCOG officials

Mar. 18 – Official confirmation that the whole class is going!!

Next on the timeline will be departure for the Olympics! I have to be in Beijing July 8. Between now and then I will be working on my Mandarin and preparing for the journalism tasks we’ll be doing at the Olympics.

Thanks so much for everyone’s ongoing support!

- One ecstatic Helen!

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been back in Boston since September to finish up my Masters degree…however, I have found another way to push back graduation until the end of summer!  I am overwhelmingly excited to announce that I have been accepted into a program through Emerson that will send me to the Beijing Olympics this summer to support the Olympic News Service!!

I found out last Thursday night and will hopefully learn more within the next couple of weeks.  What I do know is that I’ll be doing grunt work to help journalists formulate stories about the Olympics.  Emerson describes it as “students will work side-by-side with professional staff to cover Olympic events, provide background information on athletes and competitions, and basically create Olympic news material for the international press who will be sending stories back to their homelands.” 

Depending if I stay for the paralympics, I’ll be in Beijing from July 7 until the end of August or til mid-September.  I’ll probably be assigned to a specific sport and there’s a chance that I’ll actually get to interview the athletes!   

My participation is contingent upon passing an exam showing thorough expertise on whatever sport I’m assigned; however, I’m not going to let this stand in my way of this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  Part of the program is to take a prep course in the spring to cover Mandarin (just basic conversational), sports journalism, and China’s history and culture.  I was selected based on an application, essay and interview.  143 students applied, 58 were interviewed and 25 selected.  Emerson is one of 5 schools in the United States selected to send students in partnership with the Communication University of China of which will house us in its dorms. 

As I get more information, I will keep everyone updated.  I’m going to try blogging and see how it goes.

I hope this blog finds you well and enjoying fall!  Have a wonderful veteran’s day! 

Warmest regards,

Helen