Bodie 'N Canada: Back in Vancouver

Howdy! Well, it's been quite a while since I posted about my Canadian adventures up in Vancouver and Whistler. It was not due to lack of effort; more or less it was due to lack of adventure. See, I had an incredible weekend concluding the Paralympics, but after that, my adventures subsided for the most part.

The Paralympic Closing Ceremony was awesome. It did not have the budget of the more elaborate Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, but nonetheless, it was a lot of fun. I think intimacy was the word. There were about 5,000 people inside the Whistler Medals Plaza watching the ceremony, and I sat next to the mother of a Polish sit-skier. We had a great time talking beforehand, and before you knew it, it was time for the athletes' procession. This was awesome in that I actually knew a number of the athletes by name, and Leonardo Martinez from Argentina, one of the athletes I got to know the best, was his country's flagbearer, walking right past where I was standing. Needless to say, I felt quite important exchanging pleasantries with him during the ceremony.

left- the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president passes the IPC flag from the mayors of Vancouver and Whistler to the mayor of Sochi, Russia. right- before the ceremony, a large rain threatened to dampen spirits. Fortunately, the downpour subsided, and the rain was squeegeed off the carpeted ramp in mere minutes.

After the ceremony, I went back to the village to help out with the end-of-the-Paralympics party for the athletes. Our Plaza and Events team had an incredible time being a part of this farewell party for the athletes, and all the athletes were curious how I had the good fortune to attend their party (I was the only one who never changed out of this blueberry jacket...thus, I stuck out like a sore thumb...whoops!)

Cupcakes in the shape of a Canada flag at the end-of-Paralympics athlete party

Between the end of the Paralympics and last week, I spent some time in Vancouver searching for housing for part two of my trip, then I came back to Alabama for a bit to attend a luncheon at Auburn University. It was wonderful time indeed!

So, now I'm back in Vancouver, and the past two weeks have been primarily focused on finding a job. The tricky part comes in when employers find out my work visa expires in July. I worked a three day event at Reebok's outlet store in New Westminister. I got a job offer to work at a Boston Pizza during the event, but I just don't see myself enjoying the hour plus commute each way nearly every day. It still is an historic time to be up here. Yesterday, they deflated the air-supported fabric roof of BC Place. This is where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games were held. It's been a distinct part of the Vancouver skyline for 28 years, and it came down yesterday. I missed the deflation, but here's a recap of the event:

I got a chance to look at the dome today. I must say, it's a little disheartening. The skyline definitely does not look the same, and though the retractable roof will be completed by August 2011, opponents of the $458 million taxpayer-funded renovation can't help but point out the fact that it rains in Vancouver nearly 1 in 3 days each year. Suffice it to say, the relevance of the retractable roof is debatable.

Until the adventures continue,
Brandon

P.S. - Now that I can legally show pictures of the Whistler Athlete Village, I present to you my snowman, Rodney! And in the background, you can see Team USA's residency for the Paralympics.