Making friends, open to new experiences

Volunteering at an international event provides unique opportunities to make new friends from many countries. Korean-style accommodations are unfamiliar to some of our group, sleeping several per room atop pallets. Borrowing from ancient technology, heated floors keep winter temps at bay.



We share communal meals and trade tasty snacks during down time, like shrimp crackers, dried seaweed, jujube, Italian biscuits, cinnamon and blueberry candies, even PopTarts! Exchanging stories about history and life in our countries, family members, types of employment and hobbies build bonds of commonality among our group. This is one purpose of the Olympic experience, to build understanding and peace!

I particularly enjoy visiting local attractions, like historic temples, food and fabric markets, and walking adventures in local neighborhoods. We laugh at those in our group who ask many questions before trying unfamiliar dishes, like anchovy and walnut salad, pickled radish, black peanuts and fish cake. The best approach is to try everything and you may be pleasantly surprised as I have been!

Learn about the Passion Crew, volunteers at PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games

For this southerner, it takes some time to adapt to extreme cold temperatures. I am learning to layer top and bottom, especially since cold wind blows wet snow everywhere. During dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies, we watched snow illuminated by colorful laser lights and fireworkds, which was a magical sight! Only one more day before we welcome the World to PyeongChang and the Paralympic Winter Games! I look forward to meeting athletes and watching competitions.