Back on solid ground

Yes! I made it! I've been home for exactly one week and life is grand. I missed this chilly country, and I think I'm going to stick around for a little while. I landed in Edmonton around 8pm last Monday and the customs agent looked me up and down. "What did you buy for $500 in AMSTERDAM?" I knew what he was thinking, but I calmly replied..."Oh, I've been in Russia since February. I'm packing Matryoshka dolls like you wouldn't believe." With that, I'm sure he saw the nerd in me emanating from within and voila, he let me pass through.

Mom and dad picked me up from the airpot and brought me to my condo. It was like time had stood still for the entire two months; nothing had changed. In fact, outside my condo, nothing else has changed. Work, friends, life. Pretty much just the way I left them. Sochi feels like a dream.

I'd like to say thank you to all the diehard readers. I have been amazed to hear the number of people who read my blog and enjoyed it. I'm glad my efforts weren't in vain ;)

For all you dedicated readers... here are some behind-the-scenes tidbits that never made it to the blog. The first is my favourite little fact that I was, honestly, nervous to write about in Russia. Now that's I'm safe in Canada, freedom of speech is not an issue :p

Right under my nose

I've said it before, and I will say it again and again, I loved my team at the Sanki Sliding Centre during the Olympics. The beautiful venue and the long hours made for easy camaraderie. I made some lifelong friends, and bobsled will always hold a special place in my heart for Olympics to come. While I was volunteering away, minding my own business, I had NO CLUE there was an FSB agent lurking right under my nose. FSB is pretty much the FBI of Russia. Turns out our press team was graced with the presence of an undercover cop. I'll let you guess which one was the agent....

Which one of these is not like the others.... 

Guessed the big burly guy in the front? While that choice seems predictable, it is correct. Denis was a super nice dude. He even took me to Sochi and showed me around...possibly to make sure I wasn't a threat to the Russian Federation?

Myself with double agent Denis.

My undercover cop radar must be WAY OFF because I had no clue he was an agent. He was on our press team, yet didn't speak a word of English. I thought it was strange, since you'd think English would be the first prerequisite needed when dealing with the press. In hindsight, there were signs...

Every shift we worked together, Denis was always on his phone. I thought it was quite unprofessional. He would say it was his mother. I thought it odd, but brushed it off. When Dimitry Medvedev visited our venue, Denis was abuzz with helping security and double checking our press zone. I just thought he was taking his job very seriously. All along, our gentle Denis was really a double agent.

In the end, our venue was safe and nothing happened to any athletes, staff, or volunteers. It just makes me think how many more double agents there were implanted into the volunteer community...

"Why is Denis ALWAYS on that damn phone??"

Sochi sights

I've been extremely positive about my time in Sochi, because it was just that - positive. You may have noticed in my interviews that I was asked some questions about the political situation in Russia, which I brushed off in hopes of dispelling some of the negative press surrounding the games.

**HERE IS MY CTV NATIONAL INTERVIEW**

**HERE IS MY CBC RADIO INTERVIEW**

Yes, my time was positive, but I did see first hand some of the realities of having the Olympics in a vacation destination. Just like in Turin, Italy, there was construction everywhere. When you throw an international event like the Olympics into a place normally frequented only by tourists, there's bound to be delays in creating the proper infrastructure for the games. Here's a look at what I saw along the way.

There was, of course, a heavy military presence. 

Lukoil was EVERYWHERE! I know Alberta is no stranger to oil companies' presence, but Lukoil pipes were above ground along the entire Olympic highway. They also had a big factory beside my residence.

Here's a look at the Lukoil pipes running along the landscape. 

This photo doesn't do it justice, but the landscaping in Sochi left much to be desired. This area was torn up to build the new Olympic highway, but like most of Sochi, was never landscaped back to its original beauty. Rushing to greet the Olympics left landscaping at the bottom of the priority list.  

A lot of mud, especially when it rained or snowed.

I wasn't kidding about the lack of landscaping....

When a project wasn't complete, they covered the building with a curtain that LOOKS like a building... yeah it nearly fooled me ;) Not 

Construction everywhere.

If I could do it all over again

There's not much I would change. I can honestly say Sochi was one of the best experiences of my life. If I could go back in time, there are a couple of things I would do differently.

1. Bring my iPhone. Not so I could be glued to the screen the whole time, but to be able to take a quick photo unnoticed. I could have snapped a shot of Prince Albert of Monaco if I'd had a coy cellphone instead of an obvious camera. Also, instagram is nearly impossible to load photos onto from a desktop. Lesson learned.

2. Pack a Canadian hockey jersey. While all the small Canadian souvenirs I brought were a hit, I should have been more loud and proud! It certainly kept my friend busy when he visited Sochi.

3. No more souvenirs! After packing home easily 20 lb. of souvenirs, I swear I will never buy a cheap trinket again. Sochi meant something to me, not to every friend I got a matryoshka or a tea cosy. I may have to go to a masseuse to iron out the kinks in my back from carrying so much extra weight in my backpack. It's also embarrassing to need help putting my carry-on in the overhead compartment of the plane... Can someone PLEASE remind me of this revelation before my next trip? My house is so full of knickknacks, I don't think there's space for more.

4. TRIPLE check my itinerary. I will never miss another plane by sheer ignorance again. Ever.

I did a few things right!

While I'd do a few things differently, here are some tips for any future travellers that helped make my trip much easier.

1. Skype. If you don't have it, get it. I recommend getting Skype credit. This way you can call a landline or cellphone number. It's dirt cheap compared to calling from abroad. If your loved ones happen to have Skype, even better! Seeing is believing ;)

2. Backpacking it. Cobblestones will break your luggage wheels. I've seen it happen time and time again. While my backpack broke, I plan on replacing it and using it whenever I go to a place that isn't smoothly paved. It's much easier to carry a backpack than a suitcase with broken wheels. If you're just going to Vegas, I won't judge you for wheeling around. I promise.

3. Tide to go. Sure you can buy laundry detergent abroad, but the scent of tide is powerful enough to kill odours when washing your laundry in the sink or bathtub. Give yourself sufficient drying time as well. I spent one day in wet socks because I didn't plan out my laundry schedule.

4. Ebooks will save you. I was hesitant to try my new Kindle paper white, but it is a miraculous device. Not only is it small and easy to pack around, it's also capable of holding dozens of books! I blazed through the Game of Thrones series and finished Dan Brown's new book Inferno in a matter of days thanks to the ease of the Kindle. No more trading in books at a hostel. Download your favourites reads before a trip and voila! Saves time and space.

So that is all. My ramblings have come to a close as I get back to 'normal' life here in Edmonton. A reminder to all my Russian amigos - my door is open! For all you travellers out there, please check out couchsurfing. It changed my life and drastically improved my travel experience in Europe. What makes a place unique? The people that you meet. Trust me on this one...

I've also been asked what the best part of my trip was. In terms of my Olympic experience, I'm torn between meeting the Jamaican bobsled team or hosting the media conference for Canada's gold medal in women's bobsled. In terms of Russia, going to meet my tutor Vladimir in Rostov was a big check off my bucket list. You can't talk to someone online for years and not go to see them when you're in the neighbourhood :)

All in all, I have no regrets. I will always look back on Sochi fondly. See you in South Korea in 2018...Rio 2016 maybe...maybe??

Thank you for the comments and feedback on the blog. It's a lot of work, especially with sketchy internet connections abroad. This blog kept me connected to home and made the home sickness much less bitter.

Don't forget! I'm running a half marathon for the Children's Wish Foundation. If you are interesting in making a donation to motivate me to run faster, here's the link. Thank you for following my journey through Russia and beyond. It's been a slice!

Troubled traveller

There are few things that keep me up at night. Sure I worry, but when something goes wrong I usually just brush it off. As an avid traveller I have been robbed, I have got lost numerous times, I have lost numerous items, but up to this point I have never missed a flight. Missing flights are what nightmares are made of for a traveller. Not the kind of mishap when you miss a connecting flight; airlines cover that usually. It's missing a flight by your own error that sends shivers through your bank account. Insurance won't cover that!

My nightmare comes to life

Yesterday I was well set up to make it to my flight at 4:35pm from Amsterdam to Calgary. I arrived in Amsterdam before 2pm by train, then hurried back to my hostel and picked up my extra luggage. As I shuffled back to Amsterdam Centraal Station, I knew I had mere minutes to catch my train to the airport. With my cumbersome backpack on plus my overly large purse and bloated carry-on bag, I started to run.

As I watched the train doors shut I yelled "HOLD THE TRAIN" and despite the vast knowledge of English in Holland, the door was not held. In a blur of frustration I collapsed to the floor quite dramatically and cursed profusely. Two tracks over, a group of rude British men mocked me. I will admit, my excessive luggage looked quite droll, but that missed train could be the reason I missed my first flight in all my years of globetrotting.

I meandered back to the television and saw another train leaving to Schipol airport in 15 minutes. Of course, it happened to be the same train those brutish British men were waiting at. As the escalator slowly brought me to their track, the laughter persisted. Big gulping gasps of giggles. One even ventured so far as to reenact my theatrical tumble to the ground. Ha ha ha.

The train got me to the airport right at 3pm. That gave me 1.5 hours to check in. Plenty of time! However, at the automated checkin desk the blinking screen told me boarding was closed. I was redirected to the ticketing booth and I demanded why I wasn't able to board my flight. A real human being behind the desk told me that, in fact, I had missed the flight by hours. It left at 12:30pm.

What happened? How could I have made such a grave error. The truth, and total truth, is not one I like to admit. I read my itinerary wrong. My flight from Calgary to Edmonton was to leave at 4:35pm. I scheduled my entire departure around the second leg of my journey home. Surprisingly, I was extremely calm. There was absolutely nothing I could do to change the circumstance, so why waste energy. My serene demeanour could also be attributed to my prior outburst. I think I let out enough emotion and frustration to last three more missed flights *knock on wood*

My travel agent managed to find me a new flight leaving the next morning at 8am for the very low price of $600. A very expensive lesson I'd say. You better believe I will be quadruple checking every flight departure time from here on out!

The delays continue

Yet here I sit in Amsterdam's Schipol airport, with another delay. My new flight to Detroit is delayed by THREE hours, meaning my connection to Minneapolis would be long gone by the time I arrived. Again, I shuffled all my luggage to the ticketing desk and crossed my fingers the clerk would find a solution. As she clicked through the options, I started rambling about how I am ready to go home. After over a month in Russia and now my European adventures behind me, all I want to do is crawl into my bathtub and soak until I turn into a prune.

My time in Sochi perked the clerk's interests. When she found out I had volunteered for both the Olympics and Paralympics, she said she would make a special exception and get me on a flight leaving directly to Minneapolis. I was elated! My time in Sochi saved the day! The clerk said I deserved a gold medal for the work I had done there, but the best she could do was get me to Minneapolis. At this point, that news was better than any gold medal to me.

Longing for Canada

Usually when a trip comes to an end, I am sad to return home. This trip, however, I am completely ready to get back to my life in Edmonton. I miss my condo, my job, my family, my friends. In fact, as I was loading my big backpack onto the scale, the waist strap completely broke off. Maybe this is a sign my backpacking days are coming to an end? I just can't imagine myself laying around on a cruise ship, or lord forbid, using a ROLLING SUITCASE! It goes against every fiber of my being. As I look around the airport at the ease of those rolling suitcases, I feel I may be on the verge of a change in my life. A change my back may soon thank me for.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still be backpacking and hiking and adventuring, but another two month long romp across the globe may not be my first choice for my next holiday. I plan on staying far away from an airport for a little while at least.

I'd like to thank my Strasbourg family for the very relaxing few days at chateau Knecht! I hope to see you all again soon! Cross your fingers that all my flights stay on track. I don't know if I can take another delay. Canada here I come!

Don't forget! I'm running a half marathon for the Children's Wish Foundation. If you are interesting in making a donation to motivate me to run faster, here's the link. Thank you for following my journey through Russia and beyond. It's been a slice!

With Daniele and little Sunny. 

Thierry, myself, Regine, and the man Jacky! Thanks again for the great hospitality! Come visit anytime in Canada.

La jolie France!!

Here in France my french language skills are improving remarkably everyday. Why couldn't Russian have been this easy for me? Looks like I need to go back to Russia after improving my vocabulary. Practicing a language in that country (usually around people who don't speak English) is the best way to improve. Maybe next time I need to go to Siberia then!

With my trip soon coming to an end, I want to say a special thank you to my volunteer teams from Sochi. While I spend my days on trains and walking about some beautiful European cities, I can't help but think about Sochi and all the people I met. It feels like it was so long ago, but the memories remain vibrant and close to my heart. I made promises to so many to come back and visit. One day I hope to fulfill those promises. In remembrance of all the great memories from Sochi, because it really is the people that make the place memorable, here are the teams I worked with at the Olympics and Paralympics. Thank you again for the memories!

Press assistants unite! Team Sanki, Olympics 2014

Family of press assistants at the Paralympic Medals Plaza

Back to Europe!

Of course, I have more photos of my travels through Europe. After Reims, my friend Julia and I visited Luxembourg and then Strasbourg. The two bourgs!

Always sending postcards!

The lovely case mates of Luxembourg.

Getting lost in the case mates (catacombs twist and turn beneath the city).

Flowers in full bloom in March. Incredible! Especially since there is SNOW back home!

Cooking away at our couchsurfer's place. Lots of veggies to counteract all the chocolate and cookies we devour during the day.

Finally some sun! Vitamin D!

Luxembourg; a mix of old and new.

My history

When I was about 6 months old, my family moved to Lahr, Germany, where my father worked on the Canadian forces military base. This is where he became very good friends with Jacky Knecht. Since I was a child, Uncle Jacky has called us every Christmas and I, being the dorky kid I was, would write letters to him as well. Jacky and his lovely family live in Strasbourg, a city which has been German and French, back and forth through history. There is a unique mix of German architecture and Alsacian/French culture, which makes the city a must see!

The second bourg; Strasbourg. This is the astronomical clock inside the cathedral.

Typical tourist.

Cheesy tourist.

Used book market. Nous avons acheté des livres pour les enfants pour pratiqué notre français. 

German influence is clear in this city.

Chateau Pourtales, Strasbourg.

Haha! This picture amuses me beyond description!

Avec Daniele, la femme du Jacky.

Saying farewell to Julia :(

La dernier photo.

Back to reality on Monday... 

I can't wait to see everyone back home, and one day soon I will return to Russia, and most likely France! You haven't seen the last of this lady, I promise you that!